Chapter 14
Encounter at the Imperial Palace
Once the Delacroix family arrived at the imperial palace, a servant led them to the gardens, where they sat to wait for the arrival of the Emperors. The cherry blossoms perfumed the air, and the children ran among the bushes, laughing, while Valeria watched them with a serenity she rarely showed in public.
Empress Elena, informed of the visit, asked that her husband be notified immediately and walked with an elegant pace toward the gardens.
At the same time, the Prince's advisor, Sir Bastian, was taking some documents to Emperor Fernando when he heard that the Delacroix family had arrived for a visit. The Emperor, upon hearing this, stood up quickly.
"Forgive me, Bastian. We shall continue with this matter later," he said without further ado, leaving the advisor and the officials present completely confused by the sudden urgency.
Later, when Sir Bastian returned to the Crown Prince's office, he conveyed the message:
"Highness, the Emperor received visitors and could not review your work."
Diego, annoyed, let out a huff and rose from his chair.
"My father is becoming increasingly lazy. Lately, any excuse serves him to abandon his obligations. And may one know who is so important that he leaves everything dropped like that, just because?"
"The Delacroix family, Highness. As soon as the servant uttered their name, the Emperor hurried out of the office."
Diego's expression changed completely. Without thinking too much, he took his coat and put it on quickly.
"Then there is no time to lose."
Sir Bastian looked at him bewildered and, when he tried to follow him to ask where he was going, the Prince's voice stopped him:
"You have the afternoon off."
He shouted it to him while disappearing through the palace corridors.
The Encounter in the Garden
Diego reached the garden and, as soon as he saw Valeria, he stopped dead in his tracks. She was sitting on the grass, without worrying about etiquette or indiscreet glances. Around her, two little red-haired boys and two girls with pink hair laughed with her loudly.
(Diego's POV)
She is beautiful. I had never seen her laugh like that. With me, she always gave forced smiles, as if they were a duty… but to see her this way, so free and luminous, leaves me breathless. I would give anything so that, one day, she would laugh like that for me.
While he was lost in his thoughts, a mocking voice pulled him from his daydream.
"Are you going to keep spying like a damn stalker?"
Diego furrowed his brow. His brother Damian was at his side, with his arms crossed and an amused smile.
"I do not know what you are talking about," he replied coldly. "I have just arrived. In fact, I was just going to greet the Dukes."
And without giving him a chance to respond, he walked with a firm step toward the table where the Emperors were conversing with the Delacroix Dukes.
"Wait, let's go together!" Damian laughed, following him with large strides.
Upon arrival, both greeted with respect.
"Greetings, Dukes. How have you been?" Damian asked kindly.
"Prince Damian, very well, thank you," responded Duke Maximiliano.
Diego, with a warmer gesture, added:
"Hello, godparents."
The glint in Renata and Maximiliano's eyes moved everyone.
"It has been a long time since you called us that," the Duke said, nostalgic.
"It is true, darling," added Duchess Renata sweetly. "It was not long ago that you were running toward us calling us that way. Please, do it more often. You too, Damian, am I no longer your Aunt Renata?"
Both princes looked at each other uncomfortably. They remembered clearly how, as children, the Duchess treated them like nephews, and how that made them blush in front of others. Today was no different: even in front of their soldiers, that affection completely disarmed them.
Emperor Fernando let out a loud laugh.
"Enough, Renata. Look how you have put my boys."
The two princes took the opportunity to slip away.
"I am going to greet the children," Damian murmured.
"I'll follow you, brother," Diego nodded, fleeing the scene with the same speed.
Among Games and Laughter
They approached Valeria and the little ones, who looked at them with distrust.
"How are you, Miss Valeria?" Diego asked courteously.
"Very well, thank you for asking. And you, Prince?" she responded politely, though her tone reflected a certain distance.
"Well, fortunately."
At that moment, a small voice interrupted.
"Sister, who is he?" Mia asked with curiosity.
"Yes, who are you?" Tomy added, placing himself in front of Valeria with a protective gesture.
