Chapter Text
Note: I do not own the manuha of Who Made Me A Princess. I don't own the story Who Made Me a Princess. All I own are my oc's.
Ten months later:
Aadalia let out a soft sigh as she looked outside. She was out on her balcony.
If a person walks outside of the palace, they will catch sight of a young woman sitting on the balcony with a peaceful expression. The sun rays caught in her magnificently thick, curly black hair. She appears almost godlike.
Aadalia has been out on her balcony for the past thirty minutes. Whenever a particularly stressful week, she would find herself drawn to the clean and refreshing air. It was a much different atmosphere in the Obelian court. In the court, one word to describe was stifling.
All those stares and greedy intentions-hidden behind the placid faces of the "nobility."
Looking out the window, she gazes out the balcony. She had a spectacular view of the garden outside the Imperial Palace. Aadalia created this garden personally at her charge two and half years ago with the permission of Claude.
The garden only contains one type of flower: lavender. No one knew the reason but Aadalia and one other person. Aadalia closed her eyes, thinking back to a specific time in the past.
Flashback to two and half years ago:
Aadalia was twenty years old. She has been Claude's concubine for about two years. She has developed admiration and feelings for him for several months as she works side by side with Emperor Claude due to her talent in creating successful alliances.
What made her fall in love? Aadalia had fallen in love with his care and how intricately he finishes his work. One may see his icy cold stare, Aadalia saw underneath through his piercing front and found sincerity in bringing prosperity to all his subjects in the Obelian Empire. He did not seek the glory and fame of being an emperor. He did not seek flattery or compliments from the nobility. He stood tall and firm to his beliefs.
She respected and valued him as the emperor. Soon, she wanted to know more about him as a person. Little by little, she grew closer to his majesty by striking small conversations and getting to know him.
It was not long before Claude ask questions about herself. Aadalia was thrilled. Soon, these conversations turn into a daily thing as they slowly become friends.
During their friendship, Aadalia realized how she truly feels for Claude.
Aadalia had never felt this strongly before a person. She was scared but at the same time happy. At that moment, Aadalia felt hope for the first time in her stay in the Obelian Empire.
Through her stay, she felt suffocated and trapped. The moment that she belongs to the empire, she lost a great deal. She lost her home and family that she will rarely or never seen. Her brother was now shackled as well. Her future seems so bleak.
However, with her newfound feelings and friendship, she knew not all hope was lost. She can still make new and happy memories.
Little did the emperor know, but he gave Aadalia hope and gave her the motivation. That motivation led to a positive change that spread to many individuals, families, and countries.
Emperor Claude had become the raindrop on a pond where many ripples spread. Just as ripples spread when a single raindrop falls into the water, the action of a single individual can affect others.
As she let her feelings blossomed, she took the time to gather her confidence to share her feelings with him. In Van Die Siel, people showed their emotions and feelings through a sincere display.
Aadalia wanted to show her true feelings sincerely to Claude because she knew Claude had gone through quite a lot. She decided that one of the most sincere things was to be genuine and honest.
She quickly thought of flowers. Flowers are a forever gift to everyone. Flowers may wither within days, but their intentions can last forever.
Also, flowers hold a special place in her heart. When she was a little girl, she would spend many mornings with her mother outside gardening.
Many flowers call their garden their home. The fragrant smells were welcoming, especially in the morning when the sun was low in the sky. Every morning she can hear the songs of the morning birds as the sound of chimes was mix in the scenery. Near their home, there was a babbling brook outside. One can hear the water going downstream and watering the land. It was her garden of Eden.
It was a wonderful mix of smells and sounds that can only be brought alive by mother nature.
Lastly, her mother had this special saying: "where flowers bloom, so does hope." That saying stayed within Aadalia's memories.
Therefore, she has decided to use flowers to convey her feelings by planting a garden. She has chosen it to showcase one type of flower with her own hands: lavender.
In her culture and many others, flowers hold meanings. Her favorite type of flower has been lavender as she grew up. The flower lavender symbolizes purity, devotion, and love. She truly believes that lavender represents true and first loves. She only hopes that Claude will return these feelings, or they can at least remain friends.
No matter what roadblocks she may face, she believes that love was the one force that can remove the shackles in an iron heart.
As soon as she got permission to create a garden near the Imperial Palace, she spent every spare moment she had there-planting and ensuring that the seeds will bloom into flowers.
Meanwhile, the two would still have their talks and free time together.
Aadalia purposely made sure when they have their talks were far away from the soon-to-be blooming flowers. She wanted it to be a surprise until the day the flowers blossom. Around that time, she plans to confess.
Spending time together becomes their sanctuary from the outside and stress from the nobility. It was just her and him- no knights or bodyguards.
Aadalia was one of the few people that had gained the trust of Emperor Claude. He trusted her to a high degree where he is comfortable spending time with her without his personal knight Felix.
Aadalia would create a time where they would both be free and relax with one another.
They would take turns in deciding where they would meet. Claude would often suggest in his office, so he and she can get work done as well. That action led to his work office became her work office as well.
