I Will Protect You This Time

Episode 47

(The Beaulow Palace)

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The Beaulow Palace is a beautiful blue palace that is a few miles away from the Beaulow Forest where the Hunting Competition is held. The Royal family stays in the palace until the start of the Hunting Competition. It is also used for different kinds of emergencies during the Hunt. 

Generally, the Royal family and the other Aristocrats arrive at the Beaulow Forest a day or two earlier than the Hunting Festival. So that there can't be any delay to the Hunting Festival. The Beastmen enjoy hunting a lot and they are really competitive about the Hunting Competition. And a minute late to the Hunting Ground means a minute more for the rival clan.

Anyways the Aristocrats stay in the palace they own near the Beaulow Forest. As entry to the Hunting Ground aka the Beaulow Forest before the designated day of the Competition is restricted. 

When the Hunting Festival starts, every Aristocrat including the Royal family stays in their tent in the plain land near Beaulow Forest until the competition is over. Of course, all of those tents are extravagant. 

Anyways this year the Aristocrats from the other Empires and Kingdoms will also reside in the Beaulow Palace until the start of the Hunting Competition. 

The Portal to the Fellmirr Empire opened for the other Empires and Kingdoms a month before the Hunting Festival. And it would take at least 23 days for the Aristocrats of other Kingdoms or Empires to reach the Capital. So that's the reason why Isabella and the Empress had to come to Beaulow Palace a week before the Hunting Festival. 

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"Take some rest in your room now, Bell. It will still take an hour or so for the other Aristocrats to reach here. So we should get as much rest as we can have before their arrival."

Empress Alicia informed with a tired expression. 

Well, I guess it's normal to be tired. We had to ride the carriage for 3 hours no less. And we just got down from the Carriage and are standing in the courtyard.

"Yes. Mother."

"This servant will guide you towards your room, dear. So you can follow her."

The Empress said while gesturing at one maid to come closer.

"Okay."

"Greetings, Her Majesty the Empress and the Crown Princess."

The maid greeted us while bowing.

"Guide the Crown Princess to her room."

"As you wish, the Empress. This way, Your Highness."

The maid said while elegantly showing me the way with one hand.

"Yes. Let's go. Then I will be going, Mother."

I said while slightly bowing.

"We will meet in an hour then. Bye~"

Empress Alicia waved her hand with a smile.

"Yes."

After that, I walked inside the palace following the maids' guidance. 

The interior of this palace has beautiful blue and golden decorations. Beautiful golden lanterns were hanging on the walls of the hallway.

It's a breathtaking palace.

After walking for a while, the maid stopped in front of a room on the 3rd floor.

"This is the room where you will be residing, Her Highness."

The maid said while pushing the door of the room in the front.

"I see."

In a moment, the door opened with a creaking noise.

I slowly entered the room.

"Then I will be taking my leave now, Princess."

The maid bowed and said.

"Yes. You can go."

The maid then left the room. 

As I was alone now, I started looking around the room.

It is a beautiful room with blue walls and golden decorations. There is one wide window and a balcony at the front. And a large bed in the middle of the room. There's also a fireplace, a large mirror, a couch, a table and all other necessary things. Although it's not as large as my room in the Castle.

I then walked towards the balcony.

Whoosh~

A gentle breeze struck me. 

I lost my breath for a moment seeing the scenery in front. Wherever my eyes go all I can see is plain land and hills covered with trees that turn yellow, orange and red due to Autumn. Some of them were still as green as they could be. Different colourful birds are flying here and there. 

There are some palaces standing a few miles away from each other. Must be owned by the Aristocrats.

I guess I will be staying here for a week now…

Knock* Knock*

I returned to the room hearing someone knocking on the door.

"My Lady, may I come in?"

A maid?

"Yes. Come in."

"I brought some refreshments, Crown Princess."

A maid came in with all kinds of juice and fruits on a tray.

"Ah. Thank you."

"It's my pleasure, Crown Princess."

The maid replied with a smile. Then she put the tray on a table. 

"Please enjoy."

"Yes."

