Chapter 56

56 Inside the Palace.

Fragrantia walked outside the room with strong strides. She was wearing a white gown dress, her hair covering her back like a shawl. She wore high heels, echoing through the silent corridors. Behind her, Azula and Valerian followed. They might have a sense of presence, but the aura radiated from the Empress made them pale in comparison.

Azula gazed at the warriors at the door and said, “Why are you two standing here in a daze? Will you not follow my mother?”

The guards woke up from her daze and followed in a hurry. They did not understand why the empress left her lodgings, she has been confined inside ever since she was disfigured. They did not dare to question her, because even if she was disfigured, she was still the empress and her strength did not originate from the support of the Emperor, but from herself.

Fragrantia was a wood attribute mage and a damn scary one. As the people walked through the corridors, the maids and the staff members all spotted them. They bowed their heads, but when they caught sight of her face, they all froze. One after the other, the servants looked at the face of the Empress and froze.

Their eyes did not carry the repulsion, but awe and joy. Fragrantia was a benevolent ruler, she dealt with people kindly and gave them respect. The maids and servants were deeply hurt when she was affected, although they wanted to console her, their nature of liking beautiful exteriors made them hesitate in reaching out to her.

Azula asked, “Mother, where are you going?”

Fragrantia said, “I am going out of the palace, to the market. It is time I went shopping. Would you like to come along?”

Her voice was calm and unhurried. Valerian nodded slightly, the mental fortitude of the Empress was not weak, and she was handling this excitement very modestly.

Azula chuckled and said, “I have completed the trial of freedom, by the family law, I am free to do anything I want.”

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Fragrantia also smiled, then she asked, “Valerian, would you like to come along with us?”

Just because the child was an attendant, she did not want to force him to go out with them. Valerian shook his head and said, ‘Your Excellency, if you allow me, I would like to visit the library.’

Fragrantia stopped and turned to look at him. Valerian was dazed looking at her visage. She was the most beautiful lady he has ever seen. Not as exaggerated as Flos, but The Empress had a charm that could hold the attention of people around her.

The Lady asked Valerian gently, “Why do you want to spend time in the library instead of going out?”

Valerian replied, ‘To be strong, one must learn. To learn they must study. That is why I want to go to the library.’

Fragrantia nodded slightly and then asked, “Why do you seek strength?”

Valerian was surprised, although he had his reasons to get strong he could not say them, so after thinking for a few seconds he said, ‘Strong does not have to depend on anyone. I want to be free and wealthy enough to support myself and my dreams.’

“What is your dream?”, asked the Empress.

‘To find out a few things. Forgive me, your excellency, I cannot disclose them for the time being.’, he bowed his head.

He will never tell anyone what his goal was but if he was too adamant the people will keep pestering him, so he tactfully said not for the time being. Just like he predicted, the Empress thought they were not yet close now, so he did not tell her anything.

She nodded and said, “Fine, then go to the library, I will take the girls with me.”

Valerian bowed to the lady and then Azula said, “Someone come here.”

Her call was answered by a made at the distance, who bowed her and asked, “Yes, your highness.”

Azula said, “Guide him to the library, and if anyone bothers you, then tell them, it is by my command.”

Her princess aura of dominance was radiating again. Fragrantia said, “Valerian is my benefactor, he shall not be bothered by anyone.”

The maid bowed her head and replied, “Understood, Your Excellency.”

The empress turned to Valerian and said, “Go ahead, child. I will quiz you later.”

Valerian bowed his head and then left with the maid. Azula sighed and shook her head. The Empress asked, “What is the origin of this boy?”

Azula explained where the boy came from and then his relationship with Rectus was described as well. The more Azula revealed the more Fragrantia was shocked. She did not understand how was a kid able to deal with all this. She said, “Let us go meet your father, and do tell me, what did you use to lure this genius here?”

Azula replied, “A seat in the Imperial Academy. Tutelage under the infamous head of battle mage division.”

Fragrantia clicked her tongue and said, “Do you not know that old man does not accept anyone without that test of his?”

“Do not worry mother, Valerian will pass the test.”, that said, she took out a few knife-like claws from behind the belt of her dress.

The Empress looked at the knives and asked, “What is this?”

“Claws of a War Bear. Valerian spent two months inside a forest and killed a war bear. Not only that, but while on our way here, two driads approached us and they said that the boy had the blessing of the wolves. Do you think anyone normal would be able to do such things at the age of ten?”, said Azula.

Fragrantia was convinced and she nodded, “If you put it this way, Valerian does have a higher chance to get through the test and get accepted by that old man.”

Azula nodded and the two people moved through the corridor. Inside the palace, the news of today’s happenings all spread over. The people were murmuring about how the head attendant had to bow his head to a child. They were talking about how the Empress was cured, and how a child was allowed to step inside the imperial library, even though he did not have royal blood.

Valerian was not bothered by anything, his focus was dedicated to the books in front of him. They were all that he needed and everything he cared about at the moment. The topic of the book was how to expand the mana storage of a body, the result was not very gratifying to Valerian, but the book did tell him how to improve himself before he could expand the mana storage.

The boy kept on reading completely engrossed, and the young scions of the family all stepped outside the library Valerian looked outside the window and found that the sun was setting. Just when he was about to put his head back to the books a soft voice disturbed him.

“Umm, are you done with this book?”, Valerian raised his head and found a lady standing behind him, pointing at the book on the table.

Valerian had finished reading it, so there was no point keeping it, and nodded for the lady to take away the book. Then he put his head back to the one in his hand and began reading it all with peace. The lady was not simple, she was beautiful and had a graceful aura. Usually, it would be guys taking the initiative to talk to her, but this guy ignored her completely.

While the lady was perplexed a set of shoes echoed in the library, frowning, the girl turned around but was surprised to find Azula walking over to her with a faint smile.

The princess nodded to the girl, who bowed her head and said, “How have you been, Your Highness.”

Azula replied, “I am fine, what about you, Charta.”

Charla bowed and replied, “I am fine your highness. Thank you for your concern. I heard from my father that you have finished your trial of freedom. Congratulations, your highness.”

The two girls were immersed in small talk, and after Charta left the place, Azula looked at Valerian and said, “What are you reading now, come it is time for a meal.”

Valerian raised his head and nodded. He was hungry but procrastinated to read the book as much as he could. Now that the princess has come. He closed the book and stood up to follow Valerian. The princess said, “That girl was the daughter of the Imperial Scribe. His life has been spent with books and pens. His daughter takes after him. She looks after the library from time to time.”

Valerian nodded and made a few signs, ‘I do not need to know all this right?”

Azula nodded and said, “You will live inside the palace with a lot of people whom you need to know. Do you understand?”

Valerian sighed and then he nodded. The two moved forward to the dining hall.