Destinare: A Destined Tale Of Time

VII The Man From Persia.

Amid the happiness and relief that washed over Azmeralda, lingering eyes were held on her by Tiberius as he watched the events unfold before him. He was quick to catch up with what Azmeralda felt as he remembered the previous night and the way the night’s silence was shredded as Julianus and his men searched for her.

*She must be loved* he thought back then. He couldn’t understand though why she was so scared of him, knowing that she was lost. Even last night, as he watched them, he could sense the warmth radiating off of them. It should be something unquestionable, a father's love for his daughter, but to Tiberius it was a new ecstasy.

Perhaps he might have witnessed it before between his half-brothers and Queen Blandia on occasions, but even then he could feel the motherly love from the same woman he saw nothing but hate from. Tiberius, being as young as he was, had no choice but to wonder why he had never been given such emotions before. It was hard to see the woman who showed him nothing but hate and loathe, love others with such a genuine expression. He couldn't believe the duality.

As Tiberius was lost in his own dwelling, Azmeralda took a turn to gaze at his face as it hung low on his shoulder. From the shimmer that left his eyes, she knew that he wasn’t exactly living in the same moment as she was. But instead, he was locked in a fantasy created by his own head. Perhaps, reminded of memories that would better not be unraveled.

Azmeralda wondered if she should wake him up to reality or just let him be. In the end, she was saved from the choice as a call came from behind.

“Brother!”

Tiberius snapped, his head jolted up towards the source of the sound to see the short figure of Romanus racing in their direction. Behind Romanus another similar figure was motioning for him to slow down. However, Victor’s calls fell on deaf ears.

Tiberius was taken aback by the joy glazing in his half-brother’s eyes. Romanus, on the other hand, spread his arms to take Tiberius into an embrace, his figure barely reaching his shoulder. Tiberius got caught in the moment and had no other choice but to wrap his own hands around Romanus – not that he was complaining.

 Romanus dipped his face in the firm chest of his older brother, missing his presence for the past weeks. Yesterday’s events allowed Romanus to see his brother from afar before he was dragged away by his mother, the Queen.

Tiberius couldn’t help but fall captive to the warmth that shot through him at the touch. As his thoughts were already preoccupied by thinking of warmth and so on, this felt like a cliché déjà vu to him – one that he didn’t hate.

“It’s been so long brother,” Romanus said, pulling back enough to mutter the words as his eyes shimmered.

“We haven’t seen you for so long!” Victor finished for his brother, his voice panting from racing after his brother.

“W-We just met the other night,” Tiberius corrected, rubbing the back of his head in frustration.

Romanus stepped back, keeping the joyful smile plastered on his face as he looked up at his brother with something that can’t but be labeled under genuine care. Tiberius was flustered and his eyes darted back and forth between his half-brothers and Azmeralda.

Azmeralda was standing at the side as she gave them some space, enjoying her own view from afar with a sneer loaming on her face.

“What are you doing this far into the palace?” Tiberius added.

“We were just looking around,” Victor replied first.

“We wanted to see the princess again!” Romanus covered for him.

Azmeralda faked a cough, hating being ignored for so long but enjoying the surprised looks of the two brothers as they never noticed her presence.

“Princess Azmeralda!?” they said in unison, their attention darting from Tiberius in a blink.

“We are so sorry!”

They apologized, their faces showed many different expressions one after the other, it was hard to keep track of all of them. But the dominating sensation was that of guilt and worry, for being the cause of the incident that happened the night before. The two brothers wanted to apologize for the moment that they met her, but the Queen soon dragged them away after Emperor Julianus shamed her for accusing their older brother unfairly.

Azmeralda was taken off guard, all she wanted was to announce her presence, now that she met them again. However, it was never in her intention to invoke them into apologizing. *It’s not their fault that I’m bad with directions* she thought first of the words.

“There is no need to apologize!” she exclaimed, holding her head up in protest. “It wasn’t your fault I couldn’t keep up with you.”

“No, we should have paid more attention to you,” Victor grumbled in a pout. “Next time I’ll hold your hand!”

“No!” Romanus lashed out at his brother. “Azmeralda will be holding my hand!”

Azmeralda blinked in ignorance, unable to keep up with the conversation being pulled out of thin air. In a matter of seconds, she picked up the fact that this was the first time the brothers talked on opposite sides.

And apparently, she wasn’t the only one that was spectating. Tiberius was also taking his time gazing at his brothers with an almost blank expression. Underneath those seemingly dead eyes, Azmeralda could see the hint of admiration in his dark-sparkling eyes.

*He does have the same affection they have for him* she noted as her head darted back and forth between the half-brothers. Before she realized the only misplaced piece in this whole thing was the Queen, she was sticking out like a sore thumb. If it weren’t for her, the three princes would have no obstacle in their relationship as brothers.

Perhaps that was the way of things in royalty. Their lives are never easy – as if a hard life comes with the title. Azmeralda chuckled silently before she wondered how she was going to stop the brothers, who were still arguing with stern expressions. She was saved from trouble as a horn turned off in the background, the same one that went off the day before to announce Emperor Julianus's presence, her father.

