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The other people in the chamber bow before Emperor Alistair while Urduja crosses her arms over her chest, looking at him with a ridiculous stare.
"I didn't expect you would pay me a visit, Alistair. That's rare." There is a hint of mocking tone in Urduja's voice.
Alistair ignores how Urduja sounds right now. Indeed, he rarely visits his empress. He only visits her chamber once every three months to try to conceive her with their child. Alistair sits when Maximus offers him a chair to sit in, facing Urduja with a cold facade attitude.
"Explain to me her health condition," Alistair orders Imperial Physician Harold after he waits to leave Urduja's ladies-in-waiting.
"Yes, Your Imperial Majesty," Harold replies and slightly bows his head. Before Harold opens his mouth, a knock halts them which angers Alistair.
"Tend that, Maximus." He is annoyed.
"Your Imperial Majesty? This is Ingrid." Urduja's face brightens upon hearing her voice.
"Maximus, take the meal she brought. I am famished. Hurry!" Urduja quietly claps her hands, excited to taste the meal.
"Empress!" Alistair raises his voice. "You know I don't like interruption!"
Urduja narrows her eyes at him. "Who cares? I am famished and you can't stop me from eating." She hisses and turns her head at Ingrid who witnessed the sudden outburst of their emperor. "Maximus, bring the tray, will you? Or are you planning to have your empress keep getting hungry? Remember that I was in a coma for a week." She raises her eyebrow at Maximus, daring him not to defy her.
Hesitant, Maximus nods. "Yes, Your Imperial Majesty."
Alistair exhales sharply, annoyed with his empress. He silently watches Maximus bringing the tray full of meal and tea to the table. He watches the thrilling expression of Urduja as she makes haste to sit and starts munching her meal.
"Your Imperial Majesty, it is normal that Empress Urduja has to nourish her health as we know that she is in a vegetative state for a week," Harold explains.
Alistair turns to Ingrid. "Tell the cook to bring more for Her Imperial Majesty. Scoot now."
Ingrid immediately nods. "A-As you command, Your Imperial Majesty." Ingrid leaves the chamber after that.
"Then?" Alistair looks at Harold while he is watching Maximus serving Urduja a cup of tea.
Harold clears his throat. "I already managed to remove the toxins that came from the poisoned arrow that pierced Her Imperial Majesty's chest. Thanks to Sir Maximus with his ability to control the water, he skillfully followed my instruction to save Empress Urduja." He bestows Sir Maximus a nod as a sign that he is acknowledging him.
"How about your investigation, Alistair?"
Alistair's eyes darted to Urduja whose mouth was already full. He frowns. "Shouldn't you keep your mouth closed and refrain from talking when you are eating? That is not how an empress eats, Urduja." He combs his hair in frustration seeing how Urduja eats improperly. Her shoulders are slumped, leaning to the table to grab some meal.
Urduja rolls her eyes. "Oh, please. If you are displeased, I suggest you should leave and let me eat in peace." She turns at Maximus. "I need more tea, Maximus. Make haste!"
"As you wish, Your Imperial Majesty." Maximus pours her cup with more tea.
"Learn your etiquette, Urduja." Alistair starts to get annoyed.
"Alistair." Urduja is getting annoyed with Alistair. "Leave now if you are displeased. I don't care what you are thinking of me right now. Does it even matter when I haven't eaten for a week? Leave my chamber if you keep on uttering your disrespectful attitude. I am not going to allow it here in my chamber." She scoffs. "Give me the detailed report about your investigation. You can't just deal with it alone. I also want to know if this assassination intends for you or me." She sighs and takes a sip of her tea. "Maximus, kindly remind my husband about it in case he will try to forget that his wife caught the arrow for him." She flips her hair, looking at Alistair while she is raising her eyebrow.
Alistair sneers. "You have my gratitude, Empress," he says mockingly. He stands up. "I am not wasting my time here." He starts walking to the door. "Stay here, Maximus and serve Empress Urduja well before you go back to attend some matters with me," he orders, looking at Urduja with his glacial stare.
Maximus follows the emperor's orders by staying by Empress Urduja's side.
The moment Alistair leaves, Urduja looks at Harold who is still lowering his head as a sign of respect for Alistair. "Do I still have to stay in bed to nourish my health, Imperial Physician Harold?"
Harold faces Empress Urduja. "A week more, Your Imperial Majesty. Then you will be good to attend the state affairs with His Imperial Majesty."
"Very well..." She takes a bite from the sweets brought by Ingrid earlier. She needs to save space as there will be more meals to come. She looks up at Maximus. "Unfortunately, I cannot attend the state matters, Maximus. Can you deliver this word for Alistair later?"
Maximus bows. "I shall deliver it as soon as possible, Your Imperial Majesty."
"Take your leave now. Please summon my ladies-in-waiting and see Imperial Physician Harold off. I also need Gertrude here." Maximus nods and agrees with her.
Urduja watches them leaving and is left alone in her chamber. She heaves a breath, feeling at ease as of this moment. She mindlessly places her hand on top of her chest where it is injured. Then she slowly moves to her left chest where her heart is located.
She closes her eyes and feels the lightning power flowing inside her, creating a lightning cage for her heart. It cannot be ascertained that this kind of incident will never happen again. She has to be careful from now on. She has to do this again by placing a cage for her heart. This is for assurance that she will be revived in a short span of time.
Urduja turns her head to the door when someone knocks. Gertrude's face pops out which makes her smile.
"You have summoned me, Your Imperial Majesty?" Gertrude asks before entering her chamber.
"You're just in time, Gertrude. I have a task for you." Urduja smiles and leans to her seat.
"Anything, Your Imperial Majesty," Gertrude says after she greets her with a deep bow.
She silences for a moment before she speaks, "Observe furtively and keep under your watch the concubines of Alistair." Gertrude looks at her seriously and nods her head. "Also, summon Azarius tomorrow. I want to start my training. I am not going to just sit here and keep on relaxing. I need to keep enhancing my aura element so I can unleash my magic armament."
"Your wish is my command, Your Imperial Majesty. I shall do it now."
Urduja clenches her hands the moment she is left alone in her chamber again. "Damn it... Why can't my life be better? This is already my freaking second life to someone's body yet I am almost being killed again." She plans to learn self-defense. She is tired of being a weakling. She has to protect herself or must not rely on others.