Kady's Journey -Freesia-

Chapter 15: The Death

As expected, the interior of the Laroost Citadel didn't fail to impress.

A few seconds into the lobby and I just stopped computing in my brain just how much value the works of arts and seemingly priceless gemstones that adorn the pristine walls of the enormous room.

"If the intention of this very lobby is to make us feel how dirt poor I am then it is working," Mariya said seriously which is saying something since even she can't find something to joke about the place which she usually did.

Her twin sister nodded in agreement as she glanced at me, "I noticed Kady stopping to ascertain the value of this room alone a few seconds after we got in, Plati."

"Well, I don't blame her. I stopped at the stairways, Tatyana," She then looked at another bespectacled classmate of ours who is shaking her head in disbelief, "Welcome to the club, Alumina."

The quiet heiress of the Alumina dynasty where all the important mines of the Kingdom is located walked to my side and chuckled wryly, "They used so many stones and rare-earth metals in this lobby, it is enough to close down a mine in our province."

"And you said there are three thousand rooms in this citadel, Daryl?" Olea asked the Riksentian Crown Count while holding hands with Moly who is still blinking her eyes repeatedly just to make sure she is really seeing what she thought she is seeing.

Daryl nodded, "Yes. Three thousand known rooms, that is. They said there's a lot more somewhere only the Grand Duke knows."

"Oh dear, it must be such a chore to clean this place," Moly said quietly as Silva walked past her after examining a rather ancient looking vase in the corner.

"The citadel housekeeping is tasked to the Maharlikans since they built this place hundreds of years ago," Marga piped in as Rod nodded behind her.

"True.  They even said that other than the House Hausen, the Maharlikan domestic workers are the only ones who know much of the secret passages and corridors in the Laroost Citadel," her fiance said as Trevor walked in with Galion and Lexei in tow, both are as impressed as I am.

The three Riksentian sisters walked in front of us and nodded, "Let's make haste. The Baroness is waiting for us in the throne room. Let's head for the door directly in front of us," Silmeria urged us as Daryl and Aerith followed their lead with the rest of our class following them.

"Open the doors to the throne room. The Countess of Karst demands it!"

The two soldiers dressed in white military uniforms saluted at Aerith before throwing the gigantic doors wide open that is embossed with a large white wolf head made of white granite. 

"No offense but this is even more ridiculous than the last room," Kirov said loudly and I can agree with him completely, "Actually, scratch that. This is insane!"

And we all couldn't agree more.

The expansive throne room, like the rest of the castle, is made of beautiful white brick marbles. The pillars that support the room, however, is made of stately white limestone.

Decorating the pristine walls are life-size portraits of the previous Grand Duke and Grand Duchess of the nation adorned with beautiful pearls of all sizes while magnificent red velvet trappings with golden linings draped all over the room.

Above is an awe-inspiring ceiling mural depicting Laroost and Riksent as a whole as a merchant nation that thrives in trading and bartering. Ancient ships can be seen coming and going to and from one of the numerous ports of the Dukedom as its citizens are selling their goods at the busy streets of the capital city. 

There are giant wolves of all sizes and colors ranging from brown to grey to black and white guards the grand citadel at the center of the mural from which five animals sit in front of the gates.

At the very center leading everyone is a white wolf flanked with two black ones all have gleaming pearls for eyes.

A gray cat with silver fineries on its right, a black horse with topaz horseshoes on its left, a brown beaver biting an amethyst to the far right, and a sand scorpion with ruby stinger to the far left.

It is so colorful, vibrant, and magnificent as if it is almost alive the way colors are used. The style of the painting clearly shows that it is created ages and ages ago that makes it distinct and grand.

My eyes returned to the front where five thrones are situated at the direct north of the room and the central one is the largest and most striking of them all.

It is made of gold and embossed with pearls while the other chairs on its side are smaller but no less majestic. Created with the same materials and decorated with gems corresponding to the ones the animals have in the mural above.

It is all empty except for the one on its direct right.

