Kady's Journey -Freesia-

Chapter 7: The Chariot

"Grease covered hands, dirty nails, shriveled clothes, and unkempt hair," the Empress said criticizingly before Daryl can even utter a word, "Say no more. Clearly you are a spawn of that good for nothing oaf Dylan."

Kyrus looked shocked by the blatant show of disgust by his mother, "Mother..."

"What?! I'm just saying the truth. Look at him. He is such a disgusting person, he passed on his lack of proper hygiene so much it made our Lexei look clean!" the Empress snapped back at her son who pressed his lips and said nothing anymore as Lexei was scratching the back of his head.

"I think up until now, you are still not at peace with the decision of my mother to marry father, isn't that right, Your Majesty?" Daryl asked tentatively at the ruler who looks down on him with contempt, "After all these years?"

The Empress closed her eyes and took a deep breath before opening her eyes again and this time, her expression softened as she looked again at the kneeling heir apparent of the Dukedom, "Thankfully you got Cecilia's face or I would've lost all hope."

"Mother whose this Cecilia?" Kyrus asked his mother carefully.

The Empress smiled as if she is thinking fondly of a very close friend, "Cecilia was my lady-in-waiting who fell in love with the Baron of the House Colte decades ago. She was my close confidant and a childhood friend. I was initially against their marriage but I have to relent and let her go since she hit her head badly."

"I see. I never knew about that. So Daryl here, the heir-apparent to the Dukedom is half-Imperial? Colour me surprised," Trevor said as Daryl gave the Empress handwoven mittens made of expensive silk.

"Mother said that you should only use those during your sleep because you are such a..."

Daryl stopped midsentence when the Empress raised her hand to silence him, "I know, I know. Tell her that the gates of my palace are still open for her should she change her mind. But looking at you, I think that is impossible, hmmm?" 

The Crown Count chuckled and bowed his head respectfully as the Empress dismissed him jovially and looked at Aerith who has given her a box full of Riksentian premium chocolates.

"Oh! How I missed eating these. Thank you, my dear. Send my gratitude to your lovely parents. Tell them that the filing system that they gifted me years ago is still being used by my staff up to this day," she said in exclamation as she opened it quickly and grabbed one before letting Kirov's father take it from her.

"It will be done, Your Majesty," Aerith said respectfully before bowing and removing herself in front of the ruler to let the three girls from Riksent.

"Your Imperial Majesty, I am Silmeria Hurst. These are Lenneth Lucian and Hrist Arngrim," Silmeria said respectfully as she with her sisters bowed their head respectfully in unison, "We are here on behalf of Baroness Severina von Traska."

Empress Kassandra raised an eyebrow in an obvious show of approval at the three, "So you three are the Baroness' protege?"

"You can say that, Your Majesty," Silmeria answered as she offered a silver baton in encased in a glass box, "A gift from the Baroness of House Traska. She wishes you good health and wisdom."

"My gratitude. The nobles and representatives of the Aristocratic Dukedom of Riksent are welcome in my Empire. Please do enjoy your stay in my lands."

The Riksentians bowed once again and moved to the corner where the Imperials and Royals are staying to let us Maharlikans finally present ourselves.

Marga nodded at the three of us before leading the way and bowing lowly in front of the leader as we imitated her.

"It has been too long, Your Imperial Majesty!" Marga exclaimed excitedly as the Empress smiled sweetly at the sight of her, "Has it been two? Three? How many years?"

"Three and a half to be exact my lovely Margarita. Three and a half years since your father whisked you away from my Empire. I've missed you so!" the Empress exclaimed as Marga bowed a little and introduced my close friend.

"I'm sure you will be most pleased to meet again the Maharlikan Pop Idol herself, Belle de Marillac!" Marga said excitedly as she stepped aside so that Belle will be seen by the Empress herself who suddenly stood up in shock.

