Episode 8

--Alexandria POV--

"Welcome to Lazarus, the capital city of Lysandra,"

I didn't know what to say, I was speechless- at a complete loss for words. This was civilisation? After all the pictures I had seen of this place and after all the stories I had heard, I thought I was more than prepared to experience it first-hand but no- I was wrong.

The sight itself left my jaw hanging open and I didn't know how to react. It was absolutely beautiful, like something out of a fantasy story.

Cobbled pathways ran across the city with buildings of all shapes, sizes and colours. Outside of these buildings were protruded street vendors selling so many different delicacies and it went on and on further than my eyes could reach.

People of all colours bustled about together, women wearing long dresses or Lolita gowns like me while the younger girls wore knee-length clothing. The men were mostly dressed in suits, some with top hats but nearly all with white gloves.

"What do you think?" I heard Valentino ask from beside me while we waited for the ship to be tied down so we could safely leave.

"It's amazing," I smiled, tearing my gaze away from the view to see him receiving something from one of his attendants.

It seemed like thick black clothing. I made sure to send him a curious look as he pulled it out for me to take which I hesitantly did.

"What is it?" I decided to ask when he wasn't answering.

"It's like shoulder pads. So his claws won't dig into your skin," He spoke, voice not wavering with any sort of emotion as he gestured to Ryder who was staring at the city with curiosity.

I tilted my head to the side in confusion, staring at the thick cloth with buckles in his hand.

"You're hopeless..." He sighed.

"He'll probably find it more comfortable to sit on this than on your bony little shoulder," I scoffed. He just had to add that bony bit, didn't he? I wasn't even that bony.

I smiled at his thoughtfulness though, not thinking that he would have cared. As I observed the shoulder pad-like thing, I mentally tried to figure out how to strap it on. Why does there have so many belts?

Valentino sighed yet again, stepping forward as he pulled my right arm up while fastening the material around my shoulder to my underarms and I released a small gasp at the sudden close proximity. He was too close, I could feel his breath on my cheek.

Once he took a step back, I tried to quickly return my breathing to as normal as possible along with the redness of my face and the wild, possibly unhealthy, beating of my heart.

"Ryder. Want to test it out?" I suggested with an awaiting look and as expected he squawked loudly before jumping towards me, landing his claws perfectly into my shoulders but unlike all the other times where I would feel the sting of his claws digging into me, this time I only felt a pressure which was nowhere near uncomfortable.

"How does it feel?" Valentino asked, eyes on the piece of heavy cloth that sat on my shoulder with Ryder on it.

"Comfortable," I smiled in thanks.

He stared at me for a moment with an unknown look in his grey eyes before he nodded in what I believed was an acknowledgement and moved to get off the ship and I hurried after him.

Once my feet touched the ground, I looked around me, taking in a different view.

We walked towards a black waiting carriage covered in gold patterns with the painted crest of a phoenix with two crossed swords behind it on the doors.

I remembered that the Phoenix is the crest of Lysandra, symbolising many things. A few of them being the Sun (Lysandra was powerful), Time (Lysandra was never-ending and would continue to thrive for decades), An Empire (Lysandra is a literal Empire) and Resurrection.

I gasped, putting a hand to my mouth as I excitedly jumped about.

"What is it?" Valentino asked, giving me an odd look. I only pointed at the two black beasts which stood at the front of the carriage on four legs.

"You've never seen a horse before?" He questioned, almost surprised.

Do I have to keep reminding him that I had no memory from before the age of 10 and that I grew up on an island where a horse probably wouldn't survive?

"Not that I remember," I decided to go with instead, hesitantly walking towards one of the beauty's and outstretching my hand to carefully stroke it and I smiled when I noticed that it didn't seem to mind.

Ryder clearly didn't like the horses as he abandoned my shoulder and went to stand on top of the carriage where he'd be smirking if he could when he noticed all the looks he was receiving. He was such an attention seeker.

"As much as I regret to say it, we're running late," Valentino spoke in a bored voice, one foot already in the carriage and when I turned to look at him, he moved the rest of his body inside as well.

I thought a gentleman was supposed to assist a lady in before following in after her? Either he's not a gentleman or he doesn't see me like a lady. I'd like to bet on the former but it's honestly probably the latter.

"You want to come in or stay up there?" I asked Ryder as I stood by the open door, ignoring the look the doorman gave me. He squawked, turning around so I was faced with his butt.

Rolling my eyes, I got my answer.

I gratefully took the doorman's welcoming hand, giving him an appreciative thanks before moving in and taking a seat opposite Valentino but instead of starting a conversation with him, I moved to the side and pulling the maroon curtain aside, I wondrously gazed at the view.

"Those pictures hold nothing compared to this reality," I breathlessly stated, staring wide-eyed at everything we rode past as if trying to imprint it in my mind.

"Where are we going?" I curiously asked after a minute, turning my head away from the view to grace him with my curious green eyes.

"To the main palace," He simply replied, adjusting his cufflinks.

"The main palace? How many palaces do you have?" I asked, flabbergasted.

