Some snow had finally appeared by the mountains early hours of the morning. Many knights were already in the fields, collecting fruits and vegetables quickly before the heavy snowfall. Every winter, the knights would collect fruits and vegetables to give out to the villagers for the three months. Despite not having snowfalls before except by the mountains, the people wanted to make sure there was enough food for them during the winters. The servants in the palace were also preparing hot and spicy soups for the villagers for the day. The villagers would collect the soups early in the morning and would take the soup home for their families as well.

  Lithanya was standing by the squared windows and watching the villagers coming into the palace premises to collect their soups. Some villagers were also in the palace to keep themselves warm by the fireplace. The villagers were allowed in the palace to spend time with the family, be in the library or to play in the gardens. There were also thirty-three servants living in the palace for many years since they had no home or family relatives.

  A servant walked into the room with her hands together. “Your majesty, I received a letter from the emperor in Meili.”, she stated.

  Lithanya looked at the servants with the corners of her eyes. “Is it another threat?”

  “Not this time.”, she stopped next to Lithanya.

  Lithanya looked at the red and white marbled envelope for a moment. She slowly took the envelope cautiously, ripped it open and pulled out a white and red patterned paper.

  Dear Princess Lithanya

  You need to attend The Investigator’s Academy on Monday. As the future empress of Mortalis and Tellus, it’s compulsory for you to attend the academy.

  Emperor Huang Shilin Xiaosheng

  Lithanya never heard about The Investigator’s Academy before. She wondered if her father attended the academy before he took the throne.

  “What’s The Investigator’s Academy?”, she asked the servant.

  “It’s an academy where people learn how to become proper investigators and they will solve cases after the finish their thirteen years of training. The academy is very selective when choosing people to become an investigator.”, she explained.

  “Is this academy in one of the four worlds?”

  “No, it’s another magical world just like Nymphaedra and Eldoria. But this world has more magical adventures and enchanted sceneries.”

  Lithanya nodded. “And I fully know that only the Nymphaedra and the Eldoria people got to the academy because it’s only open to the upper class people.”

  “That’s absolutely correct. But now Emperor Huang came up with a new rule that the first heir of all the thrones must attend the academy.”, the servant explained.

  Lithanya found that strange. “But we are part of the lower class society. Only the children from the upper class society have to attend.”, she pointed out.

  “Well, that’s what we’ve been hearing for the past few months. I didn’t believe it at first because it was a rumour. But now after you received this letter, it turned out to be true.”

  Lithanya couldn’t believe it. “And how come a public announcement wasn’t made?”, she asked a good question.

  “That’s a good question because there was no public announcement. Normally, that academy would make public announcements for everything. Unless, some in the academy has let out this information to someone and started spreading it.”, the servant made a good point.

  Lithanya nodded then saw Yaithra walking into the room. “Are you ready to go?”

  “Yes.”

  Lithanya slotted the paper in the envelope then walked to the doors. The servant followed behind her to escort the sisters to the entrance.

  Two purple and green carriages were waiting by the entrance. Ashok and Harina Manrayar, his wife, came out of the building together. They were travelling on their own carriages. The twins came out of the building followed by Yaithra and Lithanya. The siblings were travelling in their own carriage. One knight by each carriage opened the door for the family and one sibling walked into the carriage one at a time. Ashok allowed Harina to walk into the carriage first. Once the family sat properly and were comfortable, the doors were closed then the carriages started moving slowly to the gates.

  Lithanya looked at the twins and they still weren’t looking impressed. “Ladies…”, she decided to have a conversation to make them less bored. “Have you heard about The Investigator’s Academy?”

  “You mean the academy is filled with the upper class spoiled and entitled people?”, Eyana didn’t pull any punches.

  Lithanya inhaled and exhaled to remain calm. “Yes.”

  Yaithra joined in. “The reason only the upper class people were selected in the academy is because they’re born with powers.”, she answered then looked at Lithanya. “That’s unlike you to talk about the academy?”

  “Actually, I received a letter from Emperor Huang that I need to be at the academy on Monday. It’s compulsory for me to attend the academy since I’ll be the future empress.”, she explained.

  Her siblings didn’t believe her at all. “Are you sure that you read the letter properly?”, Roja asked.

  Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

  Lithanya pulled out the envelope and handed it to the twins. Roja took it and pulled out the paper. “That’s unlike them to select you in the academy because you aren’t born with powers.”, Yaithra mentioned.

  Lithanya didn’t know how to answer right now. The twins finished reading the letter. “That’s really strange.”, Eyana couldn’t believe the letter.

  “Apparently, Emperor Huang put a new rule in place that the first heir of all the thrones must attend as a requirement. That includes Tellus and Mortalis.”, Lithanya explained.

  Yaithra shook her head. “I don’t believe that this letter will come from the academy. If it’s true that this new rule then there’s more to this rule. I don’t trust that academy.”, she said firmly to Lithanya.

  “I’ll talk to pa about this, just to be safe.”, Lithanya said to ease the tension.

  Roja handed the envelope back to Lithanya. Lithanya took the envelope and placed it back in her dress by her chest. The sisters started talking about this hideous banquet they had to attend tonight.

  ____________

  The Manrayar family had arrived in a palace premises in Quintara next to Vacanta. Ashok was talking to the main butler while Harina and her daughters were standing together, looking at the massive light blue building. They noticed many changes on the building, including an extra part of the building. Every year they came to visit, this palace had been getting bigger and bigger.

