Destinare: A Destined Tale Of Time

XIII Peaceful again

  “Consider this your last warning, Iraj. Don’t you dare touch my daughter!”

The words that Julianus spat out were like daggers before he lifted Azmeralda up in his arms and disappeared back into the banquet. It was all happening too fast for Azmeralda to protest. By the time she came to it, it was when she saw the nobles staring at her. It made her nauseous and embarrassed to the bone. She felt the heat radiating off her father’s body, it was warm as his mana subsided.

“P-Papa,” she hesitated. However, the nobles chattering was too much to be handled. “Put me down, I can walk on my own.”

Her voice was nothing but a whisper in the background of Julianus’s mind. ‘I should have just slit his throat,’ he lashed silently while maintaining his composed complexion. The only thing that led him to follow his daughter to the back garden was when he noticed a red-headed man walking in her path.

At that moment, he couldn’t contain his fury and dashed after him. ‘I only see one red-head in this b****y banquet,’ he growled as he pushed his chair back harshly. The clattering of the wood on the marble grabbed him some attention.

“Are you going somewhere, Emperor?” Petrus questioned, his face already flushed from the alcohol. “Is the ball not to your liking?”

“Absolutely not,” Julianus stated, faking a smile. “I find myself rather tipsy so I will have some fresh air in the garden.”

Petrus laughed it off, the Queen silent at his side. As Julianus headed to the garden, his knight, Alexander, was in toe. Julianus halted and glanced over his shoulder.

“No need to accompany me,” Julianus said, with his hand raised to halt the knights.

The other men glanced at their commander, Alexander, waiting for his orders. Alexander stared oddly at his king before he held his head low in compliance, a hand over his chest. Soon, the other 4 knights copied him.

“As you command, Your Majesty,” they said in unison, a little too loud.

Julianus curled his lips up into a smirk before he carried on his way. The blood in his vain began to boil with the anticipation of what he was going to find beyond that glass wall. And it was then that he saw the Persian red-headed prince with a hand on Azmeralda’s head.

The fractions of the past came crashing down like reality. The clock ticked as Julianus felt the world crumbling before him, the stench of blood made him nauseous. And that was when he intervened, the fear that might have lost the last thing making him bear with his own life. He couldn’t contain himself, not even his mana that went loose.

‘Julian…he still dares to utter that name after what he has done,’ a voice inside him roared in anger, his grip tightened. The feeling of his daughter’s warmth forced him back to the present moment.

He lifted his eyes to stare at Azmeralda’s crystallized pupils. ‘Nothing in this world matters but you,’ he reminded himself as he read the worry on Azmeralda’s face. Her lips moved to make a muffled sound to his ears.

He flinched, the voice now clear in his head.

“Papa put me down!” Azmeralda whispered screamed, her tiny hands gripping the fabric on Julianus’s shoulder.

Finally, her protests reached her father’s ears. He blinked a couple of times, staring into the burning fire in his daughter’s eyes. “Oh, you are embarrassed to be carried by your father?” he rattled off, his face switching complexion swiftly.

“Of course I’m!” she protested, even though she never noticed the switch amid her frustrated state. “I have my own two legs.”

Julianus chuckled silently. Finally giving her what she wanted, and put her down gently till her toes touched the ground. Now that Azmeralda had solid ground under her, she remembered Tiberius and how she left him back in the garden alone. Her face flushed. ‘He saw such an unsightly thing!’ she whined, her head jolting to glare at her father.

“What is it now?” Julianus said, crossing his arms over his chest. “I already let you down, spoiled child.”

“How am I to face the Prince again after such a…thing,” she pouted, her brows frowned. “I even left without saying goodbye and that’s all your fault, Papa!”

Julianus blinked oddly, tilting his head to take a better look at her face. He couldn’t hold back the laughter, thinking how cute she looked with her brows frowned. “Oh, I believe that’s a problem,” he said, his voice amused.

Azmeralda couldn’t tell if he was indeed amused or was just hiding the anger that still ate at his insides. ‘Even if I asked, it would be useless,’ she thought with a sigh, avoiding her father’s gaze.

Julianus gazed at Azmeralda as he hovered over her. In the corner of his eyes, he caught sight of the young prince Tiberius as he walked back inside the hall. Clearly, he was nervous and frustrated. Julianus had to at least admit that the sight he witnessed was unpleasant, especially for a 10-year-old child. Another glance at his daughter and he could see that she shared the same complexion as Tiberius.

He sighed. ‘I vowed that I would never touch him,’ Julianus reminded himself. ‘There was no need for such a tantrum…’ he thought as his eyes lingered on his daughter, wondering what kind of thoughts she had when she saw such an ugly side of him. He wanted to apologize, but decided not to. Instead, he placed his hand over her head.

Azmeralda jumped at the sudden touch and glanced up.

“Then why don’t you go and make it up for the little prince?” Julianus whispered gently, ruffling her black hair.

Azmeralda blinked twice in surprise. “I could?” she said after a long moment, not believing her ears – at least not after what happened.

Julianus nodded. “However, Alexander will be on your side,” he stated, gesturing with his hand.

