Etherheinz is a big powerful and secretive kingdom. It's not the larges but it's without doubt the most powerful one. Their militaries are top notch and their securities are tightest. No spy will able any information inside Etherheinz. Visitor are also limited. Rumours has it that the cause is because the king is paranoid. The rumours said that the tensions between the princes is so bad that's why the kingdom doesn't even have a Queen. How correct it is I will find out soon I reckon.
A few years back, when my father was still the king, our Elders demand him to married one of his Princess to Etherheinz's king. The king refuse because he had promised that he won't marry other kingdom Princess beside both Princess are young and the king was already in his middle 40th that time. The king married and had children in old age so he refuse to marry young princesses. but both Elder of Etherheinz and Ethervizh pressure them for it. The reasons is it is a proof for our alliance.
That time we really need an alliance for both our kingdoms fare. So we compromised that the princess would marry their Prime Minister instead.
The princess that supposed to be married out was my Elder Sister the first Princess, Roseanne Mary Alpine Vizh. But she already had someone she loved that time so Our little sister the second Princess who was the apple of our Father eyes, Roselle Myra Alpine Vizh volunteered herself instead.
All of us, even Roseanne Nee-sama herself disapprove the idea. Roselle was only 16 years old that time after all and the Prime Minister was already 30 years old.
However Roselle was a stubborn Princess. She was a romantic so the idea of separating two people who was in love was making her unhappy. When I told her that Prime Minister also had already have a son and wife she asked if the wife was okay with her marrying her husband. We were told that she was agree to that. But after that we only exchange letters with Roselle and met Roselle only once, when she gave birth to her twin babies.
The first wife was not present when we came. We were told that she had to go to her hometown because her mother was not well. Beautiful Roselle look like she already lost her fire but she still welcome us with smile. Her relationship with her husband also seemed not bad. The minister was awkward but we can see clearly that he cared deeply for Roselle.
We were satisfied with Roselle's married life. We thought she was alright. Only the second Prince, Raselle Myro Alpine Vizh who was Roselle's little twin brother was suspicious. He suspected that Roselle wasn't as happy as she looks. We didn't take him seriously. Few months later we received news of Roselle's death.
Our esteemed Father then become weaken and weaken, brokenhearted by Roselle's death. We all were mourned. All Kingdom were mourned. Even our closest Ally, The beastmen tribes were mourned. Roselle was their beloved Princess after all. After our esteemed Father passed away we never see nor heard about Roselle's babies twin anymore.
Raselle still looking into Roselle's cause of death even now. The pretext is that he was exploring the world and studying magic. He is already recognised as a great Sage in many kingdoms. Meanwhile Roseanne Nee-sama is still blame herself for Roselle misfortune even though we never tired to remind her that it was not and never her fault. She was even beddriden because of that. Her health declined every years.
Our baby brother the third Prince, Romero Marc Alpine Vizh plant himself as an Emissary with Etherheinz so he will be the first one to know what happens inside Etherheinz. Roselle is still his beloved and favorite elder sister even until now. You will see the proof hanging on his neck. The childish necklace made from strings with a photo inside. Her photograph.
And I, Robert Mario Alpine Vizh the king of Ethervizh Kingdom, am also same as them. Still mourning the lost of my beloved little sister. We five siblings are close after all. Closer than any of you can find outside.
So this is our chance to find out about Roselle's babies. They're not babies anymore. They would have grown up by now. Do they look like Roselle, I wonder? We who have Royal blood in our veins usually has silver hair. Except for Etherkouz's Royal Family who always have black hair, Beastmen tribes and Elf tribes.
Thought it usually is only the princes. It's rare for princesses to have silver hair. That's why Roselle is an exception. She had e beautiful Silver hair while Roseanne Nee-sama has a beautiful platinum blonde hair. The last time we saw them Roselle baby girl has silver hair like her. She has blue tint of her father's hair on the tip but it was still beautiful. While her baby boy had his father's hair with strips of silver on it. It won't be hard to find them.
That was what I thought.
The baby boy who is now a handsome grown up boy is easy enough to find as he is one of the students that will participate in our expedition. The baby girl though is not present. And nor is the crown prince.
