Chapter 26

It's been a month since my birthday.

Things have started to settle down.

That was until grandfather Alphonso suggested to father and mother that I stay at the schulz mansion for a while to heal and get a hold of my powers.

Of course I would have said no instantly I didn't want to leave the Lombardy mansion but mother suddenly said she'd think about it even father was shocked the twins kept complaining about how they didn't want to go.

Mayron said it was my fault in a way.

I agree.

Now the twins were ignoring me.

So I spent my days playing with Larane and Craney

Mother has been busy lately always going to uncle Galahan's place and always bringing Tia over which Gilliu and Mayron enjoy a lot.

I keep hoping that mother will think it through and say no to going to the Schulz mansion I miss talking with my older brothers.

Plus I don't want to leave Lombardy.

I looked outside the carriage window with a frown.

Father sat across from me with a stern look on his face "don't you dare mess this up for me"

I nodded deciding it was best to stay quite in this situation as the carriage came to a halt in front of the royal palace.

The meeting the empress had requested when I was sick is today.

And for some reason I had a feeling I wasn't going to like this very much.

Getting of the carriage as a few maids escorted us to the garden. The empress was there a smile on her face next to her the first Prince Astana who didn't look like he was having much fun but seemed to smile anyways.

Father gave me a warning look which I pretended not to see.

"Greeting to the suns of this empire your majesty the empress and your majesty the first Prince my peace and blessings be upon you" Father greeted I mimicked his actions it was easy since it was one of the first things I learnt from mother how to greet a royal and another person/noble,

After sitting around the white table tea and desserts were served. The empress and father talked for the while smiling and laughing while the first Prince just looked bored I didn't blame him honestly.

"You know it seems the first Prince is getting a little restless" the empress turned to him with a stern gaze but a smile quickly covered it up she reminded me of father in a way "why don't you show Rossetti around the garden it's her first time here at the royal palace am I right?"

Father nodded "oh yes it is indeed her first time"

The empress turned to me "what do you think would you like to see the royal garden?"

I could feel fathers glare on me from here I didn't know what to say for once I felt speechless I should say yes but then again the last thing I want to do is see the royal garden with the first Prince who'll probably pull my hair out.

"Yes I'd love to see the garden" I managed to say.

And with that I found myself walking next to the first Prince. Honestly the garden was amazing so I tried to focus on the flowers more than the annoying Prince beside me "why are you even here mother wouldn't tell me anything" he grumbled.

"I don't know I'm just as clueless" I replied catching sight of some bright red flowers "what are you looking at?" He asked joining me by the flowers I had halted by "oh those flowers" he said with realisation "do you know what kind of flowers they are?" I asked "no there just flowers." He shrugged walking ahead.

I glared at his retreating back remembering I should keep my hands to myself and not hit the first Prince of the empire because I'd probably be executed.

"I herd you have a younger brother" I said suddenly the first Prince froze turning to me with a glare "what?" His voice was icy

I tried to hide a smile "I just herd that you have a younger brother what was his name?" I pretended to think "you!" He exclaimed "don't even talk about him! He's not my brother!"

"But he's also a Prince doesn't that make him your brother?" I smiled at the conclusion take that first Prince.

"You really are annoying as hell why do you Lombardy's have to be so annoying!" he shouted pointing at me "are you sure where the problem?" I asked

"Are you saying that to me!? the first Prince! That I am the problem!" He yelled "maybe I mean you have a temper and you threatened to execute Tia for not picking up your hat..." I pointed out he glared at me his face red with embarrassment at the memory

"so what type of flower is this?" I changed the subject bending down to get a closer look at the red flower.

He glared at me but came to look at it again "it's a poppy flower" he grumbled "I don't think so" I muttered "I've seen poppy flowers this is not it"

"How the hell am I meant to know! It's a flower!" He exclaimed i sighed "ok ok fine" I said standing up straight and dusting off my dress "What do you know?"

"I know how to use a sword I started training recently" he tried "my brothers use the sword a lot it's all they do" I sighed remembering the constant dinners we had with mother and how it's all the twins spoke about.

"Fine then do you have magic?" He asked I looked at him confused "on your birthday the stone turned red" he pointed out "does that mean you have magic"

Remembering how the word had spread for a while that the priestess and Ashford family wanted to to be part of my training on how to handle my divine powers but uncle Astor had said my divine powers hadn't awakened to the peak yet so until then I couldn't really do much.

