Chapter 156 - 156 "Departure Speech"

156 “Departure Speech”

Time went by and the preparation for the second war during the rule of the 34th emperor, Cathain De Valerian Valentino was successfully completed.

“Elee, be careful. If you ever sense the danger, just ran away without thinking anything. Your safety is the most important thing.”

Alexander spoke as he walked towards the central palace of the imperial palace with Eleanora followimg him from behind.

“I understand, understand, Daddy. It’s the tenth time you are saying this to me today...”

Eleanora spoke with a low chuckle and looked at her father softly.

“Should i just go with you secretly?”

Alexander looked at Eleanora as he spoke, his tone was serious, which made her speechless.

“That will be treason, Daddy.”

“...”

.....

In the end, Alexander sighed as he stopped on his tracks and faced Eleanora.

“Be safe.”

With that, Alexander pulled her into his embrace and patted her back.

“I will, i promise that i will come back safely, Daddy.”

Eleanora spoke as she hugged him back.

“You’ve really grown up.”

“But you are still the same, As handsome as always.”

Her words made Alexander soften up a bit as he looked at her.

He brushed up her bangs a little and kissed her forehead, which surprised Eleanora.

“I love you, Elee.”

“I love you too, Daddy.”

Eleanora spoke with a bright smile and Alexander couldn’t help but worry more about her.

“Are you ready for giving the departure speech during today’s ceremony?”

Alexander asked as he walked towards the big door which lead to the balcony of the imperial palace.

Where the previous war declaration was held, wherr her destiny finally started to change drastically.

“Yes, Am ready!”

Eleanora spoke confidently as she lookef at her father one more time.

The emperor was waiting for her infront of thr balcony as both of them will be giving speech together this time.

Instead of wearing her usual blue silver coloured suit, Eleanora was wearing a black suit with a long red cape drapped over her shoulder.

The dress code for the knight leader of the third squadron.

The same dress, the same post- what’s different is her soul and will.

In the past, she only fought to feel better, fulfil the emperor’s wish to get his recognition.

But now she will fight for the people she wants to protect, the people who cherished her.

The emperor was wearing a white suit with a red cape drapped over his shoulder too.

“I, Duke of Dalton greet the sun of our empire, Your Majesty the emperor.”

“Greetings, Your Majesty.”

Alexander and Eleanora greet the emperor together and the emperor greet them back with a low silent nod.

“Let’s go, people are waiting.”

The emperor spoke after extending his hands towards Eleanora to enter the balcony together.

Alexander looked at the emperor coldly, who had extended his hands towards Eleanora to escort her.

‘I have to let go of her again...’

Alexander loosen his grip over her palm and watched Eleanora hesitantly putting her hands on his, which the emperor gripped tightly.

Just like he does.

“I will see you later, Duke.”

The emperor spoke before he turned to enter the balcony with her and she looked back to smile at her father to reassure him that she is okay.

‘I have practiced ot many times, moreover it’s not even my first time giving a speech.’

Eleanora thought as she let out a heavy breathe to calm down.

“Are you ready?”

The emperor pretended to ask with indifference without even looking at her.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Cathain stole a glance at her nervous face one last time before he turned his head to the doorkeeper.

“Open the door.”

The doorkeepers nodded and two of them pulled the handles of the door to pull it with strength as the door was really heavy.

As soon as the door opened, the bright sunlight fall on their face as the loud cheering noises from the knights could be hear.

“Long live Valentino Empire!!”

“Long live his majesty, the emperor!!”

“For the victory of the Valentino Empire!!”

Eleanora walked towards the edge of the balcony to face the large crowd of the knights.

Even public people could be seen at a distance.

‘We are finally departing...!’

Cathain took a deep breathe before he finally started to speak in a loud tone.

“First of all, I, the 34th emperor of the Valentino empire; implore the goddess to bless everyone present here.”

“We will emerge as the victors, let the Rua Kingdom know what happens when they pick a fight against our empire.”

