Age of Heroes (Age of Heroes Chronicles)

Chapter 492: The war of two flowers i

ARRANDY

ACRO

The bird chirping can be heard in the garden. It was spring in Arrandy. 

The beautiful flower that is arranged in the garden could be enjoyed, the layout was inspired by the Eastern land landscaping, and making anyone who is walking in these gardens feels refreshed.

The wind blows gently and the flowers blooms. It was spring. It was the most favourite season for the Imperial Sister and a season where love blooms and new beginnings.

The Garden of Flowers. 

The most beautiful garden in all of Arrandy.

It would be hard to find any other garden as grand or as beautiful as this garden which combined all that is beautiful and divine.

The rare flowers in it, the positioning of the square, of the rest area, the nature where the garden were built, the lake that run around the garden, the lush old trees and the healthy green grass, almost like symbolizing the abundance of life in this garden.

It was even said to rival the Imperial Garden in Eden.

The garden was in construction during Empress Helia pregnancy and finished during the Emperor victory at Eden.

But since it was completed the Emperor has never set foot in it, and so does his daughter since they live in Eden now. 

But now in the garden, on the marble table on the center of the garden enclosed by hundreds of flowers of every kind, emitting smell that is not only pleasant but relaxing, sit two men and a girl.

The girl that is sipping Loreleian tea is refined and graceful.

Her eyes blue like the sky, her hair white as the snow, her face was flawless and her movement shows that she is highly educated in the noble etiquette. 

Her face was not the kind that could topple kingdom but the kind of face that made everyone wanted to approach her, giving her the aura of familiarity, one could not help but smile at her and remember her good manners. 

She was noble yet not ostentatious, no pride could be seen from her. She has this kind of charm that made people instantly like her.

Sitting beside her, smiling with a charming smile was a comely young man and of dashing appearance. 

With jet black hair combed perfectly and attire that was so perfectly donned, there is no doubt in anyone mind that this young man comes from noble blood. 

Son of high lords and ladies. 

The young man himself is also enjoying the scenery not speaking a word, just looking at the other man, looking at the other man like he is seeing some exciting development.

He did not say anything…but there is mischievousness in the eyes of the young man…mischievousness and a hint of distrust. 

This other man is taller than both the girl and the man, but lanky and thin, almost like if the wind blew him he would be taken by it. 

With eyes that shows mischievousness and a face that rarely betrays the master emotions, the man does not appear the kind of man you could trust. 

Even his smile could be said revolting. Yet the lady clearly did not mind. And if she did mind, she did not show it.

So did the dashing young man. Instead they are waiting for the man to speak. The thin man clear his throats and then he said.

'My lady' the thin man said. The woman nodded acknowledging giving permission for him to continue.

'It is only right for you to be the Regent. I would gladly bestow the title to you thus releasing me from this great burden.' The man said smiling all the time but none of his smile managed to disarm the guard the girl put in her mind. 

She will not be fooled by smiles that hide blades.

'Lord Regent' the girl said. Clearly there is anger in her voice.

'You dragged me into this pointless argument. This is your personal war with Lord Oliver. Do not think I'm some kind of stupid girl who do not hear whispers. You have your little snakes slithering around the Imperial palace; don't you think I have my own little birds flying around?'

The Lord Regent smiles. 

Silas of House Perigord. The regent of the Empire, the most powerful man in the whole empire since the Emperor disappearance.

Since raven was sent from the sea from Mikael informing of the emperor disappearance at the sea, Silas has been sending a secret expedition to the new world to seek the emperor.

The vassal who does not know anything is restless, that who knows something is scheming, the enemies of the empire prays that the Emperor dies in his voyage, while its allies is making contingencies plan. 

The fragile peace the emperor has built is in the verge of breaking.

Silas look at the young girl in front of her and he sees the fire that exists in her brother. Dragons will always be dragons he reminded himself.

'Matters have escalated.' He began 

'The church has declared for your niece. The South comes forth under her banner. I was evicted from my home in Rome. I no longer have influence in the Imperial Palace. It is taken hold by Oliver and his faction. You can't stay out of this any longer. And I can no longer protect you from the shadows. The throne….is on the line. The game has begun.'

Adriana looks at Silas with her piercing blue eyes. 

She glares at him, and for a moment Silas feel his heart jolted. If stares could kill, he would be lying dead here now. 

It is clear that Adriana did not like him. She didn't even trust him. And it is understandable. He is not the most upstanding citizens the Empire has. 

But a job is a job.

He promises the Emperor he would take care of his empire. Adriana then said.

'You insist on putting me on this warpath with my own niece, Silas? Even though this is a war between Old Nobles and the New Nobles? These factions in my royal brother court, it seems it has grown arrogant!' She said with venomous tone.

'My brother is still alive.' She then said.

'Yet you are all busy picking an heir to the empire. Do you not have faith?'

Silas nodded his head.

'I have faith. And Lord Oliver too. Ironically, we both believe the emperor is alive and well. And more ironic is we both want the empire to be safe and well. The only difference is...is our approach to achieving that objective. Lord Oliver believes that by maintaining the status quo, peace could be achieved.'

'And you?'

'I believe on the contrary. I believe progress is the answer even if that means the old noble houses should be exiled, or abolished. The Old Order has no place in your brother new world. You brother did not tear down kingdoms just to maintain the status quo. He wanted the world to change. To remake it as his own image.'

Adrianna snorted

'Since both of you and Oliver have faith for my brother, then wait for him.' She said simply saying what is on her mind.josei

Silas smiles bitterly and answer.

'Well, we may have faith but not all of us share the same belief. And not everyone is a big believer. Even now, there are people praying that your brother did not make it alive'

Then he continues speaking

'The vassal of the Imperial family, the vassal's king, the tribe of the Xenos Desert, the disgruntled conquered region of Zettel, the church, its allies. The Empire has many enemies, externally and internally. The only reason that peace was upheld was because the Emperor was there to lead us. Under him…..we were united. The kingdoms were united. The enemies could not break a united Empire'

He paused for a moment before continuing 

'But divide them? Foster suspicion? Offer a better alternative? Then the empire will face its greatest crisis yet. The Regency did not seem that important…..since we believe that the emperor will return. But not all nobles share that same conviction. It is known that the Dark Sea is full of dangers and the Sea to the New World is even so. The journey alone takes years. How long do you think before the whole world knows that the empire lacks an emperor? What the empire needs now is...a leader. What it needs now…is stability. I don't think the emperor would be happy if he returns to a fragmented empire. The Empire…. needs you. And you have an obligation to the Empire.' He ended his words and looks at Adrianna.

She did not back down instead she looks at Silas eyes trying to see falsehood and seeing nothing. She looks at her fiancée and William nodded. She continues.

'You are the regent' Adriana states coldly.