"I shall grant Lady Esmeray whatever she wishes for in return for saving my life." I said with a polite smile.

Lady who was stuck in a horrifying trance, snapped out of it and actually stared back at me with life in her eyes.

"Oh no no no." she said as she shook her head furiously.

"Your highness is the Crown Prince of the country." she said. "The blessing of the gods! The hero of the Empire! Your highness is our future Emperor!"

"How can I ask for a reward for saving the life of something this great!" she exclaimed. "The gods and the heavens forbid!"

"To think a reward would be equal to the life of his highness! Unexpectable!" she gushed about glory and blessing which fell to deaf ears. And it was obvious that she didn't mean any of the things she was saying.

"I can't accept any wishes or rewards from your highness." Lady Esmeray did a 90 degree bow as I just sighed at her.

"Lady Esmeray I think we are not on the same page-" I started but Lady Esmeray cut me off.

"Oh look at the time! I must leave immediately as there is an emergency situation in the tower." She teleported away with a whoosh, as her next words rang in the air. "May the gods' blessing be upon you!"

I stared at the empty space where Lady Esmeray was a second ago. She literally just ran away. Swiftly letting her magic teleport her away to god knows where, and leaving me stranded and alone in the Adarlan's garden.

Now, what am I gonna tell Asterin? I scared her friend away?

I sighed and shook my head at the current situation but couldn't help but laugh at it as well. I stood there for a while before I turned back and traced my way back to the glass house. Derek and Asterin were still there but instead of sitting, they were standing.

Derek was fixing his coat while Asterin was telling him something regarding her attempts of crocheting. Derek was the first to notice my presence as he looked up at me and titled his head in slight confusion.

"Oh, your back," Derek said, to which I nodded.

"Huh?" Asterin looked around. "Where is Evanora?"

"Ah" I scratched the back of my neck. "Lady Esmeray said there was something emergency at the Tower of magic and teleported away immediately."

I smiled at Asterin, who looked a bit disappointed at the sudden departure of her friend.

"That girl is turning into a workaholic as we speak." Asterin sighed. "Everyday I swear she sleeps in the tower."

Asterin huffs and puffs and curses the tower of magic and the head magician in a subtle manner as both me and Derek follow her out of the glass house. As Asterin and Derek walked along the garden, I continued my second walk of the day in the beautifully managed property.

Asterin and Derek got engaged when they were kids. It was done by our father, the emperor himself when he was alive. The reason for the engagement was political, but regardless Derek makes an effort to treat Asterin well.

And since Asterin has been with them since our childhood, Asterin is like a younger sister to me. Asterin has been with us for so long, both me and Derek just allow her to address us without our titles, it feels better without it.

And since she is Derek's fiance, by relationship status, I am her brother in law, hence she just casually addresses me, as

"Brother Lucian?" Asterin called. "What are the plans for Nyxia this year?"

"I believe the empress will throw her usual balls and introduce the new debutants to the ton, nothing special." I said as I tried to recall if anything stuck out to me regarding this year's Nyxia.

"I heard that the Campbell family is planning to throw a ball this year too." Asterin said. "It's quite surprising knowing they were in debt even until last year."

"It indeed is, I saw a few documents about it. I believe soon an investigation on them will be issued." I replied.

Asterin enlightens us about the upcoming preparation regarding the Nyxia, the shopping that needs to be done according to the trend. The seasonal updates, tea parties, debutantes and all the other upcoming matters.

We walked for a while longer, before it was time for me and Derek to depart. The Duke and the Duchess saw us off alongside Asterin and her younger sister. Derek whispered one last goodbye before he climbed onto the carriage and joined me.

The carriage departed from the Adarlan dukedom to the town centre from where we will once again use teleportation to reach the capitol and the palace.

"So?" Derek asked as I just stared at him.

"So?" I repeated what he said.

"Why did Lady Esmeray leave so early?" Derek asked with a sigh as I looked out the carriage window.

"She said there was something emergency in the tower." I said avoiding him.

"Both you and I know what's bullshit." Derek glared at me. "What did you do?"

"Why would you think I did something!" I exclaimed in shock.

"Because you manage to scare people away without even trying." Derek said as if it was the most obvious thing.

"I just said I would like to reward her for healing me last night and she fled like that." I muttered.

"Reward her?" He asked.

"Yes." I answered. "Regardless of her intention, she did in fact heal me and should be rewarded for it."

"I fear she misunderstood my intentions..." I trailed away as Derek continued to glare at me.

"No wonder she misunderstood, last time you said you would reward someone you erased their existence from the map!" Derek hissed as continued to avoid his burning glare.

I guess Asterin wasn't happy about the sudden departure of her friend.

"I will write her a letter clearing the misunderstanding, don't worry about it." I sighed as Derek continued to express his displeasure regarding the situation.

We teleported away from the town centre to the capitol and from there we traveled to the palace. The carriage stopped in front a specific renaissance looking palace that is owned by yours truly. As we got down from the carriage, it was nearly evening.

The sun shined beautifully over the ivory white, golden brown and garnet red walls of the palaces. The vast grounds of the royal family looked like something out of a fairytale under the evening sun.

"Nyxia will get you busy again." Derek stated as I laughed.

"As if I am not busy enough right now." I said as Derek rolled his eyes at me before he turned to the carriage.

"The power surge among nobility during Nyxia is problematic, but as long as nothing drastic happens everything should be fine." I said with a smile. "Many ambassadors from different kingdoms might visit, it's once again a good time to form a new alliance."

"I will leave all those problematic matters to you." Derek muttered as if even thinking about it messes with his head.

"Are you planning to leave now?" I asked as the knights prepared for departure again.

"Yeah." Derek sighed. "I better finish all the upcoming issues with Hico quickly, as I need to be present in the capitol during Nyxia."

I nodded understanding Derek's plan.

"Well, I will get going now." Derek smiled, which is a rare sight. "May the blessing of the gods be upon you."

Derek bowed and his aid and knights followed him before he raised and got into the carriage. The carriage drove away from the buzzing and busting palace grounds. I stood there with my personal aid and knight as Derek left before we walked back inside the palace walls.

"Your highness is in a good mood today." my aid said as we walked through the hallways of the palace. The place is enormous for no good reason. I still don't understand why each royal member gets their own personal palace.

"Ah yes." I smiled. "I met an interesting person today."

My knight remained silent by our side as my aid just gave me a slight smile knowing I won't elaborate about it.

"Which reminds me, prepare the finest letter paper and ink I have in my custody." I said as I walked into my bedroom chambers, the butlers and maids got themselves busy once again preparing a bath for me.

"I must write her a letter."