The Flower Of Eternity
Chapter 33: Oath of Allegiance

After the Westeria affair was over and Eugene announced to the whole people of Westeria that they were now part of Imperial, Anna and her entourage prepared to return to Noord. They will leave for Noord in the afternoon, before dinner. Although Eugene actually wanted to entertain them again with a dinner party at the Wisteria Palace along with the entire Clan leader and the Westeria nobles, Anna rejected that sincere intention subtly, Anna refused, on the grounds that they still have a lot to prepare before his negotiations with Haru as well as the preparations for war with Orient should his negotiations fail.

Knowing that Anna and the Imperial retinue will be returning home soon to Noord and will not attend the party later that night, clan leaders came to the Wisteria Palace that afternoon to greet Anna and see the Emerald-eyed Heir of the Throne, Princess Vierra.

The first to arrive was Ortiz Clan leader Orlando Ortiz with his new wife, Letticia Navarro who is now Letticia Ortiz, mother of Arizona Navarro whom Anna knows. Anna had already met the four leaders of the Westeria Clan. But only then did he meet Letticia Ortiz, mother of Andromeda and Riz. She looked like an honorable noblewoman in her fifties or so. It was almost the same height as Orlando, almost two meters, or even more. But Anna could not see Letticia's resemblance to her eldest daughter at all. If Andromeda has a face that seems graceful, mysterious and charismatic with a firm jaw and exotic dark skin and both eyes that make anyone who sees it want to linger staring at him, he said, Letticia is more tender-looking with wistful and very charming eyes with skin that is slightly brighter than her daughter's. Anna realizes some of Letticia's similarities to Riz, though Riz is actually more similar to Orlando who is her biological father.

As the new couple arrived, Anna could see that Tyros was quieter and tense. Theana beside him gave him support by clasping his hands without hesitation before his father. Orlando looked at the General in full investigation, judging whether the General was worthy enough to be with his beloved daughter. Although the leader of the Ortiz Clan looked quietly, Anna knew that Orlando Ortiz was actually reading the minds of everyone especially her daughter's lover. Long Orlando and Tyros stared at each other, until finally the first Orlando turned and turned his eyes to Princess Vierra. Theana seemed to smile in relief, a good sign for the continuation of their relationship. Anna did not know what Theana whispered to Tyros afterwards, but it made Tyros smile happily.

"So... This is the Princess Xavierra we've been wanting to meet for so long, Your Majesty?" ask Orlando then to Anna.

"Yes, Lord Ortiz. She's my daughter." Anna replied with a friendly smile.

"His eyes really glittered like emerald gems, even though he was still a baby who could not open his eyes wide. There's no mistaking it, he does have the blood of the Reyes Clan." Orlando said.

"Does he know the future?" Ask Letticia. Unlike her husband, Lady Ortiz did not linger to pay attention to the Princess. She fears Navarro's sometimes-hard-to-hold power could destroy the tiny baby if she stares at him for too long.

"I don't know. But I know my late husband can figure out the future." Anna answered honestly. Now the Klan leaders were already his allies. He was unwilling to hide such a secret from his allies, even more so from the Ortiz Clan who would instantly know if he was lying or hiding something.

"Then, your daughter will be able to know the future. That ability is usually passed down from father to daughter." Orlando said.

"Don't be too surprised later when he's old enough and he starts saying strange things that will happen in the future. Believe what he says." Lady Ortiz gave him advice. Anna nodded in understanding.

"I can't read his mind. Is it because she's a baby?" Ask Theana who since her father's arrival just kept quiet.

"No. Not because of that." Orlando said. His gaze was attached to Princess Vierra, seemingly trying hard to read the contents of her mind. Then after a while, his pupils dilated. He also looked at his wife.

