Claudius embraced Aria from behind as they stood together on the balcony, their gazes fixed on the descending sun.
"I heard from Jenny that you had a small fight with His Majesty," he softly inquired.
"Hmm." Aria nodded, her gaze still locked onto the horizon. "I accidentally mentioned Mikhail's name to him."
"He still harbors resentment towards him," Claudius remarked.
She sighed, her voice tinged with sorrow. "We can't blame him, they had never been on good terms since they were young, they are still fighting until Mikhail's last breath. I prayed for their reconciliation, but now..." she lowered her head. "Mikhail is no longer here."
Claudius tenderly kissed her cheek, attempting to console her. "You're thinking of him again."
"I'm sorry," Aria replied, turning to face him, her delicate fingers gently caressing his hair.
He held her hand and kissed it, causing her to smile.
With a gradual and passionate intent, Claudius drew his face closer to hers, and their lips met in a tender, heartfelt kiss.
.
.
They went inside her room and while kissing, he carefully pushed her down to her bed.
Their kisses became more intense and wild. His hand slid down on her dress and began to remove it.
She gasped as his kisses went down to her neck...down to her bosom.
She tightened her grip on the pillows when he started playing with her nipples.
"A-Ahhh... C-Claude.." she moaned.
His kisses go lower and lower...
Her moans became louder when he kissed her in that place. She gently pulled his hair because of the strong sensation.
.
.
Claudius gazed at Aria, who sleeping peacefully in his embrace. With a tender touch, he gently caressed her face and whispered, "I'm lucky to have met you. You are the best thing that ever happened to me. I will love you for the rest of my life." He sealed his words with a gentle kiss on her forehead, holding her tightly as he slowly closed his eyes.
.
.
....
Aria awoke to a gentle knock on the door,
As she slowly rose, her eyes briefly met Claudius, who remained peacefully asleep. She draped herself in her robe and approached the door, which revealed Jenny on the other side.
"Good morning, Your Majesty." Jenny greeted, her cheeks slightly flushed as she noticed Aria's attire.
'The Empress looks so pretty, even with her messy hair.' she thought to herself.
"The Emperor is inviting you for breakfast," she informed.
"He woke up quite early today," Aria mused with a yawn. "All right, please help me get dressed."
Jenny covered her eyes as she entered the room, unable to look at the sleeping Duke. Together, they made their way to Aria's walk-in wardrobe for a change of attire.
.
.
....
Claudius awoke to find Aria absent from his side. His gaze landed on a note left on the table nearby.
"A breakfast with the Emperor?" he mused.
She didn't want to disturb his peaceful sleep. A smile graced his lips as he reached the last sentence in the letter.
.
.
"You slept with the Duke last night?" Izekiel asked while eating.
"Yeah, tonight I will spend the night with Gawain," Aria replied.
"Tsk. I still have to wait for two more nights," he grumbled.
For the past two months, she had been sharing her nights with Izekiel. However, it was now time for her to spend her nights to her other husbands.
"About what happened yesterday... I'm very sorry," he offered an apology.
She smiled and gently held his hand. "I've told you, it's not your fault. I'm the one who's at fault."
"I just... can't bear to hear his name. He took you away from me," Izekiel confessed.
"That's in the past, Kiel. Let's move on, please?"
He nodded and pressed a kiss to her hand. "Yeah... I'm sorry again."
Servants arrived, carrying another tray of food.
"These are enough. Why did you ask for more food?" Aria wondered.
"I noticed that you've been particular about your meals lately, so I asked the imperial chef to prepare an assortment. You can choose whatever you'd like to eat," Izekiel explained with a warm smile.
She chuckled, touched by his thoughtfulness. "How sweet of you."
.
.
....
"So you're saying that Duke Wolfsbane is on the move again?" Rasheen asked.
Ryu nodded, providing details, "Yes, I followed Ludwig last night. He went to an abandoned warehouse to meet some people. I saw him giving them money and discussing the land in the west."
"The land in the west? The Emperor asked me to let the people from the west move to the north," Claudius noted.
"Did he explain why they have to move?" Rasheen inquired further.
"He just mentioned they're planning to redevelop the entire village," Claudius responded.
Gawain added his perspective, "Leaving the west might not be just about redevelopment, they seem to be concealing something from us."
