Raised From The Wild-Chapter 420: Guests At The Palace

"Exzee, do you have a map of Asteria Palace?"

"Yes, Princess. I have five versions," the AI assistant responded in a sweet and cheerful voice.

"Do you have a map from forty or fifty years ago?"

"Princess, the oldest map I have access to is from twenty years ago," Exzee replied, her tone tinged with regret, just like a human. "There are books in the royal library that haven’t been digitized. It’s possible that older versions of the map are among them."

Princess Amaya lifted her watch to check the time. "We don’t have enough time. Let us check the maps later when we arrive at Maharlika."

"Alright, Princess." Exzee agreed.

Amaya turned to Marx, who stood silently nearby, his presence steady and familiar. "I’ll return here tomorrow after Prince Raquim and Tamara leave for the airport. I want to explore where my father spent his childhood."

"Why not ask your grandmother?" Marx suggested gently. "I doubt she would hide that information from you." He did not interrupt her earlier conversation with the AI assistant because he missed her voice.

Princess Amaya thought for a moment. "You are right, Marx. Grandma will definitely tell me."

Marx added, "Since your grandparents had announced Ibrahim’s identity, the information is no longer classified."

Amaya tilted her head, her curiosity deepening. "But how did my father enter the Alpha University if his identity was kept secret?"

Marx hesitated, then offered an answer. "He attended in Ibarra’s place. Whenever Ibarra was unwell or during exams, Ibrahim would fill in for him."

Amaya’s eyes narrowed slightly as she scrutinized Marx. The question hadn’t been directed at him, yet he had answered as though he knew intimate details about her father. How did Marx know this when she didn’t? Surely, her Daddy Ibarra wouldn’t have told him such things?

Noticing her suspicion, Marx quickly clarified, "I read some of Ibrahim’s letters to your mother. In them, he mentioned sneaking onto the university campus whenever he missed Danaya."

Princess Amaya sighed. Her mother was three years younger than her father. So when Danaya was a freshman, her Daddy Ibarra was in his third year of college.

Changing the subject, he asked, "By the way, why did Prince Raquim come? I heard he had a private meeting with your grandpa and the crown prince?"

Amaya shrugged her shoulders. She told him she was only aware that Prince Raquim came to officially thank the Lireyan government for the help during the pandemic. He also signed an agreement related to the Lireyan government sending a steady supply of the immune booster post-pandemic.

Marx nodded but didn’t pursue the topic further.

Amaya’s tone softened as she asked, "You haven’t met my grandparents or my father yet. Would you like to greet them before we leave?"

"Aren’t we leaving soon?" Marx replied. "I’ve already arranged to meet them tomorrow. I know how busy your grandfather and father are, and I wouldn’t want to intrude without an appointment."

Amaya nodded in understanding. Even she sometimes found it difficult to see the king and the crown prince without prior notice. Since they couldn’t stay for the evening family dinner, rescheduling the meeting seemed the best option. She could also investigate where her father, Ibrahim, spent his childhood.

In the tea room, Prince Raquim had finished an entire pot of tea. Though he wasn’t particularly fond of tea—he preferred coffee—he had learned to tolerate it as part of royal traditions.

Rising to his feet, he began to pace the room. It had been over thirty minutes, yet Marx and Princess Amaya had not returned. The ticking of the grandfather’s clock on the wall seemed to grow louder in the silence, each second amplifying his growing concern as he frequently checked his watch. He stole glances at the door, half-expecting it to swing open at any moment.

"Brother," Tamara said gently, breaking the silence. "I’m worried about you. Marx seems important to Princess Amaya. And as a woman, I can tell how deeply infatuated she is with him." She stood from her seat and faced her brother.

"Then help me, Sister," Raquim replied, his voice low but firm. "You want her as your sister-in-law, don’t you?"

"Of course, Brother! Who wouldn’t want such an amazing person to be part of the family? You are doing a good job now; it is a pity that Marx’s return will complicate things. But I noticed that there seems to be a tension between the two. Marx seemed to be holding back, and Amaya seemed upset with him."

"Yes, I noticed that too. It was different compared to two years ago." The tall prince settled back on the couch opposite Tamara and started tapping his fingers on the armrest.

"Then, brother, this is your chance. Don’t let it slip away. Go grab the opportunity." Tamara leaned back and encouraged her elder brother.

Before Raquim could reply, Princess Amaya and Marx entered the room one after the other.

Raquim’s unease finally subsided.

"We should go so that you could rest early." Princess Amaya was looking at Tamara.

"Okay, Princess. I’ll get my son and the nanny."

"Don’t worry, I already asked the servant to fetch them."

Moments later, the nanny arrived with the baby. Amaya led the group to the training ground, where her chopper awaited.

Prince Raquim looked visibly disappointed. He thought they would travel by car, and he could spend more time with the princess.

"There was an accident on the highway causing a traffic jam. I don’t want to waste the Prince’s time on the road." Princess Amaya seemed to understand the meaning behind Prince Raquim’s raised eyebrow.

The group boarded the chopper, and after a short flight, they landed at Amaya’s Maharlika Palace.

She led the royal sibling to a newly built villa with a hot spring. The villa was isolated from the rest and surrounded by tall hedges, ensuring complete privacy. It was intended for VIPs who needed privacy.

In the expansive garden, a long, lavish table was set for dinner, its arrangement illuminated by flowers, soft lanterns, and candles.

Marx’s expression darkened as he noticed the setup. Though the table had seating for ten, it exuded a romantic ambiance rather than a casual one or a business dinner.

Was it Amaya’s intention?