After reading the Empress' letter, Katerina doesn't hesitate to laugh and crumple up the paper. That woman must be crazy if she thinks she'll go help her pretend the Prince is sick. Katerina looks for her father to show him the letter, and seeing it all crumpled up, tells him that she was bothered by the Empress' request.
"What do you think about going to the Flower Villa? It's far away and a good excuse to avoid the Empress", the Marquis suggests.
"I don't want to leave you alone...but I think it would be best. I don't want to be part of the Empress' lies". Katerina seems worried.
"I know, that's why the best option is the Villa. Look, I'll answer the Empress".
The Marquis orders the carriages to be prepared for the trip, while he writes a response letter to the Empress. The next day, Katerina says goodbye to her father and leaves for the Villa, while the Marquis sends the letter to the Empress. Katerina watches out the window as they move away from the mansion, thinking to herself that leaving the capital is a good thing. Maybe that way she can do something to help Arek.
"Jane, is a griffin expensive? I hear they're good for long trips".
"There are probably some at the Villa. Your father also breeds those animals for urgent trips", Jane replies.
"That's good, I'd really like to learn to ride one. Is it difficult?"
"It's almost the same as with a horse, some are stubborn and others docile. I can teach you when we're at the Villa".
"I would appreciate it. When I saw them at the palace, they seemed very beautiful and I would like to have one".
Katerina is excited, but she doesn't want to learn to ride a griffin. She needs it to go to the border. It will show the empire that Katerina Rosesky is not a coward and that way, no one will say anything when she breaks off her engagement.
On the other hand, at dusk, the Empress receives the letter from the Rosesky Marquisate. She thought Katerina would come to take care of the Prince, but is disappointed when she reads the letter, where the Marquis expresses his displeasure with the Crown Prince because, due to the rumors that he is faking his illness, his daughter has been humiliated before society and has been very saddened by the mockery she has received. Therefore, the Marquis chose to send her away from the capital until things calm down. "I will soon go to the palace to talk about the engagement, since I cannot allow my daughter to be humiliated any further". That was the end of the letter. The Empress crumples it up and throws it on the floor. She was furious, now even the Marquis seems upset. Everything was falling apart.
"No! This can't be happening...he surely sent her away...damn it!", she yells furiously.
The Empress knows that things will get worse now, as it will soon be known that Katerina is out of the capital, which will cause more rumors. She needs to think of something to help them, because if the Marquis really wants to break off the engagement, the support for the Crown Prince will plummet. The Marquis is a man of great influence, and breaking the engagement is like saying he's no longer on his side.
"I need you to find out where Lady Rosesky went, and make it quick", she orders.
If she knows where she went, she'll have Rowan look for her. He must win her affection to prevent the engagement from being broken off.
After a long journey, Katerina arrived at the Flower Villa. It was a huge mansion, with large gardens and a farm further on. Jane tells her that they raise griffins on that farm and harvest fruits that are shipped to different kingdoms of the empire. As soon as she settles in, the first thing she asks is to be taken to the farm. Those in charge of the stable explain how to care for griffins. Jane tells the person in charge that Katerina wants one to be able to ride when she can.
The person in charge guides her to find a docile one that is easy to handle. When they arrive at the corral, Katerina is delighted to see a large white one. It was so beautiful and majestic.
"You may approach, my lady, it's a very docile animal, the noblest of all".
Katerina approaches and pets the beautiful animal, who gladly accepts her caresses.
"I want this one. In the main mansion I saw that there was a greenhouse, I want you to adapt it for it, so I can have it close by".
"Of course, my lady, I'll have everything arranged immediately".
Jane stays with Katerina and shows her the correct way to mount the griffin, as she must be careful not to block its wings so that it does not feel uncomfortable when flying, also the reins that are put on, she must hold them firmly, but without pulling too much so as not to harm the griffin.
After a few lessons, Katerina finally manages to fly with the animal, although she does it at a low altitude, while Jane holds a leash while riding another griffin, and shows her how to guide it.
"I told you, it's almost the same as riding a horse", Jane mentions.
Katerina was thrilled to be able to fly on that beautiful creature. Not even in her wildest dreams did she imagine doing something like that.
After a few days, on the border, Arek faces the beginning of the war. Although Arek has trained since childhood and has been in some battles, nothing compares to a war against another country. Jack, who is a little older than him, tries to support him as best he can. Even he knows how difficult it must be to face a battle of that magnitude.
Between the two of them and the generals, they plan attack routes and strategies to try to make the enemy retreat. The troops that the Marquis left at his service are an extra help and are giving them an advantage, but they can't be overconfident, even though the enemy seemed to be underestimating them because of their age.
Months went by, the war was getting more atrocious every day, the soldiers sometimes lost hope, they just wanted to be able to return to their homes, as they saw their comrades lose their lives. For Arek, it was also becoming difficult to bear to see his comrades dead and to be the one to kill the enemy. It was wreaking havoc on his sanity. Although he had been in minor battles before, he had never had to kill anyone, and now he had to start hardening his heart and his character if he wanted to return victorious. While he was feeling discouraged, he couldn't help but think about Katerina's beautiful blue eyes. They may have only known each other for a short time, but it was impossible not to be enchanted by those beautiful blue eyes. Jack sat down next to him and handed him a cup of soup.
"You must eat or you'll lose your strength. I know how hard this is. It's the first time I've faced something like this too, and I assure you that many of us here are the same, but we can't lose. Let's not let the Empress win", Jack says as he pats the boy on the shoulder.
Arek is grateful for the encouragement. He knows that Jack is right, they are not the only ones suffering in that place, many soldiers are also going through a difficult time as it is the first time they are facing a real war.
As you can see, in this chapter, I delve a little deeper into Arek's feelings, as this will lead him to form his character, and he is seeing how cruel and difficult life is outside the palace. 🥹 But the boy will grow up to be a good man, worthy of being emperor, yes or yes. Haha
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