Vella turned to him and squared her shoulders as she looked at the man she was once told was her brother, though she had never seen him as such. A playboy prince with a hard demeanor and a haughty personality. Though most thought him mysterious and tactful, Vella knew the truth of his dark heart. His cruel side had tormented her childhood as she and her brother tried to survive quietly in the castle. He and his mother, Queen Fae had made that impossible for the siblings.
"In your eyes I was never fit to be a Princess of Our Kingdom." She replied her eyes flashing with anger but she couldn't hide the pain in her voice. The Emperor heard this and raised an eyebrow in shock, having never seen this from his children. This was not a side of Vella he had seen before, despite being aware of the issues between her and Damar as children.
"Vella you should not speak in such a way to your brother." The Emperor replied, intending to stop her from saying any more. "Your actions, as you yourself have said, did ignore the wellbeing of the kingdom." he explained trying to settle things down among them all. Vella turned to him and went to speak but a large, warm hand gently rested on her shoulder.
"Your right, Vella is not fit to be a princess of this kingdom. The position is beneath her. Vella is meant to be an Empress. If you do not see this then it is fortunate the Shadow Veil Crown has seen this. I insist that the Emperor remember that the kingdom slighted by her actions has forgiven her. I expect it not to be spoken of again, by you or any of your kin." Mordrin warned wrapping his arm gently, but firmly around his wife. The Emperor rose to his full height meeting Mordrin's eyes angrily.
"Your father failed to teach you respect, Prince Mordrin. Please remember your place within this palace." The Emperor reminded him, voice full of authority. Mordrin's fist clenched on the hilt of his sword as he realized how easily he could silence this man's mouth.
"No, my father has not taught me of respect, if he had this kingdom would have fallen years ago, when you offered your second daughter as my bride rather than your eldest." Mordrin reminded him cooly, his hand gently caressing Vella's swollen stomach to calm himself and remind him of who he was now. The Emperor paused for a moment thinking through what had just been said and whether or not he could truly risk saying anything more.
"Fair enough, your lack of blood lust has been a blessing and a golden shine to your family's once dark past." The Emperor replied coolly, nodding at his son in law. There was little else to say as Mordrin gently directed Vella back to their place beside the Empress.
Evelyn cleared her throat and stepped forward, commanding everyone's attention. "As Empress, I have a right to speak at this meeting and I shall now invoke it." The Emperor looked at her and the softness in his eyes slowly came back. No matter how angry he may be at her, she was right, she had a right to speak at any meeting. There was nothing stopping her and to be honest he didn't want to.
"The Fourth Prince is my son, However, My son or not, he did what was right for his sister and I am very proud of this fact. He acts as a older brother, not as though his sister's marriage was a tool or like she was a asset. I am both proud of him and given hope that imperial families can still show that level of love for one another." She replied coolly, making her feelings on the matter clear as day. The Emperor watched her curiously, wondering where she was going with this while the other harem women seemed unsure and confused. Clovis was the only one who seemed calm despite the fact that her words were almost damning for him. The emperor twisted the crest in his hand uncertainty, 'would Empress Evelyn abandon her own son?' he wondered.