126 Chapter 126. Two friends

As Felix and Alexander made their way towards the palace grounds where the guards were all getting ready for leaving for their respective duties, Felix was lost in his thoughts.

'What would Aeinshia say? How would she react to all of this? I have a duty to do, but I promised her to go along with her to City Sylter.'

As these thoughts ran in his head, he could do nothing but sigh out loud, which was caught on by Alexander. He glanced to his nephew, who was now shaking his head. "Something is bothering you, son?" He inquired, while continuing his walk.

Felix snalped his head to the side and replied, "Uncle, do you remember our talk during the breakfast this morning?" Felix questioned, his eyes now dull.

Alexander frowned at the question. He was trying to undertaand why Felix was suddenly talking about that. He rewinded what was discussed in the dining hall. A few moments passed and finally he was able to catch on to what Felix was trying to say.

"You can talk to her. I know she would understand. After all, she is a royal and for her too, her empire comes first than anything. Talk to her, she I intelligent, she would understand." Alexander said.

He, too was feeling very unsetelled and guilty about not allowing Felix to tag along with her to City Sylter, to visit their mother's memories. But, what can he do? The empire was more important than anything.

Though, he knew, Aeinshia would never oppose Felix from fulfilling his duties, he definitely knew that she would be upset. But, thats inevitable at this point.

"I'll make sure to send her with maximum security, if she wants to go. Don't worry Felix, I'll handle things, if she wants to go. She can stay in the Palace, till both you and your father return from your respective missions." Alexander reassured.

Felix smiled weakly. He was thankful, they always had their beloved uncle as a back up. He never failed to make them feel loved and protected. He was always their safe place, reassuring and protecting them.

"You are a life saver, uncle. I'm grateful for all of this. And, Aeinshia would definitely understand. She is as passionate as me, when it comes to the country. I know that she would be upset, but thats sort of inevitable in this situation." Felix spoke out to his uncle, his eyes showing pure admiration and respect and gratefulness towards the older.

"No need to get all cheesy, my cute nephew. I understand and you both are my responsibility. So, you are stuck with me till death does us apart." Alexander smirked at the expression that painted on Felix's face.

Felix's face was scrunched up in disgust. His lips and eyebrows set in a frown as he eyed the ground before him. "See, who is getting all cheesy now." He mumbled to himself, but Alexander clearly heard it and burst into a loud laughter. Felix glanced at him and cracked a small smile. He was glad he could make his uncle loosen up a bit in this tough situation.

As the laughter passed, a comfortable silence settled upon the two and they made their way to the  palace grounds.

The scene infront of them can be described with one word: chaos. There was drastic movement among the people in the Palace grounds. But, the different parts of the army were distinguishable.

The Generals could be seen with their respective part of guards, giving out orders and selecting the best warriors for the protection.

General Hendrel and General Wilson could be seen conversing with each other, while looking at some paper, planning the positions of the guards at the borders.

The Dukes were inside the Palace, readying the orders to be passed in the capital and the external border of  the empire. Everyone were busy doing their things in and out of the Palace.

Alexander spotted Andrew near the gates of the Palace with his chum of guards, who were in their armors and some were checking up on their supplies and horses, as they were readying for their journey.

Without the notice of the others, Felix and Alexander crept up to the gates and to behind of the General, who was checking upon his weapons. Alexander cleared his throat for attention of them and when they sensed his presence. they all bowed down to the Emperor.

"Your highness." Andrew greeted the Emperor. Alexander scanned the guards in front of him, who formed into rows when he arrived. They were about 20-30 guards. All seemingly very powerful and capable to take down anyome, if the situation comes to the bloodshed.

"Everything seems to ready?" Alexander questioned Andrew, to which he nodded and proceeded to explain everything about the little army of the strong men. "What about the back up of the guards?"

"I've set that already, your highness. If any problem arises or the situation doesn't end at the talk, I would be sending in signs for the back up and to the Palace." Andrew explained.

Alexander finally nodded, satisfied that everything seemed to be set. He smiled and motioned for Felix to speak up. "Your son wants to talk to you." He motioned to Felix, while smiling widely.