A very old and ancient-looking woman dressed in gray formal attire with her silver hair in a tight bun adding only to her already prestigious and esteemed aura she is exuding.

Her face may be wrinkled and somewhat tired looking but it didn't hide the rigidity, sternness, and a hint of impatience. She is elegant in a severe way. Beautiful but unapproachable. She must've been a looker in her younger days and traces of her charm can still be seen.

Lastly, she is holding a silver walking baton that curiously made Daryl wince when she tapped her finger on it impatiently.

"Let me present to you Her Grand Ducal Highness, Severina von Traska, Baroness of the Barony of Menardi, Regent of the Aristocratic Dukedom of Riksent."

We all bowed respectfully in front of her as she studies us with utmost interest in her eyes.

"Welcome, young ones to the land of the Grand Duke. Please, present yourselves to me," she said in a kind but surprisingly loud voice, "Starting with the Kingdom's heir as our custom dictates us. I don't know if the Imperial and Royal monarchs are still teaching their children with traditional courtesy customs of the Dukedom since they barely visit this continent."

To my surprise, Kyrus stepped back and bowed in front of his Royal counterpart, "My mother taught me when I was a young child that Riksent, being the last country founded, always give the credit of its inception to Kalalit, the oldest monarchy of Gearth."

"As we all should regardless of the current political environment," the Baroness agreed as she looked at Trevor, "Come, child of the Kingdom, and introduce your retinue to me."

The Royal Crown Prince nodded and proceed to walk towards the foot of the throne and started introducing his companions.

"Silva von Trent, heir to the Trent Dynasty, Dynast of the Trentor Province and Royal Retainer to the Crown Prince."

"Plati von Fraser, of the Faser Dynasty, Dynast of the Fasera Province."

"Moly von Tiena, heir to the Tiena Dynasty, Dynast of the Tienan Province."

"Alumina von Bairal, heir to the Bairal Dynasty, Dynast of the Bairalia Province."

"Galion von Alric, of the Alric Dynasty, Dynast of the Alricer Province."

"Ren von Warden, heir to the Warden Dynasty, Dynast of the Ogawara Province."

The old Baroness suddenly sit up straight when she saw Ren bowing in front of her respectfully and gestured him to come closer, "Let me get a closer look at you, young man."

Our classmate looks confused but did what he is asked to do and walked to the throne of Baroness Severina who raised her baton and use it to touch the face of Ren and move it to different angles.

"Your Highness?" he asked curiously as the old woman shook her head and disbelief and sighed heavily before pointing at a portrait located directly on the wall to her left.

We all turned our heads to the direction she is pointing at and Belle screamed in surprise together with Mariya and Platti.

I can't blame them. Even I gasped as I saw the portrait of a young Grand Duke dressed in clothes from a century ago. But it is not him whom we are surprised to see but the teenage boy standing on his right as if his advisor. 

No facial difference and almost completely identical except of course on the clothes they are wearing now.

It is Ren's face for all intents and purposes. Period.

The usually talkative heir to the Ogawa Dynasty was left speechless as he ran towards the portrait to get a closer look.

"You two don't look surprised, Royal Crown Prince," the Baroness said to Trevor and Silva who are smiling ear to ear at the portrait, "I trust House Dahl is keeping a copy of a similar portrait in one of their castle vaults?"

The Royal Retainer bowed before nodding, "Indeed, esteemed Baroness. It is one of the most prized treasures of our Kingdom. A portrait of our oldest Dynast in his younger years more than a century ago before the invention of photography."

"More like an assurance that Old Man Ogawa will come to the castle without fail if needed," Trevor said while shaking his head, "He doesn't want it to be shown to the public at all costs. An embarrassing reminder of his younger days, he says. With all due respect, Baroness Severina, I don't think he will be most pleased that you showed that to his successor of all people."

To our surprise she smiled menacingly, "That's the point, dearie."

Trevor and Silva chuckled with the rest of us as Alumina raised her hand to get the Baroness' attention, "Your Highness, judging by the previous and most recent portraits alike, can I safely say that our very own Chief Ogawa was once an adviser to the Grand Duke of Riksent more than a century ago?"