Not even one day we already realise that all rumours about Etherheinz are just, well, rumours. The king is not paranoid nor he is feared by his sons. The most false one maybe the rumours between the princes relationship. They don't seem to hate each other.
So there we were, myself the king, my son the Crown Prince, Rasya Qain Alpine Vizh, his cousin Lord Ray Alpine Osland who is Roseanne Nee-sama son and our two escorts my two beloved little brothers, being welcomed by the Prime Minister himself who immediately apologize for the lack of communication between us. We then escorted to the king and his lady for small talk while we wait for the students to come. We come early on purpose so we can have small talk before they come.
At first we were assured that both Roselle's babies will participate in the expedition but the truth is only the baby boy is coming.
"Arren, where is your brother?" King Arkhein sighs as soon as he notices that the Crown Prince is not here.
"My apologize Father, that stupid brother of mine..." he trailes when he heard a cough noise from his both sides.
Did he just said 'stupid brother of mine' in from of the king himself? And the king doesn't seem angry but exasperate instead?
"ahem... My brother Arzen is taking Kii-chan out of Academy for a break" he finished after correcting himself.
"oh my..." the king's lady said.
King Arkhein just sigh and bow at us in apologize.
"Allow me to apologize for my son rudeness" king arkhein said.
"I'll make sure that my fist goes through his skull" Prince Arren adds also bowed.
"Arren..." his mother chided.
"Arren-san!" The lady beside him said wide-eyed.
"Allow me to apologize as well. Arren-san, um, I mean Prince Arren is not in his right mind right now so..." the lady trailed nervously.
Meanwhile their two companions on their back are one sigh tiredly and one my heart jolt ant recognition at the boy who was trying to hide his laugh. Blue hair with strips. He is Roselle's baby.
Noticing my stare King Arkhein pardon them and ask them to introduce themselves to us.
"I'm Arren Arch Fern Rhein, The First Prince of Etherheinz Kingdom. Please to have your acquaintance. I'm sorry for my blugger earlier" he said after a pause.
"Midori Fern Wallace. I'm the first daughter of Wallace house and is Prince Arren's fiancee candidate. Please to have your acquaintance." the lady said.
Wallace first daughter? It can't be her. The age is off and her hair isn't silver.
"Akai Fern Wallace. First Son of Wallace's house. Pleased to have your acquaintance" the sighing boy said. Ah, I remember him. He sure is growing up to be a handsome man.
"Aoi Fern Wallace. Second son of Wallace's house" Roselle's baby finally introduce himself.
He is such a fine young man. I can see a bit of Roselle's mannerism in him. His smile is also as bright as Roselle's was.
"And the one not present were?" I heard Raselle asked.
His eyes also raking on Aoi. I'm sure he is also trying to memorize and finding his similarities to Roselle on him.
"The one not present are The Prince of Etherkouz Kingdom Prince Rhuifen and his two bodyguards Lord Jupiter and Lady Venus as a substitutes for My Stu...ahem... My Brother Arzen A Fern Rhein and his fiancee Kii-chan. Ah, I mean lady Kii Fern Wallace. The son of Zoland house to represent his family Noah Fern Zoland. And one more is invited by Prince Rhuifen. A lady named Angela Fern Reyes" he sighed disappointedly?
Dissapointedly? Did he regret regret his brothers absent that much? Oh wait...
"Pardon for my rudeness. But I seems to hear that both Prince Arzen and Prince Arren are engaged to daughters of Wallace?" I ask puzzle by the revelation.
Daughter and father look at each other.
"If I'm allowed to answer?" Lady Wallace said.
I held my hand in gesture of go on.
"I am adopted and I have no blood relation with my father. So I have permission to get engaged with Prince Arren as Kii is my sister not but by blood" lady Wallace said.
I nod in understanding but one sentence caught my attention. 'I have no blood relation with my father' she said not 'have no blood with father and mother?'
"you seem close with your brother, prince Arren?" my son ask.
"we are" the prince answered.
"but? I sense a but there" Ray add in a playful manner.
Prince Arren looks at him considering his answer.