"Indeed," Claudius agreed, "The ministers were unusually eager to secure that land. What could be their true purpose?"
"Drugs." Napoleon chimed in with a startling revelation. "Arthur informed me that a group approached his guild seeking assistance in smuggling drugs into the empire, all without the Emperor's knowledge."
Ryu connected the dots, "And it seems they've chosen the west as their base. I suspect the bag given to Ludwig might contain drugs."
"Duke Wolfsbane smuggling illegal drugs? Unbelievable," Rasheen remarked.
Xerxes shared a troubling memory, "I'm not surprised; he once used a poisonous flower to assassinate the former Emperor."
Gawain emphasized the gravity of the situation, "This is dire. If these drugs circulate in the empire, countless people will become addicted."
Xerxes pointed out a disturbing possibility, "Not just commoners, even nobles could fall victim. They might discreetly add drugs to food or drinks, and people won't notice until they're hooked."
Claudius contemplated the repercussions, "Once they're addicted, they'll continue buying and using the drugs to satisfy their cravings."
Rasheen called for immediate action, "We must stop them before it's too late."
"But we need concrete evidence. We can't request the Empress to arrest them without valid proof," Napoleon emphasized.
The group agreed, recognizing the necessity of evidence. Ryu offered a plan, "I'll try to obtain some drugs from them. Can you ask Sir Arthur to arrange for me to join as one of the men transporting the drugs?"
Napoleon supported the idea, "That's a good plan. I'll speak to him and convey your intentions."
.
.
....
In the capital, Aria ventured out with her companions, breaking away from her demanding schedule.
Jenny expressed her joy, "Your Majesty, I'm delighted to see you taking a stroll outside the Palace. You've been confined to your office for months."
They explored the city, and Cedrik mentioned a new cake shop, catching Aria's interest, "I heard there's a new cake shop here, quite popular among the nobles."
Aria's eyes lit up, "Really? Should we take a look and try their cakes?"
"Waahhh we want to taste them too!" Jenny, sharing in her enthusiasm, chimed in.
"Then let's go to that shop!" they joyfully made their way to the cake shop while holding each other's hands.
With a contented smile, William followed them. He relished the sight of Aria gradually regaining her former self. For months, she had been perpetually occupied, appearing fatigued, and had rarely visited her husbands. She dedicated her time to the Emperor, engrossed in reviewing reports and proposals. The passing of Prince Mikhail had undeniably brought about a change in her.
Aria, enchanted by the array of cakes, couldn't contain her excitement, "William! Look! It looks delicious!"
"Do you want to buy all the cakes, Your Majesty?" William asked.
Aria's eyes sparkled as she considered the idea, "Can I buy them all?"
"Of course, you can buy whatever you want, Your Majesty," William assured her with a smile.
"But how about the other customers? They might complain if I bought everything." she pouted.
William affectionately patted her head, "Then buy only the flavors you want."
"Hehe okay!" she said cheerfully and proceeded to select her desired cakes. "I'll buy this, this, and this.. Ohh, that one too! and that one!"
"It's so nice to see Her Majesty enjoying herself." Cedrik remarked.
William nodded in agreement, "You're right."
Cedrik's attention was drawn to a caramel-flavored cake. "Wow, this one looks delicious too," he exclaimed, taking a step toward it. However, as he approached the cake, he accidentally bumped with a stranger. He quickly apologized and bowed. "I.. I'm sorry!"
"It's all right," the man replied, his attention caught by the necklace Cedrik wore.
"Ced! we're going now. Let's go!" Jenny called out.
"Coming!" Cedrik looked at him once again. "I'm really sorry." He offered a final apology and left the shop.
The man observed him as he departed, his gaze lingering on the necklace.
The symbol on that necklace...
It was from the east...
.
.
"This is so delicious," Gawain exclaimed while savoring the cake that Aria had brought for him.
"I'm glad you like it too. This cake is quite popular in the capital right now, it's from the newly opened shop," Aria remarked as she watched him.
Gawain smiled and cut a slice of the cake. "Join me, it'll be even more delightful if we enjoy it together."
Aria accepted the offer, and as she took a bite, he noticed a bit of cake on her lips. He wiped it away, and their faces drew closer, causing his cheeks to redden.
He's so cute when he blushes.
Their shared moment led to a passionate kiss, and they momentarily forgot about the cake. Gawain gently guided her towards the sofa.
