Vacdeq empire

 The atmosphere in the afternoon was so calming, that two people who were in the horse carriage were enjoying the wind that hit their faces. Likewise, the sound of horses' hooves accompanying their journey around the forest. Seeing the streets filled with only their horse drawn carriages, it made the atmosphere quiet and peaceful.

"When will we arrive at the Empire, Zavei?" A question from a girl's lips.

The man sitting in front of her glanced at the girl's face.

"Maybe around dawn tomorrow?"

Sighs could be heard from the gray haired girl, she didn't expect that going to the Empire would take such a long time.

Horse carriages aren't that comfortable, She thought.

Elie's gray bead glanced at the book Zavei was holding.

"Don't you get tired of reading that book, Zavei?" She asks.

 The girl fell silent as the silence that surrounded them after she tried to ask , not to mention the flat face and the gaze that was only directed at the man's book, fell away.

My question sounds like a trifle. She thought.

The girl's face turned back to look out the window, enjoying the fresh air that passed through her face.

"Close the window, you'll catch a cold." A cold voice came from Zavei, enough to cut Elie's feelings.

"Fine~"

Because of Zavei's words, Elie ended up closing the window and leaning her body on the carriage seat.

"Vacdeq Empire Rules?" Elie read the title on the cover of Zavei's book.

"The rules in the Empire are much stricter compared to the Kingdom." Zavei replied without moving from his book.

Interested, Elie changed her sitting position beside Zavei who was busy reading his book.

"What's the most difficult rule?"

Slightly glanced at Elie's face, he replied. "Following the Emperor's fashion sense."

Hearing this, Elie's face that was previously enthusiastic turned flat. "The Emperor looks unique huh," she replied.

Zavei closed his book, then turned to Elie.

"I have to warn you, once you're in the Empire, never touch anything you think is nice. Because I've heard that the Emperor doesn't like it when anyone touches his stuff without his permission." Zavei gave a warning.

Elie nodded. "All right, I understand."

Then Zavei put his book in his bag, he had read enough of his book because he saw that the day was getting late.

"Are you going to sleep?" Elie asked as she fixed her dress.

Zavei glanced at Elie, "Yes." He replied.

"I'll close the curtains." Said Elie.

 Elie closed every curtain there was to keep out the bugs. While Zavei was positioning his bag properly as a pillow for his head. After closing all the curtains, Elie sat down on the carriage bench. Facing toward Zavei who was already covered by darkness.

"Sleep well, Zavei," she said.

Zavei replied by clearing his throat and turning his back to Elie.

After that, Elie lay down on the train bench. The girl covered her body with the cloth she brought from home.

I hope nothing happens on the way.

 𝓥𝓲𝓮𝓓𝓻𝓪

 The sound of birds chirping can be heard very clearly. The sun was starting to seep through the closed curtains. A groaning sound was heard from a girl who was starting to wake up from her sleep, her two amber colored eyes slowly opened. Blinking her eyes, she tried to match the light within.

"It's already morning." She mumbled.

She slowly sat up from her sleeping position. Her eyes glanced at the bench beside her, where there was a boy still sleeping facing her.

He looks cute when he's sleeping. She thought.

 When she was fully conscious, Elie realized that the horse carriage was no longer moving. Out of curiosity, Elie touched her finger to the window behind her body, the girl glanced from the side of the curtain.

"Why are there so many horse carriages out front?" She groaned after seeing what had happened.

"Elie?"

Elie was surprised to hear the hoarse voice of the boy sleeping across from her.

"You're awake, Zavei?" Elie asked looking at the sleepy face on Zavei.

Zavei's head nodded limply, "Yes."

Zavei's eyes blinked, on the other hand there was Elie who was holding back her smile because she saw the cute side of her brother.

"What's going on, Elie?" Zavei asked with a sleepy face.

Elie's face looked out again, she tried to figure out what was really going on.

"It seems we will have to wait for our turn for a long time."

Zavei blinked, "What's out there anyway?"

"Chariots from various Kingdoms, I think?."

Forgetting his sleepiness, Zavei ran towards the carriage door and saw firsthand what was outside the carriage.

"Sure enough, it seems the Empire will be very crowded."

Elie nodded, agreeing Zavei's words. "We have to wait again for now."