"but he drives me crazy" he said in the end.
"excuse me?" both Rasya and Ray ask.
"Arren..." king arkhein sigh again.
But Prince Arren is seem to be in his wit end. He ignored him an even ask the king back.
"Father do you know where Lexy-San is?"
"He is in the barracks preparing your escorts" the king answer.
"exactly!" Prince Arren throw his hands in exasperation.
"You need to explain more to make us understand, son" the king said. And I agree.
"Lexy-San is here meant that Arzen and Kii-chan are out there by themselves. How can I able to calm down? Well, at least with kii-Chan there I know Arzen will be taken care of but still..."he trails tiredly.
"Er... Shouldn't it be the other way around?" Rasya ask confusedly.
"No. Arzen is crazy and stupid and like to do dangerous things and crazy and he has no sense of danger, his hobby is fighting beast. He is crazy. He like fire. He even like to set himself on fire. He is crazy. His dreams are to be an pirate and called firefist. He is bad at lying and he is crazy!" prince Arren puffed and huffed in annoyance.
"the only thing I catch is that the Crown Prince is crazy" Rasya said.
"Arren you really should calm down" Akai pat his shoulder.
Lady Wallace is rubbing his back as he exhaled and inhaled ti calm himself. The king is messaging his temple with his lady also rubbing his back. This father and son is so similar.
"Pff...Pff"
I glance at the noise. Aoi is covering his mouth. His body shaking and head turn run the side.
"Aoi..." the Minister reprimand him.
"Sorry father" he said.
I can still hear the amusement in his voice. They're really alike.
"Akai, why did you give Kii permission to go? Shouldn't you aware that today we will have honored guests?" The Minister ask again.
"My deeply apologize Father, I'm afraid that my position is fall under Aoi and Midori in Prince Arzen's mind when it is regarding of kii. Aoi was the one that give him permission to take her out" Akai shrugged.
"He said it was her birthday present" Aoi said nonchalantly.
"Lady Kii is?" I look at the Minister.
"Aoi little twin sister. She has a beautiful silver hair like her" the Minister said softly.
I smile. I'm disappointed not able to meet her in person. I hope next time we can come again just to meet her and Aoi. I hope I can bring them to Roseanne Nee-sama. It won't remove her guilt but it might be can lessen it.
The next day we meet with the rest of students and the kingdom guard escorts. The guard will be hidden and not traveling with us the only guard that will accompany us is the princes' personal guard named Alexander McCais who looks around as if to find something or someone?
"Arzen is not here. He is taking Kii to go on adventure for a break" Arren said not even looking up on his position reading the guide book about beastmen.
"that stupid prince!" the guard muttered tiredly.
It seems that everyone loves the Crown Prince. They insult him yes but it seems that they do so without malice. I even can heard the fondness in it.
It makes me curious. Just what kind of person is the Crown Prince.
We are here to meditate on the relations between the Etherheinz kingdom and beastmen tribes. The kingdom want to deepen their relationship with the tribes but beastmen tribe are famous for their hard to get along attitude. It easy to make them offended.
Our people are able to get along with them because we are mostly care a little about pride and appearance. We don't care and scare to look ugly in front of others. That's why the beastmen are able to get along well with us.
"Don't ask questions. Do anything they ask on the first meeting with them. After you are welcomed to their circle you will allowed to express your opinions and argue with them. They won't ask you to do something dangerous. Something silly or embarrassing maybe but never ask something dangerous. So please just agree" I lecture them.
"we will enter their mountain in few hours and arrive in their village the next day. Remember, when they ask you to do something for the first time. Just do it. Don't ask questions. Just do it." I look at each of them. Including Rasya and Ray "Do you understand?" I ask firmly to show how serious I am.
"we understand" the chorus.
I nod satisfiedly.
The trips was longer than I expected because strangely the lady that was said used to be commoner is weaker and complaining more than lady Wallace who is raised as a noble lady from young age.
The commoners lady in our kingdoms are strong ladies and capable of doing thing for themselves so it was strange for us to witness this situations. Maybe it was different here in Etherheinz?
