Chapter 8: Be Strong!
This time, they reached the Royal Palace without any drama.
It towered above the city like a relic of divinity, its white walls gleaming, its pearly gates wide enough for an army of kings to pass through.
The Royal Palace was designed for maximum visual impact, and the designers were successful beyond their wildest dreams.
Akira stared at it in shock.
"This... This..." He was at a loss for words. "This is the Royal Palace?!"
Sensing his awe, Princess Yuki couldn’t help but smile, a subtle glow of pride warming her normally composed features.
"Impressive, isn’t it?" she said softly, her voice like water over polished stone. "Judging by the look on your face, this must be your first time seeing the Royal Palace, am I right? I’ve seen many people wear that same expression when they lay eyes on it for the first time."
As soon as the words left her mouth, Princess Yuki felt slightly strange.
She was usually much more aloof and detached. She would never take pride in something as materialistic as an awesome looking Royal Palace.
But for some reason, seeing Akira’s awestruck expression made her want to express her pride all of a sudden, as though she was hungry for his impressed acknowledgement.
"It truly is impressive." Akira replied softly, his eyes still fixed on the majestic gates ahead. The sun caught the pale stone, casting gentle halos of light through the archways. "It is like a heavenly palace..."