Chapter 55

55 Dazzle.

Azula screamed, “Be careful.”

The value of this drop of blood was the most important object for her. As the vial of glass was falling to the ground, it seemed like her heart will break with the vial. Valerian reacted quickly, he cast a spell, ‘Flos Flore.’

All of a sudden, flowers bloomed below the falling glass vial, creating a dense thick bed of flowers. Valerian reacted quickly and picked up the glass vial, Azula rushed to his side and carefully checked the vial. Then she turned and sighed, “Phew, thankfully it is fine.”

Valerian handed the glass vial to the princess, and when everyone thought that things will be fine now, the man in the green tunic said, “Boy, what were you trying to do? Do you know how important that vial is?”

Valerian cast a few signs, saying, ‘You flinched not me. Are you trying to blame me for all this? How very sleek of you?’

Azula gazed at the man and said, “Attendant Ordo, I hope you do not blame anyone indiscriminately.”

Ordo bowed his head and said, “Your Highness, I speak the truth, this boy is framing me.”

The people were not fools. They have all known Ordo bullying people around the palace, throwing around his weight by posing as the Emperor’s attendant. He would often harass people in secret, acting as if he was the emperor, however, people kept quiet because the Emperor had complete trust in this guy.

Ordo was said to have been groomed by the Emperor himself ever since the latter was just a prince. But they did not think Ordo will dare to play such a trick with the glass vial today. Azula frowned, she said, “Your Excellency, can you say a few words?”

.....

The emperor was already frowning, he was not a fool to miss out on the things that were happening around him. However, as a wise ruler, he understood the need to close one eye and open the other. He knowingly said, “Valerian, you have solved the crisis as soon as you have stepped inside the palace. I allow you to make a demand. I will fulfill it regardless.”

Valerian nodded and said instantly, ‘I want him to apologize to me.’

The people were not surprised, they all understood that Valerian was not a simple child. Ordo sneered and wanted to say something when the smile on his face froze. The Emperor said, “Ordo, apologize.”

Ordo turned to look back at the emperor, he did not expect such a thing to fall on his head. He was the right hand of the Emperor, yet he was suddenly asked to apologize to a boy, who had just come into the palace for a few minutes. His pride did not allow him to bend his back.

He glared at the child and Valerian gazed back at him. Initially, Ordo wanted to suppress this kid, he was the head attendant, and just wanted to scare this boy, however, for the first time, someone countered him without caring about his identity. This was why the conflict escalated, usually, the people would retreat before he even started to attack them but this kid.

Azula looked at the attendant and asked, “Attendant Ordo, did you not listen to His Excellency?”

Ordo closed his eyes and gnawed on his teeth. He had never felt such humiliation. After thinking of something, he bowed slightly and said, “I apologize to you, Valerian.”

The child nodded and simply turned back to look at the Flame Swallow. He tweeted, ‘You can leave now.’

The beast tweeted to him in thanks and then to her child. The smaller bird tried to flutter his wings but it could not just take off. Valerian said, ‘Let me give you some wind.’

Under the gaze of everyone, he walked closer to the smaller bird, and standing next to him he cast a spell, ‘Gustus.’

A gust of wind blew against the smaller bird, and it spread its wings. Following his instincts, the bird fluttered and flew. The big bird also took off after him, the two flew away slowly. Then he said, ‘Your Highness, it is time to treat Her Excellency.’

Azula nodded and said to her father, “Your Excellency, I would like to take a step ahead.”

The Emperor nodded and Azula took Valerian along with her. While he went back to the court to attend to some matters. Ordo followed him but his gaze was flickering with hatred. He wanted to shred Valerian to pieces.

...

Azula said, “You made a lot of mistakes today. Do you know what they were?”

Valerian nodded and replied, ‘Revealed my dual elements. Let go of the birds without asking His Excellency. Asked the head attendant to apologize.’

Azula shook her head and said, “In order to get the resources that you need, it was wise to reveal the two elements to show that you have some capital. The birds were fine to let go as my father has already promised you. It was fine to have Ordo apologize to you.

However, the manner you did all these things was too firm. You understand that, do you not? If you had taken an approach of asking and listening to commands, then you would have made no mistakes. It seems like you need to train in the art of language.”

Valerian nodded and replied, ‘You are indeed correct. Diplomacy is an art that can help you get a lot of things.’

Azula chuckled, “See, the art of language in your mouth becomes Diplomacy.”

Valerian realized the difference, then he said, ‘What is done is done, I will pay more attention in the future.’

Azula nodded and the two reached the bedroom of the Empress. The warrior guard knocked at the door and said, “Your Excellency, Her Highness Azula has come back.”

“Let her in.”, replied the soft voice inside.

Inside the room, Fragrantia was getting feeling a little uneasy. After all, she had not felt such tension in years. On one hand, she wanted the people to succeed while on the other hand, she was worried about the temper of the beast. Just when she was thinking, the door was knocked and the guards informed her about Azula’s arrival.

Although she allowed her to come in, she was very anxious. The door pushed open and Azula walked into the room holding a big Vial. Valerian followed behind her with a big pail of water in his hands. They made a small stop at the kitchen earlier.

Fragrantia asked, “What happened, Azula?”

The princess replied, “We got it, mother. We got it.”

Empress was surprised and she could not speak a single word. She gazed at her daughter standing in front of her, holding a big vial with a stain of red at the end. Valerian walked around them and then he placed the pail of water on the table. He looked at the shocked Empress and smiled.

He waved at the Princess who nodded and opened the vial. She was about to tilt it when Valerian shook his head. He said, ‘It is just one drop, if we try to take it out then it will cover the glass walls and we will have even less.’

Azula nodded and asked, “What to do then?”

The boy smiled and said, ‘Back in the orphanage, if I had less curry to eat, Mother Diligentia would add some warm water to it. I think we should pour the water inside the vial and then pour it back into the pail.’

Azula nodded and said, “You are very smart, Valerian.”

Valerian smiled faintly and bowed, ‘I am obliged, Your Grace.’

They have forgotten that the empress was sitting on the side, Valerian poured the water carefully into the vial held by Azula. The princess then gave it a shake and then poured the water back into the pail.

She said, “Mother, wash your face now.”

Her voice was extremely soft. Fragrantia woke up from her stupor, and she leaned over the pail, in the ruby-red water, she could see a vague reflection of her disfigured face. Let alone others even though she did not want to see herself like this, but she was an Empress, and she had to lead by example.

Fragrantia would always confront herself by the gazes of others, that was why she would meet all the servants who came inside the palace. Those who knew how to restrain their disgust, only they were allowed to stay in the palace.

Thinking about how she can finally get back to her old self, she could not help but recall it all. Her eyes were red, and Azula said, “Mother, you are very brave, please do not cry.”

She did not want to say that the drop of tear might contaminate the blood water. The empress did not wait for anything and bent down, she dipped her face inside the pail of water, soaking it completely. Her face burned from the contact of water with her wounds.

However, soon, it was replaced with a mild warmth.

...

After an hour, the door of the room was pulled open from the inside, and a tall figure walked out, dressed in white and blue, dazzling the guards outside.