(Garden at the Queen's palace, residence of Her Majesty The Holy Empress)
Enormous Imeperial palace often had visitors from all parts of the empire. Counts, dukes, viscounts, barons, marquesas, however most common are noble ladies who are yet to make a debut in to the social world. On rear occasions the Imperial palace is visited by quite rude individuals who have no respect for Imperial family's personal space. Such as Queen's palace, residence of Her Majesty The Holy Empress. Located on the east part of the property and almost completely separated from the main palace, connected only by an open hallway. It was a home of Thalia de Rilibera, her court ladies and her children.
This highly secured place surrounded by a beautiful garden made by the Holy Empress, was the most prohibited area on the whole estate. Guards on every entrance and every corner was enough of a sign that this place was prohibited for the outsiders.
The staff and regular visitors of the Imperila palace know this rule so well that they often forget to mention it to newcomers. To them it is same as not touching fire because it's hot.
Men and outside visitors are prohibited form stepping foot on the Queen's palace grounds without an invitations from the Holy Empress or a letter of approval for their visit.
Punishment for breaking this rule was not the harshest but rather simple.
If you are to brake this rule, even by accident, from that moment on you are striped of the privilege to visit thd Imperial palace again. This punishment can only be avoided if the Holy Empress herself give's her pardon.
No one has ever received this punishment because, even if it sound weak, it is an unavoidable downfall not just of the individual receiving it, but their whole family, so all visitors have been careful not to braek this rule. It can cause business to fail, important partnerships to be lost, even a collapse of an entire individuals family.
Best assumption is that Lady Gabrielle von Favora wasn't made aware of this very important rule. If she was, she certainly wouldn't be stupid enough to break it. Lady Gabrielle's father was Marquis Favora, his influence was low in today's court but Favora family has a long history in defending Arthein and their family name is still strong enough to have connections amongst the lower titles families.
Lady Gabrielle is the youngest amongst her five sisters and despite her age she is yet to marry. She rejects evey marriage offer placed before by using love as an excuse. They say Lady Gabrielle is searching for her true love. How wonderful of a story it would be if it were true.
"Should I get close to his daughter Maria?" Lady Gabrielle asked her court lady that she brought with her to the imperial palace. This was their first time visit this wonder of architecture. Unfortunately, what interested this young ladies wasn't the spectacular architect of three palaces or beautiful gardens. No, the peak of Lady Gabrielle interest was a man. Now with her age it is obvious to think that that man would be the prince or one of many knights or even one of the scholars, but no it was the Emperor himself.
Three years ago, on her coming of age ceremony that she shared with other noble ladies of her age, she had layed her eyes on the Emperor for the first time. The Emperor would only come for a short time to show his respect for ladies fathers who work with him and then leave to continue with his duties. His wasn't much of a looker, his hair is long, his eyes are always tired and his face is slim. How he looks isn't important because Lady Gabrielle didn't fall in love with his looks. What peaked her interest was an idea of becoming his concubine, one day even his wife.
There were many rumors following the Empress name at the time. She is sick, she is insane, she is banished, she is dead. No one outside the palace knew where the Empress was, that lead to many rumors spread around, especially among younger ladies that only heard stories of the Empress's beauty and blindly followed the trends she apparently started. They wanted to meet her, celebrating the coming of age ceremony at the palace was their opportunity to see her for the first time.
It was obvious she would come with the Emperor to show respect to yound ladies families like her husband did, but when the time came she wasn't there. That only helped the rumours spread quicker and became more insane.
Those rumors lead Lady Gabrielle to two conclusions. Her Majesty is dead or Her Majesty is divorced.
Everyone knew that the Emperor was cheating on his wife and visiting brothels when visiting foreign countries. So even if she was alive and still married to the emperor, it was obvious he didn't like her or love her.
Lady Gabrielle saw this as a great opportunity, she was beautiful, she was from a good family, her manners were good and her body was the one man always turned their heads for.
She had everything to offer but in the end she received nothing.
As the years went by she tried to approach him many times, evey time she was at the same ball as His Majesty she tried to approach him, to dance with him, to talk to him, to just be at his sight. It was hard, especially because she wasn't the only lady with an idea of getting involved with the Emperor and the fact he genuinely ignored every woman that approached him wasn't helping.
She tried sending letters but never got a reply, she told her father to talk about her at any given opportunity but no results were ever showing.
Now after three years of trying she has decided to come to the palace and meet him in person no matter the lengths she would have to go to in oryto received that opportunity.
Today was her first day at the palace and also the day she would start her plan to meet the Emperor.
"Princess Nefeli? I heard she has quite a temper." Maria said.
"It doesn't matter, she is right there." Lady Gabrielle pointed at the small garden rotunda were a young lady in a turquoise dress was walking in circles around a table while talking to someone. There were two guards standing at the bottom of a staircase.
If somebody had informed her, Lady Gabrielle would know that the open hallway she was now standing in was the only part of the main palace connected to the Queen's palace and that the garden she was looking at was also part of the Queen's palace, matter the fact it was the Holy Empress personal garden.
Before Maria could answer Lady Gabrielle was already heading towards the garden rotunda. The young ladie she saw before stopped the moment she saw her, the guards stopped Lady Gabrielle the moment she came close to them.
"Your Highness." Lady Gabrielle said while looking at the young woman in a turquoise dress, she was dress quite modestly for someone so young and her diamond jewelry and heeled shoes were something an average young woman of her age wouldn't usually wear. Her golden hair, styled highly with butterfly shaped jewellery in the color of her dress completed her look perfectly. Despite being so young and dressed like that the most odd thing was a calico cat in her arms that had a blue collar with a bell around its neck.
"Your Highness, I am Gabrielle von Favora." She once again got no response. The guards, the young woman who she taught was a princess, another even younger lady that was sitting at the table and even the calico cat looked at her tensely.
"Your Majesty," spoke one of the guards. "Should we proceed?"
Lady Gabrielle's world froze in matter of seconds. Your Majesy, the guard called the woman in a turquoise dress.
"Mother who is that?" The lady by the table stood up.
Mother, it rang in Lady Gabrielle's ears. A cold sweat cover her.
The woman that she just so casually approached was the Holy Empress.
Even if she was supposed to, Lady Gabrielle didn't lower her head or tried to correct her dreadful mistake in any way. No, in fact she couldn't take her gaze of empress's unbothered eyes. To Gabrielle this look was cold and unwelcomeing making her feel like a prey, a mouse that the calico cat in empress's arms was about to catch.
"I don't know Nefeli." The Holy Empress finally answered. "Please proceed." She said to the guards and turned around, continuing her circular stroll around the table.
Lady Gabrielle von Favora was taken away by two red sleeved guards, the moment two of them left their positions another two who came out of nowhere took their places.
Oh.
Was the last though Lady Gabrielle von Favora had before completely understanding everything that had happened, right before the palace gate was closed in front of her eyes and she was left to stand alone with her luggage that wasn't even unpacked.
I don't know what turn her life took after this but I heard she recently got married. I wish her the bestest luck in the life ahead of her.