The Princess' Choice

Dinner of stars

- Princess! For the love of God, please stop! - the desperate maid ran after Annalise who hid behind a heavy curtain.

- Princess Annalise! This is not funny! - the older maid shouted and they searched for Annalise who held her breath back with excitement.

- What is this ruckus? - a familiar voice asked and Annalise gasped softly. Her hiding place has been discovered a moment after she heard her older brother's voice.

-There you are! - he sais with a huge grin and pulled the curtains open.

- That's not fair! - Annalise scoffed and Sébastien laughed before he held her in his arms. Sébastien winked at Annalise and pinched her tiny nose.

- What should you say to the maids who were chasing and looking for you? - Annalise looked at the maids and said.

- You should have leave me alone! - Sébastien laughed.

- I'm sorry that the Princess made you all so worried! - the maids bowed deeply.

- We don't deserve your apologies your Highness! - they said in unison. Sébastien thanked them their hard work and excused themselves. Annalise was still in his arms. She looked at her strong, handsome older brother. She and Sébastien looked alike a lot, while Emmett took after their mother's appearance.

- Would it hurt you to be kinder with them? - Sébastien asked seriously and Annalise pouted.

- I don't like them. They are always scolding me and never letting me do what I want.

- Because you have duties as the Princess and you must learn the lessons. - Sébastien said while they kept walking through the corridors.

- Would it hurt them to let me play sometimes? - Annalise asked in a low voice.

- Aren't you usually hang out with them in the gardens? - she sighed.

- Whatever. It is not fair to use your power brother. - she said and Sébastien laughed.

- You caught me red handed. How did you know? - Annalise pulled her tongue at her older brother before she said.

- I'm not going to tell you, because you will pay attention from now on! - Sébastien placed a tiny kiss on Annalise's forehead and the doors opened in front of them. He put her down and only then noticed that Annalise was barefoot. Emmett noticed his brother's flushed face immediately and busted out laughing.

- What is going on? - the Emperor asked. Emmett stopped but neither of the boys could take their eyes off of Annalise's bare foot. The Emperor's eyes followed his sons glance and his eyes widened. The Empress noticed as well and just like her carbon copy, Emmett, she laughed hard as well.

- But my darling! - Emperor Johnathan said. The Empress helped Annalise to get comfortable on her chair and pat her head before she took her seat again by her husband's side.

- She is only six years old. Let the kid be Johnathan! - he shook his head in disbelief, but his eyes betrayed him. They way he always looked at Sasha showed, that he would be able to destroy everything with his own hands, if that was her desire. Only a few people knew, that the Empress was the real power behind the power of the Emperor. Sasha was the last survivor of an ancient tribe from across the Ocean. Johnathan met her when he himself was only a young man. He saved her from slave traders and made her his wife and later Empress. Thanks to Sasha, their kids inherited magical abilities. Sébastien could hear thoughts, although his ability was weak. Emmett, was born with really strong healing skills, while Annalise was gifted with the most powerful, yet unpredictable ability... Foreseeing. When they were all at the table and dinner was served, Annalise looked around anxiously.

- What is wrong sweety? - Sasha asked and Annalise looked at her mother widening her eyes like a kitten.

- I can't see my new maid. I thought she will start immediately. - she said in a low and cute voice. Emmett almost chocked on a sip of water when he heard Annalise's manipulation.

- When did I tell you this? - Emmett asked and Sébastien leaned closer to his siblings.

- What are we talking about? - he asked and their father coughed.

- Same question here. Emmett, would you mind to enlighten us with some information? - Emmett swallowed and sighed.

- Today, my knights brought a rather strange woman. She technically disarmed three mercenaries with a garbage bin top. - Sébastien started to laugh so loudly that it echoed in the dining room, while their parents stared at Emmett waiting for more.

- Annalise ran into my office while I interrogated her, and said "She wants the eternal fire" as her maid. During her interrogation many things have been revealed, which ones I would like to discuss privately with you.

- But we are privately now. - Annalise said and Sébastien caressed the top of her head.

- I believe, if Emmett doesn't want to continue now, it is something you shouldn't hear. Please, leave this to us. - Annalise crossed her arms in front of her chest.

- But she is the eternal fire! - she pouted and all the adults shared an uneasy look. They knew when Annalise talked this way, is because she had a vision, but she couldn't describe them yet. They came as a riddle and sometimes it took lots of time to understand them.

- Anna, if you finish your dinner and go to bed in time, we can discuss your maid's issue. - the Emperor said and Annalise tried to seek for some support in his brothers eyes but they agreed with their father. The rest of the dinner spent normally. After dinner a maid escorted the Princess to her chambers and once the dining room door closed Emmett sighed.

- We are all ears son. - Sasha the Empress said and Emmett told them everything. After listening to his story Sébastien hit the table with his fists.

- She saved your life and you still lock her up?! - Emmett was calmer than his brother but he felt that Sébastien was dancing on his last nerve.

- Sébastien calm down. - Sasha said and Sébastien laughed.

- When will you finally trust in Annalise's intuition? - he asked angrily and it was Johnathan's turn to hit the table.

- Silence Sébastien! If anyone, you should know the best why we are still skeptical! - Sébastien's face turned pale and he stood up from the table. Without another word he left the room shutting the door behind him. Sasha looked sadly after him and she sighed.

- Darling... You shouldn't keep blaming him for something he couldn't control. - Johnathan sat back and nodded.

- I know. But he will be the Emperor, he must learn to control himself. - Sasha hugged Johnathan's arm and they turned to Emmett. He was more fit for the throne, but it belonged to Sébastien and he was preparing for those duties all his life, while Emmett was uninterested in power.

- How will you decide Emmett? - Johnathan asked softly.

- I wanted to ask you both for the final decision to be made. - Sasha shook her head.

- You are her debtor. It is only up to you. - Emmett nodded and stood up, after a bow he left the dining room and headed back to his chambers.

- This is going to be a long night... - he murmured while he walked to his room. After a bath he was laying in his bed but couldn't fall asleep. The same thing kept repeating in front of his eyes whenever he closed them. His blurred vision becoming clear and Baron Rosario's shadow with the sword in his hand, ready for strike. Emmett thought he will die there, but the Baron did instead. Like a shadow the little mercenary came, attacked with a speed he never saw before and disappeared. Berke definitely can protect Annalise... She seems to be brave, quick witted and strong...

- Berke... What should I do with you now? - Emmett asked from himself when he heard a noise coming from outside of the castle. He looked out and saw someone climbing up to Annalise's chambers. He rushed out screaming for knights. When they arrived to the wing where Annalise's chambers were, Berke walked out of her room covered in blood. Emmett grabbed her by her hair and throw her against the wall. Before he could have shout Berke motioned to stay quiet. In his surprise, Emmett remained silent but his grip on Berke was still strong. He passed her to two knights and walked to Annalise's room. She just woke up when he entered.

- Brother... What are you doing here? - she asked rubbing her eyes. - Emmett rushed to her and while he checked Annalise for injuries, he asked.

- Did she hurt you? - Annalise looked confused.

- There was nobody here. - Emmett walked to the window and saw a body covered in sheets tainted by blood laying on the ground. He closed the window and placed a kiss on Annalise's forehead.

- Go back to sleep. - she nodded and immediately fall asleep. - Emmett ordered knights to protect the Princess and doubled the guards near her chambers, only after that, he turned to Berke.

- You have a lot to explain.