"Yes. Back when the Kingdom, Empire, and Dukedom are friendlier to each other compared today. Taka is a close friend of the Grand Duke of that time, trusted and respected by the reigning Emperor back then. For all his odd quirks and barbaric behavior, he is a skilled political orator that beguiles even the most battle-hardened general," she said nostalgically before staring at Ren who still can't believe what he is seeing, "You want to spend your immersion in my villa back at Menardi, Ren? I have more where that came from."

He grinned and immediately returned to in front of the Baroness and bowed deeply, "Of course. This is once in a lifetime opportunity to finally gain mocking rights to use against that insufferable old man. I will be much obliged, Your Highness."

"Very well. But let me just tell you something, no matter how much you are annoyed from him, you remind me of Taka more of your personality than you identical faces," she said seriously before dismissing him and the rest of Trevor's retinue, "Imperial Crown Prince, if you please?"

Kyrus nodded and stepped forward to introduce the members of his retinue.

"Kirov von Alcor, heir to the Tsar of Alcor, tsarist of the Tsardom of Morvia and Imperial Retainer to the Crown Prince."

"Anastasia von Nicola, heir to the Tsarina of Nicola, tsarist of the Tsardom of Moskva."

"Olea von Feodor, heir to the Tsar of Feodor, tsarist of the Tsardom of Holst."

"Mariya and Tatyana von Otto, heiresses to the Tsarinas of Otto, tsarist of the Tsardom of Petria."

"Denal Akua of the Majestic City of Nordia, Tsardom of Morvia."

"Lexei von Laevi, heir to the Tsarina of Laevi, tsarist of the Tsardom of Yekaterin."

They all bowed respectfully at the same time but the eyes of the ancient Baroness are fixed on Kyrus who is feeling the intensity of the gaze, "You remind me of someone, child. Your expression, your stance, and posture. My old eyes may be playing games with me right now. Ignore my ramblings and please be ensured like the Royal Crown Prince that you and your countrymen and women will be treated kindly by the Dukedom in return for your hospitality to our children."

The Imperials respectfully bowed their heads and moved to let Daryl and his fellow Riksentians walk towards the Baroness who is raising her eyebrow as she scrutinizes each and every one of them.

"I see that even after more than half a year at the academy, you still didn't develop the qualities of the future leader of this nation," she said dismissively as Daryl looks bored and so used to this kind of sermons.

"Give me more time, old woman. I will manage, barely," she said half-jokingly that earned him a painful smack from the baton of the Baroness, "Ouch! Still as painful as ever. Glad you are healthy enough to swing that accursed stick of yours willy nilly."

 "I was really wrong when I was expecting your Imperial lineage will fix just a bit of your house's impertinence but I guess even with your mother's stellar genes, you are still as hardheaded as the Coltes can be," the old woman said sadly as he looked at the face of Daryl and sighed problematically, "If you got more than the pretty face of your Cecilia then I wouldn't be in this much predicament. Leave my sights, Daryl. That's more than enough headache from you today."

Kyrus and Trevor laughed when they saw Daryl grinned and punched his fist into the air in jubilation, "That went faster than expected. What a relief!"

The moment he turned his back on the Baroness, the old woman threw her baton with so much precision for her age that it hits the head of the irreverent Count so hard our classmate almost toppled over.

"Ouch! I give up! No more!" Daryl shouted and raised his hands in defeat and walked towards our Imperial and Royal classmates who is laughing hard at him.

Hrist picked up the silver baton of the Baroness and together with her sisters, present herself to their sponsor who looked at them with utmost pride and joy as she accepted her baton back.

"I've heard only good things about your actions and behaviors from the Scanian and Kalalitan abilities. You did well, girls. I can't be more pleased with how you three are doing right now," she said in a motherly tone that made Hrist, Silmeria, and Lenneth's eyes teary.

"Thanks to your superb instructions, Baroness Severina," Hrist said as Silmeria nodded.

"Yes, it was only thanks to the wisdom you imparted us that we managed to be presentable and worthy to represent you, kind Baroness."

