The white carriage with the Salvatore family's seal arrived in front of the palace. It is a head turner for having blue crystals and tiny diamonds. Even the horse's caparison have similar stones and expensive silk. The crown prince patiently waited with me just like he used to.
"I'm not the crown princess anymore so you do not have to do this." I told him.
He opened the door for me. "I am doing this for you. To help lessen the gossips."
"I have already heard a lot of things about me. A simple rumor that the crown prince does not want to marry me is merely a simple blow." I shrugged.
"Thraia!" Arsenio loudly shouted from the gates as he ran towards the carriage.
"With this, there will also be a rumor that I requested for you to do that. For I have myself a lover." I smirked.
"Thraia," he softly called me, "Take me with you. I have already asked permission from the Emperor."
I looked at some nobles murmuring. "Crown prince, please move aside and let him in."
He furrowed his brows before moving. Arsenio quickly sat next to me. "Glory to your gracious deeds, your majesty. We will leave now." he shuts the door, not letting the crown prince utter a word, "Shall we?"
A smile of amusement appeared on my face. "The audacity of an Imperial knight to be disrespectful to the person he is supposed to serve."
"I fear you more than that punk." he said honestly, "Go now, sir Arthur."
The family's coachman heed Arsenio's orders without question. He is friendly with everyone, including the workers in Salvatore's household. No wonder the Emperor also favors him and requested to have him as an Imperial knight. Arsenio's capabilities is beyond expectations, he is also a candidate to become the successor of Duke Levine.
Due to his dreams of becoming a knight, Duke Levine decided to let his older brother replace him. It is rightfully for the first born but the Levine household cares about one's standing. Lord Avere Levine, Arsenio's brother, is known for his addiction in gambling so the concerns regarding the hobby of his keeps piling up.
"Do you have plans of getting married?" I asked while gazing outside through the window.
"Why do you ask?" he questioned me, "Is this because the crown prince no longer wants to marry you and you want to marry me instead?"
I looked at him to see if he was serious, he is smiling which made me think that he's trying to get on my nerves again. "Stop making up stories in your head, Arsenio. You are too old for that now, mind you."
"Right," he avoided my gaze, "Did he tell you why he decided to do that?"
"You know him," I shrugged, "He's too afraid of my family's power and influence."
"Who wouldn't?"
I smiled bitterly. "If that's the case then no man would dare to take my hand for marriage. Their weak resolve won't suit me."
"That's not true!" he argued, "There are lots of men eyeing you, just so you know. Some of the knights also asked me about what you look for a man."
"They're not aiming for me. Their only concern is my family background." I looked outside again.
"If you think that then it will be okay if the man who seeks for your hand in marriage is also equally powerful and influential, right?" he pried.
"Yes, like the crown prince."
"What? He already-"
"I will take the position back by joining that competition," I sighed, "If I don't get it, all of the years I have spent studying and training to become an Empress will go to waste. I am a Salvatore, I won't let anyone trample the family name like this."
"Of course," he agreed, "You have to get back at him. Make him regret that he proposed a selfish idea to remove the title which is meant for you and you alone."
"Thanks, Arsenio." I genuinely smiled, "You are the only one who understands me."
"The Emperor did not take it well though," he said, "He was enraged and fainted during the meeting."
"What?" my voice is full of concern, "You said that you asked his permission to let you come with me. Is he feeling better then?"
"He's worried about you more than himself." he said.
I am a bit sad to know that. He has always shown his care for me when I was still a child. He'd send a letter to have me as his audience, not as someone to talk to in the courtroom. We will have tea or walk around his favorite garden. He spends more time with me than the crown prince which made me thought that it is part of the reason why the crown prince hated me eversince.
Even if that was the case, I cannot simply decline the Emperor's offer to avoid that conflict. He is the Emperor, the most powerful man in this country. If I do something against his good intentions, what will happen to me? He treats me better than father, too. It's as if he provides me with fatherly affection because I lack it.
Father does not deny the fact that he has favorites. When mother died, his self-centered being is far-fetched. Like a bird that have been locked up in a cage for years and can finally experience freedom. He acted like my mother kept him in a leash when she was still alive.
The carriage halted in front of the entrance to the Salvatore's mansion. We had to walk up the stairs before arriving at the front door. Two guards opened it for us. Father is unexpectedly waiting in front of the door. His eyes glared at me and as I was about to greet him, the right hand of his slapped my left cheek.
Arsenio held me close as I stumbled. "Duke Salvatore!"
"What did you do to that boy to make him ridicule our family like this?!" he yelled on top of is lungs, "You only had one job, Thraia! You could not even do it right."
I removed Arsenio's grasp and bowed. "I am sorry, father."
"If you were a man, you could have been in Arsenio's position right now. But the gods really do resent me," he spat on the floor, "They gave me good for nothing daughter that can't keep a man."
"Duke Salvatore, you are going too far-"
I gave Arsenio a look to stop him from whatever he's about to say. "I will join the competition to prove myself. This is actually a perfect way for me. It will show the people, nobles and peasants, that I, Thraia Salvatore, is the only capable woman who can handle the responsibility of an Empress."
"You better be," he said, doubting my words, "If you were really that capable, the crown prince won't look for another bride. He made it clear that he has no intention of marrying you. We're a laughingstock just because of that."
"I will make sure to pay them back three times, father."
"As your punishment, you will be locked up inside the mansion until the competition. Visitors will not be allowed starting tomorrow," he gave an emphasis to the second sentence because of Arsenio, "If the Emperor calls for you, you must send a letter to decline it. Do you understand, Thraia?"
"Yes, father."
He left to go upstairs. When there is no more sound of his footsteps, Arsenio examined my face by caressing my cheeks. "Your lower lip is bleeding. Call the doctor," he commanded a maid, "He has gone too far. I swear I could have used my sword to-"
"Arsenio." I said in my warning tone, "You are still talking about the duke of Salvatore's in the Salvatore mansion. Mind your words."
He looked pained more than myself. "But look at you. Thraia, you don't deserve this. The crown prince is at fault."
"That builds up my hatred for him, too." I removed his hands from my face, "I will make him suffer more than what I have experienced for the past years."