Emmelyn wished she understood their language. She really wanted to know what Maxim was talking about with the soldiers. Whatever it was, it seemed working.
They finally stepped back and gave way for Maxim and Emmelyn to pass through. An old man in black attire came out from the palace entrance and welcomed them.
"Hello, my name is Tides. On behalf of the royal family, I would like to welcome Prince Loriel Ashborn to Myreen." The old man smiled at Maxim. "Your Grace, you have finally come."
Maxim had been the monarch of Summeria for two years now, so he shouldn't be addressed as Prince Loriel Ashborn, but His Majesty King Loriel Ashborn. However, he didn't bother to correct the man by giving him that information.
As long as Tides knew who he was, Maxim felt relieved. That means, his mother was still acknowledged in Myreen and this should help his cause.
Meanwhile, Emmelyn could sense the change of atmosphere when the old man whom she assumed was the royal butler came out to greet them. Tides' attitude was elegant and he acted friendly toward them.
Even though she still couldn't understand his words, his smile managed to put her heart to ease.
It seemed, they were finally welcomed to Myreen.
Maxim nodded to Tides and introduced the people he came with. "I see that you still remember me. I came here today with my friends. This one is Princess Emmelyn Rosehill and over there is Renwyck The Wizard. They don't speak your language."
Tides nodded respectfully at Emmelyn and Renwyck and then motioned the soldiers to leave. "We are fine here. You can all go."
They did what he said and soon the courtyard was empty again, except for several guards and the three dragons. Tides turned to the guard who had brought Maxim and his little group to the capital and told him to take care of the dragons. "I will show the guests around. You make sure their animals are taken care of."
"Understood, my lord," said the guard. He turned around and called several of his friends to help him take care of the dragons. Maxim gave Renwyck the same order since he wanted to make sure Aslain and Eris were well.
"Renwyck, you can stay here with Aslain and Eris. I will go in with Emmelyn. This is important."
"Understood, Your Majesty," said Renwyck. He knew Maxim could protect himself in this situation since he seemed to know the ruler of this country. So, the wizard would just focus on his beloved dragons.
Maxim and Emmelyn walked together following Tides inside the palace. This building looked much smaller than Summerian royal palace, but every corner was filled with art. There were paintings here and there, and marble and wooden statues in the best locations.
Some walls were decorated with gold carvings and beautiful precious stones. However, even though the place was filled with art and gold carvings and gemstones, none of them felt over the top. The sizes and placements were all perfect.
"What did he say?" Emmelyn couldn't help but ask Maxim about Tides when they strode across the hallway, following the butler. "Can we see the king?"
"He didn't say," Maxim replied. "He only told us to follow him. I will ask."
He touched Tides's shoulder and uttered his question. "Excuse me, Sir Tides. Are you taking us to see King Alexander?"
Tides turned to him and shook his head. "King Alexander is very sick. I am taking you to see the queen dowager, Queen Myrcella Leoralei."
"Oh..." Maxim really wanted to meet the king because he thought only King Alexander could give him the right information about what his late wife did. However, since the king was really sick, he couldn't insist to meet him.
Would the queen dowager know anything about the curse? Could she even help? Maxim felt so unlucky that they got such a bad timing with this visit. It piqued his curiosity to know how the Myreen princess could disappear and the king fell ill.
"The guy from earlier said your princess disappeared," Maxim asked Tides again. "What happened?"
Tides halted his steps and massaged his temple. He looked at Maxim in displeasure, but he still answered his question. "Princess Elise ran away from home. The king had been ill for some time now, but her disappearance truly made his condition worse. That's why slowly our country is facing the danger of climate change."
"Climate change?" Maxim furrowed his brows. His mind went to the strange phenomenon he witnessed before they reached the palace.
The area on the most outer part of Myreen was bleak and grey, covered in snow. While the closer they got to the royal palace, they could see more colorful nature with green grass and healthy-looking animals.
Did it have anything to do with the king being sick?
"Yeah..." Tides let out a long sigh. "The king has grown weaker and slowly the magic he cast to protect this kingdom is getting weaker too. He had been protecting Myreen from outsiders and bad climate for decades, like his father before him. We always had great weather in Myreen. The plants grow well all year round, and we only have spring and summer for seasons. Now, winter is approaching fast."
"Oh..." Apparently, Maxim's guess was correct.
He felt impressed by what he heard. So, apparently, the Leoraleis were truly so powerful. Emmelyn could only guess what they were talking about, but she heard they mentioned Myreen several times.
Were they talking about the royal family? Or Myreen?
"What did he say? Is he taking us to see the king?" she asked Maxim again. "Please... tell me what's going on. I don't want to be kept in the dark."
Her tone was laced with accusations that Maxim realized she was referring to the fact that his mother knew the Leoraleis and was even close to them but he covered up this fact from Emmelyn.
She felt lied to, even though what Maxim did was only omitting the truth.
"He said the king is still very sick and cannot see us. He is taking us to the queen dowager," Maxim explained. "Let's hope she can help us."
"Oh..." Emmelyn nodded. She continued walking, to follow Tides who had resumed his steps toward the end of the hallway. He then opened the door and they entered a huge hall with more artworks on the wall.
When Emmelyn cast her gaze to the left, she shrieked and halted her steps, causing Maxim to stop and looked at her. "What happened?"
Emmelyn pointed her finger at the painting to her left and whispered, "I saw this woman in my dreams."
Maxim turned to look at the painting and he was mesmerized. The picture showed the most beautiful woman he had ever seen.
She had long creme hair flowing down her back like a waterfall, eyes so beautiful they looked like two emeralds shone with intelligence, a small nose, and really red lips in a small smile. Her expression looked so sweet and gentle.
Was this Queen Catalina Leoralei? He didn't remember her face.
"No... I think I am wrong..." Suddenly, Emmelyn muttered. "The woman I saw in my dreams was older. The woman in this painting looks much younger... and more beautiful."
Tides furrowed his brows and came to approach them. He asked Emmelyn, "Have you met our Princess Elise?"
.
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*************
From the author:
I think Maxim is lucky Emmelyn doesn't speak their language. Otherwise, she would know so much already and can ask questions herself. But since she didn't speak the language, she could only rely on Maxim to give her the information.
Do you think Maxim will finally tell her the truth about EVERYTHING? Or, would he keep things to himself?
PS: So, this is the first time Loriel/Maxim saw his fiancee, and even he thought she was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen.