We never live; we are always in the expectation of living.
-Voltaire
Princess Lethia's Cottage, The floating Kingdom of Zephyr, Northern Ardeneon,
June 3
"I guess this is till another time" Dexter says walking to the door. I will call and see you guys at scire I guess. Can we have group chats on the scroll touch?" he asks no one in particular. "We should figure it out"
"Dexter your mom is waiting outside, we will see you again" Elijah chuckles and he nods walking out the door.
"Make sure you call this time" Emily calls out.
"And come to visit" Skai walks out the door with him.
"Bye Bardo!" River calls out.
"Bye guys!" he waves shutting the door behind him, Skai walks back inside shortly after.
Princess Lethia walks in after Skai with Seraphinius.
"Okay so, River and Skai you're with me. Emily I was able to reach your brother, Alistair through Aelius palace, he will be here for you. Elijah, I will be taking you home in just a bit." She smiles. "Now remember you'll always have a home in Zephyr, if you ever need anything I'm here." She assures them.
Princess Lethia left Emily, Skai, River and Seraphinius in the palace, taking Elijah to Hesperia. She also said that Alistair would be there for Emily soon, Emily knew it was going to be weird living with him, but she didn't have much of a choice.
"Is he not here yet?" Princess Lethia walks in. "You and Phinius should have a bath before he gets here." She suggests looking over at the bed where River and Skai are sleeping.
After Seraphinius and Emily freshen up they wait in the room. Soon enough princess Lethia arrives telling them that Alistair is there to take them.
"Should I wake them up to see you two off?" She asks.
"No, it's fine" Emily smiles at her.
"So, this is where I live" Alistair tells Emily and Seraphinius as they walk into his little house. "But this isn't where you will live"
"Huh?" Emily asks confused "what do you mean? I thought you were taking us in?"
"No" he confirms "I was just picking you up." He tells them "Sit down, please"
"So where will we stay?" Emily asks placing a sleeping Seraphinius to rest on her chest.
"Where you were born to live. Sulien palace" he smiles just then there's a knock on the door.
"That must be him" he breathes out arranging his uniform before quickly going to open the door.
A man fit to be royalty walks in. "Alistair you've done a good job" the middle-aged man shakes Alistair's hand.
"Your Majesty" Alistair bows. "Oh, the King." Emily mumbles
"And you must be Emily and that is Seraphinius?" Emily nods.
"Ciro Sulien" He sticks his hand out for her to shake and she does so warily.
"Can we uh help you?" Emily asks still not catching on to the whole 'she'd live in Sulien Palace' thing "I've been declared free of all my crimes if that's why you're here" She didn't think the King would come himself to take them in.
He laughs as if she had said something funny.
"I assume Alistair hasn't told you. I'm here to take you home." He looks at Alistair too "all of you"
"You knew" Alistair breathes out not being able to fathom the love King Ciro had for Queen Soleil to not have said anything.
"I know more than you think"
Alistair's house was a short walk to the palace. The King had taken Seraphinius from Emily, he said he would take legal custody over them. Emily knew she should be weirded out by that, but she honestly didn't care, her whole world had been tossed and turned enough for her to just be grateful for stability.
"I could never have kids; your mother was devastated by that...so I wouldn't say I'm surprised by what happened. Regardless, my love for her will never run dry, I guess that love extends to you too, granting that I'll never see her again and the Kingdom of Aelius is now in my hands. It's only fair it goes to her own blood next."
'What? I don't want the Kingdom.' Emily internally groaned thinking about how she would break that news to the King.
"I should let you all rest; it's been a long journey hasn't it? Kuriana and Nevian will take you three to your towers." He tells Emily handing Seraphinius to Nevian "Alistair you will share a tower with Seraphinius, as your mothers intention was always for all her boys to be in one tower and her girls in another" on that note, Emily follows behind the stunning yet meek-looking Kuriana.
"Here we are princess" Kuriana smiles at Emily "If you need anything there's a bell beside your bed, ring it once and I'll be right at your service. The King also advises that you look through your closet and take out any clothes you do not like. If you do not find anything you do like then you can give us a reference and we will get it sorted." Kuriana tells her and Emily nods still confused, unable to fathom the entire tower being for her.
"Is there a library?" Emily asks.
"There is a library in King Ciro's tower. If you wish for one, it can be done. You may also let me know if there is anything else you need in your tower."
"Okay" Emily smiles warmly at her, she didn't see herself going all the way to the King's tower to read. She'd fare, two months till she had to face scire. She hoped she wouldn't lose her mind.
Meanwhile, back at Zyran Palace princess Lethia was caressing River and Skai watching them sleep, she plants a kiss on Skai's forehead as she is sleeping, grateful to have her daughter back, also grateful to have been blessed with another son, she plants a kiss on River's forehead and Skai begins to stir awake, princess Lethia pats Skai's head softly noticing her waking up.
"You're awake" she whispers as Skai sits up stretching. She hums in response looking down at River who is sleeping so peacefully.
"Everyone has gone?" Skai asks and her mother nods. "That's a bit sad" she says truthfully. she was getting used to having company... now that everyone has left it was all kind of weird for her.
"You can always visit them" her mother tells her stretching her hand to River moving the hair away from his eyes. "He needs a haircut" she points out and Skai hums in agreement.
"And you need to do something about all that hair" She takes a piece of Skai's hair looking at it.
"Also true...I'll just condition it, I don't enjoy braiding my hair" Skai tells her crawling out of the bed.
"Just keep it in two braids sweetie" Princess Lethia advises Skai. "So, It doesn't get so tangled all the time.
"Okay" Skai smiles at her
After a quick shower Skai walks into her room to see River still asleep but this time he's tossing and turning. Princess Lethia is comforting him. The sight brings a small smile to Skai's face.
"You should wake him up" Skai tells her. "He'd rather be woken up from a nightmare"
River rarely gets nightmares, but he has told Skai once that if he ever begins to show signs she should wake him up immediately. He finds it embarrassing. He finds a lot of things embarrassing.
"Little tide" Princess Lethia whispers trying to wake up. Skai gets on the bed to join her.
"Riv" Skai shakes him, and his eyes open wide, him breathing heavily.
"Is Suzumi out yet?" Is the first thing he asks, and princess Lethia and Skai look at each other confused.
"No, she has two more days." Princess Lethia answers.
"I hope she's okay" he sits up.
"Thought you hated her" Skai smirks.
"You can hate someone and worry about their well-being" he rolls his eyes.
"That clearly doesn't help you sleep at night" Skai giggles and he pushes her away playfully.
"Well you two get ready, Dinner must be ready." Princess Lethia stands up leaving the room with a small smile.