"Father, mother, allow me to introduce my friends. This is Elysia Avery, and this is Evelyn Mitchell." Ella gave a hand gesture to each of her friends. She skipped her grandfather because he already knew her friends, even close to them.
"Pleased to meet you."
"It's a pleasure to meet you."
Elysia and Evelyn alternately gave their responses formally and politely.
"Ho-ho, the pleasure is ours. It's really exhilarating and calming for me to see my precious daughter finally have such good friends. Please take care of our Ella. She might be silly once in a while." Alfred laughed lightly with joy, but his eyes sparkled with reason.
"It's our precious daughter, my husband. You can't have a child alone." Lucia pinched her husband's waist with a charming smile. "Anyway, it's a pleasure to meet you too, Elysia, Evelyn. Please call us with uncle and aunty, all right?"
Elysia and Evelyn just nodded innocently and called Ella's parents with the proper noun as requested. Since they were also considered granddaughters by Pope Alexander, so it was only natural.
Shortly after, four princes from different kingdoms joined them. Well, they came because of their royal father's request.
Raylee and Ronan were asked to invite Elysia to become acquainted with their family.
It was a bit different to Theo and Evelyn's brother, Bilie. They were only asked to exchange pleasantries to build rapport.
"Delighted to make your acquaintance, Holy Father Alfred, Saint Cardinal Lucia." Theo gave a warm greeting. It wasn't the first time he'd seen Ella's parents.
Then, Ronan, Raylee, and Billie also gave their polite greetings.
After the princes exchanged words with Ella's parents for a moment, their attention went to the three girls.
"How do you do, Miss Elysia? I'm glad to see you doing well. Two days ago, I came to Holy Cathedral's Medical Center to visit you, but you are no longer there." Raylee smiled like a kind and friendly senior as ever.
"Ah, thank you for your concern, Senior Raylee. Perhaps, upon your arrival, we had already left for the Aeddoterra Imperial Palace to fulfill Emperor Arthur's invitation." Elysia gave her appreciation politely.
"Oh, no worries. By the way, allow me to introduce you to my parents. I also invite you, Holy Princess Gabriella, Princess Evelyn." Raylee got straight to the point.
"I also want to invite you to meet my parents, Miss Elysia, Holy Princess Gabriella, Princess Evelyn. We were already acquainted with each other before, but my mother was not present at that time." Ronan tried to invite the girls.
"Hmm, how about we take turns introducing ourselves to each family? That's to build our good relationship and get to know each other. Some of us are already acquainted with each other's family, but some haven't." Theo suggested wisely. That way, everyone would be happy.
"I agree with Prince Theo's proposal. Let's do it." Evelyn was the first to agree, then the others followed suit.
Those princes and princesses went to each family to exchange pleasantries and get acquainted with one another.
After the younger generation greeted each family in turn, Alexander decided that was enough. He and the Royal Families needed to hold a brief meeting before taking action based on the Goddess of Blessings' guidance.
"You young people can spend time together while we need to do brief coordination. However, please come back here when the afternoon comes." Alexander suddenly voiced his suggestion. Their Goddess's orders should not be delayed any longer.
Hearing that, the other Emperors also suggested something similar to their child. They allowed the princes and princesses to spend some time together while they took care of complicated affairs.
However, not without the guards. Each family dispatched one expert for it, but the Mitchell Family sent two.
"Very well then, allow us to excuse ourselves. We will return to the Aeddoterra Imperial Palace at dusk." Ronan, as the oldest of the younger generation, represented to excuse themselves.
"Eh, I also need to return to the Imperial Palace? Not to the Holy Cathedral?" Ella became a little confused. She looked at her grandfather for answers.
"Hum, please come back together with the others. We will stay at this palace until tomorrow." Alexander nodded without delay.
"Ah, all right. Then, I'll be going first." Ella waved at her grandfather and her parents. Then, she went outside the hall with her friends, the princes, and the protectors.
As soon as they got out, Rosie and Fran walked over.
"Excuse me." Rosie tried to get attention.
"Ah, Miss Rosie, you are still here. Where are your grandfather and his group?" Evelyn replied, then looked right and left.
"My grandfather and the others need to sort things out. Fran and I aren't allowed to come along." Rosie said that as if she had expected it beforehand.
"Hm, how about joining us? We are also asked to spend time outside because of something you also know." Evelyn asked in a friendly manner.
"A desirable offer, but we need to turn it down because we still have some responsibilities in the academy. As you know, tomorrow is a busy day for all the students and academy staff. Please forgive me." Rosie shook her head with a slightly regrettable expression.
"You really are a responsible student council president, Ro- Senior Rosie. I admire your perseverance." Elysia tried to cheer up Rosie's mood with a bit of light compliment. Fortunately, she remembered to call Rosie with honorific since they were not in private time.