Letticia seemed to understand her husband's intentions. Letticia also looked at Princess Vierra with her Amethyst eyes. Anna was afraid that Letticia might kill her daughter either intentionally or unintentionally, so Anna immediately came forward preparing to block Letticia's gaze at her daughter. But Theana's got him. "Please trust him. If His Majesty gets in his way, you're the one who's gonna get hurt."

"But my daughter..."

Tyros represented Anna, asking, "Theana, are you sure Her Highness the Princess will be fine?" Tyros did not even dare to look into the eyes of his future mother-in-law.

Theana nodded with confidence. "If Andromeda were looking at her, you could just panic. But her mother was different. Lady Letticia is very old. He was over three hundred years old. He had already practiced controlling his strength for three hundred years. She included Navarro who could control her power well, even better than her first husband, the previous leader of the Navarro Clan. If she felt Her Highness the Princess would not be able to hold her back, Lady Letticia would immediately close her eyes and stop her strength." Theana.

After a long while, Letticia's Amethyst's eyes grew brighter, but nothing happened. Princess Vierra smiled and laughed at Amethyst's shining eyes as if looking at a new toy. Letticia took a few steps back in surprise. "How can he—“

"That's one of the abilities that the Reyes Clan has the strongest." Orlando explained. "The "rare talents that only a handful of the Reyes Clan possessed included one of them being King Frederico. Immune to our strength. His mind could not be read by Ortiz. It cannot be destroyed by the deathly gaze of Navarro. His power cannot be imitated by Torres. And the monsters controlled by Salazar would not be able to hurt him. It was a great blessing to the Princess."

"But, didn't Theana ever read my late husband's mind? And Lord Ortiz read my mother-in-law's mind." Said Anna.

"true." Shamefully, Theana admitted. "I have accidentally read the mind of the late King."

"Then Princess Xavierra must be stronger than her father and grandmother. He has the rare talent of the Reyes Clan. We, the Ortiz will swear an oath of allegiance to protect it with all our might, Your Majesty." Said Orlando Ortiz who then knelt before Anna and her daughter. Letticia, Theana and Tyros followed the Clan leader.

Shortly after, Irene entered along with two other Clan leaders, Enrique Salazar who was carrying a rattlesnake the size of a wooden branch that coiled along his arm, and a lion behind him and an owl perched on his shoulder. Along with him, Ignacio Torres came with his three wives and seven daughters, all of whom had ruby eyes. They all came to meet with Anna and saw firsthand the evidence that the Reyes Clan still existed. That Princess Vierra was their future leader. They were soon told by Orlando Ortiz that Princess Vierra had the privilege of King Frederico. And they knelt down and made their vows of allegiance to protect Vierra.

After all those visits ended and all the Clan leaders with their families resigned, someone came and met Anna personally. It was the leader of the Navarro Clan who asked to meet him.

Andromeda did not come to see Princess Vierra and blatantly told Anna that she did not like children. Even so, he kept the oath of allegiance to protect Princess Vierra in the presence of Anna.

"I heard you approved the marriage of the daughter of the Ortiz Clan to General Tyros Engelberg." Andromeda said without further ado after downing the contents of the cup that was still steaming. Anna invites him to have tea together because Andromeda says there is something she wants to talk to him about four eyes. And Anna knew, whatever it was, if the one who asked her to speak was someone like Andromeda Navarro, then it must be very serious and important. Although actually Anna was still guessing what the leader of the Navarro Clan wanted to talk about.

As much as possible Anna did not avoid Andromeda's eyes because if she did, Andromeda would assume Anna was afraid of her. Andromeda Navarro and all his clan members are allies now. Anna doesn't have to be afraid of him. So in his heart he thought he was talking to Andromeda's youngest brother, Riz, who was much more friendly and relaxed.

"Please bless my marriage as well." Andromeda continued his words. Those two Amethyst eyes looked at Anna earnestly.

Anna tried to keep looking calm. It was as if those words were not something surprising to him. Anna knew that Andromeda was almost engaged to Elias, but the two did not feel suitable and Andromeda did say he did not want to marry— which is very common for women in Westeria. So when Andromeda came to him to ask for marriage blessing, of course it took extra effort for Anna to not look surprised.

