Ch. 2

2 days later.

"Daddy! Daddy!!" Sona yells as she rushes through the hall surrounded by tall windows that are facing the garden in her estate.

She runs past the shadows of windows that are imprinted on the ground as the morning sun shines brightly, stomping her way to the duke's office while many servants and maids begging her to be careful.

"Daaaad!"

"What is it, Sona? You rarely come to my office, is there something that you want?" Geraldene smiles at his daughter's adorable acts. He is sitting on his desk with piles of documents as always.

"Hehe, you'll be proud to know that I am willing to learn using swords, no, weapons!" Sona exclaims proudly, after panting because of the run.

"No. You shall not." The duke firmly answers. He did not even look away from his paper when he said that.

"What? Whyyy?! Am I not the daughter of the famously known Vallade family?? I should learn how to fight too! Shouldn't you put some more thoughts in it, dad?" Sona whines for her rejection.

"I've got reports that you studied about fights and weapons these days. I've already thought this through more than enough."

"No- But I... Then why?"

"You are a woman and I don't want to harm my daughter's hand or anything else because of those kind of thing." Geraldene says again, still reading his documents.

"Sir Ferse! Say something!!" She whines to her father's assistant, A.K.A the head butler who is standing beside him, helping him with the papers.

"I'm afraid I'm also against it either, young miss." He says as he looks away avoiding his young lady's eyes who are glaring daggers at him.

"What?! No one is on my side! Brother Al, Brother Ed, mommy, and daddy won't support me and even Sir Ferse? Ugh!!"

"Sona dear, please understand. Noble women should stay away from the battle... Especially with your clumsy attitude and fragile body." The Duke sighs, finally puts down his documents. He stares at the flustered Sona.

"I- I will train my body! And besides, there were a record from our ancestors that a female became a hero, we also have some women knights!"

"... Just why would you suddenly ask for something like this? You were never interested in this before? You are already an excellent girl, why would you need something like this?" Geraldene asks, he is referring to her excellent studies. Many actually praised her for her intelligence without them knowing that she is actually more of a carefree maiden in the estate.

"..." Her dad sends Sona speechless. She couldn't say that it's because of her probably-pastlife vision.

"Hmph! No matter what, I'll become a knight too! Well then, please. Excuse. Me. Your Excellency." She bows and walks out from the office with calm posture despite being flustered, as she rarely failed.

Just you see, I can also fight! I was a general after all! No matter how hard, how painful it will take! Fufufu.

She yells in her head as she is now taking a stroll in her flower garden to take a fresh air. In the garden that she loves to walk very much, a person appears in front of her.

"Good morning, Lady Vallade." A middle aged man with white silk hair appears in front of her says.

"? Good morning... My apologies, but who may you be...?"

"I am Dein, the head butler from the Imperial Palace." He answers while giving a small bow.

"Palace...? Is there something wrong?" Sona asks, surprised.

"His Majesty has requested your presence at once, My Lady. No need to worry about the Duke, we already informed his grace before hand. Shall we provide a wagon, my lady?" Dein says in one go. As expected of the butler that The Emperor personally choosed.

"Ah... No need to trouble yourself. Nia, escort Mr. Dein to the parlour." Sona orders.

"My Lady, my apologies, but it is not necessary as I will immediately go back to the Palace." Dein says before Sona's maid could run her order. Sona glances at Dein and smiles.

"I see. Then Mr. Dein, please inform His Majesty that I will be there immediately."

Dein nods at her words and finally bids his farewell before leaving.

What happened all of the sudden?? I have only been to the palace once before, but it was with dad! Now His Majesty is telling me to go alone?! Ugh...

"That's great miss! The Emperor wants to see you personally!" Nia, Sona's personal maid cheers with her sparkling eyes. Nia's retired mother has served and took care of Sona ever since she was born. That's why, these two are close.

"... Aaah... What should I do...." Sona on the other hand, sighs in stress.

"There is no time to waste! We need to dress you up and immediately set off to imperial palace now!" Nia says. She pulls Sona inside and dresses her up.

