3 days after the sudden death of the late Duke Deoncan, there was a new duke for the Deoncan family.
"Congratulations Duke Nash!" Axis greeted Nash happily, Ashleah chuckled as she sat down on the sofa inside Nash's office.
"Wow, she feels like it's her own home, right Axis?" Nash teasingly asked making Ashleah pout and avoid their teasing gaze.
"You two, shut up okay!" She said, crossing her arms against her chest. Making the two men chuckle in response.
"Oh gosh, what will be the precious reaction of your etiquette teacher?" Nash continued teasing the princess, which ended with...
"WAIT NO! AAHHHH!!" Axis shouted when the pillow came right across his face, he quickly stood up on the small table trying to stop the two.
"Yah! Axis don't block the view!" Ashleah said while she threw a pillow at Nash, the childish man he is. He quickly ran off to the other side of his office.
"Boom! Catch me if you can with your big dress!" He said while laughing. Ashleah was ticked and Axis scratched his nape in defeat.
"Wait wait wait!!" Axis continued to stop them, but when finally the pillow hits Nash's face Ashleah beamed with victory and happiness as she clapped her hands like a 2 year old baby.
"Boom! Told you I'd win!" She said still laughing.
"You already won, from the start."
"what?"
"what?"
"WHAT?" Nash was the last one to say that, he blinked his eyes and avoided Axis smiling expression, Ashleah was confused but still just shrugged it off.
"Oh Duke Nash—" Axis was about to say something when Nash quickly ran to him and covered the boy's face using the pillow.
"Nash!" Ashleah argued with the man. Quickly holding the pillow and trying to move it away from Axis' face. "Hey! Stop doing that!" She shouted.
"HAHAHAHAHAHA!" They both heard how Axis laughed, making them stop. Axis removed the pillow and even started to wipe his fake tears from his face. "That was fun!"
"Everything is fun for youuu!" Ashleah pouted and was going to sit down but suddenly the door opened revealing Kian.
"I'm sorry for interrupting the fun, but your highness.." Kian quickly walked to Ashleah and leaned a little closer, covered the side of his mouth. Finally, whispered. "His Majesty has called for you."
"Dear.. it seems like it's time for me to go. I enjoyed bonding with you guys." Ashleah quickly hugged Axis and Nash. "Oh, btw.." She then leaned to Nash's ear, he widened his eyes and mouth was left hanging open. She took a deep breath and smiled. "CONGRATULATIONS!" She shouted and quickly ran, laughing.
"As—PRINCESS!" Nash said while holding his right ear. The man hissed and glared at the woman who was laughing while she waved her hands.
"She got you there!" Axis laughed and sat down on the sofa. He sighed, shook his head as he closed his eyes. A cheeky smile appeared on his face as he thought that.. 'At least she didn't change.'
The door finally closed, Ashleah quickly walked down the hallway's of the Deoncan's Mansion. Kian told her that it was something important.
"His Majesty didn't tell you what he was going to tell me?" She whispered with the knight beside her, her mind was now in chaos.
What is he planning? Her heart couldn't stop beating loudly, as she felt uneasy. Her eyes were in all places as she walks down the enormous stairs.
"No. He did not inform me, your highness. He looked very serious tho." Kian added making her more nervous than ever. As maids and servants bid their goodbyes to the Princess, Gab quickly opened the Imperial Carriage's door as she quickly sat down and closed her eyes.
Taking a deep breath, she was trying to calm her self down. Gripping unto her dress, bit her lower lip. Ashleah couldn't focus!
The carriage door finally opened, giving her the signal that she was now inside the Imperial Palace. Click, the door closed and she quickly started walking to the entrance of the Palace.
"Her Imperial Highness, Princess of Genry. Greetings your highness!" The servants greeted her as they opened the big entrance door, Ashleah smiled in response and looked back.
"Have you seen his Majesty?" She asked them, she couldn't wait. Ashleah needed to know what he was going to talk about.
Was it about something the Black Magicians!? The servants were about to speak up but then Gab appeared out of nowhere and started leading her to where her Father was.
"His Majesty is inside the secret room." He whispered, Ashleah blinked for a few seconds before she caught up with what he was saying.
There was a secret room inside her Father's office, if in some movies that she watched in the future. Her Father's secret room was below his table that was covered with a rug. Yes, a room below.
Ashleah opened the door and quickly went to her Father's secret room. As she slowly walked down, she heard her Father's soft chuckle.
"Father—" Her breathing stopped, as she forgot what this room was. Her heart beamed with joy as she finally saw her Mother again.
The Emperor smiled and handed Ashleah a small picture of her Mother, the princess slowly looked down and accepted the picture.
"I'm very sure that she's so proud of you." He said smiling, he walked to her and slowly hugged Ashleah as she felt tears streaming down her eyes.
She wasn't sad, no. She was happy, it's been years and to think that she forgot about her parents.. It was sad.
"I'm sorry, I hid it from you again." He said as he kissed her daughter's forehead. Ashleah nodded her head and continued hugging the woman inside the picture frame.
"T-Then.. is this the important thing you want to show me Father?" She sniffled making her Father chuckle, as he looked back at his wife's picture. There was still this gleam inside his eyes.
"Actually no." He said, the princess didn't bother to ask why and waited for her father to continue. "Your mother always wished for you to live the life you want, and I know ever since you were a kid you wanted to plan an event for the Palace right?"
"F-Father don't tell me.." She quickly caught up, the emperor nodded and smiled as he touched the picture frame that his daughter was holding and looked directly at her eyes.
"The upcoming Hunt hosted by the Imperial Family, Ashleah.. Can you please plan it?" Her eyes gleamed and a big smile quickly appeared on her face, as she nodded in response.
"Of course Father! Why do you think that I would say no?!" She said, Ashleah hugged her father and giggled loudly. "My! How will they react when they find out that it was woman who organized the whole hunt!?" She said, smiling widely.
"Oh, you are not just a woman. Always remember that Ashleah." He said and kissed his daughter's forehead and smiled, looking back at his wife's picture. "I love you." He whispered and walked up the stairs with his daughter.
A week has passed, Duke Nash was always in and out of the palace for his work, Ashleah busy with the upcoming Hunt.
But nobody saw it coming, the princess shrieked as she looked at herself in front of her mirror. Her nanny facepalmed and soon then chuckled.
"Oh come on Nanny Riley! This looks amazing!" She said as she clasped her hands together and twirled in front of the mirror.
"My, good thing you liked it your highness!" The designer giggled and continued looked at the amazing person that was happily twirling around the mirror.
"Thank you so much!" She said, and took a deep breath. Tomorrow is the hunt and no one knew what will happen next.