The Solitude of an Emperor [TO BE UNPUBLISHED]

20 : The Suggestion

It was a meeting with the nobles again. And again, her grandfather, the Emperor, asked her to present in the meeting. It was about the upcoming hunting competition that will be held in the Dukedom's estate, as usual. As they talked about it and assigned everyone's task, Princess Darya suddenly raised her hand to speak.

"Excuse my bold request but may I join the hunting competition?"

There was a long silence there until then everybody reacted one at a time, making the meeting noisy.

"How could a princess join..."

"Your highness, you are too young..."

"We should make a rule for this..."

So then the Emperor cleared his throat, silencing everyone. He then turned his gaze to Princess Darya. Since he is close to her, he reached his hand to tap her head. "My grandchild, do you know that you are fourteen years old?"

Her jaw dropped as she remembered that she is actually a teen-ager. She also realized that she was actually seventeen years old when she joined the hunting competition in her first life.

"Apologies, grandpa. I was just so excited for the upcoming hunting competition. Is it hard to hunt animals?" She tried acting innocently but formally.

"It is not good for a fourteen-year old girl, my dear."

"Oh, I got it, grandpa. I understand."

The Emperor tapped her head again. So then his gentle expression turned cold as he turned his gaze back to the nobles.

"Princess Darya is still young to understand the rules of the hunting competition. However, I am going to consider making a rule that only sixteen years old to thirty five years old are qualified to join the competition."

The Emperor got worried about his granddaughter. He decided to have this rule in case his grandchild will insist on joining and he could use it as a reason to reject her. Everyone has approved the new rule that the Emperor proposed and then again. Princess Darya raised her little hand after a few minutes.

"I have a suggestion." She beamed, looking innocent, making most of the noble uninterested.

And a noble immediately reacted to this with irritation. "What nonsense could this be?"

Upon hearing that, Princess Darya's eyes went cold the same time the Emperor did so. The atmosphere immediately became cold as the two looked like predators who were going to feast delicious prey. It was just like Prince Darione, the first princess' father. When he was alive, everyone could feel the pressure when he was not in the mood to joke around. Their cold gazes were all similar and they even look greater than everyone when they wear this intimidating expression. This made everyone silenced as they turned their eyes to Count Marshall who spoke out of irritation.

Emperor Oswald was about to defend his granddaughter but Princess Darya spoke first. "What is your qualification to conclude such- without hearing this 'nonsense' suggestion I am supposed to announce?" She pierced her eyes through Count Marshall's.

"Can I ask Lord Marshall what would be this suggestion of mine that could be regarded as 'nonsense'?"

The Count could not speak and he started sweating in fear. Meanwhile, Duke Garrett and Viscount Morata were silenced to the fact that a fourteen-year old girl can corner a noble like this. How did she become this mature and intimidating? She is just a teen-age girl!

"Are you going to speak of mere speculation?" Princess Darya supplemented, intimidating the Count even more.

Upon seeing that no one will be able to speak against her, she sighed before crossing her arms and sitting straight. "I would like to suggest an additional rule to the hunting competition." Princess Darya spoke calmly like nothing happened.