Lenneth nodded and smiled as they let the old woman hugged them in her seat, "We are honored to represent you abroad, Your Highness. We will never squander the opportunity you gave us."

"I know you three won't," the Baroness said happily as she nodded at them and pointed at Hrist, "I want you Silmeria and Lenneth to escort your sister as she returned the sword the King of Kalalit entrusted to her elders."

They all bowed in agreement before removing themselves in front of her and letting Aerith get her turn to present herself.

"I had filed all the necessary reports and findings as you requested, Baroness Severina. You can pursue them all at your leisure," Aerith said smoothly and made me realize that she knows exactly how to talk with the old woman.

"As expected from a Tross. Efficient, reliable, and simple. Now, if you can just be a bit more proactive then we can kick Daryl from the position he is forced to," Baroness Severina said that made Aerith shook her head repeatedly.

"I doubt that will be a wise course of action, Your Highness. You of all people in Riksent knows that my house is at its best when dealing with bureaucracy, nothing more," she answered respectfully that made the old woman groan in disappointment.

"Why did I live up to this point when an heir from House Colte will lead the Dukedom," she said mournfully as if she dread the prospect and glanced at Daryl who is mockingly giving her a peace sign, "How torturous but my grieving will have to wait, Maharlikans, please come. I want to know your names."

Marga, Rod, and I followed Belle's lead and presented ourselves to the old woman sitting at her throne, "Baroness Severina, it is such an honor to meet you once again. Mother hoped that you liked the songs she recorded for your afternoon meditations."

"Ah Belle, you remind a lot of Madeline when she was around your age. So bright eye and endearing. But yes, I am enjoying her melodious voice that never fails to soothe my heart and soul," the Baroness said happily as she looked at Marga and Rod, "Looks like Rodolfo and Frederika's children are here. I heard from them that you two are formally engaged. My heartfelt congratulations to such a joyous moment. I hope you will invite me to your wedding. I've known your grandparents personally and I am sure that if they are here, they couldn't be more proud that their families will finally after several generations are united as one."

"It is already planned to ask you formally when the time comes to be one of our principal sponsors, Your Highness," Rod said humbly as his fiance nodded.

"If I am not mistaken, it was also an ancient promise of our grandparents to you before, am I right, Baroness Severina?" Marga asked respectfully.

The old woman nodded happily as if reminiscing, "Yes, indeed. A long, long time ago they said that if ever their descendants will finally join their hands in marriage, I will be one of their sponsors. Consider it accepted, dears."

Two smiled happily before bowing and stepping aside to introduce me finally, "May we have the honor of introducing Gearth Military Academy's prized scholar, Kady Groves of the United Republic of Maharlika."

I stepped forward after Rod introduced me and bowed lowly, "An honor to meet you, Your Highness."

"I still remember as if it's just yesterday that when I asked Lizzo many years ago what does she want to be after graduating, she immediately answered that she will be the first female President of your country," she said curiously as she eyes me with great interest, "Now, I will ask the same question to you. What do you want to be after you graduate, Kady?"

I just smiled and shrugged my shoulders casually, "I want to be me, Your Highness."

There was a moment of silence as the Baroness remained speechless after hearing my answer and finally, she smiled, "A great answer, young girl. Now, I will have something to look forward to before taking my retirement. I wonder, where will your path take you?"

I just remained silent before bowing again and taking a step back as the old woman rose from her throne and look at all of us, "Once again, as the Regent of this nation, I welcome you to the Grand Duke's Dukedom. You will receive further instructions for an hour or so later. For now, I want you all to head to the dining hall and hopefully enjoy the grand banquet that I prepared for you all. May your stay here at Riksent be fruitful and enjoyable. That concludes your audience. Take care!"

-0-

"It should be around here somewhere, Kady..."

I looked at the boy beside me reading a map as we are walking along a rather deserted street in one of the gated villages of Laroost dragging our luggage that are heavier because of all the foods and other things that we bought on our way here from the central district.

