"Oh, my is it true?"
"Well according to the merchants, it is indeed his majesty the emperor living in the forest."
Gathered at the corners of the streets, the citizens of the capital have been gossiping the last few days which isn't about the upcoming coronation or wedding of the crown prince but rather something else.
"Yesterday they saw a young woman running in the forest happily."
"Some of the villagers also say they saw the two together enjoying the market."
According to the talks, it seems that emperor Arcus has already left the palace for good and was said to live in the suburbs to recuperate alone, however, the rumors began to spread negatively.
Arcus's face isn't a stranger to anyone in the empire as he was infamous for being the empire's sword under the late emperor Kaizer's regime who soon after was raised as the emperor after his brother's death.
That is why his appearance could easily be recognized by anyone in the capital and despite leaving in the countryside it won't still be avoided that few know him.
"How could the emperor do that?"
"Did he leave the palace for his mistress?"
"How about his daughter? After sacrificing her life for the empire-
"Shush it's the imperial carriage."
Karin who went out was able to hear the ridiculous rumors which came from the countryside in only two days, it already spread widely within the capital.
Clenching her first, Karin's maid slowly closed the curtains of the carriage to avoid hearing more of the ugly gossip from the citizens.
"Mother left?" Darrion exclaimed while arranging the cuffs in his clothes with Rhian's presence behind him.
Fidgeting his shoulders, Rhian averted his gaze from Darrion's back, "Yes, well I reported the rumors directly to her."
Darrion crumpled his forehead, turning his body to face Rhian, "Aren't I, supposed to be your superior? You should have reported to me first!"
Smiling under his shadows, Rhian trembled in fear of Darrion's response, "But her majesty has ordered me to track the emperor's activities."
Facepalming, Darrion sighs heavily as he already knew his mother's reaction after just hearing ridiculous rumors.
And of course, she can't order the knights to catch anyone who spread such rumors, therefore Karin will check it herself.
Darrion already imagines what could happen if Karin happens to meet Arcus and if ever the rumors about his mistress are indeed true it could be chaos.
"Should we have someone to follow her?" Darrion asked but then Rhian recalled where the emperor was said to be staying, it is the land near the Quell clan.
"Ah right, Sandra is currently in their hometown, I can ask her to accompany her majesty, Empress Karin."
"That's good, let's do that."
Using a bird messenger, Rhian sent a letter to Sandra his fiancé who, under some circumstances has been going back and forth to their hometown.
"Lady! Have you heard the news?"
With the same worried face, Maylene already knew what Daphne was about to say because the whole empire has already heard of it.
"Do you think it could be real?"
Maylene asked in a dejected tone yet her mind isn't at ease either despite knowing Arcus as a loving and doting father to Yui, the rumors cannot also deny knowing how difficult Arcus's life has been after losing his wife and daughter.
"Well, apparently I heard that mother left the palace this early morning to confirm the news herself."
"Her majesty did!"
Daphne nodded in response to Maylene's flabbergasted burst of emotions because similar to Darion, she also thought of nothing but a negative result.
"Is it that bad? Is it wrong for him to love again?" Daphne defended but a burst from the door suddenly interrupted the peace.
"Of course, it is not, your highness!"
Scowling at Julian who came abruptly holding piles of papers and books in his hands with some floating in the air beside him, Daphne exhibited displease with his presence.
After two years, Julian also passed his coming-of-age ceremony in the same year as Daphne but the young boy grows into a fine man in just a short span of years which infuriated her.
"Tsk" Clicking her tongue with arms crossed, Daphne ignored the young man.
"However, it is the emperor to whom we are speaking, he could have done it quietly." Julian continued but Maylene already went out of her seat.
Bam! Bam! Holding her fan, Maylene hit the forehead of Julian and Daphne, "These kids, how can you speak that way? Let's just wait and-
"Oh, my god have you all heard the rumors!"
All eyes went instantly to another person barging inside Maylene's office as if it was a normal thing to do for everyone to just get inside and speak their minds.
"Oh, everyone is here. I guess I'm the only person left." Sophia smiled but she also got a hit from Maylene and all three were kicked out of her office.
"Hey! When can you two learn some manners?" Daphne began blaming the two young professors but Julian flinched, vexed.
"Don't place me in line with this barbarian!" He replied pointing his thumb at Sophia who then taunted the lady.
"How dare you call a lady like that!" Sophia screamed as they all walk out of the corridor.
"Hey, Miss Hannah! Heal me!"
"Me too!"
Running towards a young lady, the kids who got scratches from playing bombarded her reaching their hands.
"Hays, how many times did I tell everyone to be careful."
"But Hannah's power is so warm I love it."
"But that doesn't mean you need to hurt yourselves."
Hannah replied, caressing the kid's hands when a yellow light emitted in her hands and the scratch disappeared.
Despite watching it many times, the children still love to see Hannah's magnificent powers.
"Hannah! The lady is calling you!" An old maid smiling called Hannah from afar and so she stood and bid her goodbye.
Swaying with the wind, her long silky light blue silver hair, Hannah went rushing back inside the mansion with a pair of black eyes smiling.