Abela was blushing, and she saw Lenore from afar.
She rushed to her.
"Abela!" Lenore ran to her.
"I haven't seen you in awhile" Abela said.
Lenore smiled and said "Well, I have a fiancee.."
Abela stared at her intensely.
"A what?" Abela said.
Lenore giggled "Fiancee~" she repeated.
"Oh..", Abela said not processing what she just said.
"I saw you dancing with the prince earlier...are you hiding something from me? He never dances with anyone!" Lenore whispered to her.
Abela grabbed her hand, and went to the corner of the room where there are few people.
She explains every single detail of every time she met the prince.
From their birthday, to the thief incident, to the hugging that just happened awhile ago.
Lenore gasped and said "He's into you!!"
"Nonsense" Abela continuesly denied.
...
Everybody went home tired.
Abela in her bed, staring at the ceiling...
"Why..." She said.
Her heart was thumping loudly.
Her face felt warm, her thoughts...
Was the prince's face.
Meanwhile, at the Prince's room.
Robin finished washing up, and was exhausted with today's turn of events.
He was never wanted to attend the royal ball, mostly because he was too lazy, and he had no reason to. No matter who or how important people that was going to attend, he didn't care.
Until he met Abela.
While drying his hair, he recalled what happened an hour before the party...
"Are you sure you're coming? Everyone will make rumors!" Ryuu said.
"It doesn't matter. I'll go." Robin replied.
"What's the reason? You don't like troublesome stuff, so what's with the change of attitude?" Kai said.
"I don't know okay! I...just have to go." Robin said.
After recalling such a stressful memory, he massaged his temples, and went to sleep.
...
Morning came around, Abela couldn't sleep at all.
So did Robin.
Today, Abela will be meeting the emperor.
Apparently, the archduke had already told his majesty about the eagle spirit, and he wished to see for himself.
"I've been going out alot, lately." Abela said, getting her hair done.
"I agree master, but it's part of growing up. When you join the war, you definitely won't see this house for awhile." Ajax replied.
"War...that word..." Abela said to herself.
She felt uncomfortable, but confident at the same time. It was an undescribable feeling, that made her feel confused.
...
At the palace, they arrive at the main area where the throne was.
Ajax, Abela, and the Archduke walked at a red carpet, approaching the emperor seated in a magnificent and huge chair.
They all bow deeply, and after, Abela gets nervous.
"Ah! You're much prettier up close!"
The emperor said happily.
The emperor had black hair, and black eyes just like Robin. He looked like someone in his early 30's. He had a kind aura around him.
The emperor stood from his throne, and went down to go up close, everyone in the room was surprised.
"How about a cup of tea at the garden?" He asks.
Abela stared at him, and glanced at her father who was surprised.
"Sure." Ajax said.
The Archduke and Abela flinched and immediately looked at Ajax.
Their looks meant 'Are you crazy?!'
The emperor paused, and bursted into laughter.
"Alright then, follow me." He said walking passed them.
Everyone followed.
Abela whispered to Ajax "what the hell? Why would you say something like that?"
The emperor who was walking infront of them, said "It's quite alright, that child is much more important than me, rather I should bow down to him."
They stop and sit in chairs at the garden.
Abela drank the tea, which had a lovely scent.
"So, an eagle spirit. Do you have any powers my boy?" The Emperor said comfortably.
"Yes. Speed, intelligence, strength, you name it." Ajax said.
Abela and The Archduke still felt uncomfortable and tense with Ajax speaking like that.
"I see, then Abela, you wanted to join the war, right?" The emperor said looking at her.
She nodded and said "I'm sure you know how I was able to gain a blessing from such a spirit animal, Your majesty. So I wish to protect the people I love and the Empire."
The Emperor chuckled and said "No wonder Robin took and interest in you."
Her eyes widened, and The Archduke chocked on his drink.
"I mean, he's lame. He has been single since birth, he rejects any marriage proposals, and he doesn't dance with anyone." The emperor sulks playfully.
"No one can resist my pretty Abela." The Duke said clenching his cup.
Abela flinched at the remark and the Emperor laughed.
"I can't believe you tamed so many wild beasts Abela. This man right here can easily kill a small animal, but now he's showing off his daughter?" He mocked.
The Archduke sulked
"Well Abela, I heard from Sir Leo that you have great skills in combat. And since you train with Keith, I think you two can attend training campus in a few weeks." The emperor said.
"Training campus?" Abela asked.
"It's just training yet more detailed and tiring. You just have to attend twice a week, and it's to prepare for war." He explained.
She nods, and sips her tea.
"Ah, there will be a tea party later this week, shall I get you an invite?" The emperor asked.
Abela, surprised replied "You don't have to-" she gets cut off.
"I have to. You're really different Abela, luckily you are my friends daughter so I have complete trust in you. That tea party is not an ordinary tea party.
You will face many difficulties as you are an adopted child of the Archduke.
Not only that, I wish you show off yourself to them if the prince is going to be at your side."
She coughed and said "Pardon? Prince?"
"You'll figure it out, I'm rooting for you!" The emperor said.
'what the heck is going to happen now.' Abela sighed.
YOU ARE READING
At least I'm Alive
Fantasy[Please read Author's Note! REVAMP IN THE MAKING] Abela reincarnated after a horrible murder by her abusive household, becomes the daughter of an equally tyrannical noble family. Stuck in a cycle of sorrow, hope flickers when she stumbles upon a vi...
