THE NORTHERN CONTINENT'S EMPRESS

Chapter 4 The Empress of the North (1)

Time flies by, it was already the time for the empress to arrive at the Duchy of the Henituse territory. Everyone in the duchy was quick on their feet and work before the arrival of the Empress of the North.

Cale on the other hand, was still in deep slumber until the sun rises, and Butler Hans with a group of servants charged inside Cale's room to get him ready. 

"Young Master! It's time for you to get up and wash up now! The Empress will arrive in two hours!" Butler Hans said in a loud voice as everyone started to go near to Cale's large, four-post bed and dragged him up to get ready. 

Meanwhile, inside the reception room of the Duchy, the Duchess, the Duke with Basen and Lily were discussing some private matters,

"Observe the Empress's actions but do not offend her, be sure to be always courteous. Look carefully to the person who was asking your Elder brother's hand in marriage," The Duchess said that made Lily snicker a bit.

"Mother, if Eldest brother heard you phrasing it like that, it was like he's the one being married off and not the other way around,"

"But Lily, the situation is exactly how you described it," Basen told his little sister and watched her shocked expression with a smirk. 

"Let us be patient and take care of the necessary things to be done before the Empress comes, I heard that she will be arriving through the teleportation portal at the center of the plaza, we should head there before the Empress of the North comes," The Duke said and they waited for Cale to arrive to have a quick breakfast before leaving. 

When Cale arrived, dressed in lavish and expensive clothes, they all eat a meal before going to the plaza. The town was very hyped and everyone was cheering and waiting for the time that the Empress will come into the Duchy. 

"Everyone's too loud," Cale mumbled before yawning, he looked around the plaza and citizens were all very hyped and excited about the foreign empress. Even the Duke and the Duchess were looking expectant as well. 

'Why though? It's not like it might turn into marriage right? It is still not decided,' Cale thought before looking at the Teleportation Circle that started to produce a vibrant light. 

It only took five seconds until they saw the group of people who arrived at the Henituse Duchy. 

There were ten royal knights from the Roan Capital and five high-ranked mages who were surrounding a person in a deep blue dress with a veil that was trailing from her shoulders to the hem of her long empire dress. Her face, however, was covered with an elegant butterfly mask studded with sapphires. The Henituse Family walked closer to them before the Duke and the Duchess bow down and greeted the foreign empress. 

"The Henituse Duchy greets the Empress of the North Helena," After the Duke said that, everyone presents bow down and greeted the Empress. 

"Please rise, thank you for the warm welcome," Empress Helena told them and she motioned one of the mages to relay the message to the Duke and the Duchess before looking around and meeting the eyes of the people with a covered expression on her face. 

"Duke Deruth and Duchess Violan, The Empress is currently using her magic to keep away the warm temperature from affecting her. She wanted to let the two of you know that her magic can give anyone outside the North a frostbite, so, please keep in mind," The mage said and the three Henituse children heard that and all three of them looked at the Empress's way with curiosity on their faces. 

Cale too looked at her way and coincidentally met the cold pair of deep blue eyes from the butterfly mask, but there was no ill-intent on it so he brushed it off. 

"Let us all go now back to the mansion," The Duke made a command and two carriages appeared from the crowd, and the Henituse family and the Empress of the North rode the two carriages separately. 

When they reached the front of the mansion, The Duke's family waited at the front and watched the Empress of the North come down the carriage with ease and grace on her every movement. Her deep blue dress flows down smoothly like cascading water on the river, and her hair was in an elegant bun decorated with her ice crystal tiara. 

"We welcome the Empress to our humble home," Duchess Violan said with a bow and the Empress nodded her head and waved her hand to make the duchess stand at ease. 

"Thank you for the warm hospitality," 

All of them went to the tea room of the mansion and the Duchess and the Duke talked to the Empress to know more about her. They were not left in disappointment when the Empress revealed a little about the north and her 'net worth'. 

"The North is filled with Mana, so the mountain ranges of the North have a lot of mana supply. One of the most precious mana stones known in the north is the Ice Crystal Mana stone. As you both can see, my tiara and my necklace are made from that mana stones," The Empress said and showed the intricate snowflake necklace choker on her neck and the shining tiara on her head. 

"Amazing," The Duke was left speechless at the size of the stones and the glittering luster of the mana stones, even those who have no talent for magic can feel the mana pulsing from those stones, confirming the quality and authenticity of the Empress's words. 

"Amazing, the pure mana stones that Eldest brother owns are all gold in color and the sizes were as big as a child's fist, to witness another type of pure mana stone is a novel experience," Basen commented and stared at the tiara of the Empress with amazement evident on his face. 

"B-Brother, staring is rude!" Lily become conscious of the Empress's silent demeanor and pulled the sleeve of her older brother in haste but stealthily. 

"O-Oh, My apologies for my rudeness, Empress Helena. I was just a bit fascinated by the mana stones, please forgive me," one of the young masters of the Henituse Family bowed down and apologized to her but there was only silence in the tea room. The Duke and the Duchess looked at the side to look at the direction of the Empress and saw her open her palm and ice started to form on top. The Duke's and Duchess's eyes widened and were worried about the next actions of the Empress. 

Cale too became wary, and if needed, he will use the silver shield if she became fickle and attacked Basen. The Empress was of course aware of their wariness so she spoke. 

"Be at ease, I won't punish the young master. But I will give him this instead." Empress Helena said and a clear globe made of ice appeared on top of her palm and she sent to the waiting hands of Basen. 

"That's a small seed, a part of the mana stone. The globe won't melt unless you discharge the mana inside the seed," The Empress said and leaned back on the couch and looked at Lily's way.