"Goodness gracious, Belle! How beautiful you have become! I heard from your illustrious mother that you took a hiatus and entered the Gearth Military Academy but I wasn't informed that you are classmates with my son and scions," Empress Kassandra exclaimed as she throws an angry glance to the Imperial Crown Prince and his retainer who was looking down on their shoes.

Belle smiled a little and shook her head, "Please don't be angry Your Imperial Majesty. The last few months have been so busy and hectic. I've barely had time to return the calls of my mother. I am pleased to introduce you to Rodrigo Marquez. Fiance of Margarita and son of His Excellency, Rodolfo Marquez, the Maharlikan Consul to the Feudal Kingdom of Kalalit."

"Send my deepest gratitude to your father then, Rodrigo. Together with Margarita's mother and your benevolent adviser,  he worked tirelessly to bring you all here to my Empire. May you enjoy your stay here at my nation," she said to Rodrigo who together with Marga, bowed deeply and left me alone with Belle.

"Empress Kasandra it is my greatest honor to present to you the Gearth Military Academy's esteemed scholar, my dear close friend, Kady Groves of Maharlika," Belle announced happily as she stepped aside to show me to the Empress.

I immediately bow my head and speak in a reverent voice, "It is an eternal honor to meet you, Your Imperial Majesty. I am not worthy."

"The successor of Lizzo perhaps? I can sense that you are a girl worthy to wield great power. I just don't say this randomly, Kady. You are a girl with great potential," she said quietly to me.

But I shook my head as I reject what she said, "I am what I am, Your Majesty. What I will be is what I will want to be. My life, my journey."

"I like you..." 

I was almost lost for words because I felt that she really meant what she just said, "I'm honored beyond words, Your Majesty. I thank you."

"Likewise, Kady," she said simply as she looked at every one of us and opened her arms, "Again, I welcome you all to my Empire. You will stay here in my palace for the night before getting ferried to respective tsardoms to commence your one-week immersion. The Imperial Household is at your disposal. If you need anything, ask. No need to be shy. You all are my important guests. This audience is over. Take a well-deserved rest, my guards will guide you to your respective rooms."

We all started to leave the throne room when the Empress called the attention of my friend, "Belle, if you don't mind I would like to speak to you personally?"

She stopped walking but I continued to follow my other classmates until I felt a cold hand suddenly grabbed my right one.

I stopped and looked back and saw my close friend holding on to me as if her life depends on it.

"Is there a problem, Belle?" I asked quietly as I faced her properly touched her forehead to check if she has a fever.

She opened her small mouth and took a deep breath before glancing at the throne where the four Imperial nobles are waiting for her, "Can you stay, please?"

I too glanced at the people behind her before looking at Belle again, "I think it's a rather private discussion. I don't know if I can..."

"It's alright, my dear. I understand that Belle counts on you for emotional support. I wouldn't mind the least if you join her. After all, I too once needed Daryl's mother at times like these. Please, be at ease, both of you. Follow us to the study room so we can talk more," Kyrus' mother said kindly as she follows the lead of the Tsar of Morvia, Kirov and Kyrus who heads for the backdoor of the throne room.

I heaved a sigh and gently tugged my close friend's arm as I began to walk and she thankfully followed meekly, "It doesn't look like you are in trouble or they're gonna punish you. Why do you look so nervous and dejected?"

"I... No, it's better if you hear it from the mouth of the Empress herself," she said in a quiet voice as she wraps her arms around mine as we walk, "I really do appreciate you doing this for me, Kady. I know personally that you have a lot of problems and things to think about as is but thank you, really."

I shook my head as we walked through the impressive and ornate door and to the long hallway where we can see the back of the Empress at a distance, "Nonsense. Your and your mother has done a great deal for me and this is nothing compared to what I owe you. Notwithstanding the clothes and shoes among other things that you two picked for me to make myself presentable and the friendship you offered so readily to me when I have none at all is not forgotten and will never be."

