.
.
.
.
.
...12...
I AM HERA-MERAš
She was only vaguely aware of her surroundings all through the journey to the throne room, her mind dwelling on him and him alone. There was his masculinity that refused to be masked and that his scent that made a stamp on her feeble mind. Well, it wasn't as if it was always feeble. It was only like that when it came to him, her enemy, the beast. She had no defense whatsoever against him and how he caused her to feel. She was utterly powerless to the charm he heavily oozed and his oh so appealing masculine sexuality.
'Brace yourself,' he said, his voice bringing her out of her train of thoughts. She came back to the consciousness of reality and listened to him. She realized then that they must have arrived at the throne room. She looked around for only but a short moment, taking in the prettiness of her surroundings.
The throne room was grand from the outside. It looked like a miniature castle. It was made of stones and despite the fact that it might have been mighty old, it looked extremely new, spick and span.
'We are here, aren't we?' she asked him although she knew that they had arrived. He nodded behind her. She felt him do so.
'Yes Mine, we have arrived my throne room. I shall dismount with you now,' he informed her. She nodded at his words. He gripped her waist then and dismounted from the horse alongside her with that feline like grace she continually admired in him.
'Whoosh!' she said with a smile. He returned the smile. 'That was fun, was it not?' she asked him.
'I don't know, maybe, if you enjoyed it then I also did,' he stated. She groused under her breath.
'You sometimes you are no fun at all. Do you know that?' she said to him. He basically ignored the question and said to her.
'Welcome to my throne room! This is your first time so I suppose I should give you a tour when the gathering is over. Shall I?' he queried. Her eyes lit up at his proposal.
'Really?' she asked him, unsure of what she had heard. He nodded his answer. 'Really really?' she asked again with surprise in her almond shaped eyes.
'Yes,' he answered. She smiled broadly, genuinely pleased with him. 'I shall take you on a tour.'
'Yes, yes you can,' she told his enthusiastically. 'I would definitely love that. I would appreciate it if you do so. Infact, I definitely look forward to it,' she said to him. The guests behind them were flummoxed, befuddled with the ongoings. Who was this woman and why did she have their stern Emperor doting on her like some sort of henpecked husband? The Empress dowager had not even informed them of such happenings in the Linamine palace. What exactly was going on here?
'Let's go then,' he said taking her hands. She noticed then that the rest of their party had not moved without him. Oh! She was sorry that they had been keeping them standing, waiting. She nodded then at his command and immediately began to follow him into the throne room with Xiera and Cora just behind them.
The first thing she could think of when she stepped into the grand throne room was power and then authority. Its interior spoke of wealth and grandeur. It accurately represented the man that owned it, the one by her side, the Emperor of Linamine. Well, off course it should have for it was a part of the mighty Linamine palace, iridescent, resplendent and magnificent. She had no choice other than to help but admire the large beautiful throne room as she tried so hard to overcome the effect the awe of that wholly magnificent and bedazzling edifice was having on her at the moment. It gave off some sort of homely and yet dominating vibes at the same time, especially to her
'What do you think of it?' he asked her as he led her around the people gathered in the throne room to the front line where his throne which was plated in gold was situated. It had stairs afore it. There were seven steps to the stairs. Statues of dragons lined the side of the golden stairs. They looked ready to vomit fire.
'It is too beautiful', she answered him truthfully. 'I can not really begin to describe just how beautiful it is.' His lips began to curve but it didn't turn into a smile before it vanished completely from his face.
'You will have to be quiet now,' he said as they approached his throne and everyone stood to their feet. 'We will talk later.' She noticed then that it was just four of them, only her, him, Cora and Xiera walking towards his throne. The rest had joined the gathering they had met and they were all standing.
'What are they standing for?' she inquired then, curious.
'No one sits before the Emperor does so. It is an act of disrespect,' Cora explained to her.
'Oh!' she murmured. He suddenly came to a halt at a seat just before his throne -It looked like one for highly distinguished guest. She looked up at him wondering why he did so.
'Your lady shall sit here,' he said to Xiera in a jussive voice.
'Yes My Lord,' she addressed him with a small bow of respect. She then turned away from him and proceeded to hold her lady's hand as the Emperor and his aide went on to his throne. She guided her lady to the seat just as the emperor climbed the seven stairs and took a seat on his gold plated throne.