  The butler let his hand out, indicating that the family was allowed in the palace. Ashok called his family and they followed behind him. As they were walking up the waxed granite stairs, the butler greeted them and they greeted him back. Then they walked into a room filled with luxury ornaments and interior design. There were also many changes in the palace like brand new furniture that were made with the finest resources and shiny golden paint.

  “This king really loves to spend his money on unnecessary items.”, Yaithra whispered to the twins.

  “I know.”, they answered.

  The family stopped by the chairs when they saw a young man standing by the top step. He had a bright smile on his fair skinned face. “Ashok, long time no see.”, he walked down the stairs.

  “King Erick Louis Silverstone. I see you’ve made so many changes in the palace.”, Ashok mentioned.

  Erick stopped in front of him. “You know I must make changes in my palace every five years.”, he said.

  “More like every year.”, Eyana spat softly.

  Harina heard that but she remained silent because Eyana wasn’t wrong. Ashok smiled and moved away to show his family to Erick. Harina appeared with a smile. “Hello, Erick. How are the children?”, she asked.

  “Excellent. One will be expecting a child soon.”, Erick answered with some excitement.

  Roja came closer to Lithanya. “We don’t need to know which one is expecting the child.”

  Lithanya remained silent while looking at Erick. Erick looked at the daughters. “You ladies still look the same from the last time I saw you.”, he smiled.

  The twins felt flattered by his comment. His main focus went to Lithanya who was now busy looking at the paint. Then he looked back at the others. “Please follow me.”, he said and walked up the stairs.

  The family followed him to their rooms with the butlers carrying the boxes to the rooms.

  Everyone had their own rooms except for Ashok, Harina, Lithanya and Yaithra. Lithanya and Yaithra were standing in the middle of the room.

  “Even the rooms are changed.”, Yaithra mentioned.

  Lithanya fully agreed while looking at the new interior designs. Someone knocked by the door and it was Erick. “Ladies, are you enjoying the new design of the rooms?”

  They looked at him. “Yes, thank you.”, they answered together.

  Lithanya started talking. “You’ve connections with the emperor of Nymphaedra and Eldoria. What’s going on in the academy?”

  He walked further into the room. “What do you mean?”

  “Apparently, the academy made a new rule that the first heir of all the thrones must attend the academy. Including from Tellus and Mortalis.”

  “Oh yes, because Emperor Huang is starting to build an army in case of unforeseen events like war. He doesn’t want another repetition of that catastrophic war. ”, he explained.

  “But why do I’ve to attend when I’m not born with powers?”, she mentioned.

  “Because you’re still the future empress at the end of the day. Not only the emperor and empress have to attend, the kings’ first children as well. But you’ll do fine in the academy since you’re known for being powerful in terms of fighting techniques.”, Erick tried to cheer her up.

  “The problem is that our people will have to put up with those nasty and entitled spoiled children from Nymphaedra and Eldoria. Not to mention that upper class and lower class societies aren’t supposed to be together.”, Lithanya was having a slight meltdown

  Erick still tried to calm her down. “I know the people of Nymphaedra and Eldoria hate us so much. But you go there to earn the title of an investigator in order to become the empress. Anyway, please get ready for dinner. Don’t forget to tell your father about this.”, Erick said then walked out of the room.

  Lithanya looked at Yaithra with so much confusion and some irritation. Eventually, she left it and went to the bathroom to get ready for dinner.

  As usual, the dinner was so boring because no one was allowed to talk during dinner. That also meant break, lunch and tea. Erick and Ashok were in the sitting room, having a few glasses of brandy. They were also waiting for Lithanya because they were going to have an important discussion with her. Lithanya appeared by the door and knocked gently to grab their attention.

  “Come in, Lithanya.”, Erick answered.

  Lithanya walked into the room. “I heard that you received a letter from Emperor Huang about attending the academy.”, Ashok mentioned and raised a brow.

  She took a deep breath and let it out. “Yes.”, she answered.

  “What do you think about the letter?”

  “I don’t know how to respond to this”, she answered.

  “How come?”, Ashok asked.

  “Because the academy didn’t make a public announcement about it. They might have been very secretive about it and there is more to this new rule than just making it compulsory for the lower class people to be part of this. They want the first heir of all the thrones to attend.”, Lithanya explained.

  Erick joined. “But I told you not to worry about it. Just go to the academy to get the knowledge and the title in order to become an empress. Don't worry about the Nymphaedra and Eldoria people.”

  “I don’t think it’ll benefit her because they’ll probably treat the lower class people badly. Not to mention that we’ve a terrible relationship with Emperor Huang. I don’t think it would make things better.”, Ashok defended Lithanya.

  Erick fully understood Ashok's concern. “Then why don’t you pay Emperor Huang a visit about this?”, Erick suggested.

  Ashok looked at the white and golden marbled granite table. He didn’t know how he felt about this because he hadn’t seen Emperor Huang for many years. He and Emperor Huang had a terrible relationship that Ashok didn’t want to have any communication with Emperor Huang.

  “I’ll think about it.”, Ashok said.

  Erick nodded, then looked at Lithanya. “You can go back to your room.”

  She acknowledged then walked to the door, heading back to her room. Ashok and Erick continued talking but they were talking about a different topic.