However, when it was Aadalia's time to choose what to do. She would like to suggest different activities such as eating brunch or taking a stroll outside or inside the palace.
Aadalia would often like to take their outings outside-ensuring that Claude does not stay inside all day. Claude would always have this indifferent look when they parted ways. However, Aadalia knew that he enjoyed their outings. That was the only reason if they kept continuing spending time together. Claude was not the type of person to keep doing something if he did not enjoy or believe it was a waste of time.
Sometimes they would have brunch outside or eat in the dining room. During that time, Aadalis would fill their time with conversation and jokes that occasionally made Claude smile. However, others would see it as a smirk. However, they have serious conversations as well that may involve treaties, alliances, and bills.
More often than not, she would talk enthusiastically or tease Claude as she stared at his handsome face and catch those quick flicks of emotions as she would speak, and he would listen.
Many of the servants would often see them spending time. Many rumors spread that Aadaila may quickly become the new empress.
There were mixed reactions. Some were excited for Aadaila becoming Empress for she has brought many changes to help raise the commoners' status. She focuses on the majority of the empire, not the nobility.
However, others were not so please, due to staying firm to tradition. Others were not in favor of the idea due to her skin coloring and her heritage of Van Die Siel.
However, Aadalia was not aware of the rumors spreading in the palace. In her case, she did not spend idle talk with the servants. She would pay their respects and recognize their effort in the manor.
Another thing that she did not know was that Emperor Claude had the perfect standpoint in seeing Aadalia in her garden outside of the one many widows of the imperial palace.
Not even a week, Claude knew where Aadaila would spend her spare time. There was a window that gave the person a perfect perspective outside the imperial palace.
Occasionally, he would often see himself walking past that window throughout the day only to catch a glimpse of her.
Soon, the day will arrive at where Aadalia will show her love and sincerity to Claude. It was one of their outings. Aadalia sends him a notice to come to visit her this day, so she can show him the garden of flowers that have finally bloomed.
During that day, she had purposely chosen to wore the same white gown on the first day she arrives in the Obelian Empire.
Also, she arrived 20 minutes early. Her heart sped up as she was trying to compose herself. In her hands, she was tying a white ribbon around a bouget of lavender that came from her garden. Then, she gently placed it on a table.
She planned to greet him as always and show him that the lavender has finally sprouted. She would then discuss the symbolism of the flowers, which will lead to her confessing to him and handing the bouquet.
At last, Aadalia saw him coming. She smiled and quickly walked toward him with a big grin. Her cheeks were slightly flushed pink. He gave her a nod.
"Claude, I am so happy that you are here. I have a surprise for you," Aadalia smiled as she brushes a curl behind her ear.
Claude nodded as she gently took his hand and smiled at him as she guided him to the garden. The lavender varied from dark violet, blue, pink, and white. It was a beautiful sight. A warm breeze came, and the colors began to mix as the flowers dance. There was a gentle fragrance that surrounded them.
"There is only lavender," Claude stated as his eyes fixated on the flowers.
"Well, there is a reason for that." She pauses as she watched Claude arch his eyebrow as if intrigued.
"Well, in my homeland, lavender is a symbol. A symbol of devotion and love. Feelings that I feel for you Claude," Aadalia place her hand on her heart.
She then turns away to get the bouquet she left on the table, which was a couple of feet away. However, due to her back facing away from Claude, she did not saw the feelings that flash across Claude's face. It was disbelief, disappointment, and fear.
"I like you and, and I wanted to tell," Aadalia raised her golden eyes to meet his as she was about to give him the bouquet of lavender that she now has in her hands.
Once she looked up, his face hardened. Her eyes widened. She didn't know what she was expecting, but this expression was not what she had in mind.
The look she was now getting was stern. Perhaps Claude feels that she was cornering him to accept her feelings or vying for the spot next to his throne. Aadalia's eyes widened at the thought. She wanted to quickly dissuade those thoughts that Claude may be thinking.
"Claude," Adalia reached out to touch his shoulder. "I just wanted to let you know. I treasure you as a person. You don't have to share my..."
Claude raised his hand to silence her. Aadalia closes her mouth as she watched him trying to get a sense of his emotions. However, right now, he was wearing the same face when faced with a traitor of the empire. Aadalia was petrified. There was no sign of the Claude that she knew of now standing in front of her.
Already, he was slipping away from her.
Claude took a step back. Then, he stared at those flowers with disdain in Aadalia's hands.
However, from Aadailia's viewpoint, it looks like the disdain was directed toward her.
"You will refrain yourself from calling my name. You will now address me as procedure calls. There is no need to meet up anymore unless it relates to the empire." His voice was stern.
Then, he swiftly turned around and left. Aadalia froze as she watched him-her arm outstretched as if saying goodbye to one of the few dear people she confides in is now gone.
End Flashback:
Sorry for the long wait. I was taking a summer class.
There are going to be two parts to this. The first part is mainly of memories and the past. The second part will come out soon, and it will be more likely longer. The baby princess Mera will be in the next chapter. Also, the story will follow the events of the manga in three or four chapters. Then, we will delve deeply into the original plot.
If you enjoy the chapter, leave kudos and a comment.