'All hail the Great Emperor of Linamine!' Cora announced to all. They all bowed in respect, even Rose did so, following the tide. It is said that if you go to Rome you have to behave like the Romans. And if you go to Europe you have to behave like the Europeans. And if you go to Africa you have to behave like the Africans. So, she did so because she didn't want to be viewed as odd or worse still, disrespectful by the large number of people present, the ones that her seat caused her to face.
'Begin,' he said to Cora.
'We shall begin this gathering on the Emperor's order!' Cora announced to all. They all took their seats as applause broke out for a moment then died down. A woman at the forefront stood up then to speak. Rose studied her. She was dressed in pretty expensive clothes but she looked completely out of place. She began to wonder about just what was wrong with the woman.
'Greetings to the Emperor! 'Greetings to all!' she said. 'My Sovereign Liege, we have assembled here formally begin the Empress choosing ceremony. This ceremony has become a dear custom for us, to unite the seven arms of Linamine and bond them with the royal blood. It is none other than the Empress Festival which is also called the Empress choosing ceremony.' There was another applause. The woman continued after it had died down. 'My Sovereign Liege, We are all present for the presentation of the Empress candidates. The Committee and the cabinet members are present. Shall we begin presentation My Sovereign Liege?' she asked the Emperor.
'Proceed,' he said to Cora after a moment of silence.
'You can proceed!' Cora announced after him. The spectators cheered at the go ahead signal from the Emperor.
'The Empress Festival has therefore begun from this moment!' The woman announced. The spectators cheered once more. She turned to Miss Cieya of the seven towers who was sitting close to her and gave her a signal to take over. Miss Cieya quickly stood to her feet while the woman returned to sitting.
'Thank you Empress dowager,' Miss Cieya said with a slight bow of respect. Rose realized then who the woman was. She must be the Emperor's mother. She smiled softly to herself. 'My Sovereign Liege,' she began. 'Shall I summon the seven candidates which each arm has brought forth to grace this contest?' she inquired.
'You may,' the Emperor said nonchalantly.
'You may summon the seven candidates which each arm has brought forth!' Cora announced after a bow to the Emperor.
'I shall do so My Sovereign Liege,' she said to him with a bow. She clapped her hands twice and seven ladies filed out from a door at the other side of the throne room. They all lined up afore the Emperor with their heads bowed. 'My Sovereign Liege, here are seven beauties from the seven arms; brave at heart and fair to look upon; quick with the sword and strong in will. They are at thy service My Sovereign Liege,' she stated. She sat down and Sorceress Zuera of the enchanted island took over, coming to the seven ladies who still stood with heads bowed, unshaken. She stood afore the Emperor and offered a small bow. Then, she began to speak.
'My Sovereign Liege, I shall introduce the seven candidates at your command,' she said.
'Do as you wish!' he said.
'You can introduce the seven candidates!' Cora announced after a bow to the Emperor.
'Then I shall begin,' she announced to all present. She went to the fist lady on the line. 'Raise your head,' she told the lady. The lady swiftly did as she was told. 'Princess Hera-Mera Dracon, the only daughter of King Dracon of the Draco kingdom and affianced to the Emperor from birth,' she introduced the stunning red head beauty with pure white skin and everything else dark and contrasting. She seemed like the most attractive of the seven candidates.
'I greet the Emperor, my Sovereign Liege,' she said with a bow.
'Hera-Mera,' he said sitting up, more alert than he had been since the meeting started.
'Yes My Sovereign Liege,' she answered him politely.
'You are thrice more beautiful than I remember. You are looking far more dashing than I expected,' he said in a matter of fact way. The lady smiled but did not blush. She was a hard mature woman.
Rose's eyes widened at his compliments. What the hell?! He was affianced to the woman?! Holy Moses! And what was he doing? He was flirting with her, that is what he was doing. Was it that easy for him to compliment every woman and toy with her head? The asshole, he deserved to die! How dare he?! She stared at him pointedly, her gaze almost burning holes through him.
'Is that so My Sovereign Liege?' she replied the Emperor with a question. It was audacious of her to do so. The Emperor chuckled.
'Shall you not thank me first Hera-Mera?' he asked her.