"Kady..."

"Relax, I don't think it's not that bad. Kyrus' mother doesn't seem to be angry or anything at all. Why are you so nervous?" I asked curiously as I made a small laugh that sadly didn't make her smile at all.

Belle just looked at me and shook her head, "Clueless as always, Kady. Well, whether I like it or not, you will learn soon enough what is in store for little old me."

I just blinked at what she said as we entered a beautiful study room filled with ancient bookshelves that cover the wall, a beautiful and comfortable looking sofa and a floor to ceiling glass stained window that are thrown wide open by Trevor to let the fresh afternoon breeze inside.

"Please my dears, take a seat," Empress Kassandra said as she pointed the couch in front of her as she prepares the tea and biscuits while the Tsar stands behind her quietly with Kyrus, "This chamomile tea is excellent. Anastasia's mother, Fedora, handpicked these herself from her garden at Moskva. The cookies, however, are homemade by Olvo himself, Olea's father, one of the Empire's greatest baker to ever live."

We graciously accept the offer of the Empress and make ourselves comfortable at the couch as she gave us our cups of tea and offered the platter of biscuits before sitting down in front of the two of us and started sipping from her cup in earnest.

"Now then, how about we start talking about your future marital relationship, shall we, Belle and Kyrus?"

I was so surprised that I suddenly coughed while drinking my tea and sputtered uncontrollably for a few seconds as Kirov bellowed in a burst of gleeful laughter because of my predicament.

"I... I'm sorry. Please... forgive my random outburst. I was just..." I tried to apologize as sincerely as I can but I can't still stop myself from coughing the hot tea so much that Belle herself took out her silk handkerchief and wiped my mouth as she patted my back softly.

Even Kyrus is smiling despite himself as I tried to catch my breath and drink the water offered by the Empress who she herself is looking amused by my reaction.

"Reminds me of the time when Cecilia asked for your permission to marry Dylan," Mirona said nostalgically as he himself took a seat next to the Empress who is trying to suppress a shy smile, "You sputtered at your tea so hard it took us almost an hour just to calm you down."

"Indeed. Ahh, to be young and emotional again," sighed Kyrus mother as she instructed Kirov and Kyrus to sit as well, "But we can take a trip down the memory lane some other time. Now that Kady regained her composure faster than I can possibly hope to achieve, let's deal again with the matters at hand."

We all fell silent as the Empress looked directly at my friend who is holding my hand for support, "We have delayed this long enough, Belle. As usual, your mother always defers to you and trusts your decision fully so the decision falls in your hands."

"I..."

"I just want to reiterate again that if you do accept this proposal, you will be, though informally, for the time being, be the Presumptive Empress Consort of my Empire. Think this through," Empress Kassandra said seriously that made me finally realize the magnitude of this meeting.

Belle glanced at Kyrus who is looking sheepishly at her that made my heart skipped a beat. 

Puppy love.

How pure.

My friend suddenly turned to me and her eyes are looking pleadingly, "What should I do, Kady?"

"What?! You are being offered the position of one of the most powerful women in the world and you are asking me what to do? Are you insane?" I asked incredulously and to my shock, she nodded fervently.

I just looked down on her in disbelief, "Ok, so you are saying that your mother defers the final decision to you which in turn you defer to me?"

"Yes."

"You've gotta be kidding me. Your mother let you decide on your own yet you are squandering that trust by letting me, someone you just met, to decide your very future? You are an i***t," I said scathingly hoping that somehow she will wake up from her stupidity.

She nodded and inclined her head, "But not i***t enough to waste the opportunity to ask for your advice. Blindly deciding on something is way worse than asking for someone's opinion. And not just someone, you are probably the best person who can advise me on this. You don't see me as a celebrity, an idol, an airhead or probably a b***h. You see me as a friend, an equal. I've never met a girl like you who treats me as a normal human being, not a personality that has to be put into a pedestal and fawned over."