We refused the offer of the Baroness to have us transported via one of her state cars to the house which will host us for the duration of our stay here.

Thankfully, I managed to buy a beautiful and absurdly cheap black faux fur coat from one of the stores in the city. Denal himself bought a lot of food and some clothes for his mother back at the Empire. Even if it's just four in the afternoon, we decided to cut our shopping short to give ourselves more time to get lost and find our way in time for dinner.

I looked around and saw several beautiful estates and villas along this particularly opulent street of the village. Like the rest of the buildings in the city proper, the designs of the houses here are a combination of Kalalitan and Scanian architecture. 

Even the landscaping of the vast gardens is a fusion of the Kingdom and Empire's techniques.

"I think that's the one, Kady."

I looked at the direction my companion is pointing at and was amazed by the beauty of the house in front of us.

It is not as grand or big as the others around it but it is just as exquisite and well-kept looking. The manor is made of black bricks and alabaster, two stories high, and surrounded by a beautiful garden with a rather odd choice for flowers planted.

Serene looking black tulips are blooming in full.

It is rather dark and brooding kind of home but looks welcoming in its distant sort of way.

"Should I ring the doorbell, Kady?" Denal asked and I nodded.

"Please, Denal. Even with this fur, I am still shivering in cold," I answered and she pressed the doorbell button three times before stepping back to wait.

A few moments later, the gate opened and a man in his mid-twenties appeared as if from nowhere wearing black pants and a white shirt with matching sneakers and a smiling face.

"Kady Groves and Denal Akua right?"

The boy beside me blinked and glanced at me before nodding, "Uhm, yes. Sir?"

"Call me Yosef, I am the head of House Freedel, the only branch family of the House Hausen but let's just forget about that noble nonsense and get you inside my house, shall we?" he said smoothly that made me feel impressed.

He clearly knows how to deal with commoners like us in a language we can definitely understand.

We followed him towards the manor and everything seemed to be going along just well. Denal is happily trudging along beside me as we follow the back of Yosef.

But what bothers me is his posture.

I've seen different styles and forms because of my stay at the Brawl Club and his posture right now is very alarming.

To untrained eyes, it will be unnoticeable but for me, he seemed to be waiting for a perfect time to strike and I know this particular kind of stance.

I've seen this so many times I kind of memorized its ticks and movements.

In a blink of an eye, I pushed Denal as fast as I can away from me and prepared to perform a defensive maneuver as Yosef suddenly turned and lunged at my direction ferociously.

I stepped back, reach my right hand to the skies as if grasping for it while my left is pointed to the ground and I performed a twirl and propelled my body in a circular motion and braced myself for impact.

As expected his fist hit my palms and I deflected it soundly before proceeding to deliver a palm strike to his stomach while still mid-air but to my surprise, he managed to block it before doing a barrel-roll agilely and landing on the ground unscathed.

He then dropped his fighting stance and laughed out loud as he helped Denal stand up from the ground after I pushed him away.

"Nice one, Kady. But not nice enough," he said while smiling sweetly at the direction that made me drop my guard.

"So you are the one they are telling me to avoid..."

He pretended to be hurt by my words and touched his chest as if in pain, "Ouch. How could my cute little bros tell something like that? After all the hardships and headaches I've been through just to raise them and everything, this is how they will repay me? By talking s**t behind my back to a lady?"

"Well, attacking a hapless girl with a small boy is not something I would brag about if it's my brother doing it," I said pointedly as I cleaned Denal's pants and hands that got dirtied.

He then smiled the way his brothers did when they did something embarrassing and scratched the back of his head.

I bet the two will look a lot like him when they grow up. 

The man before us is as dangerous in battle as is handsome.

"When you put it that way, I guess I am really a degenerate person," he said humbly before bowing his head lowly, "Please accept my apologies, Kady and Denal. In return, I will be at your beck and call during your immersion here."

Denal looked mightily, impressed rather than angry and I can definitely see a hero-worship thing brewing in the young boy's eyes.