'Am I obligated to?' Hera-Mera answered again with yet another question. Rose's heart tightened in trepidation. She had thought that she was the only one who had the privilege to behave unruly with him. But, there was yet another person and she was looking at her right that instant. She and the Emperor were even affianced and they knew each other well enough to flirt and exchange exciting banter adequately. She was ruined. Oh sorrow!
'I think so,' the Emperor stated.
'Well, I do not think so. You did not compliment me. I am beautiful My Sovereign Liege. It is a fact and you only just stated it. I really don't have to thank anyone for speaking the truth to me you know.'
'I am having a hard time deciding if I missed you more or if I missed your sassy mouth?' he said to her. She grinned happily.
'You missed me more but you enjoy both,' she said to him.
'Right? How sure are you flower?' he inquired from her.
'I am Hera-Mera.' They shared a smile. Rose felt their connection. She grew green and angry, completely furious. So all this time, he had been using her?
'Unto the next lady My Sovereign Liege,' Miss Cieya said as she went to the second person. 'This is Lady Helen Thor, the Princess Royal of the Iron clan.' The lady immediately bowed to the Emperor.
'I greet the Emperor, My Sovereign Liege,' she announced with a slight bow. Her long black hair was messy, obviously wind whipped. When Miss Cieya noticed that the Emperor was silent for long, she moved onto the next person, someone that Rose knew and despised.
'Princess Zoƫ Xing, daughter of King Onyx Xing and Crown Princess of the Xing Kingdom.' Zoƫ bowed at her introduction.
'I greet the Emperor, My Sovereign Liege,' she said.
'How is your father Princess Zoƫ?' the Emperor asked her.
'He is doing much better My Sovereign Liege,' she said to him with her head still bowed.
'That is good to hear.'
'Miss Jocasta Shield, sister to Duchess Lily Shield of the War Dukedom,' Miss Cieya continued.
'I greet the Great Emperor of Linamine, My Sovereign Liege. I, Jocasta live only to serve you!' Jocasta announced in a loud voice to all present. Her hair was the faintest of wheat blonde, silky, straight and very long, nearly ankle length.
'I hope then that you serve me well indeed Jocasta,' the Emperor said to her. She smiled at him.
'I shall not fail you My Sovereign Liege,' she promised.
'Aquariana Genevieve of the Aqua territory, adopted daughter of Master Thyme, a water avatar.'
'I salute the Great Emperor with every fiber of my Aqua being. May your reign last as long as the waters of the Aqua territory!' She hailed. The Emperor broke into a huge smile because he was obviously pleased with her greeting.
'I sincerely hope that you might reign with me for your inner spirit is good for the throne,' he pointed out. Genevieve smiled brightly at the generous compliment.
'On that, time alone will tell My Sovereign Liege,' she ended. Rose studied the glowing woman with awe. Everything about her was a pale blue, even her skin. Most Aquarians were usually white, but Genevieve was wonderfully different.
'This is Colonial Princess Nicolette Rion, second daughter of Colonial Master Crayon Rion of the Rainbow Colony.'
'I pay obeisance to the Great Emperor of Linamine,' she said with a soft feminine bow.
'Why isn't Fairy here?' he asked her. Nicolette stared at him for only but a moment with a conflicted look on her extremely pretty face. Then, she lowered her face in a bow
'My Elder sister thinks that she isn't suitable for the Emperor and that is the reason I was sent down here,' she explained to the Emperor.
'Who told her that? Who put those ideas in her head? She possesses a lot ranging from beauty to intelligence with charm and skills, just exactly what is needed in an Empress. She is more suitable than even you,' he stated. 'You are a bit too young, aren't you?' He inquired. 'I think about seventeen years?'
'I will be so in four months My Sovereign Liege,' she answered him. There was a small pause then Nicolette smiled broadly before she spoke to him. 'If My Sovereign Liege has taken a liking to my sister already, then our people shall gladly have her replace me,' she informed him.
'Smart mouth,' the Emperor said with a light chuckle, getting to his feet and going to her. Her head was still bowed. 'Raise your head and let me see your face,' he said jussively. She lifted her gaze to meet his. 'It is Nicolette, is it not?' he asked though he knew the answer.
