Chapter 54: THE REVEAL

Chapter 54: THE REVEAL"You passed your first test, Owen." Aristia said as soon as the carriage was moving.

She had given him the assignment of finding information about the sisters that could be used to convince them and he had successfully passed, much to her satisfaction.

[He’s a fast learner, just like Owen.]

Owen looked at her and nodded. He felt a bit of pride, knowing that he hadn’t failed in his first ever assignment.

They arrived just in time for them to leave for the Royal palace.

Aristia sat with her parents in their family carriage, while their personal servants followed behind in a separate carriage meant for the servants. Another carriage was following behind carrying their luggage.

They arrived at the palace after some time. After a joyful reunion, the members of the royal family separated.

Beatrix and Serina dragged Aristia to their wing of the palace and into their room, Adeline following behind them. They were twins and shared a wing.

Meanwhile, Alaric dragged Owen and Ivan to the stables.

"Tia, I want to tell you something." Beatrix said, gesturing to Adeline.

"That’s okay, Bea, she can be trusted." Aristia assured, "But, since you don’t feel comfortable with her here, she can give us privacy."



Since Beatrix wanted only her to hear what she wanted to say, she would respect her decision. Besides, Beatrix could just order Adeline to leave and the latter would have no choice but to obey, and even Aristia wouldn’t be able to do anything. Beatrix was higher than her in status and it was her palace too.

Adeline, however, was touched. Her princess trusted her. She secretly swore to never betray her princess.

"It’s okay." Beatrix said. This was someone Aristia trusted, and it wasn’t like it was something confidential she wanted to tell, she thought.

She didn’t know when she had started to subconsciously trust Aristia’s judgement.

"So, I wanted to tell you that..." Her smile widened as if she couldn’t control her excitement. "Papa and Mama agreed to let me train three months ago!" She said excitedly.

"They did? That’s great!" Aristia chuckled, she had expected that outcome but she still wanted to share in her cousin’s happiness and excitement.

"Thank you for convincing me to talk to them, Tia." Beatrix thanked her with pure joy in her eyes. "And now that you are here for the festival, we can train together with Captain Lancelot."

She was referring to another Captain Lancelot; Hugo Lancelot, older brother of Captain Hugh Lancelot, and captain and commander of the Royal knights.

[I guess both brothers will have a secret to keep.] Aristia chuckled.

Serina, who had been helping herself to some snacks during the duration of their conversation, spoke up with a disapproving tone.


"Now, I also have to train. Papa said since Beatrix is allowed to train, I should also have the basic skills needed to defend myself."

"Hehe," Aristia chuckled. "It’s not a bad thing—"

"Not entirely a bad thing," Serina corrected. "And it’s all thanks to the training clothes you designed. Those are spectacular. It’s the only thing I look forward to when it’s time to train."

Aristia had gotten similar training clothes made for them after she had returned from the palace three months ago, as she was already absolutely convinced the king and queen would consent to their daughters’ training.

"That reminds me, we are getting our measurements taken tomorrow for dresses for the celebration." Serina said happily.

"Yes, that is true. I was too excited and forgot about that." Beatrix chuckled.

"I’m aware. Mama said something about it in the morning as our luggages were being packed." Aristia said thoughtfully.

"Oh, I cannot wait!" Serina said excitedly. "We will get to leave the palace."

The princesses didn’t usually leave the palace, instead the different dresses were brought to them.

Serina knew it was for their safety and enjoyed the privileges too, but she wanted to leave the palace and visit the clothes store herself.

"Yes, we will spend so much time together." Beatrix said cheerfully as Serina started to list the amount of things the three of them would do together during Aristia’s stay in the palace.

***

During dinner, Rowaine initiated a conversation. "I happened to hear about a new structure being built here in the capital from the servants. It is said that no one knows who owns it. Quite mysterious." She hummed as she cut the meat in her plate.

[Oh.] Aristia didn’t expect this day to come so soon. It also didn’t cross her mind to inform them.

A number of infrastructures were being built in Amberale. The king didn’t have to know each of the owners personally.

However, she wasn’t so naive to believe that they couldn’t find who owned what. If they wanted to find out its owner, they would. They probably were not interested enough to do so.

She saw her parents glance at her, and she slowly gave them a nod.

