The Bungsu Princess Inferior

41. Weddings

This morning after breakfast I chose to spend my time in the gazebo of the main palace, enjoying the beautiful flower beds.

"Your Majesty," Balin's voice kept me awake.

"Yes Balin," I said short.

Looking at Balin, who now looked more and more muscular, made me realize that time had passed quickly.

"Your Majesty there's no news of the birth of the rainforest palace, they're still waiting."

I nodded, "thank you Balin."

I turned my gaze back towards the palace garden filled with beautiful flowers. These few months I have busied myself with imperial affairs, I learned from my father, mother and brothers. A lot of new things I learned and I admit I enjoyed it quite a bit, even though it often kept me from sleeping for a few nights.

I also realized my lack of strength, so I learned to hone my strength under Uncle Ezio's guidance. In my day, I always see my friend Aciel, I enjoy spending time with him. Whatever my mood when it came to meeting her, I was finally able to go home in a good mood. We learned archery, military strategy, farming to painting together, he was a friend who could make the learning atmosphere become like playing, from which I learned a lot and found the real meaning of the word 'tulus', he said, I didn't realize that time passed so quickly.

Today I am still waiting for the news of the birth of the rain forest palace, yes near the time Vivian gave birth, so every day I always send Balin to ask news to Sarala's foster mother.

"Balin, is there something you want to do?" ask me while sipping a warm tea that I shade myself.

"Protect His Majesty to the end."

"Uhuk.uhuk...uhukk.." I choked hard.

"Your Majesty, is Your Majesty okay?"

Balin looked at me with his anxious face, I took a deep breath. "I'm wrong, I shouldn't have expected much for the answer you gave me. I should've guessed the consistent answer you always give to this one question."

"But that's the real answer, because that's what I want to do, Your Majesty."

There was a slight annoyance that Balin always gave me the same answer to that one question, but on the other hand I felt very lucky to have someone very loyal next to me.

"Balin, listen carefully." I leaned my back on the chair, then looked Balin in the eyes, "if one day you find something or maybe someone you want beyond your desire to protect me, then say it without hesitation."

Balin frowned, as if he had never thought of the possibility that my words would happen to him, but he seemed unwilling to argue.

"Okay, Your Majesty."

I glanced at him again, "Copy don't you want to get married?"

This time Balin seemed a little surprised at my question that he might not have predicted.

"Protecting His Majesty is the priority of the servant," Balin replied firmly with his heavy voice.

Balin neither refuted nor affirmed my question, he simply implied that getting married was not his priority at this time. Hearing Balin's reply, I remembered Uncle Ezio, did he also prioritize protecting the empire and putting marriage aside?

My eyes turned to look at the ring still perched on my ring finger, a ring that would always remind me of Varen. "Balin, have you ever heard of the silver empire?"

Balin, who usually answered quickly and decisively, now seemed to be drifting in his own mind. He seemed hesitant to answer so many times he seemed to check his memory again and again.

"Although Your Majesty, I will try to gather information regarding the silver empire, if Your Majesty wills."

I took a deep breath again, then turned my gaze towards the flower garden. Balin's reply was a sign that he had never known or heard of the silver empire. I've been studying maps in the library for a few months, but like Balin, I haven't found them either. If the silver empire is not on the map, then where is Varen's residence?

"No need, I'm just asking." I stood up and smiled towards Balin, "all right let's go, it's time to meet them."

Balin nodded, allowing me to walk first. Balin followed me behind, as he always did. Aisle after aisle I passed, until I saw a couple who seemed to be waiting for me in front of the golden-plated grand door.

"Watching Aciel?"

I shook my head, "no mother, just staring at the beautiful-looking palace flower garden this morning."

Mother embraces my shoulder, "your smile makes mother calmer."

Makes you calmer? Is there anything that makes my mother nervous? I looked at the father who was standing next to his mother, but he was silent.

"We enter now" said the father who made the doorman soldier move to open the grand door for us. Father and mother stepped in first, I followed both of them from behind.

"Honor Your Majesty the Emperor, the Empress and the Crown Princess," I stared at the elders and the imperial dignitaries gathered at the meeting hall. There were about fifty people, and they looked worried about something, just like father and mother.

The three of us sat side by side, our three thrones were placed higher than the seats of the elders and the higher-ups of the kingdom. I'm glad to see some familiar faces.

"Sit down!"

They followed the father's orders, and appeared to sit in their own seats, at each table inscribed their names as well as the kingdom or part they represented.

"This time is straight to the point," the voice broke the silence. I was surprised, because usually at a meeting like this, Uncle Eziolah who was in charge of guiding the meeting from start to finish, but this time it seems like father immediately intervened. What the hell is it? What problems led me to step in and start a meeting?

"As for the wedding of the crown princess that you guys are fussing about, I will leave it entirely to my daughter," this time father glanced at me.

I was shocked, I think there is a problem that is far more important than what you say, why even discuss my marriage in a meeting? In the past in the rain forest palace they also fuss over the successor to the throne, will the same thing now happen?

"Please Your Majesty, many princes both from within the Sun empire and from the neighboring Empire are intending to propose to Her Highness the Crown Princess, who is, may we hear His Highness the Crown Princess's response on this matter?"

Elder Mahira asked me a question that made me worried, should I say that I am engaged to Varen? Or should I keep my mouth shut until I can find Varen and take her to the sun empire?

"Is my marriage so important that it should be discussed at the meeting hall?" just be careful, I don't want to offend anyone, I just think that this is too soon to be discussed and I haven't prepared a good answer that can satisfy all parties.