Felix gave a nervous laugh to his father and stepped forward. "I apologize for my behavior in the throne room, father. I'll keep my words in check from next time." Felix said, with an apologetic tone and Andrew let out a smile, acknowledging his son's words.

He patted Felix's shoulder and smiled. "Take care of yourself and your sister. No one knows what the situation would come to, so be careful. And, focus your duties in the Palace well and help your uncle.  I trust you, my son." Andrew said. Honestly, he doesn't have a good feeling about this. So, he made sure, he conveyed all his words to his children, now, before going away from them.

Felix bowed his head down, when he heard those words. He knew what his father was trying to tell him. He was worried about his sister that himself. And, what made the things worse is that, he had to leave her for his mission.

Felix shifted on his feet, finding the words to tell his father about the updated status of his duty. Alexander, whonwas observing the whole scenario between the father and son, immediately caught on to Felix's uneasiness and curiosity of Andrew, who was eyeing Felix with squirted eyes.

He decided it would be better, if he told Andrew about this. "Felix, I think you should go home now." He looked at Felix, with an expression tell in him, that he would handle all this.

Andrew frowned at his friend. He could sense, that he was something and he was not infromed about by Alexander.  The evidence was the very behavior of his son. Felix was never fidgety, until he was experiencing a mixture of emotions on the situation.

Felix opened his mouth to argue with the Emperor, but soon realized he could get nothing about it. He stopped  midway and looked at his father "Be safe, father. I'll be going to check on Aeinshia at home." Felix said, while bidding a farewell to his father.

Andrew nodded at the young boy and watched as he made way towards his horse. Felix looked around to give one last look to his father, before mounting the brown horse and making his way to Duke Rutz's mansion, to accompany his sister.

Andrew was watching the retreating figure of his son, from the main gates Palace, when Alexander interuppted his thoughts.

"Felix is on a mission. I person all assigned him to it. He would be leaving at sometime tomorrow morning." He spoke out, as Andrew was turning his head to look Alexander.

"Mission?" Andrew was confused as Alexander spoke too fast for him to catch and I seemed like he had taken the decision and he was only informing him now. "You're thinking right. I spoke with your son and he agreed to do it. I didnt tell anyone, beacuse I want it to be done quick and secretive."

Alexander informed Andrew, who just sighed, after hearing the words. 'That was why Felix was hesitating.' Andrew thought in his head. He was tempted to ask, what was the mission exactly, but he knew Alexander wasn't going to spill anything.

If he really wanted to tell, then he would have done it already. This shows he really wanted whatever he discussed with Felix a secret. Now, he couldnt force an Emperor, into spilling facts, could he?

"Don't worry about Aeinshia though. She would be staying in the Palace till both of return, just like always." Alexander said. "Don't worry about Felix, too. That boy is smart and can survive in a tough situation. If he couldn't do this mission, I wouldn't have discussed this I with him in the first place. Trust him, my friend."

Alexander reassured him, while patting Andrew on his back. Andrew sighed and nodded his head. He knew what Alexander was trying to say. He was really grateful, that he had Alexander with him. Otherwise, he wouldn't have known how to raise two kids by himself, while being broken from the loss of his beloved.

"Thank you, Alex. You know I owe you." The two friends smiled at each other. Alexander was about to take his leave, when Andrew stopped him.

"Alex, is everything alright?" Alexander tensed when he heard those words, as they were totally out of blue. Alexander faced Andrew with a frown of confusion, not understanding why this question all of a sudden.

Andrew fixed him with a stern gaze. He knew, Alexander was going to deny of all things that was about to say, but he knew better than anyone. They faced things together and he knew when Alexander was upset with something and vice versa.

"I saw you the throne room. You were thinking about something and suddenly paled at some thought in your head." Andrew said, testing him. Alexander frowned, "I was stressed when I found out about the situation in the East, thats the reason." He gulped as he answered, while looking at his friend's intense eyes.

Andrew scoffed lightly, "Dont turn the topic around. I know something is bothering you. You better tell me, Alex. Why bother when I'm always here to help you." He finished it off with a light tone.

Alexander smiled at Andrew. Though, Andrew was little tough and would not express his feelings. He was caring and expressed things in his own ways. He sighed heavily before looking out into the sky, which was getting darker as they approached the midnight.

"I think I saw her."