In the end prince Arren who is still in bad mood because of his brother signalled his guard to help the lady. The lady was complaining and insulting the guard for being rude and touching her disrespectfully which the guard ignored skillfully.
I was impressed by the guard. Why did Prince Rhuifen invited such lady with no manners like this lady I wonder?
As we got nearer to the village, we heard shouts and clanging sound of swords. The is a fight near us. I just finished warning them to be careful when a ball of fire shoot passed our heads. The lady is screaming.
Then a body passed us and slammed at he tree on our side. To my surprise, the boy that is on fire come skidded in front of the body, a tiger beastman, a very familiar tiger beast man I noticed.
"I won! Again! Take that old man!" the boy cheered.
"Brat!" the beastman, Rikki said before he also laugh.
I sigh in relief for moment. So it wasn't an attack but a spar I release. Then I remembered the boy. How is he still alive? He has fire licking his shoulder. I was about to point that to the boy. When a chilling voice that even make an old man like me shiver heard.
"Arzen..." the cold of Arren voice might be just able to freeze the hell.
The boy, Arzen, (Ah, this is the Crown Prince? I realise) stiffen.
"Uh oh" I heard him say.
Then he very slowly turn his head to us. His fire reduced.
"Uh, hi?" he said awkwardly. Sweat forming on his forehead.
"hi? Is that the only thing you can say to me, Huh?" Arren said while advancing to him.
Prince Arzen took a step back. And rubbing the back of his neck, laughing nervously.
"you found me!" he said in a fake cheerful voice.
"you found me my Ass! You idiot brother, do you know how worry I was?" Arren said, grabbing his head and dug his fist on his head.
"hey! Language! There are kid present. I expect more from you, Nii-Sama" Prince Arzen said playfully.
"who give you the right to lecture me, Huh?" Arren said equally playful.
They don't look like they are in the middle of civil war like the rumors said. Contrary they look content in each other present and like just like how brothers will.
Hold on, if prince Arzen here, that's mean that.
"Ace-kun, Rikki-san, are you alright" a girl voice called.
Speak of the devil. There jumping between the tree is her. My heart skip beats in nostalgic for a moment I thought it was Roselle that was jumping toward us. I heard Rasselle and Romero gasp as well. They must be thinking what I think, because her appearance is look exactly like her when she was young.
Her hair tied in ponytail. Elegantly jumping off the trees even as she wears skirt and stiletto. She is really her daughter. She landed on the boy side perfectly.
"Eh? Arren Nii-Sama..." she called confusedly.
"You okay Kii? Arzen didn't bother you too much?" prince Arren said patting her head.
"hey!" prince Arzen protested but Prince Arren shooed him with a glare. He cross his hands sulkily in answer.
"I'm fine. Miss you all though" Roselle's baby girl, Kii, said hugging Arren.
Then she notices us standing. She looks at Arren for explaination. A lady can't greet a noble from other kingdom without being introduced after all.
"This is His highness Robert M Alpine Vizh, the king of Ethervizh kingdom. The Crown Prince Rasya-sama and his cousin Ray-sama along with their two escorts Lord Raselle and Lord Romero" Arren said.
"Pleasure to have your acquaintance" Prince Arzen and Kii said in unison.
"My name is Arzen Ace Fern Rhein, the Crown Prince of Etherheinz kingdom and this is my fiancee Lady Kii Fern Wallace" Prince Arzen introduce themselves.
My welcoming speech was cut by Rikki.
"Hold on just a moment there! You're a Prince?" he asked pointing at Prince Arzen.
"I thought you're a pirate?" he continues accusedly.
"hey! Are you sure your ears okay, old man? I said I'm going to be. I repeat. Going to be a pirate when I finished my study! Get the fact right!" prince Arzen sound equally offended.
Rikki looking at him disabeliefly. Then he laugh patting Prince Arzen on the back.
Kii meanwhile is giving Aoi, Akai and Midori hug and nods politely ant the remaining party.
The expedition went smoothly after that as the tribes welcome them easily after they knew they were friends of Prince Arzen and kii. They are surprised when they find out that Prince Arzen is a Crown Prince though.
