NoGift

Chapter 12: visiting the royal palace

ARGENT, together with her sister and their mother, was sitting inside a luxurious carriage. They were on their way to the royal palace. After that incident in the forest two days ago, they finally received a reply from the palace regarding her and Aurum's temporary move to Amexem. The king wanted to personally see them, to make sure that Aurum was really not as unstable as before.

Argent guessed that the king was worried that Aurum might lose control of her Mana in a foreign country. Aurum was still an aristocrat and belonged to one of the oldest families in Albion. If she accidentally killed a civillian while they were there, it will definitely incite an international incident involving two powerful countries. Although Amexem was a fairly new country compared to Albion, its power cannot be underestimated. So Argent understood that this meeting was really necessary.

She looked outside the carriage's window, suddenly remembering something. The bracelet that she used to stop the rampage of that second prince's Mana. According to that prince, the bracelet broke. But when she searched the room where he stayed in, she didn't find any broken pieces. Even if it was broken by his ice Gift, then she should have found at least an ice fragment in the room. Which meant he lied to her and kept the bracelet with him.

If that prince found talented alchemists, he could mass produced that bracelet. He could even make modify it according to his liking. Was that his purpose for lying? Well, whatever. As long as he wouldn't pull her and her family into his scheme, then he could do whatever he wanted. But if he indeed tried to implicate her and her family in some way, then she could only retaliate in return.

Soon, they saw a high castle wall. As the castle gates opened, the carriage traveled on a long driveway. At the end of the driveway was a beautiful white castle. If Argent could describe it in a much simpler way, then she could compare it to the castle logo of that famous film company in her original world. The carriage stopped. One of the grooms that came with them opened the door of the carriage and helped her and Aurum come down. Their mother shortly followed.

Argent looked around and saw many royal guards wearing red uniforms. She felt a warm hand on her shoulder. She looked up to her mother, holding both hers and Aurum's shoulders.

"Are you both nervous?" Anthea asked.

Argent shook her head. But Aurum lowered hers. She immediately noticed that so she reached out to her and held her hand. "Don't worry. Mother and I are here. We won't let anything happen to you."

Aurum turned to her brother. She's not really worried that something might happen to her. She's worried that she would do something that could prevent them from going to Amexem. Argent would never suggest to go to a far-off place like that just because she wanted to get away from those school bullies. There's definitely a different reason why her brother wanted to go there. If this was important to her brother, then she wouldn't do anything to mess this up.

She took a deep breath and calmed herself down. She smiled at her brother. "Okay, Brother."

Anthea looked at her twins and couldn't help but smile. "Come on, let's go."

Two royal courtiers greeted them and led them inside. When they went inside, Argent was not that surprise by the extravagance of the interior. She would be more surprise if the inside of this huge castle was not as glamorous as the outside.

"Lady Hanover, the queen wishes to have tea with you. So if you could please follow me," one of the courtiers suddenly said.

Anthea wrinkled her brows. That haughty queen wanted to have tea with her? That's probably the funniest joke she'd heard in a while. It's well known to all that the queen doesn't like her because of her origin. She wouldn't take the initiative to have tea with her. Unless the king asked her to. Which was probably the case. This could only mean that the king wanted to talk to her daughters alone. Her brows wrinkled even more at the thought of that.

"I'm sorry, but please tell the queen that I have to accompany my children to meet the king. I could have tea with her anytime she wants after that."

"Forgive me, Lady Hanover, but I'm afraid I must insist," said the courtier again.

"It's okay, Mother. We'll be fine," Argent interrupted.

Argent already guessed what's happening. The king probably wanted to talk alone to her and her sister without their mother guiding them. Or maybe he just wanted to see if Aurum was functionally stable. But whatever the case, they needed to get his approval so they could leave for Amexem. So they might as well get this over with.

"Are you sure?" Anthea asked, still worried.

"Yes. I'll take care of Aurum."

"And I'll take care of Brother," Aurum seconded.

Anthea showed a helpless smile, her worry decreasing. "Okay."

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The twins entered the throne room. Guards were neatly lined up at both sides of the room. And at the end of the room, a man was sitting on an elegant chair. He has icy blue hair and a pair of pale blue eyes. On top of his head was a golden crown encrusted with jewels. There was a gentle smile on his face. But his eyes contained a certain kind of ruthlessness that his smile couldn't hide.

This was the king of Albion. Arthur Friedrich di Albion.

Argent was kind of surprise when she saw the king. Because he looked like the much older and mature version of the second prince. The only difference was he doesn't have that iceberg like temperament of his son. Instead he has a warm and gentle temperament.

