Alexandra walked down the stairs since her room was on the last floor of the palace, and because they were four floors, it was tiring going down the stairs. She understands why her brothers would always teleport to their room instead of using the stairs. Well, the effects were still bad and it would be a waste of mana. Taking the stairs is fine, she thought to herself and let out a sigh.
Speaking about mana, she was gradually improving every day, controlling her mana and using some basic spells are easier for now. It seems like she can only do up to Tier 3 spells, she isn't sure as she still hasn't tried using a Tier 3 spell. Aside from that, about her mana being sealed, she didn't tell anybody about it first. Not even her father, she doesn't know how he would react and she can't find the right time to tell him even after so many days have passed by. Aside from that, only two people were able to confirm if the other one wasn't sure while the other one was. Should I ask father if he can sense it too if I told him about it? She asked herself.
Their footsteps rang throughout the hallway as they walked. Behind Alexandra were two people, Carlos and Diana, as usual, they were always the one who always attend to her. The other maids that she chose to stay with her and insisted that they will stay with her were working and helping around the palace but sometimes, they would be the ones who will attend to Alexandra. Like if her dress got dirty and she doesn't know how to cancel, she will go to one of them and ask them to clean instead of Diana because she would scold her. Sometimes, when Alexandra wants cake or something, they would go out and buy some for her. Daisy and Yulli are too kind and caring for her, she was glad that they picked them although they are still too young and they need the freedom that they deserve at that age yet they remained as her maid.
Ferdinand has been my tutor for years already and he still hasn't given up on teaching me. Well, he only teaches me academic things. He doesn't teach me how to dance or how to have good manners which are quite a relief, it would be exhausting and stressful for her. Diana only taught her the basics but she didn't teach her how to dance. Diana doesn't know how to as she wasn't a noble and she didn't attend social gatherings or balls because she was a maid. The same goes for Daisy and Yulli, they can only teach her basic manners and some things. Well, they are good at drawing and they can play some instruments. They even taught Alexandra how to draw but they didn't teach her how to play an instrument.
Well, it's not like she doesn't know music at all but it's just that she didn't hold a single instrument in her life. Well except for a guitar in her previous life when it was one of her jobs, ah, how hardworking she was in her previous life now she is enjoying the luxury and joy that she is currently having.
Alexandra arrived in the dining room along with Diana and Carlos, they were just silent the whole time. Diana and Carlos's relationship also improved but somehow, they reminded her of Christian and Chandler. They would sometimes bicker, they looked like a married couple arguing about something as they look old but not that old.
Well, Diana was 5 years older than Carlos, so it's more like a mother scolding a child or that one friend who is like a mother and scolds her friend. Ah, whatever they do, I don't mind as long as it's something good and doesn't harm anyone, she thought to herself as she walked towards her usual seat, chairs were surrounding the dining table. She was seated in between Christian and Gilbert always when they were here. She was on the left side. Diana has to leave as soon as she entered because of her duties as a maid, she wasn't also a maid of Alexandra but also a maid here in this palace. But she didn't complain about it as it was nice to be back and work here once again.
It was like she had a reunion with her friends after not seeing them and not working with them for years. Daisy and Yulli are just new here so they only made a few friends and are diligently working, they are as hardworking and energetic as usual. Well, it's not that bad, they looked like they were having fun here and they were comfortable. Carlos was standing behind her, a few steps away from her.
Her father was sitting on the chair that is found at the end of the table, there was an empty chair in between them. Somehow, even though months have already passed but she still wasn't used to just the two of them eating together with multiple empty chairs surrounding them. It sounds so quiet and peaceful.
"Good morning, Daddy."
From papa to daddy, her father just let her be and doesn't give a care at whatever she calls her. "Good morning, Alexandra. How was your sleep last night?" Her father asked her and the food that was prepared by the chefs in this palace was served on top of the table as they talked. Alexandra could already smell the aroma the food was emitting.
"It was nice, I was able to sleep peacefully."
"Is that so?"
"Yes."
Since her father wasn't that talkative and they were eating, they didn't talk that much and just ate silently. The silence that surrounded them wasn't uncomfortable or awkward, rather it was comforting and relaxing. It's just early in the morning and she couldn't afford to talk too much as it would just tire her out. Maybe after this, I'll go to the garden. Maybe I could meet and have a friendly conversation with Arthur as we only talk about magic and such, she thought to herself as she ate.
Not until her father broke the silence and decided to speak, "Alexandra," He called out to her in his usual tone of voice but there was something different in his tone. Alexandra tensed up and she lifted her head slowly to meet her father's gaze, did I do something wrong? His tone of voice sounded so different, like serious or something, she thought to herself and she gulped down the food that she was eating before she responded. "What is it, daddy?"
"After you eat, meet me in the office. I have something to talk to you about," Her father said before he took a sip from the cup of tea that he was holding. Somehow, it feels like he is going to talk about something serious, like really serious because why else would he speak in that kind of tone and ask me to meet in his office later after I eat, if it wasn't that serious, he could have told me here but he didn't, multiple thoughts were running inside her head and wanted to ask him so many questions but what she could say was: "I understand."
