For A Lifetime

"Call me Lin"

3 days after Emperor Atticus’ death at the Empire’s Capital

“Have you placed your order, Lady Yorqt?”

“Yes, one bowl of beef soup, how about you?”

“Excuse me, Ma’am” Mr. David waves his hand to the waitress

“I’ll have the same order as hers”

“Right away, young man!”

David chuckled. “I must say, My Lady, that you have a rather unique choice for a breakfast meal”

Alina smiled at his remark. “So they say.”

Mr. David and Alina are currently having their breakfast in a small restaurant in Ethicus Town- the Empire’s capital.

They have been in the capital for 2 days but have yet to visit the infected town because all roads have been blocked to secure the capital.

“Mr. David, have you met His Majesty once?” Alina asks her companion who was busily slurping the meat soup.

“Pardon me, My Lady.” Mr. David wipes his mouth as he realized he was being too concentrated on finishing his meal.

“Yes, I have met His Majesty a few times. He was a great leader, a wise one even.”

“I see.”

“You haven’t met His Majesty once, My Lady?”

“Unfortunately, I haven’t got the chance.”

“Weren’t you given an Exemplary Service Award by His Majesty last year, My Lady?

“I wasn’t able to receive it personally due to my conflicted schedule at that time. Looking at these people in the Capital, I can see how the Emperor truly led a wise rule during his reign."

Alina kept on looking at the bypassers who were clad in black clothing- signifying their sorrow at the Emperor’s death.

“How is the situation at the palace now, Mr. David?”

“His Highness the Crown Prince is expected to arrive today.” Mr. David let out a sigh.

“Even for a Crown Prince, this is too much.”

“Why do you say so?”

“His Highness grew up without a mother. Hence, His Majesty was his only blood related family. And yet, he was not given a chance to stand beside his father’s deathbed all because he had to lead a war as a Crown Prince.”

“It is indeed a sad story.”

“My Lady, if I may ask, what do you feel whenever your father goes to war?”

“Anxious and hoping.” Alina wanders her eyes to the children walking beside their father while holding hands.

“Despite the mourning, the capital looks peaceful now.” She lets out a sigh. “I wonder how long it will last.”

Mr. David examines Alina’s facial expression. Her facial expression did not match the words she just uttered- there was no hint of sadness and fear in her eyes at all.

“Truly, she is one mysterious young lady,” Mr. David thought to himself.

Seeing as they have both finished their meal, Alina stands up.

“We should get going now.”

As they were walking towards the exit of the restaurant, they heard the galloping sound of horses. It was the Imperial Knights and they were swiftly heading in the direction of the palace.

As the parade of horses was over, Alina saw that the faces of the civilians were changed from sorrowful to hopeful. This scene made her quite happy inside.

“Mr. David. I would like to know where the nearest dress shop is.”

“It’s beside that cafe over there, My Lady. Should I go with you?”

“No need. Thank you for the offer.”

Although Alina was a lady of a distinguished family, she thought it was better to travel without guards and only two maids, Min and Rin, by her side. This time, as she plans to travel as a commoner- the first thing she needs to do is change her clothes.

“Good morning, Ma’am. How may I help you today?”

A lady in her 30’s happily greets Alina.

“I’m looking for some white sleeves, brown pants, and a pair of boots.”

The lady from the shop walks around Alina, checking her measurements.

“Broad shoulders, small waist, healthy pair of bosoms, and long legs.”

The lady excitedly looks at Alina.

“My Lady, you have such great body proportions!”

Everyone in the room looked at their direction because the lady’s voice was too loud.

Alina did not mind them but Min and Rin glared at them.

“Ma’am, do you have what I was looking for?” Alina seriously asked the Lady.

“Yes, yes, yes! Forgive me, I was just so excited seeing such proportions. It is my honor to have you wear my clothes, My Lady. Now, I’ll be right back in a few moments.”