"Yea I guess I do" i muttered "really can you use it?" He asked "not yet not really" I shook my head "well that's dumb" he muttered "yup" I agreed he looked a little shocked that I had we walked in silence after that.

finally the long visit to the royal palace came to an end. The empress asked me all questions like did I like the garden was it to my liking to come back next time or next time she'll have the first Prince show me around the inside of the palace.

And when me and father got in the carriage father asked what me and the first Prince talked about and I shortly explained "not much a bit about his sword training a bit about magic"

Father didn't look impressed but nodded his head "good" leaning back in the carriage chair i looked out the window holding back a sigh. I was never more glad to be back at the Lombardy mansion usually going out excited me since I didn't go out often since Lombardy children couldn't go out alone till they were eleven.

I headed back to my room after changing and having a bath Flopping down on my bed exhausted.

The first Prince got easily angry. That made me laugh remembering his angry face when I asked about the second Prince I wonder why he got angry so quickly I didn't even say anything much.

Sighing I looked at the plain ceiling tomorrow grandfather Alphonso and uncle Astor left which meant mother would decide if we went to live at the Schulz mansion for a while or not.

I really hoped not.

Closing my eyes I fell asleep, more like woke up in a field of flowers which I usually lay down in till I woke up in reality again.

Opening my eyes I herd a commotion going on from the sitting room.

"I don't want to go!" Gilliu's voice was loud "yea why should we go there can't they just stay here!?" Mayron grumbled

Opening the door slightly I say mum sigh bending down to look Gilliu and Mayron in the eye "it will only be for a short while and it's for the best-"

"It's for the best for Rossetti it doesn't even concern us" Mayron pointed out "can we just stay here!" Gilliu protested "no you can't" mum said sternly Standing up "now stop complaining and get your things ready"

Mayron glared at me as he walked past to his room Gilliu following in suit.

It didn't make any sense.

When had things changed so much a few months ago we'd play together have sleep overs in each other's rooms play hide and seek I'd go to the trading ground and watch them and wait and they'd smile and tell me to look at a new trick they learnt.

Now they barely even looked at me yet Alone talked this month we had barely even see each other especially after my birthday.

Mother looked at me her expression softening I took that as a sign to pack my things and not complain.

After I was finished packing with the maids help of course I got up and left to say bye to Larane Craney and everyone else.

Craney had Burst into tears saying who would water the flowers we had planted yesterday and Acallilu was silent nodding a good bye and muttered "I'll keep busy until you and mum come back"

I smiled at that "and I'll keep busy until I can come back"

Acallilu smiled

We had talked after he had gotten banned from ever holding a sword again he had been crying in the garden and I had decided I should see what was wrong we ended up talking.

"Mums going away for a while and Dads trying really hard to be in a good mood and Craney keeps crying and now I can't hold a sword anymore dad was so angry!" He exclaimed i blinked twice Acallilu wasn't like Belsach he was just stuck with him since Uncle Laurel and Uncle Viese get along so well.

"Maybe you should have thought twice before letting Belsach hurt Tia" I muttered Looking at the  field where Gilliu and Mayron were playing with Tia.

"He didn't hit Tia with the sword!" Acallilu exclaimed I paused "what?"

"The ball hit Tia on the nose really hard and Belsach laughed at her..." Acallilu muttered i frowned "why didn't Tia say anything about not getting hit by the sword then?"

"I don't know! Because she's an annoying half blood that's why!" Acallilu exclaimed

"Maybe we shouldn't think about it much I mean what's happened has happened even though we hate it" I muttered Acallilu looked at me with thinned lips "but if we don't think about it then what can we do?"

I shrugged "I don't know maybe keep ourselves busy till things get better"

After that Acallilu sometimes joined us when we were picking flowers or walking in the garden he even played with me from time to time when Belsach wasn't being mean and bossing him around that is.

I headed to the training  grounds saying bye to a few knights who I saw daily they had told me to get better and come back when I was much stronger and a few of the maids told me to come back soon since they would miss me I smiled at that.

Grandfather had been debating with grandpa Alphons so I could only say bye and walk away.

Getting in the carriage Father tried to lighten the mood the twins were stubborn and refused to speak to anyone so father gave up and ended up talking with mother.

Waving bye to everyone as the carriage set off I leaned back in my chair Gilliu glared at me for smiling in such a situation but I stuck my tongue out at him.

I wondered how long we'd stay at the Schulz mansion because by the looks of it, it would definitely be a while.