"It's still early," she said between kisses.
"But I can't hold back any longer. You've been spending nights with His Majesty for two months, and I've missed you so much," he confessed, his lips trailing to her neck.
She let out a soft moan as his hand ventured down to her chest.
He skillfully removed her clothing, leaving a trail of kisses on her bosom.
"Gawain... I... Ahhh," she moaned when his attention shifted downwards.
He parted her legs and locked eyes with her, silently seeking consent. She nodded, closing her eyes as he began to explore.
She tightened her grip on his shoulders. Oh gosh!
He's filled with energy. Is this the result of two months of restraint?
.
.
In the Emperor's chamber:
"I want Aria," Izekiel mumbled while hugging her pillow. "Why does she have to spend nights with her other husbands? I'm better than them in bed!"
"Your Majesty, Her Majesty also has her responsibilities to her other husbands. Here, take this," Ludwig said, offering him a new medication.
"But I'm the Emperor!" he exclaimed as he took the medicine. "She said she loves me more than them."
Ludwig offered a reassuring smile. "Do not fret, Your Majesty. Time will pass quickly, and you will have another night with her. Now, please rest, as you have an early meeting tomorrow."
Izekiel sighed. "Fine. By the way, this medicine tastes different."
"It's the new prescription from your physician. Duke Wolfsbane recommended it during his last visit."
"Oh, but I don't need medicine anymore. I'm perfectly fine."
They had informed him that the medication was to alleviate his stress.
"Your emotions were difficult to control last time, and you even had a disagreement with Her Majesty," Ludwig reminded him.
"No need to dwell on that. It was merely a misunderstanding. I'll go to sleep now." Izekiel covered himself with a blanket.
"Have a restful night, Your Majesty," Ludwig bowed and then closed the door.
.
.
....
"You saw someone wearing a necklace with the same pendant as my wife's?" Baron Campbell asked in surprise.
"Yes, my Lord," his butler replied. "While I was in the capital, buying the young lady's favorite cake, I accidentally bumped into a man and noticed the necklace he was wearing. I am certain it's the same as Madam's."
They both glanced at the late Madam's portrait on the wall.
"If this is true, then our son is truly alive." Tears welled up in the Baron's eyes. "I thought I had lost him forever. If his mother were still with us, she would be overjoyed."
They had lost their only son when the neighboring country attempted to invade the eastern part of the Serolf Empire. He was just a baby at the time, and they lost him during their escape. The carriage had been attacked by enemies, and their son was kidnapped.
"My son... I will make sure to bring you back here." the Baron whispered. "We must go to the capital!" he ordered.
.
.
....
The atmosphere was tense; no one spoke, they simply ate in silence. Today, the Empress had requested that they all dine together. Since her marriage to Izekiel, they had ceased eating together. She always shared meals with Izekiel, while her other husbands dined alone, except when she visited them.
Izekiel angrily banged his spoon on the table. "I can't stand this!"
"What's wrong?" Aria inquired.
"I can't have breakfast with them! Seeing them makes me feel sick." Izekiel glared at the others.
"Eating together can help us grow closer to one another," Aria suggested.
The men remained silent.
"But I don't want to get close to them. Why should I have to do this?" Izekiel complained.
"Building connections with one another is essential, they are not only my husbands but also your subordinates," she explained.
He gnashed his teeth in rage. "You're only saying this because you love them more than me! Why am I still not enough for you? Why do you keep them? I'm the Emperor, I can provide you with everything!"
"It's not about wealth... You still don't understand, Your Majesty," Xerxes finally spoke up. "Aria loves us all equally. She isn't biased."
"Shut up! How dare you interfere!" Izekiel grabbed Xerxes' collar.
"Your Majesty, you must restrain yourself. We are not your enemies, we all care for Aria and support you," Claudius advised.
"Tch. Do you think I like you? You only became the Emperor because you killed your father," Rasheen muttered.
"What did you say?" Izekiel released Xerxes and confronted Rasheen. "I heard that!"
"So what? I'm just stating the fact," Rasheen stood up.
"Enough! Can you please calm down?" Aria implored.
"You're just a prince from a small kingdom, don't forget that we can attack your kingdom and harm everyone there if you continue to provoke me!" Izekiel warned him.
"Your Majesty, you're going too far. You don't need to say that to Prince Rasheen," Gawain said.