Nia is completely serious when she dressed her miss. Sona chooses a light blue dress with a slight split on the front, showing her legs a little, that is dressed with a blue sky ribbon on one of her foot. She wears a heels that matches the dress.

A few minutes later.

"... Is it okay to go by yourself?" Nia asks as she looks at Sona from outside the carriege.

"Of course, the palace is a safe place right?"

"Well..."

"I'll be going now"

"Ah yes, have a safe trip, miss!" Nia shouts as the carriege moves away.

"Is it okay? Of course not!" Sona whimpers to herself, "it's not a good thing to be going to the Palace in the first place. I recall bad memories, you hear? Bad memories!" She wails.

There were two incidents that happened on the first day she got into the Palace, she met the youngest Princess who without any reason, despite her. And the second incident would be the accident in the Silver Palace.

"oh, dear me, why would fate be so cruel?" Sona cries her misfortune out along the way.

Time pass by, Sona finally arrives at the Palace that is like 15 to 30 minutes away from her family estate.

"Miss, we are here." The couchman says as he helps Sona down from the carriage.

"... Thanks..." She says as she hesitantly walks out from the coach. She stares at the main palace in front of her with an uneasy heart.

Lets hope nothing bad happen. ...Is what I want to say, but of course that is just a small impossible hope, since it was already bad enough for the emperor to ask for me... The palace is just a scary place and nothing more, seriously. Hic...

She whimpers.

"Lady Vallade, I am glad you have arrived safe and sound. I will escort you to The Emperor, please follow me." Dein, who suddenly appears besides her, says.

"Whoaa...! Ahem... Yes." Sona awkwardly acts like nothing happened and follows the royal butler to the throne room, to have an audience with the emperor. Every steps that she takes makes her more and more anxious.

I really don't want to do anything with the royals...

Sona grips her own hands tightly.

Not long after their walk, they finally arrive at the throne hall.

"Please wait for a moment, lady Vallade." Dein says as he goes inside, leaving Sona outside for a little while with the guards that are guarding outside.

huft, okay, let's stay calm. Just do as I usually do when I meet the other nobles... And like my past self, who were always calm, it shouldn't be too much of a problem. Act smart, Sona. Act calmly and wise.

She breathes in and out quietly to calm herself. It is true that she has a different image in front of the others, since she needs to act elegant as the daughter of the Vallade family, she is calm and intelligent in times, but this time, she can't deny that her nervousness almost snapped her.

"You may come in, my lady." Dein pops up from the door suddenly and the doors open, welcoming Sona.

"Lady Sovina Vallade, from the Dukedom of Vallade family is entering to meet with His Majesty, The Emperor." Someone that stands besides the door says loudly so that everyone in there can hear it.

Sona slowly steps in, her dress flutters a little as she moves forward. She looks so elegant and graceful at every steps that she takes, taking all of the attention from everyone in that hall. It is as expected, since she is the daughter of a high ranking noble.

... Why are there so many ladies here? Ah. The Prince's fiancée candidates, of course. They are doing it this year too. It looks like there are also princesses from other empires this time too. Let's see... Golea, Herileo, Saru.

She observers secretly while she walks. But something is surely bothering her.

why are they staring at me so intensely...?

After some couple more steps, Sona finally faces The Emperor, who is sitting on his throne. Sona, who had her gazes observing, now looks at The Emperor and The Prince who is standing next to him.

The Emperor has a blue ultramarine colored hair with a bright golden eyes, and for sure, The Prince inherits the same hair and eyes as The Emperor.

While the prince has the emperor's features, I heard that his face is actually takes after his mother. I also heard that the first princess also has a golden eyes with a ruby coloured hair. While the youngest princess takes after all of her mother's gens, with Red ruby hair and eyes.

She observers them at a quick glance as she faces the royals, the people that she was only able to know from history classes and books.

It doesn't take long for her to stop observing them and gives a greeting to the royals.

"I, Sovina Vallade, gives her greetings to The Emperor, and The Crown Prince with her utmost respect." She says. giving a curtsy to the two royals.

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