Sigil Online: I became the duke's third son
Chapter 73

Chapter 73: Chapter 73

The crimson hall of the Imperial Palace was the most important place in the Alderon empire. The true heart of the empire, where the emperor and empress issued their decrees. Beneath the imperial crest of a crimson lion, Emperor Caelius and Empress Valessia sat in thought.

Listening to the information of one of their most trusted confidants, "Your Majesty. It was incredible—not one but two powerful sigils," the confidant said, with a humble attitude.

Caelius glanced at his wife, who sat next to him; she was the brains of this empire, his first wife, and the true empress.

The empress looked at the royal guards stationed at regular intervals around the hall. All of them were wearing the imposing uniform with the large crimson lion’s crest embedded on it.

"David, go and get Liana," she ordered, her eyes cold and calculating.

David, the captain of the royal guards and one of the strongest men in the whole empire, politely bowed and quietly left the hall.

Hastily making his way through the imperial palace to Princess Liana’s quarters.

Once he arrived there, he knocked on the door twice.

Liana was seated at her desk with two of her attendants standing on each side of her, reading a book. Hearing someone knock on the door, she closed the book gracefully and nodded at one of her attendants to open the door.

After she opened the door, Liana saw David standing outside her room. "My lady, your mother has ordered you to come to the crimson hall immediately," David said, not even looking at the princess.

His humble attitude surprised Liana. ’It must be serious if even he is acting like this,’ she thought.

Without another word, Liana stood up and left the room, followed by her two attendants. "Lead the way," she said.

David nodded, and together they made their way back to where he came from.

After they arrived at the door, David opened the door and let Liana and her two attendants inside. Only after he made sure they were inside did he also enter and close the door behind him.

Liana walked with poise, her movements elegant and fluid, until she stood before her parents. With practiced grace, she knelt in front of them, her attendants mirroring her actions behind her.

Her beautiful long silver hair cascaded down her back. A determined glint sparkled in her silver eyes, a reflection of her unwavering resolve. Dressed in a glowing green gown, a stunning, graceful beauty.

"You required my presence, Mother?" she asked, not raising her head.

A smile appeared on Valessia’s face for an instant before it vanished, and the neutral look returned to her visage.

"That is correct. Liana, you will be sent to the Meskevela duchy to get engaged to Luan Meskevela, the third son of Drago Meskevela. Effective immediately!" Valessia decreed.

Caelius didn’t seem surprised at all; his face didn’t even twitch. On the other hand, the royal guards glanced at each other, uncertainty visible on their faces.

David looked at the Empress, trying to figure out the reason why she would act so hastily; normally all the Empress’s decisions were made after long discussions with the ministers. But this time she had just heard about what happened at the sigil awakening ceremony.

Liana, on the other hand, didn’t even flinch. "Understood, Mother. When do I leave?" she inquired.

Valessia looked at Caelius. "How long do the sons of the Meskevela family get sent away from home after awakening?"

"A year," he coldly replied.

Countless plans formed in Valessia’s head the instant she heard his answer, "That is too long. In half a year we will send an imperial decree ordering the immediate return of Luan Meskevela, and then, Liana, you will depart a month after that, so you have seven months to prepare everything you need."

"Understood, Mother, I will not disappoint you," she declared, raising her head and gazing right into her mother’s eyes.

Valessia shot her a small smile. "Good, failure will not be tolerated. David, take Liana back and arrange for some teachers to teach her as much as possible about manners and noble etiquette," she decreed, and with a wave of her hand, the guards opened the doors again.

David, followed by Liana and the two attendants, promptly left the crimson hall and made their way back to Liana’s quarters.

This time, however, David took it slow. "I’ll talk to the Empress Princess," David said.

"There is no need, Sir David; this is my duty as an imperial princess as well," she quietly said.

"But princess, he’s just the third son. Even though he did awaken two sigils, which is unprecedented, don’t you want to marry someone more worthy of your status?" David said, turning around and looking her straight in the eyes and holding her shoulders.

The attendants gasped, but Liana stayed calm. Peeling David’s hands off her shoulders. "Sir, behave yourself. I am about to go meet my fiancé; I can’t be having improper contact with men. As for him not being worthy, how do you know he is not? Being the third son only makes him ineligible to become the next duke," she calmly explained.

"If he marries me, he’ll become a marquis at the least. Only then will we see if he is worthy or not." After saying that, she stepped right past him with her two attendants glaring fiercely.

David stood there for a while, then he chuckled. "It seems the young lady has grown up properly," as nostalgia washed over him.

It felt like yesterday when she was still a toddler, always running around looking for attention and pulling mischievous pranks.

With a sigh he appeared in front of her once more. "Excuse my rude behavior, princess. I’ll make sure you get the best teachers so you can impress that young man," David said, with a smile on his face.

After he returned her to her quarters, he immediately left once more, going to look for the teachers the empress had ordered him to get for Liana.

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