"Ah! It completely slipped my mind," Catherine spoke up. Her words made everyone turn curiously to her. "I happen to know the owner of the building..." She smirked.



"Oh? Who might that mysterious person be?" Mother Queen Melissa asked curiously.

"It is none other than..." Catherine trailed off.

They weren’t very curious initially, but Catherine’s attitude successfully garnered their curiosity. They kept their eyes on Catherine, waiting for her to speak.

"Tia." Catherine revealed with a proud smile gracing her lips.

"Tia!?" They exclaimed, shocked beyond words. Then, there was total silence in the dining room.

Just as Aristia was skeptical about whether they’d react fine, her grandmother spoke up.

"But what do you plan to do with the building?" Melissa asked curiously.

"I want to use it for business," Aristia explained.

"How will you be able to manage a business?" The king shook his head with an indulgent smile, thinking she was playing. She was just a child, how would she manage a business?

’She’s just curious. If she is unable to handle it, Wilson will handle it.’ He thought.

[I thought females we’re allowed to open businesses. You’re so pampered, Aristia Amberale.]

"My, this child never fails to surprise me." Melissa said with a smile, and Aristia subconsciously heaved a sigh of relief.

She didn’t even realize that she was already beginning to care about their opinion.

Melissa was happy that this granddaughter of hers was striving to be different from the females of this Kingdom, and not bear the restrictions placed on the females by the kingdom she was born in; not letting herself be influenced, or her life dictated by the Kingdom’s laws which favored males over females.

’She inherited that from me.’ Melissa thought proudly. She would support her granddaughter in her plans as long as she wouldn’t be in danger.

Aristia noticed the look of pride in Melissa’s eyes.

[Just like aunt Rowaine, Grandma also comes from a different Kingdom. The book mentioned it once or twice.] Aristia thought.

Her grandmother was not originally from the kingdom of Amberale before her marriage to the then King, her grandfather. She and Rowaine were both from different Kingdoms before they got married to their respective husbands.

"That is correct." Melvin replied to Melissa’s earlier statement. Aristia had been full of a lot of surprises recently. And in a good way.

His wife was the reason for the change in the centuries old policies of their kingdom.

When they had gotten married, his wife had been baffled by the norms of their kingdom. When she found out that women weren’t allowed to learn to read and write, she had said;

’Pardon me for my bold words, my lord, but I find it difficult to fathom how your majesty’s kingdom is flourishing with your unusual norms, more than my kingdom which gives women more freedom’.

Back then, he had told her, ’It is your kingdom’s norms that is unusual.’

But he still took her words to heart and began to try to change that law little by little. He was glad that his granddaughter was making a change out of her own will.

’She inherited that from her grandmother.’ He thought with a chuckle.

Aristia who didn’t know that her modern mindset was being attributed to inherited traits, continued to talk to Rowaine about the progress of the building and its intended purpose.

"We have to announce this, Tia." Ivan said eagerly.

He was surprised, but his father had always strived to create policies in favor of women.



He supported his father’s intention to change the Kingdom’s norms and if Aristia succeeded in this, even if someone managed it for her, it could also move others to do the same.

But Aristia refused, "No, we cannot do that yet."

"Why not?" Ivan was confused.

"I want people to eat in the restaurant because they like the food, and not because they want to please the royal family by coming to the third princess’ establishment." She explained, and everyone showed a look of understanding.

"The nobility will also be against it." Aristia said.

"It does not matter." Melvin said, even though he knew it was not that easy, or else he would have changed the law regarding females not being permitted to own businesses a long time ago.

"But if that is what you wish, then very well. It will be kept secret." He finished. Even though announcing this could push forward their plans to change the Kingdom’s laws, he was going to respect her wishes.

"Have you found workers? You definitely cannot manage it by yourself." Rowaine asked.

"Yes, I found some people. But, I’m still searching. I’ve found an aide, Owen Hale. You met him earlier. I am not planning to manage the business on my own. I know my own limitations."

Her words made them speechless. She wasn’t planning to manage the business herself and knew her limitations, but she had an eight year old as an aide?

Fedor glanced at Wilson who only shook his head at him.

Aristia also had her own reasons for telling them, unbeknownst to them.