December 15, 777, Nozark.
She stared at the large golden gates and the mother of pearl turrets, the glowing white bricks that were cleaned everyday. Disgustingly, filthy rich, that's what they were. She wrinkled her nose and thought of the millions of children starving everyday whilst the nobles were given such riches on silver platters. It shook her to her core that she was now a part of the problem, she would have to become the nobles she hated so much.
It had taken them three days to reach this palace, she felt her bones crack and wondered how the Emperor was doing. They had stopped twice to rest and the old man had to have massages, they were offered to her as well but she rejected them. She knew that overpowering trained soldiers wasn't an option but wondered why, even with the Emperor present, there needed to be an army's worth surrounding them. She also noted that the Duke's carriage kept close to theirs. She only noticed because he had come out and called her 'Ginny' whilst putting his arm around her and acting like they were old friends. It made both her and the Emperor roll their eyes and made the rest stops much more restless. She had noticed how worn out most of the soldiers had looked on the second day, and while she abhorred them she felt terrible for them, so she decided to ask for a large pot and herbs as well as water. Luckily they were prepped with bowls and such for everyone and she made her mother's rejuvenating stew, all the men felt their tiredness vanish immediately after taking it. Her mother was truly incredible and she felt happy seeing their bodies return to their original states. The Emperor even had a bowl and looked like the billions of dollars he was worth as did the Duke.
She wondered how people could adjust to wealth but realised most were just used to it because they were born into it while the ones that married into wealth simply saw it as an upgrade. It had been years since a commoner and noble had married and commoner children were adopted when they were younger than five so it was no surprise that they adjusted to nobility quickly. She decided not to look like a tourist or establish herself as less than, she had heard about how nobility worked from her mother and had been taught etiquette by her as well, just in case it were ever needed. The Emperor was shocked by her immediate adjustment as she was escorted from the carriage, she was naturally Noble, no one could shake the Royalty from her veins. Little did he know, she was taught by the Noblest woman in the Empire once, she was raised a commoner with the movements of Royalty.
The large palace doors opened and she was greeted by four hostile faces and one shocked face. The shocked face belonged to the maid next to a beautiful, red eyed, woman, a face Ginny had thought she'd never see again. Anger bubbled inside her as she pointed at the maid, "What is Freya doing here?" The Emperor looked confusedly at the maid.
"Do you know her?" He asked. She turned to him angrily.
"She's the reason everyone I loved is dead." She hissed as she glared at the maid. The woman next to the maid turned to the maid and then back at Ginny, putting together the pieces before smirking.
"Welcome, Princess Genevieve, I am your Aunt, Queen of the Empire, Camelia." The woman snarled as she walked to Ginny. "This," she ushered the tall man next to her forwards, "is my husband, King Jerome, and my two children, Princess Leah and Prince Edwin." The family of four glared at her as she curtsied. "We're so pleased to have you."
"You don't look pleased at all, but since you claim to be so pleased I hope you adhere to my small request." Ginny spoke politely, without backing down from their stares.
"Yes, as long as we are able to provide it, we shall." The Queen's smile doesn't reach her eyes however Ginny's widens hearing this.
"That's so lovely of you, the maid next to you, Freya, I would like her to be banished from this country or thrown into a dungeon. Since you are able to provide me with the mental sanctity of knowing I am safe, you will be able to do this, right?" The Emperor smiled at her and then turned to the family.
"Of course we can have that done," he stated to them all, making them turn their attention to him, "anything for family, isn't that right Camelia?" She sensed the bitterness in his voice and gave him a gracious smile. Freya's knees collapsed to the ground and she began begging. She approached Ginny, her hands on Ginny's feet, her head on the ground.
"Please, please don't do this Ginny. I didn't have a choice, you don't know the whole story. You don't kn-"
"That's Princess Genevieve for you, Freya. I know everything that happened," she glared up at the Queen and her husband, "and everyone behind it too." Her gaze made them flinch as their children looked confused.
Two guards grabbed the maid and dragged her to the dungeons as she fought back, everyone in the palace stared at her as they realised she wasn't to be trifled with. It had been ten minutes since she had arrived and she had set the tone straight.
"Let the festivities begin." The Emperor exclaimed with a grin.