"You're getting married? With who?" He asked as he sipped his tea slowly. The tea is still very hot. He wondered how Andromeda could finish his tea without making his tongue burn.

"With Grand Duke Winterthur."

Anna failed to pretend to be calm. He immediately choked on his tea as soon as he heard the name and title it was called. Andromeda didn't bother to get her a tissue. But Anna manages to dry herself with Kaze's wind and the warmth of Xavier's fire. "You're going to marry Leon?" Anna asked to make sure. "Leon's getting married to you?" Ask again.

Leon didn't tell her anything about this. Leon never mentioned Andromeda Navarro even in front of him. Even Anna still remembered that Leon said he would not marry anyone because of his immortality.

But this woman is not like any other woman. The woman before Anna right now was Andromeda from the Navarro Clan who was also long-lived and was probably the only woman whose strength was worth Leon's. Anna also inwardly admitted that Andromeda was endowed with an attractive beauty and was different from any woman, with a body shape that could make all women envious of her and any man would beg for her love. So it was this kind of woman that Leon liked, of course, a beautiful and strong woman, Anna thought. The riddle he had been trying to solve for ten years had finally been answered already.

"So... Leon proposed to you, didn't he?" Ask Anna. As he asked that, his eyes were busy searching for the engagement ring on Andromeda's finger. But that Navarro Clan Leader was not wearing a ring at all.

And the next answer from Andromeda surprised him even more.

Anna agreed. They both fit together, Anna thought. And Leon will marry the woman who truly loves him. Leon will live happily. Which crazy man wouldn't feel happy if he got an Andromeda Navarro as his wife. So there was no reason for Anna to oppose the marriage. He just wants the best for Leon, and more than anything else, he wants Leon to be able to live happily too.

"Did Leon love you too?" Ask Anna then. In the past, he would not be ready to hear the answer to that question. His heart will hurt and will not be able to ask that question. Now, he hopes otherwise. Anna will be happy for Leon if Leon can marry the one he loves. Because Anna herself had already felt happy marrying the person she loved.

But Andromeda laughed cynically, "Love? Not at all. He even confirmed that he wasn't interested in me."

Anna frowned confused. Then Leon does not know that Andromeda asked for the blessing to marry him. "Then why should I give you my blessing?" Ask Anna.

Andromeda folded his arms in front of his chest, and the look in his eyes showed that he did not like to hear those words. She answered Anna's question, "Because it's better for her to be with me than to wait for uncertainty from you."

"What does that mean?"

"You're not going to marry him, are you? You still can't forget the late King Xavier. After his death, you close your heart so that even the man who was your first love cannot enter. Leon is waiting for you patiently. He is waiting for you to recover while continuing to be around you, looking after you, keeping you company and doing everything for you. He sacrificed too much for you to close his eyes to the attention he lavished only on you."

Anna shook her head, not agreeing with Andromeda's words. Anna felt that there was no such connection between them. Leon was around because it was like that a long time ago. Although not real brothers, in fact they have lived together since childhood and it became a habit until they grew up. Not because there was a special feeling for him. That's what Anna believed all along.

"Leon says he won't marry anyone." Anna said, still half pensive at the thought of Andromeda's words.

Andromeda grunted in annoyance. "of course! She won't marry anyone but you. Don't make Leon wait for you. Untie her. Let him get his happiness too."

Anna is just about to deny that Anna has indeed advised Leon to date and marry the woman of his choice. "I—“

But Andromeda didn't let Anna explain anything to him. "You're the same as tying it up. You let her get close to you, let her love you, but you have no intention of opening your heart anymore. You confuse him by being nice to him and loving him, but he's not yours. You control his heart, but your heart he cannot have. Free him and let him be happy with others if you have no intention of making him your companion."

