"Greetings, Lord Arsenio." they immediately greeted as they feel terrified of the man beside me.
He is after all, the trusted Imperial knight of the Emperor. "Mind your own business and lives." he finally looked at me and winked, "Let's go now, princess."
He pulled me away from the crowd. We walked while he was holding my hand. When there was no one in sight, I elbowed him. "Why did you that?"
"It hurts, Thraia!" he grumbled, "What? They were badmouthing you and I came by to help a friend. Was that bad?"
"It was not," I glared at him and pointed at his arm, "But you did not have to put your arm around me. I am also bothered with the rumor that there is something going on between us. You are an Imperial knight now, act like it."
He pouted. "Alright. I will keep that in mind."
My forehead creased. "Why are you here anyway? Shouldn't you be by His Emperor's side?"
"He asked me to do something outside the palace," he whined, "It has been so long since the last time we saw each other and I thought you were concerned about my whereabouts. You did not even ask your butler to ask for me?"
"I do not have much time to think about others." I coldly said.
I noticed the light sadness in his eyes but he was quick enough to hide it. "Well, it is out of character for you to do so."
He is a close friend of mine, like how our fathers are. We grew up together, we were inseparable way back. But there was a thin line between us that kept us from growing more closer. Ever since the Emperor announced that I will be the crown princess, our bond changed. It bothered me for years, I enjoyed his company. Sadly, people does not think that a friendship between a man and a woman actually exists. If we were constantly together like before, it will cause an uproar. My title will be ripped of from me which caused me to also mind the way he acts in front of others when we see each other.
"I am sorry, Arsenio." I impulsively said.
"What for?" he chuckled, "It is my first time hearing you say that. Can you please repeat what you just said?"
I rolled my eyes. "You haven't changed at all."
"Oh, come on." he childishly pulled the hem of my sleeves, "Again, Thraia."
"Have you no sense of decency?" I copied how he said it earlier, "You said it yourself, as the crown princess, I must be respected. Look what you are doing now."
"How do you want me to treat you now, then?"
I pondered for a moment, there is a part of me that does not want to change anything between us. If we start to think about superiority between us now, he would drift further away. I avoided his gaze. "As a friend."
"Not as a princess?"
I shook my head. "You are the only one whom I permit to do so."
My eyes widened when he hugged me. "Thraia..." he softly called, "You are the only one who can make me feel like this."
"Feel like what?" I heard his pounding chest.
He lets go and just held my shoulders in place. "It is not important."
"How can it not be important?"
He nudged me. "You are curious about me now."
His hysterical laugh grew louder when I started hitting him. He did not even try to avoid it which irritates me more. We used to train together in sword fighting and I easily beat him before. But right now, with his advanced training, I know that my strength is incomparable to him.
"Seems like the two of you are doing something fun."
We automatically bowed and greeted him. "Long live the Crown Prince, glory to your gracious deeds."
He gestured for us to stand properly. "I have to talk to you, Thraia. Do you have time?"
I placed my hand on my chest. "It will be an honor, your majesty."
His guards followed him when he started walking. I glanced at Arsenio before keeping up with them. I intentionally kept a distance from him since he requested it when we were young. He acts like he's affectionate with me when there are other people around but if it is just the two of us, the real him is freely exposed.
We arrived at his office and as expected, the guards shut the door for our privacy. He leaned on the table and played with a brass weighing scales on his desk. "I have already voiced out my opinion about the Empress' position during the recent Imperial meeting."
He is referring to what happened earlier. "What did you say about it?"
"You are no longer qualified for the position."
I stumbled and held on the nearest object that can prevent me from falling. "W-what?"
He stood straight and started walking to where I am. "The crown princess position is also vacant now. The formality for it will be-"
"What nonsense are you spouting, crown prince?"
He smirked. "Did you really think that you can keep it even if my father favors you so much?"
"His opinion also matters," I clenched my fists, "But what about the people?"
"The nobles liked my idea though," his hand reached for a few strands of my hair, "I suggested to have a fair competition to pick a rightful soon to be empress without questionable background."
I raised a brow. "What do you mean by questionable background? The Salvatores have been loyal subjects of the royal family. We are the reason why some nobles cannot touch-"
"So, you are agreeing that the royal family cannot stand on its own and should feel threatened without the help of your family?" he matched my intense gaze.
My lips twitched. "That is not what I am implying."
"The reason for this is simple, Thraia." he kissed the strands of my hair before letting it go and continuing with whatever he has to say, "I no longer want to tolerate your father. If he keeps this up, he will eventually turn his back on me when we get married and demand for our child to take my place."
"My father... he won't do that." I said unsurely.
"You will have to see for yourself," he turned his back on me and grabbed a bunch of papers to hand to me, "These evidences are enough to have every single Salvatore executed."
My hands trembled as I read all of the heinous crimes that my father committed behind the royal family's back. I know that he is cruel but not up to this point. "D-does my father know that you investigated him?"
"No." he menacingly smiled, "I will not expose this if you deliberately step down and beg me for it."
"What?"
"Do not worry, I still want that brain of yours to put to use during my ruling. I want you to step down as my Empress," he lifted my chin, "To become my Queen."
I started laughing like a woman who have lost it which changed his confident expression to an irritated one. "Who are you threatening, Prince Leonhart Huxley?"
"As expected," he lets my chin go, "Even treason won't scare you."
"My father is a cunning man, a simple investigation will only take you to a pond and not the ocean where all of his schemes reside." I threw the papers upward which made it look like rain, "But thanks to you, I can easily garner the attention of the people without moving an inch or using money."
"The competition will not be easy."
"Why? Do you intend to cheat and have Millicent take the role of the Empress?" this time, I dominated him.
"How did you-"
"I have ears, crown prince." I softly caressed his cheek, "I accept the challenge, your majesty."