Alicia, now calmly, asked,
"What happened next, Grandpa?"
The Count explained,
"Well, the mages agreed to this conclusion, and Bella, as the Magic Emperor, was ready to sign an official pact leading to the amendment of the law. Until the previous Emperor demanded that, in exchange for this freedom, the mages had to perform magic on important events concerning the Imperial family... The Mages stood firmly against it, and the negotiations started. The mages argued that their magic was not to be treated like a toy, and if something unexpected happened, it could put the whole nation into ruins. But the Imperial family didn't agree to that. They argued for months, and then after a whole six months, they reached a conclusion. It was decided that mages would perform only on Foundation Day, and it would only last for about half an hour. After all, mages mandatorily have to support the Empire if there is any war. This was made during their pact with the first Emperor. They argued with this."
Alicia curiously asked,
"Then, shouldn't Mom have gone to help Dad, who was in a war?"
The Count explained,
"She did go after 2 years. This was opposed by the Crown Prince, who still hadn't confessed his love. The previous Emperor and his council berated his opposition. But I knew for sure that she would return with victory. Bella went to war with a few other strong mages, there she met your Father... Though their meeting was not a picture from a fairy tale, they both fought to protect the country together. They were partners to each other during that life and death situation. Though the battlefield isn't the ideal place to fall in love, they both liked each other. When they arrived at the capital and during the victory banquet, the Archduke, after receiving his title, proposed to Bella in front of the crowd. Bella accepted his proposal, and their wedding was held after a year. They went on a few dates during that time. This all must have made the Current Emperor's blood boil. After a year, Bella resigned from her position as the Magic Emperor, and it was the first time in the history of the Empire, a former Magic Emperor or even a mage got married outside the mage district. It was magnificent. After all, it was the first wedding in which Mages performed so beautifully that it mesmerized the crowd."
Alicia, confused, asked,
"Uncle said Herberts were mages, didn't anyone else from the family become a mage or a Magic Emperor? "
The Count replied,
"No. Families like ours have a special permission. Only someone with strong magical powers, like your mother, has to go to the mage district; others with small or quite normal magic powers need not go to the mage district. In fact, Bella was the second in our family to go to the mage district. But we are prohibited from using magic in public places or in the Palace."