CHAPTER 44: Western Dukedom and Hecate Kingdom.

*knock knock*

"Dad, it's Ali," I knocked on the door of Dad's office after I let him know of my presence. It looks like there's a lot of things to do that Dad is staying in his office again this night.

"Come in, dear," He replied. I opened the door and smiled widely at him. Oh, eldest brother is here too.

"Good evening, Dad, Brother. Are you still busy?" I asked, closing the door of the office. There's a lot of paper on his desk, and big brother is here as well. Maybe it's an important matter?

"Not at all, Ali. It's already late, why are you still awake?" Well, obviously because you promised to tell me about the dispute between the Western Dukedom and the Central Empire, guys.

"Oh, right. Here's the book, you can read it if you want to learn about the Western Dukedom," Dad opened the first drawer on his desk and then handed the book to Brother Heli, my brother walks towards me and then gave me the book.

"Thanks, Brother! Thanks, Dad! Have a good night and sweet dreams! I love you both!" I gave them flying kisses and then went out of the office again. I thought they were going to tell me directly about the issues of our empire and the Western Dukedom, but it looks like I have to read another book.

Well, reading book has become a hobby. There's no internet here, so reading books to get information from this world became enjoyable for me.

I stared at the book and opened it. The pages are already tattered. It seems like this book is already so old. How come? Has it already been so long since the Western Dukedom cut ties with the Central Empire? But isn't it only eight years?

Wait, if they did that, it means they are not attending the general meeting for all the noble heads as well, no? I wonder what's happening in the West. And how did the Kingdom of Hecate got involved with them? Is it simply because both territory are close to each other?

"Your Highness," I was startled when I heard Ziel's voice behind me. I quickly turned around and saw him carrying a...pile of papers?

"Good evening, Ziel. It's already late and you're still working?" Overtime, perhaps?

"Greetings, Princess. I've been tasked to move all these papers to the basement. I came from the Meeting Room just in front of the Emperor's office," Oh! That's why he suddenly appeared there!

"Wow, what are these papers all about?" I asked. I can't peek on the papers because Ziel is taller than me.

"These are all information about the Western Dukedom," Hmph, just when I want to know what's happening in that territory, the information came to me. But, it's not like I can read these without my Dad's permission.

"Ahh, but why do you need to put it in the basement?" These are probably important information, so why are they moving it to such place? Well, the basement is hidden, but why's the need to place it all there? Is it not needed anymore?

"I am unaware of the conversation between the Emperor and the Crown Prince, Your Highness. Thus, I can't answer your question," He answered and smiled at me. His smile looks like he's guilty that he can't answer my question.

"It's fine Ziel! Ahh, the basement is far from Father's office and the Meeting Room, why don't you just use teleportation to move around?" I asked. It's already late, so why is this eleven year old kid is doing such heavy task?

"I was about to, but I saw the Princess and wanted to talk to her for a moment," Aww, my son misses me ~

Wait, no. He's not my son! He's the author's son! And why am I still saying things like this, I'm not Clara anymore!

"Hehe, it hasn't been that long since we've last seen each other though?" I replied, giggling.

"Indeed, Your Highness, but I've been busy these past few days, Princess. So I couldn't visit you," Seriously, what's keeping him busy these past few days? I wonder what Dad was thinking, giving Ziel many tasks.

"No need to worry about that, Ziel. If you want, I'll be the one to visit you instead," his eyes widened by my suggestion, and then he quickly shook his head.

"I can't possibly ask the First Princess to visit me, a mere knight. It's fine--"

"Pardon me. You're not just a mere knight, you're my friend!" I cut his words off as I jumped in front of him, smiling.

"P-Princess..." It looks like I touched the pretty boy's heart.

"It's fine, Your Highness. I'll just make time between my duty to visit the Princess," He replied. Aww, that's so sweet, isn't it? Could it be that Ziel is my male lead?!

Okay, just kidding, what the heck. He's literally a kid!

"Sweet," I turned around and saw Asher walking towards our direction. What is he doing here? He ruined my moment with Ziel! What's with his timing! I told him to wait for me outside the palace!

"Greetings, Almighty Astra," Ziel greet, bowing his head. Because there's no way he can give a proper bow with that pile of papers on his arm.

"Yeah, whatever. Anyway, it's late, Princess. Did you not bring anyone with you here?" Asher asked, out of the blue offering his hand to me. Is this guy an idiot? He's the one I brought here with me because I didn't want to disturb the knights' rest!

"Asher...are you trying to act stupid right now," He smiled and then chuckled.

"Oh right, you asked me to come here with you because you didn't want to bother the knights," What's with him?

I accepted his hand and then turned to Ziel as I wave my hand. I smiled at him before speaking.

"I'm going now, Ziel! Good night! Oh, and don't overwork yourself too much, okay? It's already late, so you better rest after moving that pile of papers on your arms! You can tell my Dad that I ordered you to rest, so don't worry!" He stayed quiet for a while. Is he alright?

He forced a smile at me and nod his head. IS HE ALRIGHT!? And where is he looking?

Oh, on Asher's hand and mine? Wait---that's right! Seeing me holding hands with Asher might give wrong ideas to those who sees it! But, this is normal for me because a physical contact with Asher helps me with my mana!

Should I explain?

"Understood, Your Highness. I'm glad that the Princess is worried about me," Ziel replied. Still, forcing a smile.

"We shall go now then!" And then when I said that, Asher started walking, so I followed him.

"Asher, is it really necessary to hold hands in order to maintain my mana under control?" I asked--oh, and I made sure that it is loud enough for Ziel to hear.

Now, why is this jerk of a magician glaring at me?

"What?" I asked.

