Chapter 130 - Visitors (5)

As Alexandra was standing, at the other end of the line with his father and brother along with their personal knights who are standing either behind or beside them, with multiple thoughts running inside her head non-stop, a loud and booming voice cut off all of it like thread cut off with the use of scissors. His voice sounded like a lion's roar and it was quite deafening, it must be because of her child's senses or sensitive ears.

"King Raphael and Prince Julian of the Luminaria Kingdom has arrived!" Then there was a carriage, a grand one to be exact, which arrived in front of them. Along with it were two knights and each riding a horse. Those were probably their personal knights and inside the carriage must be them. When she heard that they already arrived, Alexandra somehow tensed u as anxiety slowly crept up to her and engulfed her whole system. She was nervous, this will be their first proper meeting since the one before was completely unexpected and she doesn't even know that he was the prince.

Alexandra looked at Christian in the corner of her eye and saw him completely relaxed and calm as if he was already used to this. Maybe they would visit often. Well, it's not like they went to the party or celebration of the winter star before too, Alexandra thought to herself and she waited for them to step out of the carriage they are currently riding on.

A man opened the door for them and there stepped out a man, looks like he is in his mid-40s or something but he looks quite good-looking if I say so myself, Alexandra thought to herself as she observed the man's physical features. This must be King Raphael of Luminaria Kingdom, then the next one who is going step out of the carriage is the prince itself. Then as if on cue, a boy almost the same age as Christian wearing expensive-looking clothes with the same color as the man with him, which is Blue, stepped out of the carriage.

The people, the servants and people working in the palace, who are lined up bowed down to show respect. "We humbly welcome you, your majesty, King Raphael and Prince Julian of the Luminaria Kingdom," All of them said at the same time. Their voice was laced with respect and they sounded polite as they spoke. Prince Julian smiled at the servants as he walked towards Alexandra's father along with King Raphael who was just walking straight ahead, not looking at anyone. His chin was raised and he held an expressionless look on his face. His demeanor and aura were rather intimidating. Just like a king that he is.

While King Raphael's hair color was dark brown, Prince Julian had red-colored hair but they both have the same eye color, grey. A dark shade of red and a beautiful shade of grey. An unusual combination, Alexandra thought to herself as she stared at them while they walked towards them. They stopped a few steps away from them before they said their greetings as they bowed, "Blessings and Glory for the Queenilia Empire and the Everly Bloodline," Both of them said at the same time along with their personal knights who also bowed at them. Oh, right, I forgot about the greetings, Alexandra thought to herself.

Nobody said a thing as they raised their heads up. "A pleasant afternoon to you too," Was what Alexander only said in his cold tone of voice. It doesn't seem like they are close so they are probably here for business, but what business? Is it about their kingdom or what? They were multiple questions inside Alexandra's head that can't be answered by only herself.

--

"Shouldn't we just drop the formalities already? I just want to sit down already, how far is your courtyard anyways?" The man said, his tone of voice sounding like he is tired. It looks like his posture and composure are going to fall off soon as he gradually began to slow down his pace and he wasn't walking with his back straight. He was walking like how those other old men with problems in their backs do.

"We're still not alone yet, there are still other servants. Don't act so rashly, act like a king. Besides, we are heading towards the garden, not the courtyard," Alexander, Alexandra's father, responded in his harsh and cold tone of voice. Compared to King Raphael who was walking like an old man, Alexander was walking straight maintaining his composure and posture. Alexandra couldn't believe it.

Just after they left and decided to walk towards the garden, the king of the Luminaria Kingdom began to act like this. It was like his personality earlier when they arrived was a mask or façade he would use or show when there are other people aside from them. So they really are close with each other or they are sort of familiar with each other, I thought they weren't because of how they acted around each other earlier, Alexandra thought to herself.

"Which one? You have like more than 5 gardens in your palace and I don't know which one we are heading to," King Raphael said. In Alexandra's eyes, he was like a child asking their mother if they are already at the toy store or they are yet to arrive. The king looked like a carefree and reckless person by how he is acting right now, Alexandra would have mistaken him as some sort of noble who is close to the emperor. "I would love it if you keep your mouth shut even for just a minute," Alexander looked rather annoyed as the king who was walking beside him kept on asking him questions.

Oh, this is new, Alexandra thought to herself. It was rare for her to see her father act like this, he would usually look like he doesn't give a damn about everything and he is emotionless. Somehow, King Raphael was triggering something in him that annoys him. It would be by the use of his voice like asking questions and saying nonsense things which he knows would make the emperor ticked off. However, even with him acting like that, Alexander looks like he is already used to it.

