That single word was clear and filled with force. As if to emphasize she was the one controlling the power, truly controlling it, it pulsed stronger then back to the thickness it was. The Emperor looked at the other two at the table but there were wavey energy patterns diverging around them. He realized she had shielded them from this. It was clear this Silver haired beauty was stronger than he expected.
"How dare you defy to the Emperor." a woman's voice cut in. Kyera didn't have to look to know it was the witch that hard hurt Rashan when she had been tending the brute.
"Empress how can you let her speak to your husband like that! I shall not allow it!" Fae cries in righteous indignation. The Emperor saw her and frowned, she was not suppose to be here. He had promised his Eve. The power receded a bit now that Kyera was distracted but it did not fall.
"I dare because he dared forget who I am. Yes, I am to be your daughter in law, but I am also a ambassador of King Mordren." she began to remind them. She would tolerate no more of this. It was time to enlighten them, at least a bit.
"HA, made nobel because your adopted father has ties to the crown. That doesn't make your existence any more significant." Fae replied with a cold laugh. Kyera stood and turned to face her. "You should not use the title of princess to speak to his majesty till you marry the Prince or it may disappear in a cloud of smoke, and perhaps your title of ambassador as well." the hot headed queen taunted. Kyera just smiled remembering the ladies origins.
"Before you became 3rd queen you were a concubine. Before that you were a minister's daughter. Before I became an Ambassador, I was and am a Princess." Kyera replied and Clovis smiled. He never dreamed she would admit this here, so openly. "I am Kyera Shade of the Moon, Princess of the Forest of Veiled Night." Kyera spoke clearly as she stated her title and the Empress smiled brightly. She had heard amazing things of the gypsy clans who answered to their queen in the forest.
"You are what? The forest is no kingdom." Fae laughed but the Emperor looked quite impressed. He knew the gypsy clans were well organized and produced wonderful goods. They followed the laws and then some because of their own gypsy code. Little did he know the gypsys were actually shifters and the 'gypsy code' was truly Forest Law.
"I see. Princess Kyera, I must say I admire you. You have behaved well as a servant here. I was unaware of your… lineage." he replied gently. His words were a tactful question that Kyera and Clovis both recognized. He went to speak, to defend her but Kyera spoke first.
"Emperor, no matter what a Gypsy Princess does, no matter if she marries and has children or even buys her own land, my title will never be gypsy queen. Do you know why that is and has always been?" Kyera asked, honestly relaxed despite everyone gazing at her so intently. Her power having receded to swirl invisible around her feet.
"No, why is that?" The Emperor replied, not really sure where she was going, but really wanting to enjoy the ride.
"A gypsy is a servant to nature and to law and order. As a Gypsy I am a Princess, a servant to my people. As your subject, though I may be royal by blood, my line will and has always served you. In the past we have been forced to fight, but our deepest wish has always been to serve our Emperor and our kingdom. I served you best as a healer. So as a healer I stayed. I served your granddaughter as a teacher and now your son as a bride." Kyera replied her eyes downcast as she spoke from the heart. Using the gypsy name, at least she could be true to herself and say the words she never thought she could. Clovis smiled, knowing the depth of her feelings but also felt uneasy.
"So you are contented to be a servant? How can the title of Princess be given to a woman with no self respect to act nobel?" Fae demanded and the Emperor frowned deeper. He had understood the young woman's words and warmed to them and yet Fae didn't know when to stop.
"Fae, Enough. You have no reason to even be here." he ordered a bit roughly and The Third queen flinched.
"Yes, sire. I should not have been so blunt. It was unlady like of me. I had simply meant to join my husband and our family for breakfast..." Fae replied bowing her head to look up at him through her lashes. This gentle, innocent seduction had always worked in the past and again his eyes softened. Then they cut over to Evelyn who looked defeated.
"Not today, today is for my Empress, just as I make time for you and our sons, I must for my Empress." he replied and Eve felt surprised.
"Third Queen, there is no shame in being a servant. For without them, this great empire could not have been built. On the backs of the humble a world is built, but on the shoulders of the nobles their lives rest." Kyera replied to her question before the queen could retreat. It was clear she had no intention of backing down on anything they asked of her.
"Well said, Princess Kyera." The empress Dowager greeted from the doorway. She came to sit beside her son at the table. Everyone greeted her kindly and her Great Granddaughter hugged her.
"Very well said." the Empress agreed. "Now back to the topic at hand, why can my darling baby girl not read, and why do you say she does not have the same chance as the boys?" she asked honestly steering straight back to the part of the conversation that bothered her most. Kyera smiled gratefully, it was clear the Empress was going to be a great ally.