Lisa smiled when she saw the old man. "Uncle Tim, I didn't expect to see you still working here," she said.
"Your highness, this old bone has only known this one job. No one else would accept me due to my lack of experience," the old man said.
"It seems your humor hasn't changed either. If you are considered inexperienced, then it's safe to say that this empire is in deep trouble," Lisa said.
"Haha," the old man laughed. "Please come in, Princess."
Lisa nodded and walked in. Ning followed behind her, only to realize that Reever wasn't moving at all.
He turned around to see that he was awestruck at what was happening.
"Honey?" Lisa too noticed that he didn't move and called out to him. "What's wrong?" she asked.
"Your highness, these are?" the old man asked.
"This is my bodyguard," Lisa said as she pointed to Ning. "And this is Reever Skulls, my husband."
The old man's eyes went wide. "Yo-your husband, princess? You got married?" the old man asked in surprise.
"Yes, I got married for nearly 2 years now," she said.
"Oh dear god! This is big news. Let's go in quickly princess. I still need to announce your return to the whole family," the old man said.
Ning pulled Reever who was slowly coming out of his shock. "Um, dear… when he says, Princess… it's an endearing term right?" he asked.
Lisa chuckled when she heard that. "I'm sorry for keeping this secret, but No. I really am the princess. I am the 3rd daughter of Emperor Kain, the only royal Princess of the land.," she said.
Reever's jaw dropped when he finally heard the truth come out from his own wife's mouth.
"It's… really true then?" he asked.
"Yes," Lisa said. "Now let's go in."
The path past the gates went past 2 massive gardens on either side of the road, which split around a giant 20 meter wide, circular fountain with multiple streams of water coming out of it at the center.
The split road then joined on the other sid4e of the fountain, in front of the main palace.
The palace itself was fully white in color with golden accented pillars at different places.
Ning could see that the palace was nearly 300 meters wide, with a little open area on either side before massive trees grew around them.
Ning counted close to 40 different windows just on the front 3 floors of the palace, each tinted in a shade of black that made it impossible to see inside.
He then saw multiple pointed endings on the roof up at the top that had guards sitting on them, looking around the place.
He was only then starting to notice the other people that were around the place. The maids, servants, guards, there were so many of them, and every single one of them was looking at him.
Or more accurately, they were looking at Lisa with faces of shock.
The three of them walked up 3 stairs to reach the main door of the palace and walked in.
The people inside turned to look at who was entering, and when they did, they were all shocked.
"They all recognize you?" Ning asked.
"No, it's the hair," Lisa said. "My status is on a higher level thanks to my hair."
"Your hair gives you a higher status?" Reever asked confusedly. "How does that work?"
"Amongst the prince and princesses, only 3 of us were able to acquire the golden hair from our father. This means that only the 3 of us have a right to become the future ruler of this empire," Lisa said.
"What? Does that mean you ca—"
"Sister?" a surprised voice came from somewhere in front of them in the hall. Lisa turned around to see a black-haired girl that was slightly younger than her.
"Lina?" Lisa asked with a shocked expression.
"Is that… really you, sister Liz?" the girl asked. The girl didn't look that similar to Lisa, but she had features that both of them shared.
"Yes, it's me, Lina," Lisa said as she started to get teary-eyed.
The girl called Lina immediately ran up to her and hugged her. "I didn't believe them when they said you were alive. Thank god you are," she said.
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you anything when I left, Lina," Lisa said as she hugged her sister back.
"Bu-But how? We found your corpse during that night. I thought the assassins had got to you," Lina said.
"They did, but I was saved," Lisa said.
"You were saved? Wait, does that mean 7th Mother is alive too?" Lina asked.
Lisa's face turned pale when she heard that. "No, mother she— she didn't leave with us. She…"
Lina gasped. "I'm so sorry sister. I thought because you survived that she—"
"It's fine. I know your intentions weren't bad," Lisa said.
Lina stepped a bit back from Lisa and looked at the two men beside her. "Who are they? She asked.
"This is my bodyguard, and this… is your brother-in-law," Lisa said.
"Hello," Reever greeted her.
Lina looked at Reever head to toe and said, "Hello, I am Princess Elina, who are you?"
"I am Reever Skulls," Reever introduced himself.
"Skulls?" Lina cocked her head. She tried to think of the surname for a bit, but no information came to her mind.
"Are you a noble of a different empire?" she asked.
"What? N-no, I'm not noble," Reever said.
"Eh? Sister, you married a peasant?" Lina asked.
"Watch your tongue. That's my husband you are talking to," Lisa scolded.
"Oh, sorry," Lina quickly bowed her head.
"Your highness, let us go to your room. You might want to rest," the old man said.
The old man then called someone nearby. It was a maid that seemed to be cleaning.
"Can you take the princess' bodyguard to the waiting area? I will be back in a few minutes," the old man said.
The maid nodded and called Ning, "This way."
"I'll see you guys later," Ning said and followed the maid.. Lisa and Reever split away from him and were taken to their room, while Ning had to be on his own for a while now.
