In the Celestian Empire, there were many palaces with the Royal Palace being the most conspicuous, standing majestically at the very center of the capital city.
Among these palaces, there was a magnificent one, situated directly to the right of the Imperial Palace. Though not as grand, its exquisite architecture gleamed under the sun, while its intricately carved stonework shimmered under the moon.
This resplendent Palace, known as the Palace of the Empress, though not as large as the Royal Palace, still occupied a vast expanse of land, its boundaries marked by towering walls.
Within the walls, a breathtaking garden blossomed, its beauty rivaling even the finest silk paintings.
At the heart of this verdant paradise lay an artificial lake, its surface a mirror of shimmering glass, reflecting the azure sky above.
Red carps, their scales gleaming like rubies, glided gracefully through the crystalline waters.
Occasionally, they would breach the surface with playful splashes, sending ripples across the tranquil water surface and scattering droplets that sparkled like diamonds in the sunlight.
Delicate lotus blossoms floated serenely on the water’s edge, their pink and white petals unfurling like the dreams of sleeping maidens. Elegant willows dipped their slender branches into the lake.
These elegant creatures, their scales gleaming like polished rubies, darted beneath lily pads and glided between the slender stems of lotus flowers.
At this moment, a stunning mature woman with blue hair and deep blue eyes, sat under an ancient oak tree by the lakeside, her azure dress hugging her curveceous figure and fluttering softly in the gentle breeze, as if in harmony with the serene surroundings.
Her presence seemed to enhance the ethereal beauty of the garden, as if she were its living heart.
The dress she wore shimmered like the surface of the lake itself, its fabric catching the light and refracting it in mesmerizing patterns.
Her hair, the color of a clear summer sky, cascaded down her back in gentle waves, adorned with delicate silver pins that glinted like stars.
In her hands, she cradled an exquisite guqin, its polished wood gleaming in the sunlight that filtered through the oak’s branches.
With graceful fingers, she plucked the silk strings, coaxing forth a melody that seemed to weave itself into the very fabric of the garden.
The notes drifted across the lake, ethereal and haunting.
They resonated with the gentle lapping of water against the shore and the rustling of leaves in the breeze, creating a symphony that seemed to transcend the mortal realm.
As she played, the carps in the lake began to move in intricate patterns, as if dancing to her sweet tune.
The Empress’s fingers danced across the strings, her eyes half-closed in rapture as she lost herself in the melody. The air around her seemed to shimmer, infused with the magic of her music.
As the final notes of her song faded into the air, leaving behind a lingering resonance, she opened her eyes.
The Empress’s gaze, as deep and mysterious as the lake before her, settled on a figure approaching from the winding garden path.
“What is it?” she asked softly, her voice like honey, rich and smooth, carrying on the gentle breeze.
Her personal maid, a woman in her late 50s with silver streaks in her dark hair and the bearing of one who had served her for decades, bowed deeply before replying respectfully, “Forgive my intrusion, Your Majesty, but Prince Lucian has asked to meet you.”
The Empress’s delicate brows furrowed slightly, her azure eyes taking on a distant look as she fell into deep contemplation.
She absently stroked the smooth wood of her guqin, her fingers tracing the intricate carvings as her mind wandered.
The memory of the recent assassination attempt on Lucian’s life raced through her mind, as did the information Isabella shared with her about the world of cultivation.
She initially felt a strange fascination when Isabella told her about the place where immortals supposedly roamed freely, capable of flight like birds and living for centuries, a place seemingly filled with wonder.
She didn’t believe her at first, thinking Maximilian was merely using this as an excuse to ‘talk’ to her.
However, when he came to discuss Isabella’s impending departure in a few days, she noticed his unusually serious he was and finally understood the gravity of the situation.
But her years of experience as Empress soon made her realise the harsh truths lurking beneath such beauty.
She understood that this unknown world would likely be far more dangerous than the mortal realm, where the strong dictated the lives of the weak.
