The drums outside the palace banged, indicating the arrival of their guest. Layah's body tensed up and she stared intently at the door, awaiting for the person to come in.
"His royal highness from the Veenal empire has arrived!!" The announcer, at the huge tall door, notified, and the royal guards pulled the door open.
A young man with his head lowered came into their view, and Layah gazed intently at him, wanting to know who he was.
The young man with not so black long hair that stopped at neck length raised his head and a blooming smile ensued on his face. Together with his escorts behind him, he began to stroll into the hall, his hands behind his back.
He stopped before the stairs that led up to the throne and took a very deep bow in respect to the emperor. "Your majesty," he greeted, and the emperor nodded at him with a wide smile on his face. "Prince Zahiel."
The young man smiled and shifted his grey-colored eyes to look at Layah, whose blue eyes were glaring at him.
He chuckled softly and moved to stand before her. "My princess," he bowed slightly to her, and Layah scoffed within herself before rising from the throne. She grabbed a hold of her dress and began to walk down the stairs to stand beside him, however before she could reach the last step, she tripped on her dress and almost fell, If not for the young man catching her by the waist in time and swiftly pulling her up to her feet.
Layah's eyes flickered, and she quickly flinched away from his arm, then adjusted her dress and cleared her throat. "Thank you," she said with no sincerity in it, and Zahiel slightly shook his head in amusement.
"Prince Zahiel, you are most welcome to my humble empire. Please have your first dance with the princess before you complete your welcoming ceremony." The emperor smiled broadly at him, and he nodded, then turned to face Layah, whose hands were balled into a tight fist.
"May I have this dance, princess?" He reached out his hand with a smirk on his lips, and Layah aggressively reached out her hand to begin the dance.
Zahiel took her hand and unexpectedly pulled her into his arms, his arm wrapped tightly around her waist. "You!" Layah proceeded to berate him but instantly kept quiet after realizing that his face was so close to hers that she could feel his hot breath on her skin.
The music began and he started to lead her through the dance, aiding her in not falling, as she was in no way a dancer. She was completely horrible at it.
"You don't seem to be happy, princess." Zahiel began, and she intentionally stomped on his feet, causing a hiss to escape his mouth.
"Shut up! Don't speak to me!" She glared at him, and Zahiel's brows furrowed. "And why is that? You're going to be my wife soon. Don't you think we should get along?" He asked, and Layah gazed at him with disdain in her eyes. "In your dreams! I'd rather die than be your wife." She scoffed, and before Zahiel, whose face darkened at her words, could speak, the music came to an end and they separated from each other.
With a scornful expression on her face, she turned around and began to walk out of the hall, ignoring the officials and ministers who were looking at her with disbelief in their eyes.
The banquet wasn't even over yet, and she was already leaving. Just what was wrong with her? Could a person such as her ever be able to rule the empire someday? They shook their heads as they thought, and the emperor, who sat on his throne, had his hand balled into a very tight fist in anger.
"Layah!" He emphasized her name with gritted teeth and calmed down when his concubine touched him on the hand. "Not now, your majesty." She shook her head at him, and the emperor nodded, then turned his head to see Zahiel walking away after Layah.
They all stared in confusion, and the emperor's eyes flickered on seeing everything going wrong instead of the way he wanted it to.
...
Layah walked through the hall, proceeding towards her room. However, she had yet to get to the door of her chamber when someone gripped her hand harshly and turned her around, slamming her against the wall.
She raised her head to see who it was, only for her eyes to lock with Zahiel's grey eyes, which were staring down at her in utter displeasure. "What is wrong with you, woman?! Why are you disrespecting me like that?!" he questioned, and stunned by his attitude, Layah angrily pushed him away and proceeded to leave, but he, however, gripped her by the waist, slamming her against the wall again.
"Stay still when I am talking to you! You're going to be my wife soon, so you better learn how to be respectful. Don't think just because you're beautiful that I will tolerate your nonsense!" He was warned and completely triggered by this, she brutally punched him hard on the face and mercilessly kicked him on the crotch, instantly having him fall on his knees.
"Who do you think you are? Talk to me like that next time and I will do worse than this! And one more thing, you better stop dreaming of me being your wife, because it will never happen. As long as I say no, no one can force me to do what I don't want to do, not you, not the emperor, understand?" She glared and stormed away towards her room, leaving Zahiel, who was knelt on the floor with his hand clutching his crotch in pain. "Just you wait till we are married! I will make you regret ever disrespecting me. I will make you regret every bit of this moment!" He threatened and stood up from the ground with a grimace on his face, then began to walk back to the banquet with much effort and a stern expression on his face.