“We are the proud soldiers of the Valentino empire, So as long as we united, no matter the number of the Rua soldiers we are up against, we will defeat every last one.”

“You people watched me grow up, where i watched this empire to grow up. Our empire is not something which can be threatened by a small Kingdom.”

“When we return, we will have a feast to celebrate.”

“The name of the soldiers who will sacrifice their lives for our empire will be written down with gold and seen by everyone in the capital.

They will be forever immortalized by the people of our empire.”

During the speech, Eleanora was fearful and wary of the public reaction.

Losing the soldier information is no less then the robbery of any national tressure.

But to her surprise, The public and knights was calm. They kept cheering up for their empire and the emperor.

“LONG LIVE OF VALENTINO EMPIRE!!”

“FOR THE VICTORY OF OUR EMPIRE!!”

“WE ARE NOT AFRAID!”

“WE SUPPORT YOU, YOUR MAJESTY!!”

‘Is this the power of a superior? Who is born to rule?’

Eleanora once again found herself admiring him.

The words he spoke was not very different from the words she have heard before, the speeches which she often listened in her previous life before each battle took part.

But she couldn’t help but admire him this time too.

When he spoke, it felt like the love she has for the empire and it’s people, the urge to protect the people she loves was getting bigger then the importance of her life.

It felt like her blood was boiling with courage to fight, which is not afraid of death.

‘Even if he was never a good husband to me, but he was indeed a good ruler.’

.....

Then Eleanora realised it was her turn to speak as the emperor’s speech has ended.

‘Don’t be nervouse, i can do it.’

Eleanora thought as she stride forward to face the people more clearly and cleared her throat before she started to speak.

“Lady Dalton! My Goddess!”

“Long live the crown princess!”

More then half of the knights yelled as Eleanora stride forward, which made the emperor felt very uncomfortable.

‘What’s wrong with me again?’

‘Why does my heart feels like burning?’

Cathain thought as he tried his best to keep calm and Eleanora started her speech.

“Dear soldiers, I know that some of you will be wounded or killed, lost your best friends or someone dear to you.”

“I will fight alongside you people as a fellow soldier. Even if i can’t save or help everyone, but i will try my best to aid everyone as much possible.”

“However, I am sure that his majesty and i will try his best to help us all, so that more people can go back home to their families with victory.”

“I believe that his majesty will never let any unnecessary sacrifices to occur in any way.”

“May the goddess bless you all.”

Eleanora felt a little awkward and feared if she has said something wrong for the people to be this quite and felt Cathain’s hands grip her hands tightly.

‘!!!’

She was surprised and looked up to see him but soon, the whole place was filled with loud clapping sounds.

“WHOOAAAAHHH!!!”

“LONG LIVE THE CROWN PRINCESS!!”

“LONG LIVE HIS MAJESTY THE EMPEROR AND HER HIGHNESS THE CROWN PRINCESS!”

“LONG LIVE VALENTINO!”

“FOR THE VICTORY OF VALENTINO!”

Cathain and Eleanora faced the cheering from the crowds with holding their hands together.

His red eyes was filled of gentleness and proud feeling as he looked at her, somehow he no longer felt inferior to her like he used to feel before.

But at the same time, he felt scared.

Like she was going far away from him slowly.

He felt like the moment he will try to embrace and hold her, she will disappear.

She is like a shining light which he can see but can’t touch, a shining light which belongs to everyone and light up the sky.

Where he is the same as everyone…

But, Cathain didn’t want to be the same as everyone in her heart...

He wants to be special to her.

‘Wait… what am i thinking?!’

‘How can i feel like this?!’

“Are you alright, Your Majesty?”

Eleanora asked in a low voice as she saw his tensed expression.

She thought if he was uncomfortable as he doesn’t remember anything and such a sudden pressure made him feel sick.

‘What made her think that i feel sick?’

Cathain was stunned to find her caring for him and before he could understand what he should say, he already found himself blurting out something which he never imagined.

“Yeah, My head hurts. Give me a massage.”