Alexander appeared out of thin air by the Emperor’s side. Azmeralda didn’t even think about how the knight got there or where he had been. However, she figured that protesting was useless – her father’s determination was absolute.

The staring lasted between the family members almost like being in a contest. The appearance on Julianus was the you-aren’t-going-anywhere-without-Alexander. Underneath it was a look of amusement, knowing that he was going to end up winning the conversation. Adding up to his list of victories.

Azmeralda narrowed her eyes at him for a long moment before she sighed in defeat.

“Alright then,” she accepted. “Let’s go, Alexander.”

Julianus gave her a faint smile, there was no need to give any orders to the commander of the Imperial Guards – he already knew what to do. It wasn’t the first time that Julianus sent his best knight to protect his daughter. After all, he had seen what Alexander was capable of on a battlefield. It is easy to say that Alexander was only second to the Emperor in terms of mana control and strength.

“Don’t make him get near her,” Julianus whispered under his breath.

Alexander didn’t need to ask any further, he nodded as he bowed his head with a hand over his heart. “As you command, Your Majesty.”

Azmeralda was ignorant of what was going around her, as she was occupied trying to spot the little prince in the crowd of glimmering nobles. Before long, her eyes spotted the small frame in a black suit, walking next to the wall and away from the eyes of the others. She couldn’t help but chuckle at the strangely familiar way of his steps, his silent steps, and his head hanging low from his neck.

She rushed, dodging the nobles around her, barely able to hold herself from calling his name out loud. Knowing the way he would react upon his name grabbing the attention of the others around him – he would most probably keep on his way and away from her.

She waited until she was close enough for her arms to grab him. She held the back of his forearm and yanked him around to face her.

 “There you are!” she exclaimed, her eyes sparkling now that she was staring back at his own ink-black eyes surprised.

Clearly, she was the last person he was expecting. Nevertheless, part of him was thankful for her presence or he would have spent another long sleepless night, thinking of her and Emperor Julianus.

He wasn't aware of the cheerful grin that spread on his lips. It was only seen by Azmeralda. For the moment it lasted, Azmeralda saw the shimmer of the sparkle in his eyes. It was so beautiful, and it was one she hadn’t seen before.

“P-Princess…” he stuttered, realizing he had to reply with something. “I thought you weren’t…”

“Weren’t coming back?” she interrupted, finishing for him. “Well, that would have happened. However…”

She gestured with her head to the knight in golden armor hovering over her. It took Tiberius a while to reach the top of the 7-foot frame knight. He was huge compared to an average human, let alone a 10-year-old boy.

Tiberius blinked a couple of times before he looked back at Azmeralda. He smiled again. This time he felt it.

“Shall we continue our stroll?” he offered, rubbing the back of his neck.

Azmeralda nodded eagerly. “What about the princes?” she remembered.

They both glanced at the end of the hall, where the princes’ chairs were cold and empty.

“I guess the Queen sent them back to their room,” he suggested. “Probably in their rooms already.”

Azmeralda couldn’t help but feel guilty, she felt that she might have ruined the night for the princes. Her expression darkened and Tiberius noticed, already aware of the cause.

“Don’t blame yourself,” Tiberius spoke after a moment of silence. “They would have been dragged away even if…the Emperor didn’t do that.”

His voice was hesitant. However, he felt that he had to clear up the misunderstanding before it increased. Especially since he knew the real cause. ‘The Queen would never let them near me,’ he explained silently, in the back of his mind. ‘It would have happened anyway.’

She gave him an odd look and then nodded once. Awkward silence rose as they stood fumbling with their fingers to avoid each other’s gaze. Alexander was standing with his hand behind his back, staring back and fro between the two children. The corner of his mouth curled into a smirk before he cleared his throat.

“I think it’s time to go,” Alexander said, breaking the silence with his own raspy voice.

Azmeralda snapped out of her dwelling and looked up at Alexander. He gestured with his head to the door that led to the garden. “I believe it’s time for a stroll, princess.”

Tiberius snapped as well and soon held his head up to look at Azmeralda, not helping the flush that lingered on his pale cheeks.

“Shall we?” she smiled and led the way. Tiberius was soon following her.

Alexander opened the glass door and stepped aside, allowing the children through first. Once Azmeralda was on the other side, she felt the cool breeze on her cheeks and as it went through the locks of her hair. The night sky was beautifully adorned with glittering stars scattering across it. Azmeralda could almost swear the view was prettier now than it did then, the navy blue sky appeared darker now. The stars are glowing brighter than they did a while ago.

In the silence of the moment, she came to forget about the anxiety her father caused. Perhaps, it was the side of her that longed for a normal life –a normal night with a friend. Even her father’s sudden outburst wasn’t enough to let her waver from her goal. Her original goal for me here.

They walked in silence as they enjoyed each other’s company. No words were said, but it wasn't the awkward silence that suffocated a person. It was welcomed peace as one feels the warmth radiating from the person next to him. Peaceful it was peaceful, finally.

Tiberius halted in his walk. Azmeralda noticed and glanced over her shoulder. Alexander stood a few steps back to give them their own space.

“Do…do you want to see something with me?”