After that, I sat on the single couch and drank a glass of orange juice. As it was a little cold, it felt a bit refreshing to drink.

Then I tried some fruits.

Mmm~

So tasty! Fruits are better than any other meal.

Popoo~

Knock* Knock*

"Your Highness, the Crown Princess! The Royal Family of Melonia Kingdom will be arriving shortly. The Empress asked you to join her downstairs."

A knight announced from outside the door.

"I see. I will be there in a moment."

I guess they arrived sooner than expected.

I hurriedly got up from the couch. The maid present there fixed some parts of my dress that were wrinkled up. And soon I got out of the room and walked downstairs.

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"Bell… You sure came down quickly. Sigh~ Who knew they would arrive so early?! Here I thought it would take an hour for them to arrive. Such a pain~"

Empress Alicia grumbled. She was standing in front of the stairs of the ground floor.

"Anyways, let's go to the Courtyard. From the sound of it, they have already arrived."

Well, true. I can hear the sound of horns and drums 

"Yes "

"Just letting you know, there is nothing serious about them that you should know, dear. The King, Queen and some concubines will cine. So just be yourself. Be the Crown Princess of Fellmirr, okay? And you don't have to do anything, just chin up and stand straight, okay dear? You will be like my Knight, Hahaha~."

"Yes, Her Majesty, the Empress."

"Good."

Saying that we continued walking in towards the Courtyard. A group of knights silently followed us from behind. 

At the time we arrived there, the carriages had already stopped in front of the front gate of the Beaulow Palace and people started to get down from it.

"Greetings, Her Majesty the Empress and the Crown Princess of Fellmirr. I am 

Calvino Ramirez, I will work as the interpreter between the Empress and the Aristocrats from Melonia."

"I see."

The Empress answered with an arrogant expression.

"H-His Highness the King of Melonia Kingdom, Chico Monroy Melonia."

Calvino said in a cold sweat while showing the King.

"Greetings, King Monroy Melonia. Welcome to our Fellmirr Empire."

Calvino translated what the Empress said in Melonia language to the King. Then he nodded his head and said something in Melonia language. Soon after Calvino interpreted what the King said then said it to us.

"His Majesty the King said, 'Greetings to the Empress and the Crown Princess. It's an honour to get welcomed by the two most gorgeous and powerful women of Fellmirr.' "

"I see. Thanks you."

"Yes."

Then he said something to the King and continued introducing the Queen and the concubines.

"Next to him is the Queen Bryssa Hernandez Melonia."

"Greetings, Queen Hernandez Melonia. Hope you will enjoy your visit here."

Then the same way Calvino interpreted what we said and informed the Queen. 

"The Queen greeted the Empress and the Crown Princess."

Calvino said.

After that, the other Concubines. There were 3 concubines in total.

After their introduction Empress Alicia said,

"You must be tired now. You had to come all the way here to the Capital by carriage. So please rest. The servants will guide you to your room. And we have prepared a feast for lunch today. Hope you will enjoy your time today."

After that, they followed the servants and entered the palace.

Phew~

"Let's get inside, Isabella."

Empress Alicia said with a sigh of relief.

"Yes."

But as soon as we started walking towards the palace, another group of Aristocrats from the Viche Empire reached the palace.

"Ughh! I guess we can't rest today."

After that, we went near their carriage and greeted them the same way we did to Melonia Kingdom's king.

But after them, the other Aristocrats of the country continued to enter the palace. 

"Ughh! We have already welcomed 10 groups of Aristocrats from other Kingdoms."

"I think we can return to our room now."

"Yes. It's already evening now. And I apologize."

"Huh? About what?"

"I thought your family would arrive by today. But they didn't. You must've hoped and waited for them eagerly."

Empress Alicia replied in a sad tone.

No way! If anything I am happy that they aren't here!

"It's okay, Mother. You didn't do it on purpose. And they are probably busy sightseeing in Fellmirr. I mean it's the most beautiful Empire of Waldor after all."

"Really?"

"Yes."

"Phew~ Then it's good. Anyways dear. Return to your room now. It's already dark. You must be very tired."

"Yes, Mother."

After that, I bowed and left for my room.