And the attraction of Isabella’s extraordinary beauty. a gift in one sense, could easily transform into a curse in a world where power ruled above all else, making her an easy target for those who sought to exploit or possess her.
So she couldn’t help but think about how her daughter would soon leave her, and she would only have Lucian by her side in that unfamiliar place.
The Empress’s fingers stilled on the guqin, her azure eyes softening with a mixture of concern and resignation.
She too wanted to meet Lucian to ask to look after her, her heart heavy with the weight of a mother’s love and worry.
The desire to protect her only daughter, Isabella, burned fiercely within her heart, yet she knew the futility of such wishes in the face of destiny.
“Very well,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper, “Tell Prince Lucian, I shall receive him here, by the lake.”
As her maid bowed and retreated, the Empress turned her gaze back to the shimmering waters.
The red carp continued their graceful dance, oblivious to the turmoil in her heart.
Soon, her maid returned, guiding a young man towards the Empress.
He wore a resplendent red princely attire adorned with intricate golden embroidery that caught the sunlight, creating an aura of ethereal radiance around him.
Even the Empress, who had seen countless handsome men in her life, had to admit that Lucian was perhaps the most striking young man she had ever laid eyes upon.
His features were chiseled perfection, as if sculpted by the gods themselves.
High cheekbones framed eyes that shimmered like pools of liquid amber, their depths holding both wisdom beyond his years and a hint of arrogance.
His hair, the color of white cloud, was tied back in an elegant knot, a few stray strands framing his face in a way that seemed both careless and deliberate.
Soon, her maid brought a young man wearing resplendent attire to the lakeside.
The maid departed silently after guiding Lucian to the Empress, leaving them alone by the tranquil lakeside.
The Empress turned to Lucian, her azure eyes softening as she gazed upon him.
A gentle smile graced her lips, unlike the reserved expression Lucian had seen in the dining hall that day before he had gone to the Dukedom.
Her voice, melodious as the guqin she had just played, carried on the breeze.
“Come, Lucian, sit here beside me,” she said, patting the grass next to her.
“Yes, mother,” Lucian approached with measured steps, fluid and graceful movements, and a small smile on his lips.
The dappled sunlight filtering through the oak’s branches played across his features, highlighting the sharp angles of his face and the depth of his crimson eyes.
As he lowered himself onto the grass beside her, the Empress’s eyes widened, her composure momentarily slipping.
“W-wait, what did you call me!?” She asked, her voice a mix of surprise and complexity.
Lucian’s crimson eyes met hers, a flicker of ‘vulnerability’ passing through them.
“Mother,” he repeated softly, “Am I not allowed to call you that?”
The Empress’s fingers trembled slightly on the strings of her guqin, producing a faint, discordant note that seemed to hang in the air between them.
“It’s not that…” She began, her voice trailing off as she searched for words, “But you never called me… in all these years…”
A gentle breeze rustled through the willow leaves, carrying with it the sweet scent of lotus blossoms, the red carps in the lake paused in their dance.
Lucian’s face ‘softened’, with a ‘vulnerability’ flickering across his features.
His crimson eyes now held a ‘depth of emotion’ that made him appear younger, more fragile.
“Mother, you must know about the assassination I’ve recently faced, right?” His voice wavered slightly, a tremor of ‘fear and sadness’ coloring his words.
Seeing her nod, Lucian continued, his voice ‘trembling’ slightly, “I was nearly killed by them… at that moment, I realized there are many things I’ve never experienced, as well as many emotions I’ve never felt. And one of them is… m-motherly love.”
The Empress’s eyes softened — shimmering with a mix of surprise, and tenderness.
She lowered her gaze, her slender fingers releasing the guqin to reach out and take hold of Lucian’s hand.
The Empress’s delicate fingers intertwined with Lucian’s, her touch as gentle as a butterfly’s wing.
For a moment, neither spoke, the silence broken only by the soft lapping of water against the shore and the whisper of wind through the willow leaves.