🐅 🐅 🐅
BOTH Marfa and the old knight had been invited to the dining room. Marfa was Angelina’s former wet nurse. Originally, she’d been the empress’s handmaid. After serving as Kyril’s wet nurse, she lived in the Big Dipper Garden with Angelina. During Angelina’s life of persecution in the storage shed, both Marfa and the old knight loved her with all their hearts. Normally, neither of them would be able to dine with the emperor. Yet, Feilong had broken tradition to make his beloved daughter happy on this occasion.
Angelina’s older brother—Crown Prince Kyril—had already taken his seat at the table. While his hair shared the same buoyancy as Angelina’s, it shone with a silver sparkle. He’d inherited his pale blue eyes from their father, which also glittered with a rainbow luster. Now thirteen, his features had taken on a more dignified air.
Emperor Feilong of Jinlong was a gorgeous man. His long, silver hair shone like moonlight, and his gaze was as cold as ice. A sword hung from his hip even during his daughter’s birthday party. What’s more, a dirty cloth was fastened to the handle. Angelina had given him that protective amulet.
Being in the presence of the notoriously cruel emperor filled Marfa and the knight with dread. Yet when Angelina ran over to the pair, they couldn’t help but smile.
Angelina spread out her arms in front of the old knight. “Marfa, Mishter Knight!”
As always, the old knight picked up Angelina and spun her around once. “You’re getting big,” he said with a smile.
Angelina grinned in response.
Feilong’s chest prickled with envy as he watched Angelina treat Marfa and the knight as grandparents. She behaved more like a spoiled child around the old knight than him. Feilong had committed a grave error in exiling Angelina to the Big Dipper Garden when she was young. That decision tormented him even now.
When will Lina open up to me? Feilong wondered, trying to hide the sigh that spilled from his lips. When he lifted his head, he donned a resolute expression befitting the emperor and looked around the vast space. “Today is Angelina’s birthday,” he announced, his sharp tone echoing throughout the dining room. “Take your seats.”
In a single moment, the air in the room grew chilly.
Feilong pointed to the center of three chairs lined up at the head of the table. “This is your seat, Lina.”
When Angelina headed towards the seat, Feilong pulled out the chair himself and sat her on top of it. As Feilong nodded in satisfaction, the Golden Dragon moved from Angelina’s arm to the chair’s backrest.
One of the seats beside Angelina was empty, a bundle of cloth sitting atop it. “Who is this seat for?” she asked.
“Phaenna,” Feilong answered.
Angelina’s expression darkened. Phaenna was her biological mother. Sadly, Phaenna had died after giving birth to her. As such, Angelina’s birthday was also the anniversary of her mother’s death.
Upon seeing Angelina’s downcast expression, Feilong provided a hasty clarification. “I just thought that, surely, Phaenna would want to celebrate with us too.”
“I’m certain Mother is delighted as well,” Kyril added.
Angelina lifted her head. At the same time, Marfa and the old knight looked at the small princess and nodded gently.
Angelina had never expected this day to come. Her mother had died after giving birth to her. Those who loved Phaenna should have been mourning her today. I shouldn’t wish for people to celebrate my birthday, Angelina had always thought. She’d even felt guilty when Feilong had suggested throwing her a party.
But I was wrong, she thought. We can celebrate my birthday and remember Mother at the same time.
Swelling with happiness, Angelina nodded enthusiastically. “…Okay!”
A lavish spread of food covered the entire table. There were steaming bowls of dim sum, bear paws, shark fins, swallow nests, elephant trunks, and other magnificent delicacies to choose from.
“This is a gift from me,” Marfa said, placing a cake in front of Angelina.
Cakes were a rare treat in Jinlong. They originated from Yule–the homeland of Empress Phaenna. Yule had collapsed during Phaenna’s youth, and people who remembered its culture had grown few in number. Fortunately, Marfa was one of those few who could pass on Yule’s culture to future generations.
Upon seeing the cake, Angelina sighed in admiration. As a delicacy baked in the palace, it boasted an abundance of fresh fruit.
“I had plenty of fresh strawberries placed on the top,” Marfa said. “I know how much you love them, after all.”
Angelina’s face split into a wide grin. “I love you so much, Marfa!”
“I love you too, Princess. Well then, shall we cut the cake?”
Marfa began cutting and distributing the cake. Of course, she placed a piece in front of Phaenna’s seat as well. After watching the entire process, Feilong urged Marfa to sit down again. Thus, everyone was seated around the table like a family. When the Golden Dragon stretched his neck from Angelina’s backrest, she fed him. The guardian deity’s undignified behavior coaxed a laugh from Kyril, and Feilong breathed a sigh of exasperation.
Angelina felt giddy with happiness. How long had she yearned for this experience? She was surrounded by her loved ones, and they were celebrating her birthday. That was a blessing in itself.
When the banquet reached its full swing, Feilong stood up and handed the bundle of cloth in Phaenna’s seat to Angelina.
“What’s this?” she asked.
“Open it,” Feilong replied.
After unwrapping the package, Angelina stiffened. Upon failing the Naming Trial in her first life, Chief Lady in Waiting Mion had given her a dagger. The package contained that exact blade. Back then, Marfa had interpreted the dagger as Feilong instructing Angelina to commit suicide. Consequently, Marfa had quarreled with the emperor, which led to her execution.