I can see why Kii and Prince Arzen are welcomed easily by the tribes. They're not hesitate to play in the dirt with the kiddies, they dance silly dance along with the tribe, sing their stupid out of tunes song together. They even haunt with th and cook their own food too.
Looking at her among the tribes. It is as if I'm back in time. I saw Raselle looking at her with a sad nostalgic smile. I'm sure he must be remembering his beloved Nee-sama.
"So, she is our beloved princess' daughter, Huh?" Manbagi the elder said as Rikki sat on my other side.
"she is" I confirm, my eyes still not leaving her.
"the first time she show up. I thought our beloved is back" Rikki laugh without humour
"she doesn't remember us so we thought she just a look alike but to actually is her daughter..." Manbagi sigh and shake her head.
"I'm glad I got a change to see her before I died" she continues. Her lips smile nostalgicly.
"she looks just like her. I'm glad she found someone amazing. That boy is one of his kind. He is perfect for a beautiful soul like her" Manbagi say seriously.
"I'm really glad to hear that" I said unable to say anything else.
For Manbagi to praise someone like that is a big thing. That means that Prince Arzen is really a remarkable person.
"and the blue haired boy is her boy?" Rikki smiles.
"he is" I smile back.
"there is no doubt that they are her babies" Rikki said pointing at Aoi who is now rolling on the ground playing with the bunnies beastmen.
The kiddies seems to adore him and Aoi seem to truly enjoying himself if his laugh is any indication.
Roseanne Nee-sama will also glad to witness this. I want her to meet them.
With that in mind I invited them for a visit to our kingdoms on their vacation. It's not polite to exclude any of them so I had no choice but to invite them all.
Rhuifen and his two bodyguards are unfortunately have to decline as they have to go back to their own kingdom at that time.
Noah apologize deeply and decline because he have to go for training with his father.
Arren and Midori declined with the reason of discussing their official engagement. Akai and Aoi nodding along with them said that they have to be there to help them.
Prince Arzen firmly said that Kii and him still have an adventure to finish so they can't go.
With everyone declined the last lady who is about to agree also decline with the pressure of everyone eyes.
I was really disheartened with their refusal. Especially when their reasons are so halfheartedly.
Later that night.
Noah from Zoland house apologize again as his actual reason is not the training but he just didn't want her fiance to come to our kingdom.
"I don't want to leave a bad impression" he said mysteriously.
Prince Arzen to my delight comes with Aoi and Kii as representative asking if they still can accept my previous invitation which I enthusiastically agree. They explained that they had problems with the lady so they purposely refuse the invitation before.
It seem that Prince Rhuifen is the only one that is actually cannot come to visit. We talk until a very late at night. I was full with so many stories about Roselle's babies to tell Roseanne Nee-sama when we got back by the time they left.
I close my eyes in content. I'm glad I am agree to meditate for them.
I was woken up by Prince Arren screaming Prince Arzen's name along with Rikki and Manbagi loud laugh.
It seem that Kii and Prince Arzen have left by themselves again.
I can't wait to receive them in my kingdom.
We left the tribes without problem and arrived back in Etherheinz safely. We rest for a day and went back to our kingdom the next day. We got surprise on our way back. There waiting on the way to our kingdom are Prince Arzen please-call-me-Ace and Kii.
"mind if we come for an early vacation?" he asked with his boyish smile. Kii stands beside him beaming brightly at us.
I was startled to hear a sound of laughter. A laugh that been lose for nearly 15 years. Raselle's laugh as he literally pick them by his magic and place them on our carriage.
"is the king aware you're going to Ethervizh?" I ask.
I don't want to know the answer but as a responsible adult especially as a king. I need to know the answer but I feel like I really don't want to know the answer.
"Uh... Can we tell them when we have arrived at Ethervizh?" Arzen reply.
I knew it.
Raselle's laughter was joined by Romero joyous chuckles along with Rasya and Ray unbelievable stare at Prince Arzen who seem to not care, he probably doesn't care and Kii who sat innocently beside him. I just sigh and asked the escort to continue our way mentally thinking of how to explain this to King Arkhein.