Born As The Emperor's Daughter

In just a blink of an eye.

A short sword has pierced through Diana's c.h.e.s.t and was immediately pulled back by an unknown force.

With this, Diana's grip around Alexandra tightened before she fell forward to the ground. Lillianna who was quick enough was able to catch her in her arms. Alexandra who turned to look has her eye wide with shock and fear before she knelt down the ground and called out to her name and began to tell her things in hopes of giving her the will to survive and hope that she will get out of this alive.

"You're not going to die here, you're not. You're going to survive, please. Please even though there is no hope. You told me that you will serve me forever, until my last breath, until your last breath. You're going to survive, we'll take you to Sir Albert."

Diana only smiled at her, holding her hand tightly. "Ah, I had a good life. Serving you was the best thing that I have ever done, princess. You made my life wonderful and amazing. I'll do everything if it's for you, I offered you my life and it has been put in good use. I'm sorry, it seems like it's my end. I'm sorry, I wasn't able to serve you until your last breath…"

"No, Diana, no, no, no. P-Please no."

"So just let me go, okay?"

"No, Diana. Please."

"And also, tell everyone especially Carlos, thank you and I'm sorry."

--

Alexandra opened her eyes.

Sitting on the grass facing the gravestone in front of her, completely relaxed and at peace as the gentle wind blew against her. Her loose hair fluttering along with it, some of the strands obstructed her view and she tucked it behind her ear. Autumn has made its way and has taken effect to the whole place, there were dried orange and golden leaves everywhere, scattered on the ground.

The morning was rather peaceful and lovely as Alexandra spent her time alone. Carlos was standing at the bottom of the hill, not far away from her. This is the 3rd time this week that she visited Diana's grave. She usually does it during the morning because she likes the atmosphere of the place and she isn't that busy with things.

Just one quick stroll outside the palace and to the graveyard where Diana and Lillianna's grave is, she has told her father about it and he didn't hesitate to agree to her request. They don't have any complaints about them especially knowing that Alexandra is very close to Diana as well as Lillianna, it was normal for her to miss them and visit their grave. They don't know what she's doing when she's there anyway.

Well, what does she when she arrives there anyway?

Nothing.

She just remains silent and does nothing, staring at the gravestone without saying anything and reminiscing about memories that she doesn't want to let go or forget. Memories that she shared with either Lillianna or Diana. It could be both of them sometimes but it isn't that much.

A weary sigh slipped past her lips as her shoulders slumped, taking a bite from the fruit in her hand. It was a red apple that she bought with her in case she gets hungry or wants to eat. It was sweet, the taste of the fruit exploding in her mouth and she chewed for a seconds before gulping it down. She then proceeds to take another bite from it and continued to do so until there was only nothing but seeds and a stick. She doesn't want to go back to the palace yet as she was still enjoying her time here.

"Blessings and Glory for the Queenilia Empire, Prince Chandler, and Prince Calixander. Are you here for the princess?"

She heard Carlos's voice down the hill, it wasn't loud but she was able to hear it because her surroundings were quiet. With a curious expression on her face, she turned her head to look behind her and saw her brothers, standing by the foot of the small hill and in front of Carlos while there their knights behind him and also another man who was holding something in their hands.

She could hear their conversation and what they were talking about even when she's on the top of the hill but her attention was at the man who was behind them. She squinted her eyes and stared at the man, trying to tell who it was and it took her a few seconds until she realized it. What is he doing here?

Harrison was there, standing still beside the knights of her brothers. He was hugging a paper bag close to his c.h.e.s.t, it seems like he didn't notice her staring at him for a long time as he was only looking ahead of him.

"Yes, we are here for her."

"Is it time for her to go back to the palace? If that's so, then, I shall ask the princess first if she wants to go back now or stay here for another hour," Carlos responded to Calixander.

"Brother Calix! Brother Gil!" She called out to them, grabbing their attention. Even though she only called two of her brothers, they all looked up to see her. There was a smile planted on her lips accompanied by an eye-smile and a bright expression. She stood up from her seat and ran down the hill.

"Princess, you must not run, or else you will trip!" She heard Carlos say as he watched her, she didn't listen to what he said and only ran towards her brothers. She threw her body towards them and engulfed the two in a hug that lasted for a few seconds as she immediately parted and broke it. Gilbert only ruffled her hair before speaking, "You were gone for almost 3 hours, we have to come by to check on you. Although Calix here was planning on going to a café originally. We ended up dropping by the one where his lover is."

Alexandra nodded as a response while her mouth shaped into an 'o', looking at Calixander and smiling at him. Her eyes then darted at Harrison's direction. She looked like she was questioning him why is he here based on the look that he was giving her. Harrison only shrugged as if he doesn't know why is here either. Although it seems like Gilbert noticed and sensed the confusion on Alexandra's face, he then spoke once again, grabbing Alexandra's attention.

