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"Mother... Does she have a chance?" Adrienne asks, her voice cracking from lack of sleep.
"I'm sorry, your highness. The chances are slim. She barely has a few days left." The physician says with an apologetic tone.
"Is there nothing else left to try? Have we really tried everything?! Why, why aren't you doing your job properly!?" Adrienne screams in agony. She knows there is nothing left to do. But she does not want to give up. It's her mother.
"I'm sorry your highness, I-" The physician is cut off by Adrienne's scream.
"No! Her hand.. it dropped. Is... is she... gone?" Adrienne asks, desperation clear in her tone.
.⸙͎
"Ah! Ugh!" Adrienne pants, struggling to take in air. 'It's okay, it's okay. You've been through this before, calm down.' Adrienne repeats in her mind.
"Princess! Are you alright? I heard you scream!" Daphne rushes to the princess's side to provide comfort.
"Was it another dream of the late Empress?" Daphne asks hesitantly in spite of already knowing.
"Yeah... the same thing, over and over again. Mother dying, right in front of my eyes." Adrienne says in a monotonous tone.
"And, it was all my fault. If I just hadn't forced her to always play with me and taken better care to notice her health declining. If only I-"
"Your highness! It was not your fault. Remember the physician said it was due to natural causes? Let's trust him. It truly wasn't your fault, princess. Besides, sitting here and moping isn't going to help. Do you think Her late Majesty would want her precious daughter crying about?" Daphne says in an attempt to cheer the princess up.
"Right... She always wanted me to be strong, I'll do that for her! Daphne!" Adrienne commands regaining her energy.
"Yes, princess?" Daphne replies satisfied.
"Prepare a swordmaster to teach me! I will train with swords."
"Yes, my lady! Wait- what?"
.⸙͎
"Ah~! Finally, my bed! Swords are hard. But now I have to train twice a week! But I kind of do like it." Adrienne smiles to no one in particular.
"Daphne!"
"Yes, princess?"
"Could you prepare a bath for me?"
"Rose petals?"
"Mhm, rose petals."
.⸙͎
After a bath, Adrienne heads to her father's study to accompany him. No one was allowed in there except for the both of them after the last empress. Adrienne walks in to find her father at the desk massaging his temples, something he did when he was worried about something.
She knocks twice to let her presence be known.
"Father, what are you thinking so hard about?" Adrienne questions her father.
"The Western Kingdom declined the trade.. after what we've done." Replies Emperor Kinata after letting a big sigh out his mouth.
"What did we do?" Adrienne asks, a curious glint in her eyes.
"We sent women of noble families as ladies of the harem. We sent other goods The Kinata Empire is known for. Yet they decline the trade of pearls and other gemstones for some measly piece of land?" Replies Emperor Kinata to answer the Princess's question.
"Father, what if the people of the Western Kingdom have a soft spot for that piece of land? Like us.. the Eastern palace of ours. So many offered trades for demolishing the palace and creating an ally, yet we declined. Why? It's because we celebrated Mother's last birthday there. What if the Western Kingdom also has a sentiment, with that 'measly' piece of land?" Says Adrienne in a calm but serious voice.
"Great work, my daughter. I didn't think of it that way! You have done well. I will put much consideration into this." Emperor Kinata praises proudly.
"I know, I'm quite amazing!" Adrienne replies with a cocky tone.
"Here, this will tell if you really are."
"No... I am actually busy.. ahah..." Adrienne chuckles nervously while trying to escape.
"No. Sit. And go through those papers." Emperor Kinata says sternly.
"Fine."
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YOU ARE READING
Until That Day
Fantasy'I could kill you.' She said, grinding her teeth together in fury. He smiled, 'I'm aware. But, I also know for a fact, that you won't. Because you're still in love with me. No, you're in love with who I was ten years ago.' .⸙͎ What happens when a gi...