 After waiting for 20 minutes, Elie and Zavei's carriage started moving again. Taking advantage of the previous 20 minutes, Elie and Zavie prepared the requirements that needed to be submitted as proof that they had been invited. Such as invitations with the Imperial stamp, archery equipment, and checking every maid brought.

"Have you kept your invitation properly, Zavei?"

Zavei nodded. "I have kept the invitation and the letter from Father."

Elie understood Zavei's words. "Then we should get ready before entering the checking gate."

 The sound of the horse carriage passing through the cobbled streets make a thrilling impression to Elie. The girl felt her heart beating fast, seeing the unfamiliar atmosphere around her.

This is the first time in my life that i have stepped into foreign territory. She muttered with a pounding heart.

Noticing the strangeness of his sister's behavior, Zavei reached into his pocket.

His hand reached out to Elie, "You're sweating."

Seeing the handkerchief in the palm of the boy front of her made Elie confused.

"You give it for me?" Elie asked so she wouldn't misunderstand.

Zavei's brows furrowed. "If you don't want it then-"

Before he could take his hand back, Elie snatched the handkerchief in his palm.

"I didn't say that I refused it."

 Unconsciously the curve on Zavei's lips lifted to form a smile. Watching how Zavei's face, which was usually flat, now formed a smile that made Elie touched.

With a smile, Elie said. "Finally you smile, Zavie."

Realizing he was smiling, Zavei changed his facial expression again.

"Nonsense."

 While awkwardness was going on between her and Zavei, suddenly a voice came from outside their horse carriage. Due to Elie's position being quite close to the carriage door, she could hear the conversation outside the carriage.

I heard Sister Kae and Sir Yover's voice. She thought to herself as she listened to the conversation from outside.

"It seems we have arrived at the checking gate."

The voice that came out of Zavei's lips made Elie's shoulders startled. Then her eyes glanced at the window beside her.

"I guess."

While Elie was watching the conversation between Kae and a guard outside. There was a knock on their horse door.

Knock Knock

 Hearing a knock on the door, Elie turned her head towards the door which was quite close from her. Because the previous knock sounded three times, then stopped making Elie get up from her seat and move towards the door of their horse carriage.

 When she pushed the doorknob, at that moment her sight caught sight of several guards appearing from behind the door as she opened the carriage door wider.

"Yours respectfully, to the Crown Princess of the Qavec Kingdom."

 Hearing the greetings from the guards, her body subconsciously took a step back. Even so, Elie straightened her body again and greeted back the guards outside her carriage by lowering her face in greeting.

"Greetings back to you." She replied with a sweet smile.

Noticing the gestures of the guards who only looked at each other made the girl think.

"Oops, I forgot."

 Then Elie took a step, down the steps of the carriage. Likewise with Zavei, who witnessed Elie getting off the horse carriage, made him get off, even though he didn't know what he was doing. Elie's body was facing towards the guards who only looked at her with a confused look.

"You want to check our horse carriage right? You can check it according to the Empire's rules." Elie said smiling.

 Knowing that the girl in front of them was talking about rules, the three guards looked at each other, then smiled as they turned to Elie.

"Thank you for cooperating with the Empire rules, Princess Elie."

Elie smiled, then nodded. "My pleasure."

 After obtaining permission from Elie and also Zavei. The escorts on guard began to enter the Qavec Kingdom's carriage according to the Empire's regulations and were directly supervised by Elie as the Crown Princess.

 It took 6 minutes to check every part of Elie and Zavei horse carriage, finally the guards came out of the carriage without taking anything with them.

"According to the conditions set by the Empire, the representative of the Qavec Kingdom does not carry any object prohibited by the Empire."

One of the guards wearing a red ribbon turned towards Elie who was watching him.

The guard bent down. "Thank you for giving permission Princess Elie. Princess Elie and Prince Zavei are allowed to enter."

Seeing the attitude of the guards in front of her, Elie gave an amazed smile.

"Thank you Mister guard, you must keep up the spirit!" Elie clenched her fists.

"Roger, Princess Elie."

 After checking their belongings, Elie and Zavei got back into their carriage with Kae who joined because Elie ordered her to sit with her in the horse carriage.

 Their horse carriage moved through the main gate escorted by two Empire guard horses. Seeing how big the Empire was, Elie was so amazed because it was the first time she could see such a magnificent building. Even with a yard that stretches green, so many deer roam the green grass.

I still can't believe that I can see something like this after death.