Chapter 9: Ruby Emerald Dilemma (1)

WORDS HAVE already spread throughout the kingdom that the emperor, who they knew was cold-hearted, issued a command to get the ruby emerald for the princess' tiara.

Alesteria, who is the hot topic in the capital right now, was unaware of this rumor and is living peacefully...

No, rather, she is just waiting for the moment to strike.

'That emperor hasn't visited me for a week! Is he that desperate to obtain a ruby emerald for me?!' Alesteria spouted in her mind as she frowned.

She was definitely not happy with the emperor right now, and if possible, she wouldn't be finding him.

But the issue with the ruby emerald was a rock in her path.

'If only I can speak, then I can...'

Alesteria's thoughts trailed as her eyes landed on the drawer where the brooch was kept. The gem was priceless, but she wondered if the emperor has more.

A painite can be conducted with mana and experimented with many types of things, just like the ruby emerald.

It is made to be a storage for excess mana in case of overflowing if ever the body can't handle a big amount.

'Hmm, if the emperor changed the gem for the tiara with a painite, I can place my excess mana on it and use it just in case.' Alesteria deeply thought.

She can use the gem as an emergency fund for mana since Alesteria knew that even though she is powerful enough, she is not invisible.

'That might be a good idea.'

"Your highness! You can't eat that!"

Alesteria's train of thoughts was suddenly broken when the nanny took what she was chewing, making her realize that she was nibbling on the rattle.

'Oops. I covered it with saliva.'

If the rattle is a living thing, it would've glared at Alesteria.

"Why is your highness want to nibble everything she sees? Are her teeth forming?"

"What stupidity is that? The princess is just a month old! She has to be 6 months to have her teeth!"

'Yeah, I have to wait for 5 months to have teeth. Until then, I have to drink milk.' Alesteria agreed as she pouted in her mind.

It is not that she doesn't like milk, it is just that she wants something to chew on.

'I miss my teeth.'

"Hey, by the way, didn't you hear that the first prince is trying to control his mana?"

"Oh! I heard that from a maid I knew by the laundry area! You know that the well is near the training grounds, right? Well, she heard that the first prince doesn't want the princess to be scared of him whenever he uses it so he began his training!"

"Oh my! What a lovely older brother!"

Alesteria, who was thinking about how she missed her teeth, overheard the maids whispering to each other.

When she heard what Aldrich decided to do, she couldn't help but furrow her eyebrows a little.

'What's gotten into him?' She asks herself.

Alesteria didn't even felt the intensity of his aura yet it was suffocating, but she was unbothered by his outburst.

Although, that amount of mana should have been dangerous for her but yet, she was unscathed.

'Well, this body has enormous mana so I guess that plays a factor.'

Being a witch for centuries, Alesteria has mastered all kinds of magic and spells known to mankind.

She also has some surprises up her sleeve and one of them is mana perception, which is different from mana detection.

Mana detection is just something that could identify if someone is using their mana so strongly that it can cause disasters, which Aimilios used to stop Aldrich from destroying the room.

However, mana perception is an ability that not only makes you identify the mana, it can also be seen and felt.

That is why Alesteria can see the color of the aura and how it felt to her.

'Still, why would Aldrich think that I was affected by his outburst of aura?'

Alesteria recalled what happened last time and tried to think of what she did that would make Aldrich think that way but nothing comes to mind.

'Maybe Aimilios told him something? Knowing Aimilios, he probably did… Wait, I shouldn't be thinking about that! I have to get the emperor to change the jewel!'

Then, she added.

'Painite would be ideal, but how am I going to tell him that?'

Alesteria then suddenly shook her head and clenched her fist as she looks at the ceiling, looking determined.

'Still, I have to see the emperor right now! But…'

Alesteria turned her head to the side and saw the nanny arranging the toys for her while the maids are cleaning the room while also talking lowly to each other.

Another dilemma has come to Alesteria.

'How do I make my point across without another misunderstanding?'

