Chapter 97 - Amos

Holding the urn in hand, Geraldine put it inside her bag that was placed on the cart she bought. She is going back to the main city to observe what will gonna happen next that Alexjin was found by the Emperor.

After Alexjin leave her in the river bank, she take the urn of Aurelie that he left in a hurry. She took it with her as she went to her hideout. Behind the tall bushes and dried leaves stack in mountains is a cart and another small horse on standby.

Geraldine prepared it beforehand to help he escape the area so that the kids won't be able to find her. Taking out her stuff on the hideout, she put it immediately on the cart and went away as soon as possible. She could still hear the screams and yelling of the children and no matter how her heart aches for leaving them all alone without saying goodbye. 

She swallowed it all and prevented herself to look back as she knows that once she do it. Her plan will fail for her heart will win against her mind.

She didn't know how much time she spend on traveling especially that her horse is slowing down because of it's size and the amount the horse carried is heavy.

"Kabayo, bilisan mo naman mag lakad or papakain ko sayo tae mo," Geraldine chanted those words while her hand is touching the horse buttocks. She transmitted some mana to help the horse to stay alive for their journey.

"There… good horsey," She muttered and caress the horse skin as they continued traveling. That's when she noticed the urn at her side.

***

"One newspaper please," Geraldine lifted her hood and look at the child who is selling newspapers on the streets.

"Three silver coins," The child open his palm to take the money and gives Geraldine one set of newspapers.

"Thank you."

Going back to the cart she parked on the alley, Geraldine puts down the food that she bought and other supplies. She decided that she won't stay in the main city but rather go back to her home in the North as she will need her status as a daughter of the Duke back to have a power to visit Alexjin soon. 

Geraldine doesn't know what will happened to her if she went back to the Gauthier's residence. It's been four years and the marriage plan was also canceled and ruin his father's business plan. It was in the news at how the Gauthier's family lost a huge amount of money from the cancelation of marriage.

Because of it, Geraldine knows that she'll gonna have to deal with them upon her arrival, "Well, I still can't run away from them forever so I'll just deal with them now." She muttered while thinking of how she will make an entrance.

"Heya!" 

The horse started walking in a slow phase, Geraldine is still in the South part of the Empire and she needed to pass over to the main city to be able to arrived at the North side. 

"If only I could pass through the magical gates then you don't have to sacrifice horsey," She said and look the horse with pity.

The magical gates are gates that can let you teleport on another magical gates on the given area. It was the fastest way to travel if you're in a hurry but not everyone can have an access to it. Only those with nobility have the access because of how expensive the gate cost in one travel and not everyone can afford it. That's why even some nobles would travel by land instead of spending their money on the magical gates. 

Geraldine have enough money on her pocket to use the magical gates but it would blow her cover because you need to put your name on the list before you can use the magical gates. There's even a small competition among the nobles to see who has the most number of names written on the book as it means that they have enough wealth to spend on the magical gates.

Getting the newspaper at her side, she flipped the page and search for any news regarding Alexjin. It's been a five days since he was taken to the palace but no news about him is seen on the newspaper as if the palace is hiding his identity in a secret.

"I hope they put something here," She sighs and read every content of the newspaper. She was about to put it down and rest her eyes when something caught his eyes.

"The son of the exiled concubine has been found and becomes the 16th Prince of the Rakkaegia Empire."

As soon as she read those lines, her heart skip a beat and hands trembling in fear and excitement. She didn't waste any moment as he read the contents.

"The Imperial Majesty, the Emperor has finally found his son after learning that his late concubine, Aurelie an ex-member of the Marques Houde family has given birth to his son upon her banishment from entering the main city Zuron. The son becomes the 16th Prince of the Rakkaegia Empire and will start his training as a royal. There will be no ball to celebrate his arrival because of his background…" 

Geraldine grimace at what she just read, "So they decided not to celebrate his arrival in the palace because his mother is known to be a witch in the Empire. That's believable, Alexjin has nothing to do with her mother's past!"

With her anger, she crumpled the newspaper and throw it away, "You will have a hard time in the palace Alexjin but I know that you will survive all the challenges that will come to you."

A smirk formed on her lips as she spoke her next sentence, "After all, I've trained you to become a great oppressor towards this sh*tty Empire."

***

After a week of travel, Geraldine finally arrived at the North part of the Empire and she only needs to travel towards her family's residence but there's one thing that prevented her from going back. It was her stuff that she bought it her. She doesn't want to bring it with her because she knows that they will search around her stuff and even confiscate some of it as a punishment.

"Now, I need to find a place to hide my stuff," She murmured while looking around for any possible way.

"Ah ha!" Remembering something in her memories. She instantly rode towards the location, it was a bit far from the Duke's residence but for her it was the safest.

Parking in front of the store, she went down and looked at what's before her. It was an old bookstore owned by a widowed man with no children. Before, she used to go at the bookstore as an escape from her family since she was in a very young age.

Going inside, the bell rang when she opened the door. Instantly, the sweet, musky smell wafts into her nose and even reminded her of chocolate.

"O - oh, welcome," The old man with a cane came into view as he greeted his customer which rarely happened. 

"Amos," Geraldine took of her hood to show her face but the old man didn't recognize her.

"He - hello, young mi - miss, what are you lo - looking for?" Amos said and gestured his trembling hands over the book shelves, "We have va -variety of book he - here."

"Amos, it's me, Geraldine." She said in a soft tone and approach him.

Amos didn't recognize her at first but the more he looked at him, the images of her face stated to get familiarize in his memory. A smile formed in his lips, "Ah ah ah Ger -geraldine!"

Both of them went for a hug as they missed one another, "You g - grown up!"

"Yes Amos, it's been four years," Geraldine laughed and hugged him one more time. Amos is like the father figure to her even though they're not blood related. He was there when she's sad and crying  and was ready to listen to every story she's gonna tell. He treated her as his daughter and kept her secrets from her noble family.

"I though your fa - family sells you off!" Amos shakes his head in disapproval. 

"They weren't able to marry me off to some Duke's son as I run away. That's why you haven't seen me for years!" Geraldine laughed with amusement.

"Ru - run away? This girl, where did you go and why did you go back he - here? They will fi - find you!" Amos was about to go and close his shop but Geraldine prevented him.

"I came back because there's something I needed to do and in order to fulfill it. I need my title back as a noble woman."

Geraldine's words makes Amos sigh is disapproval. He gestured for her to follow him as they went to his kitchen and served her tea.

"You know that they will be - beat you if they see your fa - face again."