Alina looked at the clothing displays in the shop. The dresses here are magnificent and the materials used were rare and the designs were perfectly crafted. Alina had thought to herself that she would definitely buy a few dresses from this shop for her mother and sister.

After a few minutes, the lady from the shop, whose name was Emily, came back with Alina’s clothes.

“Here they are, My Lady.”

“White sleeves with just a few laces, brown pants, and a pair of leather boots.”

Min and Rin looked at the clothes and examined them. They noticed that the measurements were perfect for their Ladyship.

“My Lady, the measurements are perfect.” Min suspiciously said to her lady while secretly unsheathing her knife.

“Why, of course! I am the best dressmaker here in the Capital so I always have a few clothes made for such perfect proportions. Your Lady here happens to have the best proportions, hence the perfect fit!” Emily explains.

“Calm down, I understand.”

Alina steps up lest further quarrels will occur between her maid and the shop owner.

“These clothes are perfect, Emily. I love them!” Alina honestly speaks her mind.

“But, there’s one more thing I need.”

Emily looks at Alina and hurriedly goes back to wherever she’s gotten the clothes.

“Here they are, My Lady.” Emily returned with a white cloak embroidered with intricate patterns.

“Thank you, Emily, it’s just what I needed!”

Rin settled the payment with Emily as Alina changes into her new set of clothes.

Moments later, Alina went out of the dressing room. Emily, Min, and Rin were all amazed at how different the lady looked with her new set of clothes. Before she entered the shop, anyone could see that she was a lady of a noble family, looking at her now, she looks like a woman with great adventures ahead of her.

“You look different, My Lady”, Rin comments.

“Does it look odd?”

“No, My Lady. You look like you. Brave and determined.”

“Thank you, Rin. But I must ask, which do you prefer?

“What I like is My Lady’s character. I believe that whatever you wear, My Lady, your character will always remain the same.”

Alina smiled at her.

Emily went towards them and kept on praising Alina for her new appearance.

It is evening.

Mr. David and Alina have decided to meet up with the other traveling companions in a nearby tavern.

At the Tavern

“Over here!” a 12-year-old boy calls out to Mr. David and Alina, leading them to a table surrounded by strangers.

“It seems like they’ve already arrived, My Lady.” Mr. David whispers to Alina.

As they reached the table, Alina and Mr. David were warmly welcomed by the group.

One of the group, Lira, a 25-year-old female, was seated beside Alina.

She had a commendable physical build and the sword hanging around her waist made her look even more intimidating.

“So, you are the distinguished lady of the Yorqts. I was surprised when I saw you enter through the door. I wasn’t expecting to see a noblewoman dressed in pants and a cloak.” Lira inquires Alina.

Min and Rin look at Alina, anticipating how she would answer the question.

“Yes, it is me. However, I came here as a doctor.”

Alina answers. “How did you know me?”

“When David told me that he was going to Yorqt town, I knew he was trying to recruit you. Who else would be recommended by the palace from that place except for the famous lady doctor of the Yorqts? You see, I knew about your commendable voluntary services to the sick and needy, and a few others,”

“And what of the other?”, she curiously asks.

“Oh! No worries about that. I have never heard a bad thing directed at you. Except for one.” Lira leans closer to Alina.

“Rumour has it that the lady of the Yorqt has yet been engaged in any romantic relationships and might end up alone in the future.” Alina simply smiled at Lira’s remarks.

“It has also reached my ears, and I can really do nothing about it.” Alina shrugged her shoulders playfully.

The two women then let out a small laugh.

“For a moment there, I thought you would be offended. It seems like I truly have a lot to know about you, Lady Yorqt.” Lira tells Alina.

“Please just address me as Lin. I do not wish to travel with such formalities.” Alina suggests.

“Amusing!" Lira thought to herself.

While the women had just finished their conversation, the other companions scooted over them to exchange pleasantries too.

The rest of the night was filled with plans on how they would travel through the towns with assured safety.

Lira, Rose, David, Elam, Navish, Hash, and Wren.