"We happened to encounter Harrison who was also out to buy some materials and decided to bring him with us. I mean, we're going back to the same place anyway." That was what he said. Gilbert already knew about their relationship and was doing a good job of keeping it as a secret, although it seems like he's doing some things that would somehow make the two of them see each other and be together like for example, the situation they are in.

"Oh, I see. Nice to see you here, Harrison. Did Sir Klaus forced you to go out and buy some things for him?" She walked towards him and stopped a few steps away from him. Her hands behind her back, her fingers intertwined with each other as she spoke to him.

"Yeah, even though Arthur was there to do so, princess. The unfair treatment," He said in a nonchalant tone of voice as there was a calm look plastered on his face. Alexandra laughed before she spoke, a tender eye smile seen on her face as her expression was bright. "Must be bad for you then. You're already an official palace wizard and not under training anymore, right?"

"You are correct, princess."

"You are not escaping from your tasks anymore?"

"Why are you even asking that, princess? Of course, I still do."

"You idiot."

Well, they (except for Gilbert) knew that the two of them are close friends so it's quite normal that they are acting like that with each other. So there weren't any formalities (except for the 'princess' one as it's needed) between the two of them and they were only talking casually.

"Oh, right. I still haven't seen Arthur. Maybe I should try talking to him later, do you think he's free?" She asked Harrison in a curious tone of voice. The expression that she had on earlier was still on her face. Harrison hummed before responding to her, "I don't know about that, your majesty. I'll try to inform him and see if he's not busy or not. Where would you like to meet him?"

"Maybe the garden will do, the one where we always train at."

"I understand."

Alexandra was about to open her mouth to speak and say something when Calixander spoke, grabbing the two's attention. His voice sounded cold and it sent a chill down her spine, it sounds like he was irritated about something.

"Alexa, let's leave now. If we stayed here for any longer, we might arrive at the palace late. We don't want that to happen as we might be late for lunch," That was what he said. Alexandra turned her head in his direction. There are still like 2-3 hours left before lunch and she was sure that it would only take them an hour to arrive at the palace, how are they going to be late?

Nevertheless, Alexandra only nodded and smiled at her brother as a response.

"Right, Calix, I have to tell you something. Let's have a talk at the coach carriage we rode together on the way here. It should only be the two of us. Alexa and Harrison could be together in her carriage if that's fine with her. I'm sure that it would be."

"Huh? I won't allow that. Alexa would be alone with another boy aside from us." Calixander insisted, his forehead creased while his lips were forming a thin straight line.

"Just do what I say. What I'm going to tell you is something important and besides the two of them are CLOSE FRIENDS, so you don't have to worry about anything." Gilbert said in a nonchalant tone of voice, he even emphasized the words 'close friends'. Why does it seem like Gilbert has more power than Calixander?

"You don't have to do so, Prince Gilbert. I can use—"

He was interrupted by Gilbert. "It's much faster. Public coaches take too long and most of them aren't used to riding up the mountain path leading to the palace."

"But I could just telep—"

"I'm sure that you two still haven't had a nice and long conversation. I heard from Sir Klaus that you were on a mission which took you months and you just arrived."

Alexandra just stood there, silent and confused as to why her brother is acting like this. He's probably trying to give them some alone time together knowing about their relationship. Wow, what a supportive brother, she thought to herself and cleared her throat then she spoke, grabbing their attention.

"It's fine with me. I can assure you Brother Calix that Harrison won't do something while we're in my coach," She says while smiling. Harrison was looking at her, staring at her while she spoke in a confident tone of voice. Somehow, she feels bad saying that. Calixander doesn't know a thing about their relationship neither is the knights around them.

"Don't worry, your majesty. If Harrison does something to the princess, I will not hesitate to use my sword against him." Carlos joined in their conversation, slightly unsheathing his sword and revealing his blade while there was a serious look on his face, emitting a menacing aura as if to scare the man beside her.

"Hold on, how did it come to this!? There isn't any battle that is going to happen, Harrison is safe. He won't do anything; I assure you two. Now, let's get going. I want to go back to the palace already."

Alexandra says before she started walking, dragging Harrison by his shirt.

--

"Seriously, what are you even planning?" Calixander says as Gilbert got in the coach. He only shrugged before he spoke, "I need to talk with you about something."

"If it's something about your training or the books that you are reading, I will smack you."

Gilbert sighed before taking a seat in front of him, crossing his legs.

"Calm down, it's nothing like that. What I am going to talk with you about is something really important."

"What is it?" Calixander became serious and curious about what he's going to say, arching an eyebrow at him.

"It's about Alexandra."