The pitched sound of it was enough to do the job of silencing the two blonde brothers. They both shared a look, a thousand expressions but, all of them were pointing to the same thing – pure ecstasy. Another guest was making an entrance.

It escaped their minds that there was one other guest to bless the Makidian empire with his presence. Azmeralda was no less excited herself - they were all, except for Tiberius, who was more occupied with watching the three of them than caring about the loud noise.

“They have arrived!” the two brothers exclaimed in excitement, running off past Azmeralda before she even had the time to inquire about where they were going.

“Hey, where are you going?!” Azmeralda called out after them, but they were already out of earshot in the long-deserted hallway.

“Don’t bother.”

She turned sideways at Tiberius. “What?”

“Once they are excited about something there is nothing that would stop them,” he elaborated, taking a couple of steps to stand by her side. “Just let them be.”

“You care about them, don’t you?” Azmeralda said with a faint grin, the words slipping out of her mouth.

Tiberius closed his eyes and reopened them again. The words triggered something inside him, perhaps he wasn't even aware of. He never got the chance to think about his relationship with his brothers. But for certain, there wasn’t any loathing involved. Victor and Romanus have shown him nothing but brotherly love and admiration, forcing him to do nothing but love the two of them truly as his brothers.

Queen or not, that never mattered…and it never will.

Tiberius nodded once after giving it some serious thought. Denying it wasn’t an option. In addition, there was no reason for that.

Azmeralda grinned, something about the purity between the three of them made her heart flutter. Mayhap it was the innocence of childhood that held them together, disregarding the outer influence that sought to pull them apart.

“Let’s go follow them,” Azmeralda finally spoke, breaking the silence that began again after the brothers left. Deep within the two of them, they wanted to enjoy the peaceful moment beneath the blossom tree and the cool breeze, but sadly, what one soul wants can’t always have.

They walked side by side. Azmeralda couldn’t help but notice the way they were walking closely for the first time – taking into consideration that they never spent much time with each other. Azmeralda sensed the tension settle down as the time they spent together lengthened – not to the point where she dared to call him a friend, but it was soon. She could feel it.

The hallway started to get dense as they got closer to the gates, the servants and maids were all busy welcoming the guests who were the last to arrive. Azmeralda noted the presence of other guests ready to spectate the gates of the palace as they drew open. She could help but think that they were over-dressed up for such a casual meeting – the official meeting was supposed to be given in the banquet later tonight.

She mentally began to name them one family after the other. In 30 seconds she was able to name all the guests…all except for one.

“Prince,” she muttered, her eyes skimming at the surrounding nobles. “Can you see my father?”

“No,” he said after taking a look around them, the crowd seemed to be getting denser by the minute.

Before Azmeralda could protest, the horn went off again, this time announcing the opening of the gates. The sound of the gate echoed as metal and stone clattered together. Nobles started to push forward, making it impossible for Azmeralda to locate her father. The height of them all combined made it impossible for her to even locate the brown locks of his hair.

Amid the current of flowing nobles, she found herself losing her feet on the ground and forced in the direction of the moving crowd. Just as she was getting swept away, she felt a firm grip on her wrist, pulling her back into position. Tiberius was holding onto her, fixing her in place.

“Watch out,” he whispered, pulling her closer than before.

Azmeralda felt the hot breath tickle the nape of her neck before she gulped and fixed her posture, her face flushed in embarrassment before she pulled back to catch her breath.

“T-Thanks,” she mumbled, barely moving her lips.

It took her a couple of seconds to gather herself back together. Tiberius was not fazed as the moment missed his mind, more concerned with the task of finding Julianus than the close distance between the two of them.

It was before long that the two of them gave up on finding the Emperor amid this chaos.

“Just who in the world is coming?!” Azmeralda lashed out, bothered by the huge crowd in place.

As if fate was answering her call, the crowd split in half, creating a pathway for the guests. Past the people and through the door, Azmeralda noted the carriage as it came to a halt before the palace’s portico. The crest of the carriage’s owner shimmered under the blazing morning sun. Barely a minute passed and Azmeralda recognized the illustration belonging to the family of The Armans.

“It’s the ruling family of Persia!” she exclaimed.

Tiberius nodded in response as if it was old news to his ears. “They are the last to arrive,” he stated. “I guess the banquet is finally taking place.”

Azmeralda hummed, her sight only allowing her to see the golden frame of the carriage’s door. She stood stunned, finally starting to relate to the feelings of the other people around her.

The gossiping and whispering of nobles rose as one tall figure appeared through the crowd. Azmeralda was struck by the bright red hair of the man walking through the gate, a plastic smile plastered on his pale freckled face.

Passing through the straddling crowd, he stopped on occasions to greet the nobles approaching him to strike a conversation. And before long he was finally before her, a member of the ruling family of Arman halting before her with a stunned face. His freckled face tensed before it broke into a sad smile at her.

“You look just like her,” the man uttered.