Soraya arrived in the hall to the ballroom to find that Virgentarth was waiting for her. She looked him over in his black velvet vest and jacket adorned in silver embroidered holly leaves and stared at him. "Are you matching her?" she raised her eyebrows.
"Her?" he watched her.
"I was told by one of my ladies that Queen Catira's wearing a green gown adorned in holly applique and finished with your great-grandmother's Holly Wreath Tiara."
"It's Holy Night and holly is the seasonal herb of choice," he watched her.
"Herb? I've never heard holly referred to as an herb."
"It is when used for medicinal purposes," he took her hand and kissed it. "Blessed Holy Night, My Empress," he changed the subject.
Her cheeks reddened as she glared at him. "Let us be nice to one another and get through the ball. No one needs to know our problems."
"I wasn't aware that we were not being nice…" he watched her. "Are you ill?"
"I'm fine," she snipped at him.
"Good," he took her hand and nodded to Duke Falon. They were then announced and walked into the ballroom to the applause of everyone in attendance.
"Oh! They look amazing!" Jessica squealed, catching the attention of Catira. She stared at her for a moment before turning her attention to the emperor and empress.
They made their way through their guests, greeting each of them until it was Queen Catira's turn. Soraya pulled away and walked off as Catira froze mid-curtsey.
Virgentarth quickly reached out to take the queen's hand and smiled. "I'm happy see you on this holiest of nights, Your Highness. If your dance card is not yet filled, I'd like to occupy your second spot."
"The spot is yours, Your Majesty," she curtseyed again.
He quickly kissed the back of her hand before they separated.
Whispers began immediately. Their matching motif… the empress' demeanor… the way they smiled at one another…
"Do you see how they look at one another?"
"Lady Delilah, do you think you have a job to do rather than gossip?" Scott asked her.
"I think maybe my slow-burn idea was all wrong. These two are on fire. I really hope I remember this when I wake up," she repeated.
"I never know what you're saying, but you seem happy," he sighed.
The music cued as the emperor grabbed onto his wife's hand and pulled her to the dance floor. She glanced down the line to find Prince Anian bow to Catira and calmed down a bit.
"At least you're keeping with protocol," she flashed her eyes at him as they began to dance.
"You are my empress, you always come first," he reminded her.
She stared into his eyes as they continued to move. "There are so many rumors right now I'm not sure what is true."
"You could simply ask," he smirked at her.
She looked away for a moment, pressing a smile onto her face as she looked out at the crowd. "You've commissioned a new crown… not a tiara, but a crown incorporating a dragon and a raven, adorned with blue stones that represent air and your favorite red jasper that represents fire."
"This is not the place to discuss this," his grip on her waist tightened as did his jaw.
"Am I to be replaced?"
"Of course not," he angered. "You have so many spies, you haven't given me a chance to come to you."
"Spies? It's simply court gossip, honestly."
"And Lady Alma didn't run to you first thing this morning to tell you she saw me at the festival last night?" he accused her.
"You're well-informed," she sighed.
"I am trying to follow protocol, just as you would want—yet you seem damned determined to make me a villain no matter my intent."
Her eyes widened in shock as the music ended. He bowed to her and kissed her cheek before walking off for his next dance.
She watched him bow to Catira and take her hand as they both smiled. She pinched the bridge of her nose before walking off for a glass of wine.
"You seem tense," Catira placed her hand on his shoulder as he pulled her waist closer to him.
"I can't… win," he sighed before plastering a smile on his face.
They began dancing as he glanced at Soraya from the corner. He was determined not to cause a scene and shook his head, bringing himself back to the moment. He had the woman he was madly, deeply, obsessively in love with in his arms and she looked absolutely beautiful. Nothing else mattered at that moment.
"Perhaps you should indulge in a few sips of the flask your valet's passing around. He seems to be in good humor," she grinned as he glanced over his shoulder to see Gannet swaying along with the music.
"Damn that boy," he burst into laughter. "He'll end up with three maids in his bed too. I don't know how he does it."
"He doesn't have the weight of the Navan Empire on his shoulders," she murmured. "If you follow your heart and stay true to yourself, there will never be anything to regret. You cannot control her actions."
He nodded in agreement. "You are absolutely correct," he wanted to kiss her so badly at that moment, yet he knew it wasn't the time. He wasn't sure if there would ever be an appropriate time to kiss one's second wife in the presence of the first, yet that thought did nothing to quell his need.
He was suddenly ripped from his thoughts as Catira stopped dancing. He looked down to see her eyes glowing like opals.
