"No, Father, I don't wish to meet her at all." Bluntly, Ashton put it, creating an icy atmosphere from his stoic that froze Stephen and Warin.
This is not the first time my father has done this. Since I became the Emperor, he urged me to choose an Empress to rule by my side, but no woman ever fit the role. My father wants me to marry for love, but I know better than to make such a clueless decision. If I marry a woman, it will be for the service of the Empire and nothing more.
"But why son? If Lady Fallow is as kind as Warin, I'm sure you'll grow fond of her before realizing it." Stephen praised Emris, hoping Ashton would become open with time.
"No, whether I meet her now or a hundred years from now, my opinion will remain the same." Ashton snapped, his glare sparking against Stephen's smile. Ashton was sick of the constant nagging from his father.
When will you understand that I don't want these things you believe are significant? I want to live and die without having anyone by my side as my wife. Everything you do to tie me to someone won't work because I'll always tear the tie apart before it gets the chance.
Despite what you do, I won't fall in love with Emris Fallow.
***
The darkness of the night made it hard to see, but on the forestry road appeared a white carriage with the Fallow Dukedom crest on the door. Emris was late to the Ball, it had been difficult to go any faster since it was so dark, and the path seemed bumpier for the horseman. Emris was overwhelmed, which showed when she started tapping her foot anxiously on the carriage floor.
"If only the carriage hadn't arrived late, I would have arrived on time." Emris sighed. It was because of the complication with the carriage that it took long to arrive at the manor.
She clung to the cloak draped over her body, covering her dress. "I have to remember. Avoid the Emperor at all costs, and if that becomes impossible, then I'll resort to the fail-safe of acting the opposite as an Empress should." Emris, with her head resting on her palm, gazed out to the passing trees.
A lumpy satchel rested on her lap. Inside, she pulled out the book and opened it up to a specific page, a page looking to have significantly been marked. Before allowing the page to shine bright green, she shut the curtain closed containing the light.
Tapping on the page blinded her as it did the first time and showed pictures and information on what she clicked.
"Emperor Ashton Radomir, the man whose icy glare is as sharp and deathly looking as a blade." Emris read aloud, gazing up into his piercing sapphire eyes that she loathed.
Ashton is a distant man who despises the presence of people. He's known to be dashing, his facial features similar to someone resembling a god. Ashton Radomir is a man known for being popular with women in society because of his astonishing good looks, yet he never really gives any woman a second thought.
He is cold, cutthroat, cunning, and, on top of that, a workaholic with a confusing personality. He is intelligent and strategic; he always ensures everything is done correctly. There are little things that people know about him on account of the newspapers not being able to find any juicy secrets about him. As far as they know, he is an ordinary man with no scandals and nothing more than that.
"Reading again makes me hate him a lot more." Emris scoffed, glaring at his picture full of hate. "Would anyone want to marry this type of man? Being his wife sounds like it would be an exhausting chore." Emris frowned, her eyebrows furrowing.
More than that, Emris hated him too deeply for it to be based only on his description. She shut her eyes for a single moment, and in her mind, the flashing of similar cold eyes suffocated her and made her feel the bone-chilling shudder of death.
Emris' fear crept up, running its frigid presence down her spine. She'd quickly slammed the book closed, calming her hastening breath.
"….I wonder if everyone is waiting for me to arrive. Orla, Julia, and the Duke, are they waiting for me?" Emris slapped her face, trying to get back to the focus she deemed necessary.
"I have to stay strong. This Ball is the stepping stone I need to induct myself into social circles and gather information. Yes! Let's keep moving forward!" Emris cheered, swatting away all her negative feelings of unease.
"My Lady, we have arrived at the Palace." The coachmen said from outside the carriage, signaling that it was showtime for Emris.
"It's time…"
***
"Did you hear? Apparently, the original holder of the title for 'Beauty of the Empire' will attend the Ball tonight."
"I read all about it in the newspaper; she was walking out of a boutique with Marchioness Vassellion and Baroness Auclair, but was it really her? She was covered quite a bit."
"Isn't it said that she lost her beauty, which was why she hid away in her estate? Won't it be proved the moment she walks through those doors?"
"I wonder what shameless actions she must've taken to conceal her unsightly appearance."
Nobles murmured and snickered, cowardly making remarks about Emris far away from her father's ears. However, Orla and Julia are in the middle of the rumors and hear about the degradation of Emris' reputation from all sides.
"These bastards! They talk so freely behind other's backs but would never be able to run their mouths in front of anyone!" Julia grits her teeth, squeezing at her black hand-held fan.
"Calm down, Julia. Don't do anything rash; if you say anything now, it'll put Emris in a difficult position." Orla advised, holding Julia's hand still.