Alesteria was unconsciously wriggling at her crib as her feet stretches and her hands going close open, like her subconscious mind is telling her body to act like a baby while she was in deep thought.

She didn't notice that the nanny was watching her, giggling to herself, as she move to where Alesteria is and took her out of her crib.

That was when Alesteria noticed that she was being held in her nanny's embrace.

'Huh! Why did she carry me? Well, I got no time to wonder about that. How do I let her know I want to see the emperor…'

"Oh my! The princess is very active today!" The nanny said with a smile as she stared at Alesteria.

"Bobayowo!" (Go to father!)

The nanny laughed at Alesteria's answer.

"My, you are probably bored. Should we explore your room?"

Alesteria shook her head and babbled even more.

"Bobayowo! Bobayowo!" (Go to father! Go to father!)

This made the nanny tilt her head questioningly at Alesteria's babble and didn't get what Alesteria wanted.

"Your highness? What is it that you want to do?"

Alesteria pouted a little as she opens and closes her fists.

"Bobayowo!" (Go to father!)

The nanny slowly understood what she meant and it clicked in her mind what Alesteria is saying.

She smiled at her and Alesteria thought that the nanny finally knew what she was saying, that she won't be misunderstood this time…

"You are hungry? My! Alice, prepare the milk for her highness!"

"Yes!"

'Noooooo! That's not it!!'

Alesteria cried in her heart as the maid prepare her milk, the nanny gently patting her leg while she hummed to her.

'Being a baby is frustrating!'

Alesteria's mourning came to a halt when there was a sudden knock on the door, interrupting her inner crying as they all glanced at the door.

One maid rushed towards it and opened it, revealing the emperor's aide, Tristan.

"Lord Tristan, what brings you here?" The nanny greeted him as the maids bowed their heads.

Alesteria was looking at him with curious eyes, seeing him up close for the first time.

She could see how handsome he is, but he has no chance against the emperor's beauty.

Tristan has soft brown-colored locks of hair that were in a low ponytail, his eyes were in a shade of auburn, and has a distinguishable mole under his right eye.

However, the bags under his eyes are visible like day. He looks like he hadn't sleep in days.

Tristan, who was unaware of Alesteria's evaluation of him, smiled gently at her before turning his head to the maid.

"The emperor wants to see the princess, so I came here to fetch her."

Alesteria's eyes sparkled at his words.

'Yes! Perfect timing, Tristan!'

"Oh my. Then, please wait outside for a moment as we prepare her highness."

Tristan nodded at the nanny's words and immediately went out.

As soon as he did, the nanny and the maids immediately went to work and dressed Alesteria into a new dress.

They chose a pretty blue baby color dress with a white lace adorning the hem and the sleeves, along with a light blue ribbon matching the dress that was wrapped on Alesteria's head like a headband.

Then, they went with blue socks that are up to her chubby ankles which made her feet warm.

All the maids cooed at her cuteness and the nanny had to break them away because Tristan was waiting outside.

"Now, now. We shouldn't make Lord Tristan wait any longer."

Alesteria agreed with the nanny as she stretches her arms and let the nanny carry her.

Tristan greeted them and guided them to where the emperor's office is, all the while Alesteria's resolve to prevent the ruby emerald to be on her tiara played in her mind like a chant.

'He just issued that command yesterday so I doubt that he will already have it. Before he gets to, I have to stop him.'

The door to the office opened and Alesteria was greeted by the emperor seating on his seat as a mountain of documents are piled beside him, on the other side is a box.

"Alesteria." The emperor called to her softly as he stood up and walked towards her.

The nanny gave Alesteria to the emperor as he carried her to where the box is.

Alesteria had an ominous feeling towards it as her heart quickens, she secretly swallowed her saliva as she glared at the box.

'No, impossible! Getting the ruby emerald takes about a year because of how far the source is!'

Alesteria prayed in her mind that this is not the jewel and it was some substitute but the moment the emperor opened it, she became sickly pale.

"My daughter, I want you to be the first witness to the ruby emerald that I sought out for your tiara. I knew it'll look perfect on you."

'…Shit.'