"Lysandra is a large and powerful country. We have one palace in Lazarus which is the biggest and grandest palace of all but there are more of them in other cities like Viaseth," He said proudly yet with a disregarding tone.

I really don't get this man.

"Who'll be at the palace other than the workers?" I asked my next question. I'll continue to ask him questions until I notice that he's getting bored, that wasn't currently the point.

"My father, my younger siblings and that's about it but do not be surprised if Aunt Lydia is there," He said in an almost warning tone.

I only nodded along. I wanted to ask about his mother since she wasn't mentioned but thought it best I don't. The last thing I want is to be nosy and dig into things that he finds uncomfortable.

He was a prince that would inherit a golden crown and I was just a nameless girl that grew up on an island, dead to the world.

"What do you prefer I call you? Your highness? Prince? Mister?" I suggested and visibly held back a smile when I saw his eyebrows furrow in disagreement at the names.

It was the first facial expression that I remember seeing on his face. Good to know that he actually felt emotions, I was starting to worry.

"Valentino is what everyone calls me but feel free to call me whatever you find comfortable,"

"Valentino is a mouthful so how about... Val," He almost choked at the extreme shortening but I wouldn't say it was extreme. Valentino was a lovely name but it was too long for me and besides, I quite like the sound of Val.

"That's quite a shortening," He said, fixing his collar and looking uncomfortable.

"You said to call you what I find comfortable. Your words not mine and so I chose Val. It has a nice ring to it, don't you think?" I sent him a sly smile, turning my head to look out once again and then did I notice the large structure that was becoming nearer to us.

"Do as you please," He dismissed just as I released an excited squeal.

"We're here. Look. This palace is gigantic," I whistled as the carriage came to a short halt while it waited for the large silver gates to pull open and when it did, we were moving again.

We were driving down a smooth grey, tarmac road with large patches of fresh grass on either side covered with bushes shaped in different animals and a large variety of different, colourful flowers.

On either side of the tarmac road was a line of white stones which clearly separated the ground from the grass and it ran along the road until it opened up at the large courtyard where a fountain stood at the front, a white marble statue of a lady holding a sword that dug into the ground as the water sprayed from around her.

I stared, breathless at the statue of the beautiful girl with her long hair that tumbled down to her thighs and she looked to be wearing a simple long dress with a sword in her hands and a small smile carved onto her face.

"Who is that?" I heard myself ask Val.

"That's Eleanora," He answered half-heartedly. Oh, yes. I distinctively remember Alpheus telling me about her years ago.

As the carriage ran around the fountain, stopping in front of the many white marble stairs, the doorman rushed to the side and pulled open the door and Val stepped out first, waiting by the side as he outstretched his hand for me to take.

I was confused for a bit but placed my hand in his larger one, smiling at him as I carefully stepped out until my feet landed on the solid ground.

"Thank you," I mumbled out but he didn't reply and moved his hands to link behind his back and stared ahead of him.

"Eleanora was the first King's sword, literally. Without her, Lysandra would be a desert and not the empire that it is today- but I don't believe any of it to be true," He explained and I hummed in reply, glancing at the statue once more.

My eyes gleamed at the memory of the time John told me about mages. I didn't believe that magic existed either but the stories are enjoyable and thrilling to listen to.

"Now, let's be on our way," He said, moving his gaze to look at the palace.

I followed his gaze, my eyes taking in the large building. To say that this palace was big is an understatement, I tried to follow it all the way to the top but felt myself fall back, tripping and almost falling if it weren't for Val and his quick instincts.

Wrapping an arm around my waist, he pulled me up while simultaneously rolling his silver eyes at me and I awaited his next two words.

"You're hopeless," He sighed and I only huffed in reply, not even bothering to reply as I went back to gaping at the beautiful piece of architecture.

It was a white palace with gold, intricate designs spiralling across it, white marble statues stood as pillars at the top as they lined the entire front part of the building, large arched windows ran along either side of the golden structure.

Alpheus told me about this palace too but I didn't imagine it to be as great as it was.

Ryder took that chance to jump off the roof of the carriage and land on my shoulder.

As we walked up the many steps there was a large amount of flat marble with four pillars standing in perfect proportions around us, holding up the large arched roof and as we walked forward towards the two shiny oak doors, they flew open.

I felt my jaw hang open when inside stood a line of women on the right and men on the left dressed in the same maid and butler clothing with their head bowed down in respect.

In the middle stood a brown-eyed woman with blonde hair tied back into a perfect, sleek bun, looking to be in her early forties, wearing a fancier version of the outfit. She smiled beautifully, dropping down into a deep curtsey.

"Welcome home, your royal highness," She said perfectly as if she had practised saying it a million times. Standing back up, she was caught off guard when she saw the wild Eagle on my shoulder but quickly composed herself and gave me a smaller bow which I replied to with a smile.

Val hummed as he began walking, ushering for me to follow which I hurriedly did, moving to stand beside him as we walked down the red carpet.

The inside was just as, if not more, luxurious than the outside.

Everything was gold or white marble and it was so shiny my eyes were beginning to hurt. It all seemed so priceless and I felt very out of place.

"Welcome to Redfield Palace, Alexa,"

And here, it all began.

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