"It's not like you are serious or anything to attack us anyway," I said dismissively before smiling at our host, "If you really want to do us harm, you wouldn't have walked in front of us where I can watch your movements."

He just laughed as he went between me and Denal and put his arms on our soldiers and started walking again, "Think of it as my way of saying hello. I bet my brothers are doing the same to say hi."

"Oh, Kady now I remember! He looked a lot like those twins following you all the time at school and the dorm. Yuro and Yugo were it? Second years?" Denal squeaked as Yosef ruffled his hair fondly.

"They are my younger brothers, Denal. But you look like someone who has the aptitude to fight yourself. Your arms and legs are long and lithe. A few bruises and practice and you will be good in no time."

The Scanian nodded his head enthusiastically by the prospect, "Will you teach me? Even just a little? I was not qualified to join the Brawl Club because of my age and height that's why I am stuck in the Reading Club."

"Hey! Don't talk like the Reading Club is a bad organization!" he said irritatedly as he pointed at a portrait hanging near the front door of the house that showed his younger self at Gearth Military Academy looking a lot like his brothers and standing happily with several nerd looking students side by side "I am a member of that club for two years and I wouldn't exchange it for the sweaty and smelly Brawl Club."

I faked a cough and shook my head, "Well, it is no longer sweaty and smelly. I made sure of it."

"Of course you did. Having their first-ever girl member and subsequently, their president literally cleaned up the act of the sloppy, not to mention dirty club finally," he said condescendingly as he showed us around his impressive house, "Anyways, I can sense that you only raised your fists for self-defense but really Kady, for a president of the Brawl Club you are a bit on the weaker side."

I grunted and raised my eyebrows, "Well excuse me for not having any time to practice or even warm-up. The amount of paperwork that needs to be done is just staggering. It took me up until last month to sort them all out, file some, submit and segregate before finally being able to say that I am done. Your brothers also don't want me "dirty my hands" in any way possible."

"Hmph. Of course, they don't," he said in a quiet voice before returning to his perky one, "Well, enough of my cute little brothers, let's go to the dining hall, I'm sure you two are hungry. Baroness Severina told me that you were walking from the citadel on your way here. Why?"

Denal and I looked at each other before smiling sheepishly, "We really wanted to buy a lot of cheap things at the stores in the city so when we heard that your manor is just a walking distance away from the citadel then we just decided to do some little shopping before we get here," I answered honestly after he led us to the very clean dining hall connected to a small kitchen.

"Well, I personally won't agree that four kilometers is a walking distance but it looks like you have a good time shopping? If your luggage that is bursting at the seams is to be taken into account," Yosef said while pointing at our arguably large bags that looks like it will burst any minute now.

My classmate laughed and nodded, "There are still several stores we missed since we were instructed to get her before dinner time. I hope we can have the chance to go shopping before we leave."

"Don't worry Denal. I am the one who will be calling the shots during your immersion here and your first task for tomorrow is to buy all the things that you want to. How's that sound, huh?" our host asked as he began to take out several pots and pans from the cupboard and turning around as he opened the fridge, "Any allergies, or things you don't like to eat?"

"I will eat anything as long as it is edible," I answered simply.

"You are the one who will cook for us? You don't have any maids or butlers or anything?" Denal asked callously.

"Denal! That's rude!" I said quietly but it seemed that Yosef heard us as he laughed and shook his head.

"No worries, Kady. I like him already. But the answer is no, Denal. No stay-in house help at least. I value my privacy," he said as he took out what looks to me like chicken and beef meat out of the fridge and banged it on the counter, "But fret not, I am a good cook if I do say so myself. Just look at Yuro and Yugo. They won't be as healthy, not to mention bulky, if not for my cooking."

Denal clapped his hands excitedly and nodded, "Can you tell me what to eat so I can get taller too, Yosef?"

"You are a Scanian, aren't you?" he asked and Denal nodded quickly and he shook his head, "Then there's no need for any special diet. I know your type, Denal. By the time you reach eighteen, you will be far taller than me. Mark my words."

And with that, our host proceeds to start cooking as he jovially chatted with us.