The Great Wish - Chapter 46: Today, Tomorrow and Then… (3)

It was fascinating how fate seemed to work out in unexpected ways. Sienna smiled and nodded.

“It’s a good idea.”

“Really?”

“Yes, but I’ll have to discuss it with Kuhn. Still, I think he’ll agree. Despite the hardships it’s endured, the symbolism of the Blackstone Fortress isn’t so easily tarnished. It’s more of an honor.”

“Thanks for saying that. Let’s talk about it in more detail once Kuhn arrives.”

“Of course.”

After Dian left, Sienna remained seated, feeling a strange sense of emptiness, as if he had already left the palace.

Just then, the chief attendant approached and spoke.

“Your Majesty, Sir Kali requests an audience.”

“Was he scheduled for today?”

“No, Your Majesty. Shall I send him away?”

“No, let him in.”

The attendant bowed and withdrew.

Sienna didn’t ask which Sir Kali was requesting the audience. There was only one in the palace at the moment: Russ. Martin was away assisting Kuhn.

Shortly after, Russ entered the room. Dressed in his knightly uniform, he greeted her with impeccable formality.

“Russ Kali, at your service, Your Majesty.”

After Sienna ascended the throne, Russ had been knighted. She had awarded him a golden button for saving the imperial delegation during a mission to the desert in the Silver Emperor’s time.

The Kali brothers were the most famous knights in the Empire. Each had been awarded a golden button by two successive emperors, and both were renowned for their exceptional skills.

Whenever Kuhn left the palace, he always made sure one of the Kali brothers remained behind.

Sienna had always assumed that the Kali brothers took turns in their own way when it came to staying behind at the palace, but it was always Russ who remained. One day, she subtly asked Kuhn if he was purposely only taking Martin with him, and Kuhn explained:

“Russ volunteers to stay.”

“Volunteers? Why?”

“Because you’re the matriarch of the Raad clan, and he insists on protecting you.”

“But the palace is heavily guarded. Why would he need to?”

“He says that if something were to breach the palace’s defenses, it would be a serious emergency, and he believes he’s the most capable for such situations. That’s his reasoning.”

As she recalled this conversation, Sienna thought of Russ in the future she had seen in her dream.

“This man is too brash and hot-tempered. If you follow proper procedures with him, he’ll lose patience before anything gets done.”

In that future, Russ Kali had been loud and impulsive. Yet, the Russ standing before her now was composed and always showed her the utmost respect. She had never seen him act rudely toward her.

Furthermore, Russ, with his free-spirited nature, had willingly stayed behind in the palace, despite its strict rules, rather than following Kuhn. Sienna often felt a warm sense of comfort, like standing in the spring sunshine, whenever she realized how much better the present was compared to the future she had seen in her dreams.

“What brings you here, Sir Kali?” she asked.

“Forgive me, Your Majesty,” Russ replied, his face dark and serious. “I’ve injured the princess. Please punish me.”

“Injured her?” Sienna, startled, quickly guessed what had happened.

“Was this during sword training?” she asked.

“…”

“Sir Kali, it’s swordsmanship practice. It’s bound to be rough. I understand.”

About six months ago, Isabel had been deeply impressed after watching a knight inspection and had insisted on learning swordsmanship. She’d heard somewhere that the Kali brothers were the best in the empire and stubbornly demanded to be taught by Sir Kali himself.

The idea of a seven-year-old being taught by a knight who had earned a golden button seemed absurd to Sienna, especially since, despite Isabel being unusually strong for her age, it still felt like an overreach. Sienna thought it was a waste of both Sir Kali’s time and talent.

However, Russ had volunteered to teach the princess, claiming it was important to instill good habits from the basics. Sienna had agreed, on the condition that Isabel could stop at any time if she wished.

“This is my fault, Your Majesty,” Us insisted.

Sienna sighed, looking at his remorseful expression. Surely something had happened, but Isabel was cherished like a delicate flower by everyone around her, including the Kali brothers, who were as protective as Kuhn.

“Did she break her arm?” Sienna asked.

Russ was horrified. “No, not at all.”

“Did she get a scar on her face?”

“No, Your Majesty.”

“Then what happened?”

“…Her palm… got scraped…”

Sienna couldn’t help but smile. If anything serious had occurred, one of Isabel’s maids would have immediately informed her.

“I’ll go check on her myself. Don’t blame yourself, Sir Kali. If I punished you for something so minor, the world would be full of criminals. Also, make sure the emperor doesn’t hear about this. The last thing Isabel wants is for things to get blown out of proportion.”

If her husband, who made a fuss over even the smallest injury to their daughter, found out, the entire palace would be in an uproar.

