Damn, all that just for this? Another weird friend to add to the list, Aslan thought.
Then the Empress of Lindell spoke.
"Oh dear, can't you two behave normally?" she said.
"Truly, didn't you have any shame acting like this in front of your children?" Empress Liliana added to the scolding.
Damn, both of the empresses teamed up, Aslan thought.
"Sorry for my husband's poor behavior," Empress Liliana said.
"Same here. Anyway, is that your son?" Empress Aurora asked, pointing at the baby in Empress Liliana's arms.
"Yup, this is our son. Pardon him—he's a little shy around strangers."
"Oh, it's alright. I don't mind it. And here is our daughter," Empress Aurora said, introducing the princess she was holding in her embrace.
"Oh, so this is the famous princess who's loved by the spirits, right?" Empress Liliana said with a smile.
"Loved by spirits? Isn't that rare nowadays?" one of the nobles whispered.
"Yup, she's the one. Though, being loved doesn't automatically make you magical," Empress Aurora said.
"True. Even my own son isn't capable of wielding magic, though he does seem interested in it," Empress Liliana answered while caressing Aslan's cheek.
Suddenly, a maid entered the ballroom.
"Please, make yourselves at home. A special area has been prepared for both of Your Highnesses," she said.
"How could we, though? We have to look after our children," said Emperor Aethan, before being answered by Emperor Darius.
"It's alright. I ordered a special place to be prepared for both of them in advance. The servants can bring them there," said the Emperor.
Honestly, the Emperor didn't seem concerned about leaving both children. His face showed nothing but calmness. Perhaps he had already put some measures in place for their safety. Who knows?
Thus, both of them were handed to two maids, who carried them in their arms toward a room—not even far from Aslan's own.
After a while, they arrived. Inside the room were stacks of toys piled on top of one another. Aslan stood there, surrounded by the colorful chaos. Fortunately, there was a book left on the table—something about fairy tales.
Well, it's not like I have anything better to do, Aslan thought, grabbing the book. Meanwhile, the princess picked up an elephant doll to play with.
Suddenly, she walked over to Aslan, who had just started reading.
"Dadadada da da da (What are you doing?)" the princess said.
Baby talk—and yet… somehow… Aslan could understand her!
Wait, how can I understand this? he wondered.
Then he replied, "Dadah dada dada (I'm reading a book)."
The princess gave him a confused look.
"Dada da dah? (What is book?)" the princess asked, her face still confused.
Awh, look at her confused face—so cute! Aslan thought.
"Dadada da da dada (Book is something you read)," Aslan said.
"Daaah? (Read?)" she asked again, still in confusion.
Hrmmmmmmmm… it is my duty to teach the young one. Thank me later, Empress Aurora—I'm gonna make her a genius! Aslan thought, his face showing a devious smile.
---
In the ballroom…
Sitting together at one table were the Empresses and Emperors of both kingdoms. It seemed they were having a conversation.
"Could you believe it? Having children of our own now?" asked Emperor Darius to Emperor Aethal.
"Yup. It's been wild these days," he answered.
"And yet—" Empress Aurora began, before Empress Liliana stopped her.
She whispered, "Not now." After that, her hand glowed with a faint aura—perhaps a magic spell—and from its surface arose a magic circle that spun before enveloping them. Only the Empresses and Emperors could see it, not anyone else.
"It's safe now. There won't be anyone listening—I've cast an illusion barrier around us," she said.
"As talented as ever," Empress Aurora said, smiling.
"Now, can we start discussing that matter?" Emperor Aethal said, his face turning serious—Emperor Darius matched his tone.
"Alright then. Have you detected anything suspicious near your border?" Emperor Darius asked, his voice low and tense.
"We haven't, but there were some irregularities. Some merchants went missing after departing near the border," Aethan replied.
"I looked into it. They never reached the Empire," Emperor Darius confirmed.
"Could it be them?" Empress Aurora asked.
"Likely," Empress Liliana answered.
"We received some intel too. Apparently, the devastating monster raid on a town before our son was born… was an inside job," Emperor Darius said.
"So it's them!" Emperor Aethan said, his aura boiling with rage.
"Control it, Aethal," Emperor Darius glanced at him. After that, Aethan quickly calmed his aura.
"Those people are like cockroaches. Even after being cleaned out, they manage to survive," Empress Aurora sighed.
"Too much of their work remains in the shadows. Even we find it hard to pinpoint their mark," Empress Liliana added.
"We'd best stay vigilant. We never know when they might come back or what they'll do," Empress Liliana said.
"Indeed," both the Empress and Emperor of Lindell agreed.
"The great mage, what of his thoughts on this?" empress aurora asked.
"Father as always doesn't have a conclusion yet" answered empress Liliana.
"Could they be targeting our child?" asked emperor Aethan.
"They could if what they seek is to court death" Darius replied with chilling voice.
"Still we have to stay vigilant" said emperor Liliana.
" for now I will mobilize my investigator team I hope lindell could throw their help" the emperor said while also asking for assistance.
"Lindell would be ready to join hands with you. Especially if it regarding out princess own safety this thing will not go unnoticed" empress aurora answered confirming lindell assistance.
In the playing room...
"Da dah dada da dah dah (I see, so book is for story)," the princess said, beginning to understand Aslan's words after a short lecture from him.
"Dadah! (That's right!)" Aslan replied, feeling a bit proud of his achievement.
If he told anyone back home that his 11-year-old self would be teaching a princess, he'd be clowned hard—but boy, do fantasies come true.
Suddenly, Aslan felt something was wrong.
History's face started to produce sweat—too much sweat—as if… it was trying to tell him something.
Something bad is coming.