Amity: The Peaceful

Chapter 3

"Go inside and study, do not disturb us, the ladies and I will have a tea party, boys are not allowed, especially kids, do you understand?" Angelyn stated strictly.

Ade as an obedient boy nodded after his mother's statement. He glanced at the noble ladies who were just staring at them while maliciously whispering with each other.

He turned to the person who suddenly held his shoulder and was happy to see his aunt, Adela Hilti. The woman smiled at him and held his hand before gently pulling him. They walked away from the sophisticated ladies, but Ade turned his gaze towards his mother once again and he saw the usual blank stare while looking at the two of them.

"Are you okay, your imperial majesty?"

Ade woke up from his thoughts of the past when he heard the familiar soft voice of the queen.

"I am well, your majesty. How's your pregnancy?" he asked, then took a glance at his aunt's big and round tummy.

"Oh, I am well." Queen Adela answered with a genuine smile after she caressed her rounded tummy.

"Your relationship with Duke Idris, is it fine now?" He stated. He's curious since the young duke blamed his aunt for his mother's death, the late duchess Matilde Jironus-Gastrell. No grudge for the young duke of course, he completely understands.

The woman nodded before facing him, "Yes, thank you so much for helping me to clean my name."

"No worries, I don't have any plans to keep it a secret either." Ade blinked before moving his head, looking at the whole place of the Mermolt.

It didn't change even a bit; this land is still so pretty. Ade used to visit his aunt since he was a kid, and the Mermolt is the only place he could go too when he was still young. He doesn't seem close to his aunt but it's just a front, he doesn't want to be noticed to avoid any malicious conclusions like he favors his aunt more among the other rulers since they're blood related. Which isn't true.

"You're missing your parents, don't you?" Queen Adela asked out of the blue.

Ade blinked, "No I don't." he answered honestly.

"Oh my, you are indeed the son of my sister." the woman spouted before laughing lightly.

"Did I really take after her?" The emperor asked, both annoyed and curious. He can't really tell because he'll deny it, in addition he doesn't really know his parents' attitude since they're not that close.

Queen Adela stared at her nephew, "You took after both of them."

And that answer made Ade raise his brow, "So, you're saying that I didn't get any ounce of good traits?"

Queen Adela blinked, surprised to hear something like that from the emperor, "I never say anything like that, but I hope you'll be close to your future cousin. Aside from me, this kid will only be one of your relatives after all."

He, once again stared at the majesty's stomach, "... I don't know about that." he said unsure, he wants to be honest to the queen, he isn't comfortable with kids. They're loud and irritating.

"I know that, but you can try little by little. Anyway, when will you marry? You're twenty-six already." the queen opened another topic.

Ade grimaced after hearing the queen's question. He can't even imagine his aunt's reaction after he answers that he doesn't have any plans to get married and that he's fooling around together with his knight commander every night in his den. And he planned not to say anything about it, he's worried that might shock the pregnant lady.

So, instead, he answered, "Not in my mind right now, your majesty."