17 Duchess of Leońe (1/2)

-- Early Autumn of 1454 --

--- Lily Palace, Duchy of Leońe ---

It was a quiet afternoon in the Palace, the leaves of the trees had started to changed its colors, the leaves of the trees had started to fall into the ground one by one.

The gates of the Palace had been closed, and entrance to the Palace is strictly prohibited for now under the orders of the Duchess.

Meanwhile, the Duchess has still locked herself in her bedroom. Refusing to go outside, because she still can't get over to her grandmother's passing.

She is sitting in the far-right corner of her room. Staring at the window's overlooking the beautiful scene of the Autumn season.

”If grandmother was still here, i probably would have someone to share new memories with in these wonderful scene”

she stood up and overlooked through her window, there she could see the trees with it's leaves fall from its branches and finally fall to the ground.

There, she stood staring from her window.

She began to cry and remember more flashbacks with her grandmother,

”Ayrene look! a butterfly!”

a young and innocent-looking Ayrene had brought her attention to her grandmother,

”Where? i want to see one!”

”There is it my dear” her grandmother pointed to the butterfly

”Wow, i never had seen one before. Grandmother sure knows a lot!”

”Oh, that is natural here my dear, you see. Your grandmother takes extra care in taking care of our garden here in the Palace. So, whenever you and your cousins can play and have more fun in the garden.” Her grandmother replied,

”You're really the best grandmother!” Ayrene jumped and hugged her grandmother happily,

”Oh i love you Ayrene”

”I love you too grandmother!” she said while hugging her grandmother tightly.

Upon remembering those, tears had become uncontrollable for Ayrene to handle and she could hardly stay calm.

”Ayrene.. save Ekaterina.. an..d Kar..l”

”They... are..nt ..safe”

Ayrene suddenly remembered those words her grandmother had told her before her final moments. Ayrene was puzzled to her grandmother's request. Therefore, this left her into in deep thought.

'Why is grandmother suddenly telling me they are not safe? is it because of the Emperor? but i doubt that the two hates each other.If it isn't the Emperor, then who might possible be?'

But, she can't think of any suspect of any important person from the Empire. Ayrene had thought that Ekaterina was safe and came to a conclusion that it might be from the Kingdom of Summerwyn.

'Indeed, it might be our relatives from the Summerwyn side threatening her,'

clouds had began to form in the sky, and she began to feel lonelier. She sat near her window while witnessing the drops from the sky fall.

She suddenly became sleepy, she stood up and walked to her bed. She fell to her bead and was about to go asleep. When suddenly, numerous knocks from the door can be heard,