Immediately, Tomy and Lucas stood between their sister and the Prince. Valeria and Damian could barely contain their laughter at the attitude of the little guardians.
"I am her fiancé," Diego responded with annoyance, while he thought: These brats are not going to keep me away from Valeria.
"Highness, do not lie to the children," Valeria corrected seriously. "He is the Crown Prince Diego, son of the Emperors. And the one beside him is his brother, Prince Damian."
"Oh… a pleasure," Sofia said, bowing gracefully. "I am Sofia, and they are my brothers Tomy, Lucas, and Mia."
"The pleasure is ours, lovely lady," Damian answered with a charming smile.
Sofia blushed, which caused Tomy and Lucas to run immediately to place themselves in front of her, as if they could prevent the Prince from looking at her. The gesture was so innocent that everyone laughed, even Diego.
The afternoon continued among games, laughter, and complicity. The princes forgot their titles and joined in the children's mischief. When the sun began to set, the Emperors and their sons accompanied the Delacroix family to the palace entrance to bid them farewell.
The Return to the Delacroix Duchy
Already back at the duchy, the family settled in the main hall. The children chatted animatedly until Tomy came running with a book.
"Sister, can you continue reading us the story from yesterday?"
"Yes, please," Lucas asked.
Valeria smiled and accepted. Very soon, everyone was gathered as on previous nights, listening to their sister's voice giving life to the story's characters.
Then they moved to the dining room, where dinner passed quietly until Maximiliano spoke:
"Darling, tomorrow some teachers from the kingdom will come to be interviewed by me. I want the children to begin their classes as soon as possible."
"I will personally take charge of interviewing them," Renata assured.
Later, the little ones ran to put on their pajamas and, as usual, ended up settling into Valeria's bed, who embraced them tenderly before they all fell asleep.
The History Teacher
The days passed and classes began. The five hired teachers fulfilled their duty excellently… except for one: Miss Marian, in charge of history.
It was not that she taught poorly, but she was more concerned with impressing Duke Maximiliano than with imparting her lessons. While the others delivered detailed reports to Renata, Marian looked for pretexts to request private audiences with the Duke.
Maximiliano, busy with the harvest in the vineyards, did not notice her intentions. But Valeria did, and she was determined not to allow an upstart to approach her father.
During one of her classes, Valeria remained in the room. At the end, she saw how Marian gathered the papers with the intention of taking them to the office.
"Where are you going with those documents, Miss Marian?" Valeria asked with a firm voice.
"To your father's office. I want to show him the children's progress."
"How strange… I understand that the reports must be delivered to my mother, the Duchess."
Marian clenched her fists, trying to maintain her composure.
"Forgive me, Princess, but it is the Duke who asked me."
"I will give you a piece of advice," Valeria responded coldly: "limit yourself to doing your job. You were not hired by my father, but by my mother. To her you must be accountable."
"I do not intend to obey orders from you. The Duke listens to me, not to you."
Valeria smiled, knowing that her parents were listening from the door.
"How quickly the mask falls… But do not worry: my father despises social climbers. You are fired."
"How dare you?!" Marian raised her hand to strike her, but Valeria was faster. With a well-aimed right hook, she knocked her down, making her nose bleed.
At that moment, Maximiliano entered the room.
"It will not be necessary for you to say it, Marian. I saw it all with my own eyes. You are fired."
Renata added firmly:
"Be grateful you are leaving with both hands. And forget about receiving a recommendation."
Defeated, Marian was escorted out of the duchy.
Maximiliano turned toward his daughter, concerned.
"Does it hurt, darling?"
"No, Father, I am fine."
Renata took her hands tenderly.
"Promise me you will not do something like that again. Look if you hurt these beautiful hands."
Valeria smiled.
"Do not worry, Mother. I only made it clear that no one messes with my family."
The Duke embraced her tightly and drew in his wife as well.
"You are crazy, daughter… but even so, we love you."
The rumors did not take long to spread. Very soon, the entire Empire of the Rose knew what had happened in the Delacroix Duchy, and the scandal reached the ears of the Emperors themselves.