LINEAGE

Chapter 13

Elianna couldn't sit still, even if her life depended on it. She looked through the carriage window with anticipation, watching as the pedestrians walked on the sidewalk and people entered or exited buildings. This morning's events no longer weighed on her mind, as she was only focused on one thing: seeing the palace. She had seen the palace from a distance on several occasions, but she had never been inside. In fact, she had never gotten close to it.

"Excited?"

Elianna looked across from her, seeing her father sitting nonchalantly, smiling at her. Elianna returned her father's smile and nodded excitedly, "Very! I want to see all the rooms!"

Katarina chuckled, smiling warmly, "Maybe not all the rooms."

Elianna looked at her mother disapointedly, who was sitting beside her, "Why not?"

"Because there are over six hundred rooms inside the palace," Katarina said.

Elianna's eyes widened in surprise and awe, "Woah... That's so many."

Katarina nodded, "It is indeed. So, I will show you around the main parts of the palace. But we may not be able to see everything."

Elianna smiled and nodded with excitement, "Okay!"

Elianna looked outside when she felt the carriage begin to slow down and noticed they were nearing the front gates. Lucian shifted in his seat, scooting closer to the carriage's right window, and rolled the window down with the window crank. Several soldiers in Tri-Union combat uniforms and a mage in mage apparel came into view as their carriage came to a stop in front of the gate. A human female with orange hair and brown eyes, who looked to be in her thirties, with two gold discs on her collar, approached the carriage.

The female looked into the carriage from the window and immediately saluted when she noticed Lucian, "Good morning, Commander. We've been expecting you."

Lucian returned the female's salute, "Good morning, Sergeant." Lucian dropped his salute, "I hope everything has been going well."

The sergeant dropped her salute and nodded, "It has, Commander. Also, Lieutenant Commander Maurus wanted me to inform you that he will be waiting at the palace."

"Good. Keep up the good work, Sergeant."

The sergeant nodded before she stepped back. Lucian rolled up the window, and Elianna could hear the sergeant yell something at the soldiers before they opened the front gates. The carriage jerked slightly as they began moving again, riding past the front gates.

"Lieutenant Commander Maurus," Katarina chuckled. "I still have to get used to that."

Lucian nodded, his lips curving into a small smile, "It's definitely different without Hector around." He looked at Katarina, and his smile widened, "He's doing well, though. He sent a letter to the garrison the other day. He's enjoying adventuring and seeing the country with his son."

Katarina smiled warmly, "I'm glad. Hopefully, he will come and visit soon."

"We're almost there."

Katarina and Lucian looked toward Elianna, seeing her pressing her face and hands against the window. She was looking out intently with a wide, excited smile as condensation formed on the window from her breath.

Katarina chortled humorously, "Elianna." Elianna removed her face from the window and looked at her mother curiously. "Sit up straight, Sweetie."

Elianna nodded and sat up elegantly, as she had been taught. However, internally, she was wiggling with enthusiasm, ready to see the inside of the palace.