"Shut up! You too... Why don't you return to the academy and teach there? You're useless here anyway!" Izekiel snapped at him.
Gawain lowered his head. Izekiel's words are below the belt.
Rasheen punched Izekiel. "I don't care if you're the Emperor, but what you said is uncalled for!" he shouted.
Xerxes and Claudius tried to intervene.
"I said enough!!!" Aria yelled.
She suddenly felt dizzy, but luckily, William caught her before she fell.
Izekiel panicked when he saw her condition. "Aria!" He rushed to her side. "Are you all right? I'm sorry, I got carried away by my emotions," he said.
"Can you all please stop fighting?" she implored.
"All right, I'll stop now. I'm sorry," Izekiel held her hand.
"Her Majesty needs to return to her room and rest now," William advised.
Izekiel sighed, his anger giving way to concern. "All right, please take some rest."
She left with William.
"Tsk. This is all your fault," Rasheen said.
Izekiel glared at him.
"Enough of this, I'm done with my breakfast," Claudius left as well.
"I'm finished too," Xerxes said. Rasheen and Gawain followed him.
Izekiel clenched his fists.
.
.
"Are you sure you're all right? I will call the doctor." Cedrik asked.
He helped Aria to lay down on her bed.
"Yeah, I'm fine. I'm just tired." Aria insisted.
"You've been feeling dizzy lately. This is not normal, you should see the doctor," William suggested.
"He's right, there's nothing wrong with having the doctor examine you," Cedrik agreed.
She sighed. "Fine."
The two smiled. Cedrik quickly went to summon the imperial doctor.
.
.
The doctor arrived and conducted an examination.
"Hmm... How have you been feeling lately?" the doctor asked while examining her pulse.
"I've been tired and sleepy," she answered.
"How about food? Are there any foods that make you nauseous?" the doctor continued to inquire.
She nodded. "Some of the dishes they serve are smelly. I don't like them."
'I think I am also gaining weight.' she thought.
Wait a minute....
She covered her mouth and stared at the doctor.
The doctor smiled. "Congratulations, Your Majesty. You're pregnant!"
"W-What?"
She was really pregnant? Why hadn't she noticed it? She felt naive.
The doctor continued to examine her and conducted additional tests.
"It appears that you're approximately one month pregnant," the doctor confirmed.
She couldn't believe it, she was one month pregnant, yet she had continued to be intimate with her other husbands in recent nights.
She felt guilty for her baby. Would it be alright?
"Now that you're pregnant, you should take a break from work, eat healthy foods, avoid tiring yourself, and minimize stress, it's not good for the baby," the doctor advised.
"Yes, I will do that," she caressed her belly and smiled.
If it's been one month, that means it's Izekiel's child. This baby could be the key to gaining his trust over the Duke. Izekiel was overprotective, and he would only care for her and listen to her because of the baby.
I'm sorry, baby, but I have to use you to protect your father.
.
.
"Aria!!!" The door swung open, and Izekiel dashed to her bedside. "I heard that you're pregnant! Is it mine?" he asked, his excitement evident.
She smiled and caressed his face. "The doctor said I'm one month pregnant, and I slept with you for two months straight. That means it's yours."
"Really?" he exclaimed with joy. "I will be a father!"
He looked at Ludwig. "Ludwig! I'll be a father!"
"Congratulations, Your Majesty," Ludwig replied with a smile.
Izekiel hugged Aria tightly. "This is the happiest day ever!"
Aria kissed him on his cheek. "Me too... This child will be the future ruler of our empire."
"I hope it's a boy!" he said as he caressed her belly.
Ludwig observed them in silence.
This is bad news...
.
.
"Really? You're pregnant?" Claudius couldn't hide his happiness when he heard the news.
"Yeah, that's the reason why I haven't been feeling well lately," she replied.
"Who's the father?" Rasheen asked excitedly.
She scratched her head. "It's Izekiel."
They all glanced at Izekiel, who looked incredibly proud.
"Hmph!" Rasheen scowled.
She smiled and held Rasheen's arms.
"You'll be a mother soon. I'm happy for you." Gawain said.
"Thank you, and you guys will be the child's Godfathers," she announced.
"What? No!" Izekiel objected.
"Come on, it's my request. Are you going to turn down my request again?" she frowned.