"I... I don't know what to say..."

"Well, how about you start making yourself useful and look at Kyrus, Kady," she asked me seriously as she clung on to my arm even further, "What do you think of him as a husband?"

I take one hard look at the Imperial Crown Prince for the first time since we met. I finally know the indescribable feeling that bothers me whenever I am close to him. 

Familiarity.

I know it sounds weird, insane even. But I got this feeling that I've known him for a long time and his behaviour and personality is predictable to me. Like every time he makes a stupid mistake or said something offending, I might get angry but I was never surprised. 

It took me a whole minute of silence as I scrutinize the boy that is now blushing under my judgmental gaze and trying to avoid eye contact until I heaved a sigh and shook my head before looking at my close friend who is patiently waiting for my words.

"You can do worse, Belle. You can do worse than marry him..."

Kirov and his father let out a relieved laugh as the Empress beamed at me after I said those words and looked at my friend, "Your answer, Belle?"

"I accept the marriage proposal agreement, Your Imperial Majesty. But, if possible, I wanted to..."

"Say no more, my daughter-in-law, this will be strictly confidential. I also promised that to dear Madeline. I will let you and Kyrus enjoy your school life away from this adult nonsense for as long as possible. Rest assured," Empress Kassandra vowed as she gave her son and Belle a piece of paper with the Imperial Seal on it to sign which they did quickly.

I looked at Kirov who was grinning at me knowingly, "Did I just witnessed a marriage contract signing?"

"Yep. Like a mother giving away her daughter. What's the feeling?" he said tauntingly as I broke into a cold sweat when I finally realized what the Imperial Retainer was implying.

I just gave my close friend away for marriage...

"Kady dear. Thank you for being with me in these trying times. I love you so much," Belle declared as she gave me a big warm hug as I still try to process what just happened before me and my role in it.

To my surprise, Kyrus walked in front of me and pulled me up suddenly to give me a tight hug as well, "I will forever be in your debt, Kady. Thank you."

"I... well... Just don't make me regret vouching for you, Kyrus," I finally relented that made Belle and the Empress burst in tears.

Kirov and his dad stood up and applauded happily.

"I will take care of her, I promise..."

"I believe you..."

-0-

"Welcome to the Tsarina of Yekaterin's Manor!"

The butler who welcomed us at the gate bowed deeply the moment we stepped out of the car.

Galion and I looked at each other as our companion greets his servants cordially.

"How are you, Abram? Is mother home?" Lexei asked as he motioned us to follow him.

I let the maids who are with the butler to take our luggage and ease our burden, "Wow, I know that Lexei is loaded but I didn't expect this much."

"Neither did I. I know that Yekaterin is one of the backbone tsardoms of the Empire but this is ridiculous. My family's fortune is nothing compared to his. I mean the house of that git is more like a small castle than a manor" Galion answered under his breath as we followed our classmate. 

I looked at the garden in front of the manor and was amazed by the sheer luxury this place has shown me and I'm not even yet inside the house at all.

While it is not as extravagant as the Empress palace, it can definitely hold it's own comfortably in sheer opulence. 

Beautiful statues of cats that seemed to be the main motif of the tsardom as whole pepper the yard. Gold, silver, copper, and bronze feline statues can be seen around while the facade of the manor itself hints old age but is well taken care of and cleaned. 

When we finally entered the manor, a woman dressed in black and red office attire welcomed us together with at least a dozen of mixed-breed cats of all colors following her like an entourage or something. She is around fifty years old with curly black hair and a beautiful, stern face.

"Welcome to the Yekaterin Manor, my and your classmate's home," she said as she gave her son a quick hug, "I am Alexa von Laevi, reigning Tsarina of the Yekaterin Tsardom and your hostess for the rest of your stay here at the Empire. If there's anything that you need, just tell me and I will try my best to be of service."

Galion and I bowed our heads lowly and introduced ourselves accordingly.