Well, putting that aside, I never knew that the palace had more than 5 gardens, Alexandra thought to herself. I knew that this palace was big and it occupies a large plot of land. I also knew that they have gardens but I never knew that it was that much, I thought there were three although I only visited once and that was where I met Gilbert, she thought. Right now, her mind is currently flying as she thought about so many things that she forgot about the prince walking beside her. He was just quiet and he was roaming his eyes around the place as if he was looking for something interesting.

Would all be the gardens in this palace have the same size or not? There is probably a main one or so, do all of the maids take care of it or they have a gardener or something? Wouldn't that be tiring since you would take care of it every day and imagine how big that would be? Where some of the questions running inside her head. She could see herself getting tired just by sweeping the garden even though she is used in doing such work.

As she was thinking, she felt someone nudge her waist with the use of their elbow snapping her out of her thoughts as she was pulled back to reality. They were still walking. She looked at the person who nudged her waist and saw Christian looking at her with a smile on his face. "Why? What is it?" Alexandra asked him in a low tone of voice which only he can hear. "I believe this is the first time you meet them, right?" Christian asked her. Well, this is my first meeting with King Raphael but Prince Julian, no, she would like to tell him but held the urge back.

Alexandra just nodded and smiled at him before she said, "Yes. This is also my first time meeting someone like them, I am quite nervous, actually," A small and soft embarrassed giggle escaped her lips and she was smiling at him as she does so. "I see. Then this must be the first time that you saw father act like this, King Raphael and our father are actually friends or something. They probably went to the same academy which is Queenilia Imperial Academy and that is probably how they met, seeing that there is a rather high chance of them meeting there since most of the noble and royal families attends there. They were either friends or rivals with each other. Based on what I observed from them as they talked and interacted with each other every time King Raphael sometimes along with Prince Julian, it seems like they are very close with each other," Christian explained in a low tone of voice.

It looked like they were talking about something really important when in fact, they were just talking about the two people walking behind them who were somehow arguing earlier. "I see, mind if I ask how old is his majesty, Prince Julian?" Alexandra asked him and looked at Prince Julian at the corner of her eyes. He was just looking straight ahead.

Now it seems like they were best friends gossiping about the person they hate when they aren't. "He is the same age as me but he is a few months older than me, to be honest," Christian responded and Alexandra just nodded her head repeatedly as her mouth shaped into an 'o'. I want to talk to him but I can't find a good topic or thing to talk about. I don't even know what kind of things does he like If I knew about that, talking with him would be easier. What if I ask Christian about it? Alexandra turned her head towards Christian who was looking straight ahead of him.

"Hey, brother. One last question, do you know what Prince Julian likes?" Alexandra asked him in a curious tone of voice. Christian hummed before her response to her question, "I honestly don't know. We never talked with each other every time they pay a visit. He would just usually stand there and do nothing," Christian said and Alexandra just nodded repeatedly. He doesn't look like the type of person who likes swords and fights, he also doesn't look like the type of person who loves to read books, he also doesn't look like the type of person who loves food, and he also doesn't look like the type of person who likes anything.

Ah, I'll just think about it later, Alexandra thought to herself and let out a sigh.

--

Finally, after what it seems like hours of walking to the garden, they finally arrived. The place was filled with bushes of flowers with obelisks in the middle of those bushes. The place looked colorful and lovely even though it was just simple. It was clean and neat like it was taken care of every day. The faint sweet scent of the flowers wafted to her nose and the atmosphere of the place was bubbly and relaxing. A perfect place to have their tea parties.

"Come to think of it, this is the first time your daughter and my son met, right?" King Raphael asked as they were walking to this one shelter in the garden. (Note: I forgot the name again, wherein most of the noble ladies would spend their time chatting in drinking tea there. It's like a shelter or something if you know what it is, please do tell me. Thank you.) Alexandra stiffened, it felt like she was struck by lightning when she heard what the king said. What if he recognized me or something? Alexandra asked herself.

"Son, would you please introduce yourself?" The king said towards Prince Julian before he looked at Alexandra. Prince Julian stared at her for a few seconds before he smiled and said, "Prince Julian Nathaniel Kingsley Cowell, the 1st prince of the Luminaria Kingdom. It is a pleasure to meet you," He said. A sweet and gentle smile across his lips, his eyes closing at the process.