2 days went by in a flash and it was the day we had to leave for the capital. The funeral will take place in 2 days and our trip will take about 10 hours. Unlike when I was coming to runan, we will be using a warp gate that allows for long range teleportation.
Theo explained that we can only go to the capital with 10 knights, so we would be leaving sir Lucas, sir Henry and sir cavill behind while dame ava would be coming with us to act as my personal knight while we were in the capital.
"But my love, when I was coming to runan, you sent 4 of the 5 captain of the orders to escort me." Theo helped me into the carriage.
"I wanted to come myself but I couldn't leave my duties, so I sent the best knights to make sure you were safe"
"But you didn't know me then."
"You were my wife dear, it was my duty to protect and keep you safe." he smiled sweetly settling opposite me. He wanted to ride a horse but because he was the duke he had to follow etiquette while going to the capital. The carriage began to shake and Theo scrunched his nose.
"My love, watch this I'll show you a little trick." I cast shock absorption barrier on the carriage and the shaking stops. Theo's face lit up like a child who was just handed candy, I laughed as I watched him examine the barrier.
"Its amazing my dear, what other barriers can you cast?"
"Well, we have 10 hours to ride and I can cast soundproofing on the carriage" i sit on his lap staring into his eyes. He laughed gently planting kisses on me, i cast the soundproofing barrier, drawing the curtains shut.
The journey went by quickly, theo and I played board games, talked and did some embroidery, it was so enjoyable.
Just like theo said, the moment we crossed through the warp gate and into the imperial capital. We were greeted by imperial knights here to escort us to the palace where we were supposed to stay during our time here in the capital.
"Dont worry dear, we will be staying in the rose palace, its far from where the imperial family lives"
We pulled into a familiar scene as I pulled the curtains back, it was the palace. A place I once dreaded walking into because I knew I would be sitting in a room for 10 minutes watching prince callus play around with another lady.
He would invite me to the palace and ask me to stay in the room for 10 minutes, I couldn't disobey an imperial order so I had to sit there watching how he made love to random women.
"My dear? We can stay elsewhere if you want." Theo pressed his finger gently on my forehead.
"I'm fine my love, im here with you now. That's all that matters." I rest my head on his shoulder.
The carriage came to and stop and Theo helped me down.
"Greetings your grace, welcome to the rose palace. I am baron Gavin stiles and ill be your attendant while you reside here" I stared at the familiar face trying to remember where I had seen him before, he was a shorter man with light brown hair and he seemed to be afraid of us. I know theo and i are on the taller side, with theo being 181cm and i being 170cm but he seemed to be 165cm and a bit intimidated by our heights towering him.
"Thank you baron stiles, we will be in your care. My love I'm tired lets go in please" Theo smiled at me and lord stiles looked stunned at how incredibly beautiful his smile was. That's right my lord, my husband is the most beautiful person in the planet so no need to be scared.
The palace never ceases to amaze me, even though this was a building far removed from the main palace it still looked magnificent. The knights and maids were given rooms on the first floor, while theo and I used the second floor.
"My dear?" Theo tapped my shoulder as I spaced out.
"I'm sorry my love, I must have spaced out. What did you say?" He stared at me for a second before sitting me on the bed, he helped me take off my shoes, dress and hair ornament.
"I'll help you to the bathroom dear" he lifted me up and I felt extremely grateful, I was still a bit anxious coming to the capital and being here now had me shaking.
Theo helped me wash up, dry my hair and settled in bed in his arms.
"What kind of person is the emperor, my love"
"I don't really know my dear, I have only met him a handful of times and each time he always has this huge smile on his face and talks too much. He always seemed like he was a salesman trying to swindler me into a deal." I chuckled at the image of an exasperated theo trying to deflect the emperor.
"I think you are one of the few people in the empire that can say that about the emperor my love"
"I really don't like the imperial family. When prince callus was acting up, i expected someone to speak up. I know the current empress isn't his mother but I still hoped that either her or his majesty would call him to order but they both did nothing" Theo stroked my back as I recount how I had hoped that one day the emperor would have an audience with me like it happens in novels and we would form some sort of bond but it never happened.
