The remaining days of preparations passed by in a blur, and before I knew it, it was the evening before we were slated to depart. I gazed wistfully out the window at the sky, painted a fiery red by the setting sun, momentarily distracted from reviewing the final schedule with Ed and Teodore in my sitting room in the Emerald Palace.
It was hard to believe that we were at last approaching the culmination of our efforts. The outcome of success had been uncertain at times, with genuine moments of doubt when it seemed we might not meet our deadlines, but thanks to the unwavering dedication and hard work of everyone involved, not only were we on track, but we were also likely to be afforded enough space to breathe that we’d get some actual rest tonight.
I was so grateful to Ed and the others for their help. The tasks had often felt overwhelming; there were countless times I’d felt that I might collapse into sleep at any moment. Yet it was their steadfast presence that had carried us through.
This whole organization, this role of the Saint, though initially created for my sake, was designed to endure well beyond my time. There would eventually be a second Saint, and a third, each inheriting this legacy. It was crucial, then, that we execute everything with meticulous care. I did not want to be remembered as the first Saint who faltered during the inaugural Noel, burdening my successors with the weight of my mistakes!
One cannot be too prepared, I told myself, reclining back on my sofa. As I pinched the bridge of my nose, I heard Ed beside me instruct one of the maids to fetch something sweet. Across from us, Teodore began organizing the documents littered across the table.
“I believe that’s everything. We’re all ready for tomorrow,” he said, his voice brimming with a warm confidence. “Princess, your dedication is truly appreciated.”
“Of course,” I replied with a smile. “Though, really, it is I who should be thanking both of you.”
“I would do anything for my dear Lina,” Ed responded sweetly.
“All you did was sit back and bark a few orders at your men,” Teodore added just as sweetly, a comment meant clearly as a punishment for Ed trying to curry favor with me.
Ed grunted and looked away uncomfortably. It seemed he had nothing to say about his lack of effort when it came to paperwork and other such practical tasks. But then, in a voice that was only a little sullen, he muttered, “I...filed a few documents, didn’t I?”
“Oh, did you? Well, then congratulations—Your Highness has matched the capabilities of a competent eight-year-old,” Teodore quipped.
You should’ve held your peace, darling, I thought to myself, amused. Considering the exhaustion that clung to me, I found it remarkable that Ed and Teodore could still muster the energy to banter. Commander and vice commander—truly a force to be reckoned with (and not just on the field of battle).
The maid returned with an assortment of bite-size chocolates. I popped one in my mouth, savoring it as I enjoyed the ongoing exchange between the men in my life, an exchange which culminated, as it almost always did, with Ed’s ego only slightly worse for the wear.
As he sulked, still grappling with his undersized role in our preparations, I offered him a piece of chocolate, my smile tinged with irony. “You know, Teodore,” I suggested gently, “perhaps you could ease up on my husband now and then.”
“Oh, but I do,” the blond lord returned smoothly. “When propriety demands it, I hold my tongue.” He picked up his freshly refilled teacup, his casual shrug and smile signaling me to let the matter rest.
Just then, there was a knock on the door. It was quite peculiar to receive visitors at this hour, so I looked to Owen for confirmation. After receiving his reassurance, I called out, “Enter!”
The imperial castle’s head maid stepped into the room. “Your Imperial Highnesses, Your Lordship. I apologize for the intrusion. You have been summoned by His Imperial Majesty, Emperor Eric.”
“The emperor?” Teodore and I responded in unison, overlapping with Ed’s “Father?”
“Yes,” the head maid confirmed succinctly, dispelling any lingering doubts.
Apparently, her declaration had not, in fact, been a mass auditory hallucination. But the emperor knew of our schedule, that we were to depart tomorrow. A matter that might warrant cutting into our precious time at this hour must have been one of utmost importance.
“Well, we mustn’t keep His Majesty waiting,” Teodore prompted.
“Yes, let’s go,” Ed added.
We each took a brief moment to collect ourselves, exchanged affirming nods, then stood and exited the room in a composed manner. Owen was, as always, at my side as my personal bodyguard, while I instructed Marisa to tidy up in our wake. Led by the head maid, our group of four wended our way through the corridors and out onto the grounds, lit with the slanting rays of a day descending quickly towards twilight.
“Do you think this summons is related to what we have planned for the Noel celebrations?” I asked.
“Knowing my father, it might be that, or it might be something completely unrelated and unnecessary,” Ed said.
“His Majesty has summoned us in the past with no other purpose than to invite us to dine with him, has he not?” Teodore joked.
His comment drew light smiles and chuckles from us all, easing the tension slightly. Soon enough, we had made our way through the corridors and arrived at the grand doors of the emperor’s chambers. The head maid stepped aside and bowed. “His Imperial Majesty awaits within. Please knock and enter.”
Thanking her for her diligent service, Ed and I stepped forward. As the highest-ranking individual present, Ed knocked on the door three times. “This is Prince Edward Ruby Martinez. May we enter?”
“Enter,” came the emperor’s voice from within.
We shared a nervous glance and a nod, murmured, “Pardon me,” and gently pushed the doors open to reveal, ensconced within the room’s opulent decor, three imperial figures: the emperor, the empress, and Prince Gilbert. I thought surely it would just be the three of us meeting with His Majesty... This must have made for the first imperial family gathering since the incident with Archbishop Mills.
As our party stood there, dumbstruck, the emperor’s face broke into a wide smile. The empress offered a nonchalant shrug, while Prince Gilbert looked just as astonished as we were—clearly, he had not been briefed on the proceedings either.
The emperor gestured towards the seats to our left. “Please, sit.”
Ed and I exchanged another look, but ultimately, standing idly by would not gain us the answers we sought. We complied and took our seats, and Teodore positioned himself behind us. Owen nodded respectfully and quietly exited the room. As I settled into my chair, I couldn’t help but wonder: What could possibly be the reason for such a gathering? Also...could we perhaps get to it just a little more quickly? I had to admit that I was more than a little impatient; I should have been preparing for bed, resting for my big day. My gaze inadvertently met the emperor’s just as he turned to look at me. A chill raced down my spine, but he responded with a burst of boisterous laughter.
“Lighten up, Carolina!” he boomed, his voice echoing warmly in the chamber. “I promise this won’t take long, so please, everyone, grant me your undivided attention.”
“Y-Yes, Your Majesty!” I managed to squeak out. His laughter faded into a softer smile, which helped to ease my nerves slightly. He appeared content, his eyes crinkling with amusement as he turned his gaze forward again. Observing his distinguished profile, I was reminded of the resemblance between him and Ed.
“First, I must thank you all for responding so promptly to my summons, especially given the lateness of the hour,” the emperor began. “I know you all have been preparing tirelessly for tomorrow’s events, so I will be brief. I wanted you all to know—” He paused, eyes slowly scanning the small assembly. “We have reached a decision regarding the crown prince.”
A shock wave rippled through the room. Every pair of eyes widened except the empress’s. A sense of foreboding filled me as the implications of this statement sank in: the succession had finally been determined.
I felt my lips tighten as I stole a glance at Prince Gilbert. He had long coveted the throne, and now, his features were set into determined lines, reflecting how much this moment must have meant to him.
The empire’s factional crisis was, after all, far from resolved. Following the Arendt family’s fall from grace, the party supporting the first prince had weakened, but Prince Gilbert had been tirelessly working to reverse this trend, albeit at great personal cost. In the little time he’d had during this busy season, he’d focused on courting favor from members of the formerly neutral faction. As a result, the nobility had become more polarized than ever before, with a robust caucus for the second prince confronting the first prince’s circle, one that continued to draw support from a dwindling pool of unaligned nobles. The balance of power remained precarious, and I feared that the announcement of the crown prince, regardless of its outcome, would inevitably ignite significant upheaval.
All eyes were fixed on the emperor. Prince Edward or Prince Gilbert—who would it be? The room fell into a deafening silence, and I swallowed hard, the sound echoing in my ears.
The emperor took a deep breath. “Before we proceed, let me be clear. I have made this decision not as a father, but as the leader of this great empire. I will entertain no grievances or objections.”
We all nodded, the weight of his words sinking in. The choice of the future leader of the empire was a decision that transcended personal biases. It needed to be impartial, and we understood the emperor would set aside his personal feelings to make this critical choice. I straightened up, my heart pounding as I awaited his announcement.
“One son of mine embodies the strength required of a ruler, the other, the charisma of a leader. It was not an easy decision, but after careful consideration of your merits, I have chosen the son worthy of being the empire’s new steward—” He paused, his gaze intense. “Gilbert, my son. The responsibility is yours.”
Our eyes widened, and looks of astonishment passed between us. For a few seconds, we remained frozen, absorbing the proclamation, and then...smiles slowly spread across our faces.
“Thank goodness!” I muttered over and over again, relief washing over me.
The newly proclaimed heir apparent let out a sniffle. “It’s me... I’m the crown prince!” he exclaimed, almost in disbelief. Tears welled up in his eyes, and he clutched a fist in front of his chest in triumph.