These are Alina’s companions on the journey set ahead of her.

In the morning. The Coronation day.

Alina wakes up as the smell of freshly baked pie reaches her nostrils. She opened the window and did her morning prayers. A knock is heard at the door. Alina opens it and sees Min with the baked pie. She put it on a table and walked towards the lady.

“Good morning, My Lady.”

“Good morning, Min. Have you prepared everything?” Alina asks her helper as she is busily fixing herself for the day.

“Yes, My Lady”. Min starts to work on Alina’s hair.

“How should I do it today, My Lady.”

“Just a simple braid will do, it won’t be seen anyway.”

“As you wish, My Lady.”

Alina looks back and faces her helper.

“Is there anything wrong, My Lady?”

“Yes, there is.”

Min is alarmed. However, Alina rested her hands on her shoulders.

“During this whole journey, you can just call me Lin.”

“No, no, no, My Lady. I cannot do that. How can I dare to call you that?”

“Min, this is the first time that I’ll be traveling really far away from home, and I want to take this chance to see the world as it is. No titles, and no special services. And that wouldn’t happen if you keep on calling me that way.”

“I understand, My Lady. Is it alright if I ask you something, L..i..n?” Min stutters.

Alina smiles, “Yes”

“Do I really have to address you as such?”

“Yes! I want equality among the team. I don’t want to be the only one addressed formally just because I’m a noble. I want to receive the same treatment from the other members.”

“Min, I want to see things through with my own capabilities. This is also my purpose for accepting this task. I want to reach more people. I have helped our town, I think it’s time I set my foot on somewhere else.” Alina explains.

“The words you said today, I will surely remember them, My Lady.” Min sincerely replies.

Alina, Min and Rin took a walk in the town. The town capital has been decorated with flowers and ornaments. It looks truly festive fit for a Coronation Day!

Everyone in the town is eager to witness the Crown Prince’s coronation day.

At the Palace. Inside His Highness Michael’s room

“Guide me, Mother. Guide me, Father.” These are words that silently came out of Michael’s mouth as he put back a necklace with a pendant encasing his parents' portrait into its case.

He stands in front of the mirror as the servants enter the room to put on his imperial robe. The robe itself was heavy. As Michael has finished preparing, Calcipher, the imperial advisor, enters the room.

“Your Highness! You’ve grown into a great man!”

“Father would have been happy to see me in this robe” Michael replies.

“Your father has already dreamed of this scenario many times, Your Highness”

“I know. I was really too late, wasn’t I, Calcipher.”

Calcipher did not respond.

“My father had longed for me to carry the weight of this robe. If I had accepted it earlier, he would have died without bearing such weight. He would have died as a free man. Just as he has always dreamed of.”

“Your Highness, I know that the weight you’ll carry from now on is too great. But, I can assure you, if your father would see you today, he wouldn't only be happy. I know that he’d also be sad. As a father, he also wished for you to lead a common life, but as an Emperor, he cannot do so, because you are his only heir.”

“Thank you Calcipher, for everything.” Michael sincerely thanks his advisor.

“Will you grant me the honor to be the first person to bow to you as an Emperor?”

Michael nodded.

Calcipher takes a few steps backward and bows down to Michael.

“Courage and wisdom be upon His Majesty” Calcipher recites.

The coronation ceremony was preceded by the Messenger and Michael was successfully crowned as the new Emperor.

It was time for the parade.

The parade allows the civilians to see the face of their new Emperor. Michael gets on the royal carriage followed by his Imperial knights.

Just like other people, Alina, Min and Rin also tried to see the parade through the crowd. Alina, due to her small build, was pushed in the front, distancing her from her companions. From this view, she could see clearly. She scanned through the parade until her eyes fell on the face of the Emperor. She had eye contact with the Emperor! Realizing this, Alina hurriedly walks back to the crowd to look for her companions.

Alina, Min and Rin meet up with the others in the same inn they went to last night. As the group is complete, they start their week long journey.