The Princess' Harem
Chapter 160: An Empire Royal Summons

Chapter 160: An Empire Royal Summons

Rayne leaned forward slightly, placing his teacup carefully on the table.

"I am their sole heir, so they have always guided my path, expecting my obedience. But this... this is different."

A spark, defiant and resolute, lit his eyes. "I am prepared to challenge them on this."

***

The hushed words of their discussion had barely faded into their sudden silence after hearing Prince Rayne’s confession, when a sudden, urgent commotion erupted at the palace’s grand entrance.

Heavy and hurried footsteps echoed through the quiet halls. A guard, breathless and flushed, appeared at the salon door.

"Your Highnesses! A royal messenger from Valendale, arrived with utmost urgency!" he announced, his voice strained. "He carries a direct Imperial Decree for Crown Prince Rayne."

Ryane’s face, already serious, tightened further. He already expected his parents would ask him to go back, but not this fast.

He exchanged a quick, meaningful glance with Viana. This was it, the immediate consequences of the banquet, the direct impact of their audacious announcement. He rose, moving through the salon with a quiet anticipation.

The messenger, a high-ranking official from the Imperial Court, was ushered in. His uniform, though formal, was rumpled from the relentless journey, his face etched with fatigue.

He carried a scroll, its crimson seal unbroken, bearing the intricate crest of Valendale. He knelt, presenting it to Rayne with trembling hands.

Rayne broke the seal with a decisive snap. His eyes scanned the precise script, his expression hardening with each line. The message was indeed brief, but its command left no room for argument.

Rayne was to return to Valendale, with Princess Viana, immediately. To explain everything, to justify this unexpected, unprecedented engagement. The Imperial parents, clearly, were not pleased.

"As I expected," Rayne murmured, his voice low, almost to himself. He met Viana’s eyes, a silent understanding passing between them. This was it, the moment of reckoning.

Preparations began with a quiet, yet intense frenzy. There was no time for lavish farewells, no space for grand ceremonies. A small, elite retinue was assembled, chosen for their discretion and efficiency.

Rayne, naturally, would lead. Viana, as the newly announced fiancée, must accompany him. Joel and Reyes would go too, their presence vital for her safety and counsel. Sina and Cooper would also come along, Viana would like to show one of the four empires in the continent.

Arden, however, would remain in Elysia. He was desperately needed there, to manage Viana’s duties in her absence, to maintain the stability of the kingdom, and to prepare for Lazarus’s next move.

"Keep Elysia secure, Arden," Viana instructed, her voice firm, despite the apprehension coiling in her stomach. She stood before him in the palace courtyard, early in the morning, on the day of their departure. "Trust no one beyond our circle, truly. Send word immediately if anything changes, anything at all, no matter how small it seems."

Arden nodded, his face serious, acknowledging the immense responsibility. "Your Highness, I will. Elysia will be safe, please reassure. May your journey be swift, and your words persuasive, for both our sakes."

The small group gathered quickly. Their traveling clothes, horses, supplies, were prepared swiftly. The palace staff moved with hushed reverence, sensing the profound importance of this sudden departure. No one spoke, but the tension was palpable.

Bertina and the combined armies of the two kingdoms’s Royal Guards were already settling, waiting near their horses to depart.

Viana felt a complex mix of anxiety and grim determination. She would step into the heart of the neighbouring empire of Rayne’s powerful family, armed only with a hastily constructed lie, a fragile pretense of love.

She looked at Rayne, who stood beside his horse, giving last-minute instructions to a stablehand. His hand reached for hers, a silent promise of support.

"Ready, Princess?" he asked, his voice low.

"As I’ll ever be," Viana replied, a small, forced smile on her lips, masking the butterflies in her stomach. She swung herself gracefully onto her horse, and the others mounted quickly, ready for the arduous journey ahead.

***

The journey to Valendale was swift, a grueling, nonstop ride that blurred days into a continuous rush of wind and pounding hooves. They rode hard, barely stopping for rest, urged by the unspoken urgency of the summons.

Viana, though physically weary, used the time to mentally rehearse conversations, to brace herself for the inevitable scrutiny of the Emperor and Empress. She discussed strategies with Rayne, Joel, and Reyes, solidifying their story, anticipating every possible question, planning their responses with meticulous detail.