"O-Of course not. If it's for your happiness and for the baby's sake, then I will let them become the Godfathers," Izekiel conceded.
"You can be the Godfather of our children too, if you want," Xerxes teased.
"What?" Izekiel gnashed his teeth.
"Stop teasing him, Xes," she said.
Xerxes patted her head. "Your child will also be our child, we don't care who the father is as long as it's yours."
She smiled. "Please protect my child in the future."
"You don't have to ask them, I can protect him myself," Izekiel declared.
.
.
Izekiel wasn't joking, the number of knights guarding Aria had increased. She only wanted William by her side, but she couldn't say no to him. The chefs and maids were extremely careful; one mistake, and they'd be fired immediately.
"Ced, I feel uncomfortable. There are so many guards and servants around me. I'm not used to this," she said.
"It's His Majesty's order. They can't leave, or else they will be fired. He wants to ensure your safety and the baby's," Cedrik explained. "You'll get used to it in time."
"I can't wait to see the baby. I will take care of him or her just like I take care of you, Your Majesty," Jenny said with affection.
She smiled and gazed at the sky. "This baby will be the future ruler of our empire. I will do everything to ensure they are fit to be the Emperor."
Right, no one will ascend the throne except you.
.
.
....
"WHAT?" Duke Wolfsbane freaked out upon hearing the news about the Empress' pregnancy.
"The Emperor was overjoyed and increased the number of guards around her. He mentioned that the child would be the future Emperor of our empire," Ludwig explained.
"No! That can't happen! His child can't become the Emperor. If that occurs, the Empress will have control over our empire. It would spell our doom!"
She will do anything...
"So, what's your plan?" Ludwig inquired.
A sinister grin spread across Duke Wolfsbane's face. "Kill the child within her."
Ludwig was taken aback. "But the Emperor dotes on that child, and his grief would be immeasurable if the child were to die."
"Exactly! He would blame the Empress entirely for her carelessness." Duke Wolfsbane fixed his gaze on Ludwig. "Kill the child."
Ludwig lowered his head, reluctantly conceding, "All right."
"And, by the way, is the Emperor continuing to take his medicine every night?"
"Yes."
A sinister smirk crept across Duke Wolfsbane's face. "Excellent. Now return to the Palace. Report back to me if anything changes."
"As you wish, Your Grace." Ludwig closed the door.
Ludwig clenched his fists. What a cruel man...
.
.
After Ludwig left, Dukes Wolfsbane clenched his fists.
"I hope Ludwig successfully eliminates the child. If that child remains alive, I'll lose control over the Emperor."
He observed that Ludwig had been growing soft since he'd been at the Palace.
"Once my plan succeeds, I'll also dispose of that man and the Emperor."
.
.
....
"I heard from my brother that you're pregnant." Nikolai said. He had hurried to visit her as soon as he heard the news.
"Yes, it's Izekiel's child," Aria confirmed, her hand gently caressing her belly.
"Time flies, you'll be a mother soon," he remarked.
He felt a pang of jealousy; he still loved Aria but couldn't confess to her. His brother was already her husband, and he knew she would never reciprocate his love. "I want to be the child's Godfather."
"Really? I'm thrilled that everyone wants to be the Godfather," she smiled.
She's still as beautiful as ever...
Nikolai blushed and shifted his gaze away from her. "I can protect the child, and we'll play every day. I'll also buy everything the child wants."
"Haha, don't spoil my baby too much. I don't want my child to turn into a brat like the other nobles."
"But it's your child, it's normal to want to give everything to her."
Although Nikolai had a sharp tongue and a quick temper, he still cared for me and my child.
"Thank you, Nik. When my child grows up, I want you to be there by his/her side," she said.
"Of course, I will! If the child is a girl, I might even marry her someday," he playfully teased.
"Shut up!" she kicked him.
"Ouch! I'm just joking!" he said, massaging his leg. "I'm already in love with someone else," he added.
"Really? Who's the unlucky girl?" she asked.
"Hey, that's rude! That girl is lucky because I fell in love with her," he responded.
She laughed. "Haha, fine. I know that. I know you're a kind person, even though you're always picking fights with me."
"Hmph! That's because you're always teasing me," he scowled.
She chuckled and pinched his cheek. "You haven't changed a bit."
He blushed.
Aww... He's so cute.