"I am Kady Groves, from the United Republic of Maharlika, Your Highness. It is an honor and privilege to meet you."

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

She blinked and looked at the two of us curiously, "What a rather odd bunch of acquaintances you got here, son. And here I thought you will be lazy to even talk to other people outside the Empire. How strange."

"Mother, please..."

"Fine, fine. I'll behave. I'll try anyway," the Tsarina said jokingly as Lexei moaned in embarrassment, "Let's go to the dining hall so I can at least fatten you two up. I called on the best chefs my domain can produce to help me feed you all during your stay here."

The two of us followed the mother and son as we walked down the hallway full of portraits and pictures of the Tsarina and Lexei.

You can really tell that our classmate is the sole love and life of his mother. Each and every picture they have together shows that the Tsarina's life revolves solely around her only son.

I stopped in front of one large portrait depicting a child Lexei and his mother in the garden together with several teenage soldiers eating happily.

"Hmph. Not just his mother it seems," I looked at Galion who is standing beside me and also looking at the portrait, "He was beloved even by his citizens. How droll."

I didn't manage to ask him why he thinks that way because he turned his back and continued walking while I give the portrait one last look before following my classmate. 

He is right, Lexei is well-loved by not just his mother but also his people. He certainly has this strange aura around him that makes other people, and I'm sure including Galion, to notice and revolve around him even if he tries his best to avoid it.

I was pleasantly surprised when I finally arrived at the dining hall of the manor. It was certainly not as big and grand as the palace but rather, it is a lot smaller and cozier.

The wooden round table is good for eight people and loaded with delicious dishes and desserts that I've never seen or tasted in my life before.

"Pick a chair and dig in. I know you still haven't eaten your lunch yet so please, help yourself with anything that you like," the Tsarina offered which we gratefully accepted as we sit next to Lexei who is already stuffing his mouth with rice and shrimp, "Let me personally apologize for his detestable table manners. The way he eats, one might guess that he should be obese by now. But nope. Still frail thin. What a waste."

I smiled at the sighing mother and started to load my plate with a bit of each dish so I can taste them all while Galion just picked the fishes and meat. Maybe for his fitness diet or something.

We ate silently for a few minutes as the butler and servants waited for us. When we are about to go through our second round of desserts, Lexie's mother started talking about our immersion in his tsardom.

"You have a week's worth of tasks to be done or we can just forget about it and I will let you roam around my dominion? What say you?"

Galion and I looked at each other while Lexei is still busy eating and he made it clear earlier while riding the Maglev that he will leave the decision making to our more capable hands. 

"I prefer to do the tasks, Your Highness. We are here to immerse and learn so that's what we are going to do," I answered quickly while Galion nodded in agreement.

"I am taught I won't eat if I won't work so I can't in good conscience stay here as a freeloader, Your Highness. I will do the tasks or anything asked of me," the Kalalitan said respectfully.

The Tsarina nodded and snapped her fingers.

In a few seconds, the butler arrived and gave her a folder, "Well, you asked for it. Starting tomorrow you three will accompany me on my regular visitations around the tsardom. The end of the year is coming and I want to see for myself how the Yekaterinians are faring. Your task will be to talk with the business owners and customers and ask them how is this year for them and what the Tsarina can do to help them in any way possible."

"But mother..."

"No slacking for you, son. Don't you have shame?! You will let your classmates do the work by themselves? You have to be their guide. I don't want them to be lost while I am dealing with the financial matters at hand. Really..."

Lexei moaned and reclined on his chair contently while patting his incredulously flat stomach after a good meal, "I already promised them a whole day rest tomorrow!"

"Is that true?" the irritated mother asked us as he threw his wayward son a look of disgust and contempt.

Galion and I looked at each other before answering. He nodded at me as a sign that he will leave the decision making in my hands.