Sina and Cooper, offered insights or offered quiet encouragement to Viana when her resolve wavered.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity of relentless travel, the majestic spires of Valendale’s Imperial City rose into view on the distant horizon. The capital was a breathtaking sight, a testament to the empire’s immense power and boundless wealth.

Its white walls and its great gates, dwarfed their small party, making them feel insignificant.

As they rode through the bustling streets, the sheer scale of Valendale’s might was evident at every turn. Soldiers in polished, gleaming armor stood guard in the corners, merchants hawked their wares with echoing calls through the thoroughfares, and nobles in rich silks swept past in elaborate carriages.

It was a stark contrast to Elysia’s more modest, war-torn capital. Viana felt a pang, sudden vulnerability, an acute awareness of how much Elysia needed this alliance.

The Imperial Palace of Valendale was even more imposing than its city, a marble fortress and towering column, its grandeur overwhelming. They were ushered directly to the Grand Audience Hall, a vast, echoing chamber where light streamed through magnificent stained-glass windows depicting Valendale’s glorious history. The scent of polished wood and ancient stone, giving the vibrantness of an old power.

At the far end of the hall, on a raised dais, sat the Emperor Magnus and Empress Isolde. Magnus was a formidable man, his face stern. His eyes, the same piercing blue as Rayne’s, held an immense, unsettling power. Isolde, equally regal, possessed a quiet grace, a dignified bearing, but her gaze was sharp, taking in every detail.

Beside them stood Lady Agnes, her expression a careful mask of polite curiosity, though her eyes held a spark of veiled resentment as they landed on Viana.

Raynes stepped forward first, bowing deeply. "Father, Mother. I have returned, as commanded."

Viana followed, executing a perfect, graceful curtsy. "Your Imperial Majesties. It is an honor to stand before you."

The Emperor’s gaze was piercing and accessing her. The Empress, however, rose from her throne, a gentle smile gracing her lips. She descended a few steps, her silken robes rustling softly.

She reached Viana first, her hands reaching out, taking Viana’s in a warm, surprising embrace.

"My dear Princess Viana," Empress Isolde said, her voice soft, yet rich with authority. "We are so delighted to meet you again. Rayne has always spoken about you all the time, truly."

The Empress’s embrace was genuinely warm, her touch kind and comforting. Viana felt a flicker of relief, a loosening of the tension in her shoulders. But as the Empress pulled back, Viana caught a brief spark of hesitation, quickly masked by her serene smile.

Then, Emperor Magnus spoke, his voice booming slightly in the vast hall. "Princess Viana," he said, his gaze fixed on her, unwavering. "This is indeed... an unexpected turn of events. But one, we trust, that will prove beneficial to both our great nations, in time."

His words were formal and measured, but the underlying question in his tone was clear. A quiet challenge.

Empress Isolde gently squeezed Viana’s hands. "We understand the urgency of recent events in Elysia. And your presence here, now, is a welcome one, indeed."

She paused, her gaze holding Viana’s. "Indeed, Princess. We would like to request that you remain in Valendale for quite some time. To become truly acquainted with our customs, our people. And to allow us to begin preparations, proper preparations, for this momentous union."

The request hung in the air, seemingly benign, yet heavy with unspoken implications. It wasn’t just an invitation—it felt like a polite detention. A chance to scrutinize her, to understand the woman who had so unexpectedly altered their son’s future, the only heir to their power.

Viana’s heart, which had just begun to ease, now tightened once more. The true explanation was about to begin. And Viana knew, with a certainty that chilled her, that it would be a very long, and a very difficult process.

Just as the Emperor finished speaking, a new wave of commotion rippled through the grand hall. Guards at the main entrance stiffened, and a familiar voice cut through the quiet tension.

"Your Imperial Majesties! My deepest apologies for this unannounced arrival, truly!" King Clive of Elysia entered the hall, his pace urgent, and his regal robes sweeping behind him.

Beside him, Queen Isabella, her face etched with worry but her posture firm, followed close.

Their unexpected appearance caused a flurry among the courtiers, murmurs echoing through the vast space.

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