[Phillips POV]Time passed by quickly and many things changed. People have come and gone here in the Avalon palace, but everything seems to be heading towards a better future.Everyone had found their respective partners in life and I am happy for them. Maggie had also married Theo, the now imperial butler of the Avalon palace. The two had grown close after my rejection of Maggie’s feelings, and I am happy that she had moved on from her one sided love for me.I on the other hand stayed here in the Grandcrest palace as the captain of the imperial knights. I am still being tasked as the empress's personal knight for special occasions where Emperor Ragnar could not escort Empress Isabella himself. One occasion was when the empress was at the summer villa very heavily pregnant with their third child.The imperial couple were blessed with three children, and the twins have grown fond of me, especially Karl who is always sticking next to me if I was around. "Uncle Philip!" the voice of a l
Four and a half years had passed since the war ended. The country of Sparta started to flourish because of the grand dukes that governs it. Both of them have found the women that will rule by their side, grand duchesses that helped them in their rule. The grand duchess of Geneva as well found her husband and is now governing peacefully with her husband consort. Wales king had stepped down from his position and when the empire was established, Williams was given the title of grand duke. As of now he was still single and is the most sought for bachelor by the noble women of Wales. A small family get together was held for the first birthday of the third child of Emperor Ragnar and Empress Isabella in the palace of Avalon. The twins Amanda and Karl were running around the garden while Ragnar and Isabella were in the gazebo waiting for the guests. The little prince Denzel was sound asleep in his crib. Not long the guests came one at a time. First to arrive was Isabella’s parents, the for
Your mother the empress is looking for the both of you." Brad said. "It is your tenth birthday today and you need to prepare for the banquet later." "Mother is looking for us?" Karl replied with surprise. "Oh no, we are in trouble." Amanda said with a scared expression. "What are we going to do, brother? Our clothes are…" she looked at her brother with worry.The twins' beautiful clothes are both dirty and soiled with playing in the garden so early in the morning. "Do not worry, I will fix it once we go back." Karl said with a determined look. "Come on, before mother sees us like this." He took his sister's hand and started to run to the direction of the palace. "Your cousins have arrived as well!" Brad shouted to the twin's direction. "I am sure they are waiting for both of you!" "Thanks…" Karl waved his hand to Brad without looking back.Brad sighed and shook his head but then smiled. "To think that the future of the empire and the world rests in his highnesses shoulders." Brad
After getting neatly dressed for the day, Karl and Amanda dashed outside their room and ran through the corridors of the palace with excitement etched in their eyes. The employees that were busy with their work for this joyous occasion saw the happy twin prince and princess bouncing excitedly. "Greetings to the imperial prince and princess." "Good morning, your highnesses." "I wish you a happy tenth birthday, your highnesses." The employees that Karl and Amanda passed by greeted them one after the other. "Thank you." Karl replied with a merry face. "Thank you so much." Amanda replied with the same happy face as her brother.The twins were holding each other's hands while running through the hallways. The employees cannot help but smile seeing the cute prince and princess. They ran towards the entrance foyer where their family would be at. "Eric , Erica…" Karl yelled out after they saw their twin cousins at the entrance foyer. Karl and Amanda looked out of the dual stair railin
When the children got to Denzel’s room, they saw a maid was about to knock on the little prince's door. "Greetings to the stars of the TreadStone Empire. Happy birthday, your highnesses." The maid gave a kind smile and bowed. "I was about to knock and wake up the little prince Denzel ." "Hi Joy." Amanda greeted. "Let us do the waking up." "B-But… your highnesses…" Joy the maid looked worried.The children opened the door hurriedly and stormed into the room. Prince Denzel’s room was still dim because of the closed curtains. Erica used wind magic to part the curtains open and the sunlight brightened the room.The little prince was still under the blankets and sound asleep, even with the bright sun rays lighting up the room. Karl put his finger on his lips telling the other children to be silent. The others were trying to suppress their giggles.Karl stood at the bottom of Denzel’s bed and held the blankets covering the little prince. In one swoop, Karl pulled the blankets off and
The children are sitting by the grass after playing for a while. It is still hours away until the banquet that will be held at night for the twins tenth birthday. "I am bored." Erica sighed. "We have been playing in the garden for quite a while now." "It would be great if we can go and see the festival in the capital." Eric said. "Oh yes. I remember father had ordered a week long festival in the capital city to celebrate our tenth birthday. Right, Karl ?" Amanda said. "Yes, I remember father making that order." Karl replied. "But we cannot go without any escort knight. As you know, all the knights and apprentice knights have their own tasks for today. Even Brad also has not come back." "I know right. It is quite weird that he has not come back yet." Amanda said. "Maybe he caught a cold after getting wet from your trap Amanda." Erica teased. "But that was just a little prank." Amanda felt guilty. "He is not that weak to get sick because of such a little thing." Karl repl
After eating lunch, the couples let their children play at the palace gardens because the inside of the palace is still quite busy with the preparations for the banquet tonight. "Be good to your cousins and little aunt and uncle, okay." Isabella said to Karl and Amanda. "I know how rough you two play, but because they are younger than the both of you play nice." "Yes, mother." Karl, Denzel, and Amanda replied in unison. "Do not worry your majesty, we know what to do." Erica replied with a big smile. "That is correct." Eric replied. "We have been playing with them for a long time now."The twins Erica and Eric have been going back and forth to their home in South Sparta and to the capital of Avalon because of their father Kyler’s work. Kyler has done a good job as the grand duke of South Sparta, but he cannot leave his old task of being by Ragnar’s side. He has promised Ragnar’s mother that he would look after him until death has taken him, and so he goes back to Avalon quarter
The children sneaked out of the palace undetected. Because they have been doing this for several times now, they were at ease with their little secret outing. Unbeknown to them, Avatar and Snow, the imperial couple's familiars, are keeping an eye on them and making sure that they are safe.They arrived at the busy streets of the capital. They can see the colorful decorations around, something that is not common at regular days in the capital "Whoaaaa…" Denzel said with an excited expression. "I never saw the capital this lively before. I mean, it is normally a busy place but now it seems so lively and colorful." "I know, right." Amanda replied with the same enthusiasm as her little brother. "There are so many side stalls that sells different kinds of stuff. I bet merchants from all over the continent are here to do business." "Yes, I believe so." Brad replied with a smile. He was happy to see these royal children happy. "Your highnesses' imperial father had opened the capital for