The Princess' Harem-Chapter 28: Invitation to Valendale Empire

"So that woman, Lysandra, has already found proof of Elysia's involvement with Valendale?" Prince Rayne said to the man standing before him, the same man who had met Lysandra earlier.

"Yes, Your Highness," the man responded, bowing respectfully.

"Hmm." The prince tapped his fingers on the desk, his eyes fixed on the man, who remained in his bowed position.

After a moment of silence, Prince Rayne finally spoke. "I want to hear updates on the investigation in Elysia, directly from the princess herself."

The man lifted his head and met the prince's gaze.

"That would be a wise decision, Your Highness," he said, lowering his eyes again.

Prince Rayne straightened up, picked up his quill, and dipped it into the ink bottle.

Then he wrote a letter, folded it, and slid it into an envelope.

"Sam, you must deliver this letter to Princess Viana in Elysia. Make sure she receives it personally," he said while sealing the envelope with wax and his personal insignia, Crown Prince Rayne Elwyck of Valendale Empire.

"I understand, Your Highness," the man, named Sam, replied as he accepted the letter from the prince's hand.

Then, he leaped from the office window and disappeared into the darkness of night.

***

For the past few days, Viana had been diligently visiting noble families, building relationships with them, and fulfilling her role as crown princess who cared about the fate of her people.

The nobles, who now supported her, had witnessed her ability to earn the trust of Valendale Empire, the kingdom's key ally.

Now, she fully understood who stood by her side and who opposed her.

One day, as she returned from visiting Marquis Ellen's estate, Joel suddenly rushed toward the open window, drawing his sword.

At the same time, Reyes sprinted toward the princess, standing protectively before her.

They burst through the door of her chamber, which had been shut as Viana was about to change clothes.

The sudden entrance startled the maids and Sina, who were assisting the princess, causing them to scream in surprise.

On the balcony, a hooded figure stood, his dark cloak covering most of his face, with only his eyes visible above a mask covering his nose and mouth.

The stranger raised his hands as Joel pressed his blade against his throat.

"Who are you?!" Joel demanded.

But the man paid little attention to him. Instead, he turned his gaze to the princess standing in the center of the room.

"Your Highness, Princess Viana, I bring a letter directly from Prince Rayne," he said, his eyes locked on the princess.

Viana snapped out of her shock and swiftly gave an order. "It's okay, Joel. You can lower your sword now."

Now understanding who the intruder was, Joel lowered his blade but kept his hand on the hilt, remaining on guard.

The man, Sam, entered the room, pulling down his hood to reveal his jet-black hair.

Without removing his mask, he bowed to the princess and spoke. "Your Highness, Princess Viana, I apologize for my disrespectful entrance. However, Prince Rayne insisted that I deliver this letter directly to you."

Sam retrieved a scroll from his cloak and offered it to the princess.

Reyes stepped forward and took the letter, inspecting it carefully. Once he deemed it safe, he handed it to Viana.

She recognized Prince Rayne's personal seal, immediately opened the scroll, and read it.

After some time, she handed the letter back to Reyes. "Burn this."

Without hesitation, Reyes took the letter and tossed it into the fireplace.

Viana, now standing with Joel beside her, looked at Sam and smiled. "Please tell His Highness, Prince Rayne, that I await his official invitation."

"I will deliver the message at once, Your Highness," Sam said, bowing before swiftly leaping onto the balcony and vanishing into the night.

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***

A week later, the official invitation from Valendale Empire arrived in Viana's hands.

The letter stated that Crown Prince Rayne wished to discuss the investigation into the kidnapping and slave trade case that involved both nations, directly with Princess Viana as the head of the investigation council.

Furthermore, new rumors had begun circulating in Valendale, suggesting that Princess Viana had hidden intentions to overthrow Valendale's ruling power.

This only complicated the investigation further, and Prince Rayne wanted to resolve the issue once the princess arrived in the empire.

After several days of uneventful travel, Princess Viana and her entourage reached Valendale Empire in the morning, exactly four days after receiving the invitation.

Prince Rayne, who had been waiting outside the palace, greeted her with his signature mischievous smile.

"Welcome to our palace, Your Highness," he said, kissing the back of her hand.

"Thank you for inviting me, Your Highness. I am very pleased to be here," she replied politely.

After exchanging pleasantries for a few minutes, they entered the palace.

Prince Rayne, still holding Viana's hand, excitedly introduced her to different parts of Valendale's grand palace. They strolled through hallways adorned with royal family portraits and stepped into rooms filled with luxurious furnishings.

Naturally, their royal guards and attendants, including those from Princess Viana's side, followed them. Sina, who had accompanied them, was left in awe of the palace's magnificence.

Viana, who had never visited Valendale Empire in either of her lifetimes, found herself deeply impressed by the grandeur of the palace. Though the palace of Elysia Kingdom was elegant and lavish, an empire's palace was far larger and more opulent.

"This is the main reception hall," Prince Rayne said, opening the door to a vast, magnificent room. "Here, we welcome distinguished guests from foreign lands."

Viana nodded, admiring the elegant decorations. "This room is stunning," she said. "I can see that Your Highness and your family have excellent taste in design."

Prince Rayne's dimples deepened as he smiled at the princess's compliment. "Thank you. I'm glad you like it," he said, bowing slightly in an exaggerated manner to tease her.

She chuckled, hiding her smile behind the fan she carried as she watched him. Then the prince invited her to see the next room. They continued walking, passing the grand library, luxurious dining hall, and breathtaking gardens.

After hours of exploring, Prince Rayne led Viana to a smaller room, introducing it as his study. She admired its simple yet elegant decorations.

"This room feels cozy," she said, tracing her fingers along his desk.

Prince Rayne smiled, pleased with her praise, and then said, "I'm glad you like it. And I believe this is the perfect place for us to discuss important matters."