"Don't worry, it's not that serious or anything," her father probably saw how tense she was after hearing what he just said and decided to add that.
Alexandra just hummed as a response before she continued eating even though she already lost her appetite and her heart was thumping fast and loudly. What is he going to tell me? That question remained inside her head even after her father has finished eating and left the dining room. Right now, the silence felt uncomfortable and deafening unlike earlier. Alexandra became restless and anxious as time passed by.
--
"Your highness, the young miss, Alexandra is here to see you just like what you have asked," Carlos said after he knocked on the door three times when they arrived in front of his office. Alexandra fidgeted with her hands, clearly showing that she was quite nervous and anxious about what they were going to talk about. Is it about my mana? Is it bad if I didn't tell him that two people think that my mana is sealed, but they weren't sure of it? Then—
Her train of thoughts was cut off when she heard Carlos call out to her, grabbing her attention, "Young miss? Are you not going to enter yet?" Carlos said the door was already opened by him and yet, Alexandra just remained still like a statue. "Ah, right. I forgot," Alexandra and she walked, entering the office without saying anything. Even with what she is feeling right now, the atmosphere of the room was bubbly and relaxing. Her father was seated behind his stack with a pile of papers on top of it, it looked like a forte of paper works in Alexandra's eyes. No wonder he cancels our tea party, where is his assistant anyways? I thought he had an assistant, she thought to herself.
"Daddy," She called out to him, grabbing his attention. He lifted his head and looked at her, "Oh, Alexandra. Have a seat on the chair in front of me," He looked like a manager or principal instead of an emperor, to be honest, isn't this what usually happens when she is called by her boss in her job? No wonder this feels familiar.
"What is it that you are going to tell me, daddy?"
"You see, I am planning to—"
His words were interrupted when someone suddenly opens the door loudly and barged in the room without knocking and calling out to the emperor's second name, "Claude!" Alexandra only knows one person who is brave enough to come to her father's office without knocking and calling out to him with his second name. He could hear her father let out a sigh as if just seeing that person who entered was stressing him out and giving him problems.
"Sir Friyedor and Sir Louise, what brings you here?" Alexandra turned her head around to look at the person who entered. It wasn't just Sir Friyedor, Sir Louise was with him too. Sir Louise is one of the Elders although he just became one. Unlike Sir Fryedor, Sir Louise is always calm and composed and he rarely participates in a conversation and would just stand still or remain quiet but when he does, he would tell what is inside his mind. Aside from that, he always points out to other people's mistakes bluntly especially Sir Friyedor. What a tandem they were.
Both of them were carrying a stack of papers and books. Are those another pile of work that he needs to do? Do father even take a break? Alexandra thought to herself as she stared at what they were holding.
"Were you raised with no manners, Sir Friyedor? Barging in without knocking, what if somebody aside from his highness, the emperor was here? Look, the young miss is here. You're being an awful role model for her," Sir Louise said. Yep, just like this. He seems like a mother or instructor scolding a child.
"Don't worry about it, Sir Louise. I am already used to it besides, no matter how many times you tell him that, he wouldn't even listen and do whatever you asked him to not even once," Her father commented, clearly annoyed yet he just let out a sigh once again. Before they could speak once again, her father did it first, "What brings you two here? It's unusual seeing you two together."
"Oh, we're here to give you the reports, Claude! I didn't sleep for days just to finish this report and work."
"Are you making me guilty?"
"No, but what is the use of your assistant when you aren't giving him any work?"
"I gave him a quarter of my work. Most of these papers are really important ones and inside it is filled with confidential information, I couldn't just hand it over to someone just because they were my assistant."
"Well, that's true."
Both of them placed down the stack of papers they were holding on top of the desk. Friyedor's eyes darted at Alexandra's direction and he smiled at her which Alexandra returned. "How's your training going with Arthur, Princess Alexandra?" Ah, now he's calling her princess, Alexandra let out a giggle before she responded. "It's going well although I am still having a hard time controlling my mana but it's not that bad anymore, I have improved a lot. Besides, please don't call me princess," Alexandra responded while smiling at him.
"Well, your father is treating you like a princess so I ought to call you one."
"Please, don't."
"If you say so."
"Sir Friyedor, we have to leave now."
Sir Louise called out to the man beside him and pulled his collar. "Ah, right. Then, I'll be going now. By the way, Claude, I'll be dropping by tonight," Sir Friyedor said as he let himself be dragged by Sir Louise towards the door so that they will leave. Sir Friyedor waved at Alexandra goodbye as he was being dragged. Not even a proper goodbye, they look so lively and close, Alexandra thought to herself as she waved at them goodbye. He heard her father let out a sigh once again.
Right, he was about to tell me something but he got interrupted when Sir Friyedor suddenly entered. "What is it that you are going to tell me, daddy?" She asked him, turning her head around to look at him. Her father leaned back on his seat before he opened his mouth to speak.
"I am planning to let everyone know about you. Your existence."