"That's impossible!" she growled angrily.
She, along with Lord Nolan and Sir Dugan, vanished into clouds of golden light as the music suddenly ended.
Soraya placed her wine glass aside and looked around. They couldn't call attention to the fact that Catira was investigating the academy, so she did what she did best. She grinned brightly and clapped her hands together before grabbing onto the emperor and beginning the next dance.
***
Later that night, the emperor led the empress into the audience hall of the Western Palace while unbuttoning his jacket. As soon as they stepped inside, Soraya placed her hands onto her hips and sighed.
"Not now," he begged her.
"We have nothing else to discuss until Catira returns," she stared at him.
He balled up his fists and sighed before flexing his fingers in an attempt to relax.
"A concubine doesn't deserve a crown."
"She's a queen in her own right. She will never be a concubine."
"A wife then?! You promised!"
"I never promised, I simply told you that wasn't what I wanted… until now."
"Is it because of me? I'll try again, we can conceive…"
"Listen to yourself, Soraya," he huffed. "Stop forcing yourself to make love to me for the sake of the empire. It's not working anymore."
"Aiden…"
He rolled his neck and sighed before taking her hands and sitting down with her. "You are the perfect empress. You are the face of this empire. I have no doubt that you love me as your friend, the emperor. You have done nothing wrong. I have simply… found a woman who loves me as a man. She loves spending time with me, and showing me ancient relics, and teaching me to use magic… she has no expectations other than following protocol. The queen is a stickler for the rules…" he stared at her hands.
"You really love her?"
"Last night, she gave me a love stone. She told me to hold it in my hand and think of the one I love… and it took me to her. She honestly thought I'd end up with you, but my heart had different plans."
She stared at him. "I'm sorry. I didn't realize she meant so much to you."
"I'm not doing this to appease my advisors or get back at you for anything… I just… really want to be with her, and as emperor… and because she is a queen… I need to marry her to do that."
"So you haven't lain with her?"
"She won't let me," he growled.
She burst into laughter as the door opened, a disheveled Catira joining them.
"What happened?" he immediately jumped up and checked her over. "Are you okay?" he angered at a scratch on her cheek. "Is that from a swordfight?!"
She grabbed his wrists and stared into his eyes. "My trap worked. Forbidden magic was used at the academy. He was still there when I got there."
"Who is it?"
"He was cloaked. His defensive magic was… so good. He's grown more powerful that I predicted."
"What of the victim?" Soraya joined the conversation.
Her eyes fell as tears filled them and she covered her mouth with her hand.
"Catira?" he grabbed her shoulders. "Who was it?"
"Lord Kenzie, the Dean of Students. I stopped the siphon, but… he's so weak. I think he intended to kill him."
"Where is he now?"
"Lady Hulda took him to Midir and Lord Iain's secured the scene. Lord Nolan's leading the investigation… I sent for the Shadow Knights…"
"Gannet!" Virgentarth yelled out into the hall. "Damn, nevermind… Falon! Kramer!"
"Your Majesty!" Duke Falon stepped into the room.
"Send for Queen Catira's Lady Effie. She's a healer."
"Yes, Majesty," he bowed and dashed off.
"I'm fine," she assured him lowly.
"He got close enough to cut your face," he growled angrily.
"He's right, Catira," Soraya addressed her informally. "It was dangerous for the queen to dash off like that."
She raised her eyebrows and glanced between the two.
"We talked," he nodded.
She quickly turned to Soraya.
"Apparently… we balance him."
"That's a simplified aspect."
"I'd be lying if I told you I looked forward to my husband loving another woman, but…. It is his right to take another wife, and he's trying very hard to follow protocol."
"Surprisingly so," she agreed.
"We are two very strong women, and we have our own way of working. I don't suspect this will be easy, but… it will make Aiden happy."
"I will try my best to stay out of your way," Catira conceded.
"Oh wow! You are really doing this on your own!"
The three turned to see a strange woman standing in the doorway as though she had been peeking in, listening to their conversation.
"I know this sounds crazy, but… I wrote you!"
Normally, orders would have been barked and the intruder on their way for interrogation, but this… this was just too odd to overlook.
"Do I know you?" Catira studied her. "You seem familiar, yet… strange."
"I feel the same," Virgentarth stared at her.
"My name is Jessica Abbott. I write under the pseudonym Delilah Bankroft and I am the author of this story," she held out her hands.
The three royals sat back onto a sofa and stared at the woman as silence filled the room.