MASKS TO UNVEIL! CHAPTER 18: Excitement Over Nervousness
Four days had passed and Sencha anc Naxzi were called by the emperor to visit them.
Sencha was worried because it's her second time meeting the emperor and she doesn't know how to communicate with someone who's like him. She was anxious that she might offend him as her father never took her to the emperor before she married into the Royal family.
"Don't worry, wife. My father will surely like you."
He smiled at her and assured her but she bit her lower lip and gripped her skirt tightly. It wasn;t because she was scared of the emperor, but the thought that the empress will also be there petrified her. The empress was the one who basically put her into that situation but she never said anything to her nor did she send any physicians for her.
Does her mother-in-law detests her? That is possible as she is as useless as her husband as they say.
".. It's not like that. But it's my second time meeting them and when I first met them, we never even exchanged words. How am I supposed to feel relaxed?"
He took her trembling hands and cupped it with his huge hands, saying, "Wife, why are you worrying when I am beside you?"
"But they bully you, husband. Within my stay here, I learned the truth and the butler told me that your father hates you too… just like my father hates me…" She lowered her head and looked away.
He wetted his lower lip and mulled over how he could lift her gloomy expression.
"Wife, you said that you want to visit the Capital once. Then, do you want to come with me after we visit my father and mother?"
She suddenly smiled, squeezing his hands and aggressively nodding her head.
"C-can I? R-really?"
"Yes. Do you want to?"
"Of course."
"So, then let's finish our tasks first and get into visiting the capital. How about that?" He smiled at her wanting to see the sparkles in her eyes. She smiled at him then leaned closer.
At that moment, he didn't know what she was thinking and blushed too much.
".. Thank you, hubby."
He widened his eyes and looked at her. J-just how adorable she looks like makes his heart unable to beat steadily? When she did that without any warning, he thought that she would kiss him. He wasn't that disappointed but not that happy that she only whispered to him.
And even called him 'Hubby' which she never did in the past! He felt that his feelings were deepening and that he had to look away and clear his throat. Why does he feel that he has been the only one being seduced here unintentionally?
He thought to himself such nonsense and smiled.
Sencha looked at him and smiled. She couldn't wait to see the capital which she hasn't visited for at least five months. Since she was focused on making herself strong, she didn't think that it was already that long since she last visited life out there.
She almost forgot how others live their life there normally and how diverse their livelihoods are to each other. She couldn't wait to witness what she saw that time. She even forgot the fact that she was anxious.
Sanc then informed them, "Your Highnesses, we have arrived."
Naxzi smiled at her and nodded.
Sanc opened the door and helped Naxzi to get down on the wagon with lots of difficulty while on the other hand, Sencha could only watch Sanc as he suffered alone. There were sweats on Sanc's forehead that Sencha had to inform Kijhy to take good care of Sanc.
Kijhy was called by Sencha under the name of Naxzi to attend Sencha. When Kijhy found out that she could serve Sencha again she felt blessed and blissful. She couldn't wait to get out of Zyndellia's residence as Lucy was throwing tantrums every now and then making the General upset to her.
Kijhy took the handkerchief from her sleeve then secretly handed it to Sanc, saying, "An order from My Lady."
Sanc nodded and bowed at her.
Naxzi and Sencha were heading to the direction where the Court was located and Sencha was nervous. The forgotten nervousness came again, and more tension was added once again.
"Don't worry too much. Talk to them casually, wife."
"Hmm… I am just worried about what if's."
"There's no what if's."
The maids bowed at them and informed the Majesties who are inside,
"The Crown Prince and Crown Princess have arrived, Your Majesties."
The gentle but strong voice was heard throughout the hall that Sencha had to stop breathing for a while. Naxzi looked back at Sanc, who was behind them and nodded. It was a signal that he should leave them alone now. When Kijhy saw that, she also bowed and made her way back to the wagon with Sanc behind her.
Sencha bowed with her knee bent a bit and Naxzi merely bowed his head halfheartedly. He smirked when he did that and lifted his head up without waiting for the emperor's permission to do so.
Sencha glanced at him and contemplated if she should also lift her head without any order from the emperor just like what Naxzi did. After some time, she did the same and smiled at Naxzi, ignoring the Majesties who were sitting up on the throne.
The emperor raised his brow when he witnessed such a thing and curved up his lips.
"Greetings, Your Majesty."
Sencha said and smiled at her father and mother-in-law. The empress saw her and darkened her gaze and Sencha wasn't a bit intimidated. Maybe the nervousness she felt earlier was actually excitement.
"What a sight to finally see you two getting along."
Naxzi smiled at his father, "That's right, Your Majesty. I must thank you for your benevolence of bestowing this marriage upon us."
"Haha, your complexion became brighter after you married Lady Zyndellia."
The emperor wasn't really happy to see the two of them being like newlyweds. He was very annoyed that what he got was this disappointment rather than the happiness he wanted to feel.
The empress looked down on Sencha and slightly squinted her eyes. She was expecting that a bold and unruly attitude Sencha would show but there was only a bright smile on her face. Why is she happy despite the fact that she was the one who sent her to Loushin's residence?
"It's all thanks to you, Your Majesty. And because of what happened to my wife recently, we couldn't visit sooner. I hope you pardon us kindly."
The emperor hummed and nodded his head.
"I heard what Loushin did and I was also mad at how she was being an unethical model in front of Lady Zyndellia."
Sencha bowed her head and said, "Thank you for being kind to me and having my husband marry me. If not for your blessing, I wouldn't be able to have a happy marriage at all."
"That's not something worth a thank you. I knew from the start that the two of you are always suited for each other."
Sencha smiled and felt that they were forcing themselves to compliment their marriage. But their words are nothing but ugly. The emperor was happy because the two of them are finally united by marriage but he was also not touched to see that the two have a good relationship.
He thought that the two would hate each other and if they did, he could make moves to general Fornolyo. He never thought that his worst nightmare would be before his eyes. He couldn't believe that these two useless people are good at making people shocked.
"Thank you, Your Majesty, for giving us thy blessings!"
Sencha responded, then turned to Naxzi, continuing her words, "However, there are some disheartening rumors about my husband. I am worried about the Imperial Family's reputation. There is no guarantee that the mouths of those people will not stop. And even if I use my position, no one respects me. Your majesty, may I seize this time to ask for a favor from you?"
The emperor raised his brow once again and smiled, "Surely. Let's hear it then."
"Please help me silence those people who kept on insulting my husband and the Imperial family's name."
"Do you have a certain name in mind, Lady Mier?"
Sencha smirked and said in a sad and heart broken tone, "As you know what happened to me a few days ago… There were some maids who kept on bad mouthing Her Highness, Imperial Concubine Yen. I am only afraid that Her Highness might hate me in the end if I don't stop the rumors from getting more dangerous, Your Majesty."
The emperor was curious about what Sencha was thinking. Her favor was clear but there was an underlying statement behind that favor. As one of General Fornolyo's daughters, she can't be this naive. She must be setting up something. But, what could it be?
"What is that you truly want from me, Crown Princess?"