"I didn't tie him up. Leon is free to love anyone." Anna finally said. He begins to have trouble keeping his composure as Andromeda continues to accuse him as if Anna is toying with Leon's heart. Anna has been rejected by Leon repeatedly.

"And he chose to love you! Damn for him because you don't seem to love him as much as you love the late King. You better make your relationship clearer so she stops wishing for you. Tell him that after King Xavier, you can't love anyone anymore."

Anna remained silent. It was difficult to find a defense sentence for himself because he did not know what exactly Leon felt towards him. Leon never expressed his love for Anna directly. Leon loves him, Anna knows that, but only a brother's affection for his sister. Leon was loyal to him, as the man was loyal to his country, for a worthy cause. And all of Leon's concern and concern for Anna has never been seen as an expression of a man's love for a woman. Because their relationship was never like that.

Anna is determined to ask Leon directly when they meet. Because Anna also does not want to give hope to Leon if Leon really loves him like that. Because Anna was still unable to open her heart to anyone at this moment. Andromeda was right, after Xavier, Anna felt she would never be able to love anyone again.

Suddenly the air warmed up around him. It was so hot that Anna thought the Wisteria Palace was on fire. Anna felt difficulty breathing as if she was being strangled. And the next second, he felt that his entire bones were being crushed and his entire organs were being burned and his heart was beating so fast that it was about to explode. Anna fell out of her chair, curled up on the floor, enduring the pain. He looked up at Andromeda for help, but that was when he realized that Andromeda's Amethyst eyes were burning brightly.

In the next instant, his entire bodyguards had already come to besiege Andromeda and unsheathed their swords. Two people helped Anna stand up. And it was then that the pain and burning disappeared as quickly as it came.

Andromeda smiled at Anna. The swords drawn around him shattered into dust grains blown by the wind. The guards looked shocked and panicked. Andromeda took advantage of the situation to get out of the siege.

Before going far enough, Andromeda turned back towards Anna and said, “Kuizinikan you feel what your late husband had felt during his life. Remember that pain. And imagine, what the late King experienced many times more painful than that. I could've ruined you, but I wouldn't have done it because your emerald-eyed daughter still needs you so much and I've given her my oath of loyalty. Think carefully of what I say, Your Majesty. Have a nice day." He bowed respectfully to Anna and then left quickly.

The guards were about to chase after her, but Anna ordered them not to. Anna did not want her guards to be crushed into dust just because of the love affair of the Clan Leader.

"Have you heard from Leon?" Anna asked one of her bodyguards who was also a member of the Wolf army. Meanwhile, his eyes were still watching Andromeda who was stepping further and further away from him.

"Not yet, Your Majesty."

"Make sure he faces me first as soon as he sets foot in Noord." Anna's orders.

***

The journal of King Xavier:

I also brought 'love letters' from Anna to the Orient because I don't want anyone in the Palace to be nosy and read it if I don't take it (including Ludwig who will take my place for a while). The other reason was because I liked the letters so much.

There was one letter with a short poem that I really liked—though I actually liked it all. But this poem is different because Anna made it her own. She must not have been serious when she said that she wrote the poem while thinking about me. Anna arranged the poem in such a way that it formed the word 'Tefafelo', the name of a town in Westeria that existed in the territory of the Navarro Clan. So that anyone who tries to spy on us by listening to the contents of our letters for suspecting cooperation between us, they would be fooled and going all the way to Tefafelo City in Westeria— would be great if that person was caught by a member of the Navarro Clan for entering their territory with bad intentions. So that we would have enough time to go to the Orient without anyone following.

And though I wasn't sure Anna was writing the poem from her heart, or she was just writing it to outwit people who were spying on us, I obviously liked the poem a lot. I even memorized it! Here is what:

There is a garden named Eternity

Filled with so many flowers,

but only one kind

And the Flower of Eternity is our Love

Our love is eternal and endless

***