"I'm worried, Orla; what if Emris isn't coming? I worked so hard to cover her from the reporters, hoping to protect her in case she didn't, but I'm not sure what I'll do if she doesn't come." Julia thought back to how she'd covered Emris' face with her fan when she'd noticed the reporters hiding in the shadows.
"It's okay, Julia. You did your best, and I'm sure Emris would be happy knowing how much you want to protect her. Emris will come; I know she will." Orla reassured Julia, keeping her calm and distracted from the rumors.
Interrupting their conversation, the approach of a small group of women. "Oh dear, I hope I'm not intruding." At the head, a woman with dark brown hair that tumbles down past her shoulders, like rich, velvety chocolate, and deep, mesmerizing purple eyes resembling gemstones. "A pleasure it is to always run into you, Lady Vassellion and Lady Auclair."
Her entourage followed her every step, smirking sinister along with her. Julia and Orla's eyes went stone cold; the air became icy and ruthless when the three women clashed paths. "Lady Adela, I assume you know the basis of a proper greeting as Count Lindon's daughter, so why is it that you've failed to utilize the correct formalities."
Her insincere grin persisted, the folds of her adorned black dress lifting and the red jewels around her neck hanging. She bowed her head with the women copying her curtsy.
"Still prickly as always, Marchioness," Adela said, raising her head.
"What is your purpose for approaching us, Lady Lindton?" Orla charged forward in her ask.
"I was hoping to inquire information on the whereabouts of the Duke's daughter. It's unfortunate that after five years of waiting for a glimpse of her beauty, she prolongs everyone's anticipation. However, I'm sure her reasons are excusable, and she'll clear up the misunderstandings once she arrives." Adela's sharp tongue criticizes Emris for her tardiness.
Provoked into a state of fury, Julia glared at the thought of throttling her. For the sake of Emris, I mustn't lose my temper, especially not for someone just searching for a reaction out of me. Adela Lindton, you may think that the title of 'Beauty of the Empire' is in your grasp, but wait until Emris outshines you from everyone's minds.
"Lady Lindton, I'd like to know how it feels to be second to Emris even after she's disappeared for five years. You still place second in her absence, so tell me because I'm truly curious. How is that possible?" Orla, known for her innocence and lighthearted appearance, similar to that of a cute squirrel, shifted into a face full of retribution and passive rage.
Sensitive to the topic of that title, Adela broke free of her feigning ignorance. "How dare you!?" She raised her voice until the blowing of the horns drowned it out.
"Now announcing the arrival of The Daughter of Duke Fallow, Lady Emris Fallow." The announcer shouted, grabbing the attention of the entire ballroom. Everyone turned silent and stared as Emris walked down the stairs with a regal serenity.
Her brilliant, off-the-shoulder white dress followed behind her as the hem gently touched the ground. The Emperor stared at her wide-eyed, shocked by her sudden arrival and the tranquility in her expression. He was surprised to see her so calm despite the intensity of their murmurs escalating.
Adorned with white crystal jewels and embroidered flowers, Emris caught the attention of everyone in the ballroom. Her curled hair was swept up by a few hairs clipped by a jeweled flower hairpin, and her neck and ears were decorated with a set of sparkling white gems that captured the sparkle of the chandeliers.
Murmurs filled the room as Emris trod lightly across the ballroom, focusing forward and keeping her composer. In her ear were the hazy whispers of the noble's bewilderment at her late and sudden entrance.
"That's her! The rumors were right about her arrival!"
"She's so…beautiful."
"She has not lost her beauty as the rumors say at all. She's enchantingly lovely."
"I understand now why Lady Lindton was second. I've never seen anyone more stunning."
"I feel sorry for Lady Lindton; she was so close to becoming the 'beauty of the empire,' but can she really compete with Lady Fallow?"
"The Emperor can't pull his eyes away from Lady Fallow. Has she captured his heart with her sparkling beauty?"
"How sad I heard Lady Fallow and Lady Lindton were interested in him, but it seems Lady Fallow is the one who will become his Empress."
Among the commotion of the crowd, Lady Lindton faded into the background. She stood there with a fiery aura that had taken her over; her wrath and disdain for Emris simmered in her as she pierced her with her deadly eyes.
A gleam of light shined over Emris in her father's eyes; he grinned from ear to ear, seeing Emris walk towards him with a rare yet dazzling smile that melted his heart.
Emris's light, delicate fingers clutched the soft silk of her dress, and she curtsied, lowering her head for a respectful greeting to Ashton and his father.
"May the blessings of the Goddess be with the Imperial Family. I am Emris Fallow, the daughter of His Grace, Duke Fallow."