"Haha, thanks for the compliment, Elysia. Then, we'll excuse ourselves first. Everyone, see you next time." Rosie waved her hand lightly, and Fran gave a knightly bow.
After getting a response from Elysia's group, Rosie and Fran walked away from there. They came to the Imperial Palace together with Elysia, so they also need to announce their departure.
"Hey, where are we going now? Looks like our parents don't want to involve us with the initial preparations from the Goddess of Blessings' guidances." Raylee raised his hand, asking for an opinion.
"Shall we go over to Lavely Pizza first? It seems, among us all, only Prince Bilie and I have not tasted the famous pizza." Ronan suggested while sending an eye signal to Bilie.
"Yes, I also want to know what pizza tastes like." Bilie immediately agreed with that. He seemed a little excited for some inexplicable reason.
"Hum-hum, if so, allow us to welcome you to our Lavely Pizza." Evelyn felt a little flattered and proud. Meanwhile, Elysia and Ella only smiled faintly and nodded.
"Then, what are we waiting for? It's already decided. Let's go." Ronan spread his arms and invited the others as he took a step back. He felt a little impatient and wanted to leave immediately.
Theo and Raylee couldn't even voice their choice because they had already lost the vote.
Then, all of them, including the protectors, left Aeddoterra Imperial Palace using three carriages. They headed straight for Lavely Pizza.
On the way, Ella decided to voice something that made her curious. "Nee, Ely, may I ask you a question? But, before that, is your master still around?"
Elysia didn't answer right away. She checked what Elena was doing in the Soul Realm for a moment. Well, Elena decided to sleep without saying anything.
"My master is taking care of some things. Would you like to speak to my master, Ella?" Elysia had a clueless expression.
"Ah, no need, I just wanted to ask you, Ely." Ella immediately wiggled her hands.
"All right, I'm all ears." Elysia folded her hands in her lap as if to be a good listener. Evelyn also became curious and waited for the sequel.
"Nee, Ely. If that big battle against the accursed monsters breaks out, will a weak girl like me have a chance of survival? I have a hunch. So many casualties will fall." Ella looked ahead as if lost in thought.
"Uhm, the Goddess of Blessings' implied speech still rings in my mind. Our world civilization from over a hundred thousand years ago with over twenty divine beings could only seal those accursed monsters, right? The dead were countless..." Evelyn sighed softly and felt a little limp.
Hearing that, Elysia took in a deep breath. She was also worried about it, afraid that she could not protect who she needed to protect.
Evelyn and Elle clasped Elysia's hand unconsciously. Meanwhile, Ariel and Maximilian were silent with their own thoughts.
"We'll be fine, Ella, Eve. You are not alone. There will be many experts protecting you. I will also be there to protect you. The six divine existences will be with us, and all races will participate in it." Elysia glanced up, wishing for a bright future.
She had only lived in that world for less than five weeks, but she already felt like she had lived a long time in that world. With the power bestowed upon her, she needed to use it to protect this world and slay the accursed.
"Um, thanks, Ely. You put me in a good mood. Eve and I only wish us all the best for our future." Ella closed her eyes with a slight smile.
"Thank you, Ely. However, I don't want to see you hurt anymore, no matter what." Evelyn gripped her best friend's hand tightly. She emphasized her last words because of so many causes and reasons.
"Hehe... If the worst comes and we lose, then please find me in the afterlife, okay? It's hard for me to find good friends." Elysia put on a weak smile as she thought of the possibility.
"Ely, you're mean. Please don't say things like that. But, I'll definitely look for you as your request." Evelyn spontaneously hit Elysia's arm without power and pouted.
"Ely, you meanie. After your reassuring words, you gave the worst possible. But, I will pray the best for everyone." Ella smiled softly, but she gripped Elysia's hand firmly.
"Ow-ow, Ella, it hurts." Elysia grimaced in pain. She felt like her hand was about to break.
"Hum, that's a pain. Right now, we can only hope for the best and try our best." Ella didn't know why, but she didn't want Elysia to say things like that again.
"Oww, sowwy, my poor hand, fuhh..." Elysia blew air into her redden hand.
Ella and Evelyn just nodded and smiled. However, Evelyn suddenly had a good idea. "Oh, right! Ely, please stay with us tonight at the Imperial Palace. We'll have some pleasant chats as you promised."
"Oh, o-okay." Elysia had no other choice but to agree.
"Oh my, we've arrived at our Lavely Pizza." Ella glanced at the window, and the Lavely Pizza signboard was visible before her. The carriage had stopped, but they didn't notice.
"Yes, we're here. Hm? Looks like our honored guests are a little impatient over the pizza. Let's go. They've been waiting for us." Elysia glanced at Ariel. The latter simply nodded and opened the door before exiting the carriage.
Then, Elysia and the others followed suit.