After reassuring Us and sending him off, Sienna called for the chief lady-in-waiting.

“Is the princess in her residence?”

Isabel had been given her own residence, the Silver Palace, shortly after her fifth birthday, the same palace Sienna had lived in during the Silver Emperor’s reign.

It was a tradition for imperial children to receive their own residences upon turning five, but Kuhn had opposed the idea, saying Isabel was too young. However, Isabel had confidently stated that she wanted her own palace and moved out without any hesitation.

Kuhn had spent some time afterward sitting in her empty room, lamenting, “So a child stays in her parents’ arms only until the age of five…”

“The princess went to the prince’s palace a little while ago,” the chief lady-in-waiting replied.

Eckart, too, had just turned five and received his own residence, which had been the palace where the late emperor had lived until his final moments.

“Let’s head to the prince’s palace, then,” Sienna said.

***

The carriage that departed from the Sun Palace halted in front of the Prince’s residence. As Sienna stepped out, the guards standing watch immediately bowed their heads.

Since she hadn’t announced her visit, there were no maids to greet her. Sienna headed straight to Eckart’s study.

A maid carrying snacks was just about to enter the room when she felt someone tap her shoulder from behind. She turned around, only to gasp upon seeing the empress.

Sienna raised a finger to her lips, signaling the maid to stay quiet before entering the room herself.

The maids and nannies inside widened their eyes at the empress’s sudden appearance. The only ones who remained unaware were the two siblings, seated with their backs to the door, side by side at a desk.

“Here, Eckart. You write it like this,” Isabel said.

“Like this?” Eckart asked.

“No, your stroke is crooked here. In the ancient script, even a slight difference in the stroke changes the whole character.”

“Hmm, sister, this part is really hard.”

“I’ll write it again. Watch carefully.”

“Okay.”

“Now, try writing it again.”

“Hmm… like this?”

“That’s right, you got it! Well done.”

Eckart grinned proudly.

Sienna watched the heartwarming scene of her children helping each other. Their black hair, streaked with hints of blue, was identical.

Isabel resembled Sienna more, while Eckart took after Kuhn. Yet, there was something fascinating about blood ties—when Sienna looked at Isabel, she could see traces of Kuhn, and when she looked at Eckart, she could see traces of herself.

Despite their differences in gender, age, and build, many people remarked that when the siblings were together, they looked like twins.

“You’re both working hard, I see,” Sienna said.

The siblings quickly turned their heads and broke into bright smiles when they saw her.

“Mother!”

“Greetings, Your Majesty,” Isabel said, bowing gracefully.

Eckart hesitated, glancing at his sister. He looked torn between wanting to run into his mother’s arms and mimicking his sister’s formal greeting. Caught in the conflict, he frowned and eventually bowed his head clumsily.

“G-greetings, Your Majesty.”

The maids and nannies struggled to hide their smiles as they bowed.

Sienna, smiling herself, approached her children and wrapped her arms around both, pulling them close. Glancing at the books and practice sheets on the desk, she asked, “Eckart, were you practicing ancient script?”

“Yes!” Eckart replied enthusiastically.

“I need to have an important talk with Isabel. Is it alright if I take her away for a bit?”

Eckart pouted slightly as he looked at Isabel, but then he nodded. He had become so attached to his sister that from the moment he woke up, he followed her everywhere, like a little shadow.

Sienna took Isabel with her and led her to another room. After dismissing the maids, she took Isabel’s hand and gently turned it over to reveal her palm.

Isabel tried to pull her hand back in surprise, but the bandaged wound on her palm was already visible.

“Isabel, how did this happen?” Sienna asked.

“I fell,” Isabel replied quickly.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes.”

Sienna studied her daughter’s expression, noticing her usual stubbornness. She knew that pressing further wouldn’t yield an honest answer.

“Sir Kali came to see me,” she said.

Isabel’s eyes flickered with unease.

“It wasn’t Sir Kali’s fault!” Isabel quickly exclaimed.

“But Sir Kali believes he should be punished,” Sienna replied calmly.

“Mother, please don’t punish him. It wasn’t his fault.”

“Then you’ll have to tell me the truth about what happened.”

Isabel hesitated before finally speaking.

“A few days ago, I happened to see Sir Kali sparring with another knight,” she admitted.

Sienna imagined what Russ Kali’s sparring session with another knight might have been like—probably intense and chaotic.

“Were you disappointed?” Sienna asked.

“Yes.”

Sienna was about to defend Russ, but Isabel’s next words surprised her.

“I thought Sir Kali was just teaching me like it was a game. He always praised me and never scared me.”

“So?”

“I told him that if he didn’t teach me seriously, I would hate him.”