Valerian, The Legendary

51 The Empress.

Valerian heard the message, but he did not react. Azula nodded and said, “I will be there shortly.”

She turned to face, Priscilla, and said, “Take Consano, Conixia, and Valerian to meet my mother and arrange for their accommodations in my residential wing.”

Priscilla bowed her head and said, “As you command Your Highness.”

The matters in the house were dealt with by the empress and not the Emperor. This was an unspoken rule, that nobody ever defied in royal families. Valerian looked at the princess and fell in thought about whether he should say something or not.

Azula caught his gaze and asked, “What do you want to ask, Valerian?”

The boy thought for a bit and asked, ‘Is it necessary to bow my head to someone else?’

Azula smiled faintly and said, “Do not think of bowing your head like an act of surrender. It is a gesture to show respect to the elders and to those who are stronger than us. One day, when you are strong enough, the same people will bow to you. In order to get strong, one must not only know how to charge ahead but also how to endure and temper. Do you understand?”

Valerian gazed into her eyes, but he could not find any deceit. He nodded and said, ‘Thank you for the guidance, Your Highness.’, then he bowed his head to her.

Azula had helped him a lot when it came to matters of the intellect. The princess has also learned a lot from Valerian about controlling her temper and rectifying the slight flaws she had in her mindset.

.....

She patted his head and said, “Off you go now.”

Before leaving, Azula whispered something to her handmaid, who expressed confusion but then nodded.

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Azula walked up to the man in the green tunic and the man bowed and led her inside the doorway. Priscilla gestured for the peopled and said, “Follow me, Ladies, and boy.”

Her address made Valerian glare at her. However, he followed her regardless of that. This maid liked to tease him every now and then. She also led him inside the doorway, and what welcomed them was a huge lobby. The decoration was so lavish yet appropriate.

While Consano and Conixia were slightly awed by the grandeur, Valerian was unaffected. He looked at the things, but his eyes did not fluctuate. Priscilla noticed this and nodded.

Valerian had a firm mind, he was not affected by the decorations, he was simply focused on the things in front of him. This was his strength, he would have been shocked if this place was not so lavishly decorated. The delicate-looking vases, and crystal chandelier on every crossway.

Priscilla was leading them through long gilded corridors, and on the way when any maid came across they bowed to each other. One of the maids was pushing a food trolley in the same direction as they were going.

Priscilla looked at the maid and said, “Silvia, good morning.”

Silvia seemed to be the same age as Conixia, however, at first glance people could tell that she was not very confident in her actions. As soon as Priscilla greeted her, the girl shivered.

She replied hurriedly, “Good morning, Sister Priscilla.”

This girl had a cute appearance. The baby fat on her face was yet to leave, and her eyes were filled with the sparkle of innocence. Priscilla smiled and said, “Is this your turn to serve Her Excellency today?”

Silvia nodded and put even more effort into pushing the trolley. Priscilla said, “Valerian, would you mind helping her push the trolley. She will topple it at this speed.”

Valerian was defiant but looking at the clumsy person, he sighed and walked over, he did not say anything but directly took the handrails on the trolley.

Priscilla pulled Silvia beside her. The latter was even more flustered. She asked, “Sister Priscilla, why did you let this gentleman do my work. This is not appropriate, he is a guest of the royal family.”

Consano smiled and said, “Miss Silvia, we are not guests, but aides to the Princess. Do not worry, we should all share the workload with each other.”

Silvia was surprised, but even if Consano said this, the status between a palace maid and a dedicated aid, was too different. Valerian was pushing the trolley behind the group slowly, following them.

Consano and Priscilla managed to calm down Silvia after a skillful small talk. Soon they reached a door guarded by female warriors. Yes, the security detail of the Empress. It was not that the emperor was paranoid, but the empress did not like men ogling her.

Silvia took hold of the trolley and thanked Valerian. Then she pushed it forward and after checking the trolley, the lady warrior nodded and said, “She is clean.”

The other guard knocked on the door and asked, “Your Excellency, Maid Silvia is here.”

A soft voice sounded, “Let her in.”

The door was pushed open and Silvia entered. The warrior then checked Priscilla and everyone else, she signaled her companion, who said, “Your Excellency, Priscilla seeks an audience. She brings the people, Her Highness has recruited.”

“Oh, send them in.”, everyone could sense a trace of curiosity in this sentence.

The Warriors opened the doors, and Priscilla nodded to them, she walked inside the room, and the three followed. The warriors were surprised earlier, when they checked Valerian, the boy did not show any anxiety. It was as if he was a block of wood.

Valerian walked inside the room and found Silvia standing behind the chair and handing the teacup to the person sitting on a big chair. The chair was facing in another direction, so they could not see the person, but only a jade-like hand was visible to them. Priscilla did not walk over to stand in the front, she bowed and said, “Greetings, Your Excellency.”

The soft voice sounded again, “How have you been Priscilla? Azula did not trouble you too much during the trial I hope.”

Priscilla replied, “Certainly not, Your Excellency.”

“I see, come let me see who was chosen by my daughter as her aid.”, said the Empress.

Priscilla took a deep breath and said, “Yes.”

She gestured for the two ladies to move around and go to stand in front of the empress. When Valerian asked her with the signs what about him. Priscilla gestured for him to wait. The two ladies were slightly anxious and slightly excited. They have only seen a few pictures of the Empress, and it was said that she was the most beautiful lady in the empire.

The two sisters walked in front of the chair, and bowed their heads, as they said, “Greetings, Your Excellency.”

The Empress replied, “Raise your heads.”

The girls raised their heads, and their expressions changed. Although they covered it pretty well, it was too obvious, Valerian noticed this and cast a gaze at Priscilla.

The empress spoke with a calm tone, “Very pretty. Do well beside my daughter. You will not suffer.”, it was as if she did not notice or mind the shock in their gazes.

The two girls bowed their heads again and said, “Yes, Your Excellency.”

Although the greeting sounded to be cheerful, it was stiffer than before. The Empress said, “Good, you can leave. Priscilla will arrange your accommodation, if you have any trouble, feel free to find me.”

“Thank you for your grace, Your Excellency.”, the girls bowed and came back to Priscilla.

Their eyes were flickering, but they were controlling the fluctuations to the best that they could. The Empress said again, “Priscilla if there is nothing else, you may leave.”

She did not know about Valerian, so the eviction order. Priscilla said, “Your Excellency, there is one more person.”

“Hmm, let her come.”, she thought it was another girl. However, this time the curiosity in her voice was missing. She did not seem to have any expectations toward this new person anymore.

Priscilla nodded and gestured for Valerian to go and pay his respects to the empress. The boy nodded and calmly walked forward and the chair.

As he stood in front of the chair, he saw a lady sitting on the chair her silky hair resting on her shoulder, with a perfect forehead, deep clear blue eyes, and a high slender nose. However, below the nose lay the secret of why the girls changed their expressions.

The chin and the cheeks of the lady were filled with gashes. It was as if she was scratched by a wild cat or someone tortured her brutally. She was not the most beautiful lady but could be said to be the ugliest of them, with such wounds covering her face.

However, unlike the girls, Valerian was not shocked, he gazed at the lady in front of him calmly, and then bowed his head. Priscilla said, “Your Excellency, he is mute. His name...”

The lady was surprised, and with the gesture of her hand, she made Priscilla stop. She said gently, “Raise your head.”

Valerian followed her instructions, The Empress asked, “What is your name?”

Using single-hand signs, the child replied, ‘Valerian, Your Excellency.’