"I even begun to believe that i was at fault, that everything that happened was caused by me"
"It wasn't your fault my dear, parents who see their child treating others badly but decide to ignore it are people who don't deserve to have children. The bad behavior of others towards you will never be your fault, so don't blame yourself my dear" he hugged me tighter and I felt better.
"Mother sent a letter before we left runan, she told me not to let anyone get away with trying to mess with me. She wrote 'trample them so they can never come back up' it was scary" Theo laughed.
"Yes mother has always been that way, when ever someone tried to bring up that she was from ruined nobility, she would totally trample on them leaving them no room for escape" Mother truly is amazing, I should get her and father gifts for when they returns to runan.
"Congratulations my lady, you are pregnant." Arabella stared at the physician as he beamed.
She had been feeling unwell for a few days now but with the death of the countess and trying to comfort the grieving Clark she just thought it was stress built up.
She was so happy to be pregnant but right now wasn't the right time. Clark was still grieving his mother's loss, he was barely eating and barely sleeping. She had to take over the preparations for the funeral as he couldn't bring himself to do it.
She had loved the countess as she had wholeheartedly welcomed her into the family. Even when people talked about her not having a heir the countess would reassure her not to rush into things.
Although she wasn't always in her right mind when Arabella went for visits but the countess would still welcome her warmly even when she didn't remember who Arabella was.
After Arabella's mother had passed away 5 years ago from an illness, she suddenly found herself alone without family and the countess was like a mother to her whenever she needed comforting. So Arabella wanted her final moments to be perfect.
"Dr Alisa, please can you keep this information to yourself" Dr Alisa's smile faded.
"I'll announce it at an appropriate time, right now with the funeral and all it wouldn't be right" Dr lisa smiled nodding gently.
"Thank you."
Arabella crawled into bed wrapping her arms around clark who was curled up in a ball under the blanket. For the past 3 days since the death of the countess, Clark has been stuck in their position grieving and Arabella has had to take on all responsibilities.
"I'm sorry bella" Clark whispered softly between sobs.
"Its fine my dear, you take all the time you need, I'll handle everything. So don't even worry and just grieve as long as you want" she wrapped him tighter, since she had lost her mother she understood exactly how Clark felt, she knows how much it rips out the heart to lose someone you feel so much guilt to.
Baron gavin walked into his little manor, checking himself from head to toe, making sure he looked presentable.
"Welcome back my lord, her lady is waiting in the dining hall." The butler Alex gestured for him, looking all worried. Gavin knew it would be one of those days he couldn't avoid.
He walked into the room to his wife sitting at the head of the table all dressed up. Her reddish brown hair curled into a lovely pony tail.
"Alisa did you wait long? I'm sorry i should have come sooner" her beautiful face twisted in a scowl as her brown eyes scanned him head to toe.
"Always looking sloppy, didn't I tell you not to wear bright colour? It always makes you look like a pig and whats with your stomach did you gain more weight?"
I walked into the dining hall and I could hear all the hurtful words her Lady was saying to my lord. His lordship turned to me with his usual dejected face, no matter what he does her Lady always finds something to complain about.
"If you hated him so much, why did you marry him?" i mumbled under my breath but she turned to me face looking deranged.
"Alex!!!! How dare a mere Butler" she stood up and slapped me across the face but I didn't flinch, as I meant every word.
"Alisa!!" My lord ran to me asking if I was okay, I smiled at him.
"I'm fine my lord"
"This is why everyone mocks me. Because of you!!!! Why not work on your appearance instead of worrying about a mere commoner" the lady slammed the door.
"My lord, please stop this madness, why do you let her just talk to you like that?"
"Alex, you should know my appearance isn't one that allot of people want. Alisa was nice enough to look past my hideous self."
"My lord being a bit chubby is not a crime, you look extremely cute like a cudly panda bear." He smiled softly. My lord is just too soft, just because he feels he isn't the most handsome man in the empire he was forced to marry a lady from a fallen family who was living as a commoner.
She only saw him as a stepping stone to enter noble society and she took it, now she treats him like trash.
"My lord, what can I do to save you from this path of destruction?"
"I'm fine Alex." He smiled walking out to go apologize to lady Alisa. I hate it so much..... it hurts to watch a man so sweet be treated so badly.