She and Aurum walked towards the king. She bowed and Aurum curtsied. "Your Majesty," they both greeted.

"Lord Hanover, Lady Aurum, welcome," the king greeted back.

Arthur looked at the two children in front. The boy with silver hair has eyes filled with indifference. As if he doesn't care about anything. Arthur raised one of his brows. It has been a while since he last saw this young Duke of Hanover. But from what he could remember, this boy was shy and timid. He was disappointed that the son of the former duke turned out to be like that. Not only was he a NoGift, he didn't even have a noble temperament. But it looked like that was not the case now.

Interesting.

The golden haired girl was more beautiful than a delicate flower. No one could see how dangerous she was. When he found out that she has an SS level Gift, he was quite ecstatic. He plan to betroth his heir to her. She has the family background to marry into the royal family. But then, three years ago, that incident happened. Which temporarily hindered his plan. No matter how powerful she was, it's no use if she couldn't control it. But looking at her now, he can't even feel a bit of Mana flow in her body. Proving she could now control her Gift. Excellent. Maybe he could proceed with that betrothal plan after all.

He smiled at them. "Your mother said that you wanted to study in Amexem. May I know the reason why? Expecially when you could get the best education here."

"I want to have a good school environment for me and my sister. And no offense, Your Majesty, but we won't be able to find it here. As you know, our reputation is not exactly the best. No matter where we study in this kingdom, that reputation will follow us. It won't help my sister's psychology. I'm sure you understand, Your Majesty," Argent said calmly.

Sure enough, this kid did change. And for the better it seemed. "I do understand. Very well. Seven years. That's enough time for the both of you to finish your primary education. Then you must come back. After all, you're a duke of this kingdom. You have to fulfill your responsibility. To parliament and also to the people living in your estates."

Seven years. That's enough time. "I understand. Thank you, Your Majesty."

"Now that's settled, can I talk to Lady Aurum alone?" the king asked, smiling at them.

It was clearly a gentle smile, but Argent felt like she was looking at a smiling fox that was up to no good. She turned to her sister, silently asking her with her eyes if she'd be fine talking to the king alone.

"I'll be fine, Brother," Aurum said, seemingly able to understand her.

"Okay, I'll wait for you outside," Argent said when she saw the determination in her sister's eyes. She turned to the king and bowed before walking outside the throne room.

She just went outside when her eyes met another pair of pale blue eyes. It was the second prince, standing just outside the throne room.

Winter felt an inexplicable joy when he saw Argent, but that joy didn't show on his face one bit. He still looked cold and expresionless. He knew that her father would be talking to the Blackbournes today. That's why when he heard that they're already here, he immediately rushed to the throne room. And now he's staring at the silver haired boy that's been hounding his thoughts for the past two days.

"Your Highness," Argent said with a slight bow.

"Hanover," Winter returned.

Argent didn't know why this prince was standing outside the throne room. Maybe he's planning to talk to the king or something. But since he's already here, she might as well ask her about the bracelet. "That bracelet, it didn't broke, right?"

So his lie was found out. It didn't really surprise him. Argent was really smart after all. "It didn't."

"What are you planning by keeping it?"

"Nothing," he immediately answered. He's afraid that Argent will think that he's planning something using that bracelet. "I want to keep it, just in case what happened in the forest happens again."

Well, that's reasonable. "You can have it. It will just be another favor you owe me. But just in case you're lying again, remember not to pull me or my family into anything."

"Rest assured, I won't."

"Oh, and just a little piece of advice, if you don't want to repeat what happened in the forest, try to surround yourself with people you trust."

"I plan to do just that." What happened in the forest taught Winter that lesson. "I heard you're leaving for Amexem."

When Winter found out that his father was going to talk with the Blackbournes, he learned that it was because the twins planned to study in Amexem. He didn't know what to feel when he learned that. But he suddenly felt an inexplicable lost.

"Yes, we are," Argent simply said.

"When are you going back?"

"After seven years."

After hearing that answer, Winter suddenly felt like his chest has been hollowed. "I see."

He turned around to leave. He didn't even notice how hard he clenched his fists. To the point where his knuckles whitened. And as he walked away from Argent, all he felt was... sadness.

*****

Mini-theater:

Winter: I heard you're leaving for Amexem. (Please don't say yes._ )

Argent: Yes, we are.

Winter: When are you going back? ( () )

Argent: After seven years.

Winter: I see. ( (;`) )

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