I faced the Tsarina and nodded, "Yes, Your Highness. But I think it is for the best to save the rest day for last. I for one am excited to see your tsardom. I never got the chance to wander around the capital and this is the first time I traveled abroad so I have so much energy to spare."

"It will do you a whole world of good if you emulate your classmates' work ethics. You should really be ashamed of yourself you lazy oaf," the mother derided her own son who groaned when he heard me, "Very well, we will start working by ten in the morning tomorrow. It will be best if you wake up by eight so you can have enough time to enjoy your breakfast."

I bowed my head respectfully as Galion made a small cough to get the Tsarina's attention before speaking, "Your Highness, will it be a big problem if a Kalalitan is seen walking around your dominion?"

I looked at Galion and will have to agree that he will stand-out among the Scanians. Tall, rugged, brown-skinned facial features. I heard from Plati and Ren that he is the epitome of Kalalitans physically. 

"It will be a problem if you are in the other tsardoms. As you already know I'm sure, we have a maritime border with your country. You might find it surprising to see a few of your countrymen and women selling their goods at my port. No need to worry about it, Galion. Of all the Empire's tsardoms, mine is the most amiable to Kalalitans," the Tsarina answered kindly to my classmate who looked mightily relieved when he heard those words.

"You have my gratitude, Your Highness. Though I am aware that we share a marital border. I didn't know that you allow Kalalitan traders to your port when it is common knowledge to us that you and your fearsome navy is the thorn in the side of the Royal Fleet," Galion said politely that made Lexei's mother smile.

"It is rather gratifying to hear that the Kingdom sees me as a threat. It only means that my flotilla is doing its job well. To tell you the truth before, the Yekaterin Tsardom captures and imprison Kalalitan traders who do their job illegally. But my people requested to allow them at least only at the port. They missed their goods and the traders are not causing any trouble. So I let them go and gave back their products. As long as they will not set up shop outside my port, they are free to come and go as they please in my tsardom. You can talk to them tomorrow. It is Monday and the day where they bring new goods to sell from the Kingdom."

It looks like Galion is finally satisfied by the answer of the Tsarina as he bowed like me respectfully.

"If there are no questions, I will let Lexei here bring you to your room. You can just call my servants using the intercoms if you need anything. I won't be home tonight so I won't be able to join you all for dinner. Instead, your meals will be brought to your rooms. You can wander around the manor and the courtyard if that pleases you," she said kindly before standing up and pulling the ear of her son who is now nodding off in his seat, "Wake up you sleepyhead! Bring them to their rooms. I have to get back to the office right away. I will not coddle you anymore. Move!"

Even Galion can't help but laugh at the comically funny way the mother dragged her son to stand up by ear pulling it painfully.

"Ok, ok! I shouldn't have invited them here. What kind of mother are you to embarrass your own son in front of his classmates!" he shouted at her which made the Tsarina lose her temper completely.

"What kind of person are you to embarrass yourself in front of others! I don't even know what to do or say to you! You are as painful to my life as your father! He will be turning in his grave if you keep on emulating him when it's his dying wish that you will not inherit his laziness. Seriously, I wonder why my people have the utmost faith in you when I have none. Go! Now!"

Lexei grumbled as he stomped his way out of the dining hall with the two of us in tow leaving his mother similarly grumbling non-stop to the butter who was trying his best not to smile nostalgically as he bowed us off.

We climbed the grand staircase and went to the left-wing where he pointed out the two rooms at the end of the hallway, "Galion you take the left, Kady the right. I'm sorry for that outburst. We just can't stop yelling at each other whenever we are together."

"I personally think that you two get along really well," I said happily that made our classmate looked shocked by my remark, "I suddenly missed the time my own father will shout at me to listen to what he's saying when I'm dozing off. What would I give to relive those moments? You are very lucky, Lexei. Thought you ought to know. See you two tomorrow!"

I opened the door in front of me quickly and closed it behind me once I entered the beautiful room prepared for me.