'Yes, Nicolette it is My Sovereign Liege or whatever you deem fit,' she said submissively.
'Well, you have your own appeal Colette,' he said giving her a nickname. 'Then, shall I call you Colette?' he asked her, bringing his fingers to her soft cheeks. He traced a line with his fingers to her lips.
'You may do just whatever pleases you My Sovereign Liege,' she said to him in an almost unmistakable seductive voice. Once again, she was so submissive.
'If I were to kiss you Colette, would you rebuff me?' he asked her. She stared up at him quickly in surprise, her cheeks staining red.
'It would be stupid of me to do so My Sovereign Liege for it would be a lifetime honour to be kissed by you,' she expatiated.
'You impress me Colette,' he told her, finally keeping his hands to himself much to Rose's delight.
'You flatter me too much My Sovereign Liege,' she thanked him with a bow, still blushing.
'You deserve it. Let us both see if you are worthy of any of my kisses Princess Colette,' he said to her. 'Why don't you do so by proving yourself in this competition of charm and wits?' She curtsied.
'I shall not disappoint you My Sovereign Liege,' she vowed while smiling radiantly, in love with his comments. The Emperor was ever the charmer. He turned away and resumed his seat. Nicolette kept her head down to hide her too red a face and too bright a smile.
'My Sovereign Liege,' Miss Cieya continued. 'There is but one beauty yet unknown to all,' she announced. 'This is Princess Royal Melanie King, sister to King Philip King of the Verking Kingdom.'
'I pay obeisance to the Great Emperor,' she curtsied. Melanie was indeed a beauty. She had dark skin, the colour of rich chocolate, smooth and full of sheen. Her bra length wavy black hair was left flying behind, a contrast with her silver armour. The lady was obviously a warrior, a fierce one at that. She had such long sweeping lashes that could be noticed from a distance. The Emperor tilted his head slightly apparently to comfortably study her.
'What can Melanie do?' he suddenly asked her. She smiled.
'Melanie can do a lot My Sovereign Liege,' she supplied.
'Xiera,' the Emperor commanded, 'attack her.' Xiera approached her and did so. 'Melanie defended. She dodged three attacks from Xiera but was caught in the fourth by a feint Xiera made. She had her hands around Melanie's neck , the lady enclosed in her arms, her back against her chest. 'That is enough,' he ordered. Xiera released the lady and went back to where she came from, her Lady's side. 'Those sparring skills need more honing. You have a lot of potentials Melanie. Keep it up!'
'Thank you My Sovereign Liege,' she said happily.
'That is all My Sovereign Liege,' Miss Cieya said to the Emperor. All the seven ladies bowed once again and filed out the same way that they had come in. Miss Cieya went to take her seat and Master Kolso of the Hykra sword proceeded to then replace her at the forefront of the throne room.
'My Sovereign Liege, is there any candidate that you are not satisfied with?' he asked the Emperor.
'No.'
'The Emperor is not dissatisfied with any of the candidates!' Cora announced with a loud voice.
'If that is the case, then we are completely done with it all My Sovereign Liege,' he said.
'The Palace shall house the candidates and the Empress Dowager shall see to that!' he announced himself.
'Yes My Sovereign Liege,' Master Kolso of the Hykra sword answered him with a small bow.
'Let's end it here,' the Emperor said to Cora who nodded and bowed.
'The Emperor has dismissed the gathering.' Everyone stood and bowed to the Emperor.
'All hail the Great Emperor!' they chorused. Then, the Emperor stood and went to Rose. She glared at him furiously.
'Mine?' he asked her, slightly confused by her eyes which was flaming with unmasked fury.
'I am not yours.' She turned to her personal aide. 'I shall ride with Xiera,' she informed him with spite. 'Let's go Xiera, lead the way.'
'Yes My Lady,' Xiera answered and began to do so. She turned away from him then and followed Xiera out. He let her be, wondering what in the world had gone over her.
.
.
.
.
.
...OmaPhinaPhireš„
* * * * * *
Oh! I am laughing my ass out! Are you not? If you are enjoying reading this book as much as I am enjoying writing it, then please;
_Press that star below to vote
_Drop a very nice comments
_And finally...
_Please share my story will you?
_Thank you so much in advance!
@OmaPhinaPhireš„