"You made me wait for too long, and you were just having a moment with the Count's son?" Ohh, it looks like his temper is coming up!

"Hah ~ why are you so impatient," I reacted, rolling my eyes. What's wrong with him?

"Tsk," then he used teleportation to reach my room easily. Since I am now living in Antares Palace, I need someone to accompany me when going to my Dad's palace.

"What's with you? Alright, I'm sorry I made you wait for so long, Your Divine Highness," I said, pouting at him. He stared at me with one brow cocked, and then his expression changed to disgust, and then, normal expression, before he sighed.

The heck?

"Nevermind. If you want to read that book, you can do it tomorrow. It's already late. Lady Themis will be worried if she found your wide eyes opened this late at night," Ahh...

Wait...

Wow! Firstly, he's worried about me sleeping late at night! Secondly, he addressed Themis as 'Lady Themis', and thirdly, he's considerate enough that he's worried about Themis getting worried about me!

That's a bit confusing, but---

He became a bit considerate now ~

"I'm so proud of you, Asher,"

"Huh?"

"I will remember this day,"

"The heck are you talking about?"

"Good night, Asher!"

"Uhh, yes?"

***

What!?

The Western Kingdom cut ties with us eight years ago after being informed of the Empress' condition? What condition could it be? They used it as a reason to stop contacting us, and then after just a few months, the Kingdom of Hecate had stopped sending us letters about the land that was given to them? It's written in this tattered book that the Kingdom of Hecate promised to build a huge farm in that land in order to prevent their people from starving, and to send us products and items as well. So, what's the report on the farm now? What the heck, did they betrayed my Dad!?

And what's the deal with the Western Dukedom?

During the last general meeting with them, they reasoned out that they are only supporting the Ciera Empire because of the Empress. However, when the Empress suddenly imprisoned herself within the Antares Palace, the Western Dukedome announced that they have no reason to support and follow my Dad now.

What the heck!? THEY ARE LITERALLY WITHIN OUR EMPIRE! They think they are another country!?

And what's with them using my Mom like that? What's their connection? I never read in the book that the Odilia have any connections with the Western Dukedom!

"Brother Aeli, do you know what's the connection between Odilia and the Acacius?" I asked. Acacius Family is the one that is ruling the Western Dukedom. To be honest, this is the first time that I heard of them.

"The head of the Family, Calvin Acacius once pursued Mother, the same time Dad did. He's such a low-tempered man and often seen abusing his servants if things don't go his way. Mom never liked him, and he once tried to harass Mom as well, good thing Father was there and was able to save and protect Mom," What--wait, so the reason he cut ties with our family was because of...jealousy?

HOW IMMATURE!

So, that's why it's not written in the history book of our family, because it's not really important.

"Also, I heard before that they took in a child. An illegitimate child perhaps?" What? No, 'cos how did you obtain such information?

I pity the child...

"How about the King of Hecate?" Deimos Hecate, he was Mom's friend. But now they also stopped contacting our family. I want to know what happened. Could it be that they colluded with the Wester Dukedom and is now planning to commit treason?

Wait, no. Don't overthink such things, Ali.

But, it's been 8 years, and there's not much information about them.

"The Kingdom of Hecate. We only gave them the land as per our Mother's request, but they dare to stop contacting us after knowing what happened to Mother. They are definitely enemies," Oh my Lumia...

Anyway, I am here in Brother Aeli's laboratory room. He asked me earlier if I can stop by his lab, and since I have nothing to do anyway, I decided to come here.

He let me read the book here while he do his experiments. He asks me for suggestions from time to time, and all I did was give him what I think would be good for his experiment. Right now, he was asked to make a medicine that kids would love. I suggested that he should add a flavor, so the kids won't taste the bitterness of the medicines.

Anyway, this is really an important matter.

"Did Dad already tried communicating with the Kingdom of Hecate?" I asked, and brother Aeli nod his head.

"We only received rudeness," seriously?

"Brother, have you met with Deimos Hecate?" I'm really confused. Just when the Western Dukedom stopped supporting Dad, the Kingdom of Hecate also cut ties with us.

"I thought he was such an elegant and dignified young man when I first saw him. I never thought he'd end up colluding with the Acacius after Mom's death," I put down the book on the table in front of me and stared at it for a while.

"Is that so..."

"Yep," Stop with that 'yep', I already told you it's an informal word!

"Did we have evidences of those two territory colluding with each other?" Brother Dae immediately shook his head.

"It's been hard to collect evidences. Since eight years ago, we haven't been able to enter the territory of Calvin Acacius. Tsk, seriously, the audacity. That's the only place we can use in order to visit the Kingdom of Hecate as well. If we can't get any information about the Western Dukedom, it'll be difficult to obtain anything about the Kingdom of Hecate as well. The last letter we received even had to go through a process in which it is needed to pass by the Western Dukedom before it reached us," Well, Brother Aeli is right.

"Is there any reason why we can't enter the territory, Brother?"

"It's like a barrier similar to the Antares Palace before. We cannot enter," Similar to the Antares Palace...huh? How? Who in the world, except Asher and Sir Abel can make such barrier?

But wait, if it's similar to the one that Asher made.

"Oh, maybe we can ask Asher for help?" I asked. Brother stopped doing his experiments and slowly turned to me with annoyance all over his face. What? Did I say something wrong?

"We already did, he only told us to let them be," What!?

"Huh? That---I apologize, brother. I should go now!" I must talk to that jerk!

"Ah---Ali? Wait--"

That jerk! What is he doing telling my family to just let them be!? Does he know something? I should know about it too! He didn't even tell me that my family asked him for help! He's so annoying!

Arghh! I wanna punch him in the face!

***