I immediately went to Verbena's room when I woke up. She was already awake, humming to herself while watching out the window. She hadn't changed and must be waiting for me.
"Good morning, Your Highness. You look in a good mood today," I said, walking over to her.
"I think my plan will work sooner than I thought, Colette." she smiled at me, which was rare nowadays. I took her to the bathroom and helped her take off her gown and clothes, while she untwisted her hair from the braid.
"Oh, that's amazing, your highness." I gave her a fake smile.
"Do you know why?" she asked me, lowering herself in the bathtub while I took a seat and picked up the soap and scrubber.
"No, your highness," I said, making foam.
"I heard a rumor last night, that the emperor has never felt a woman's touch." her words almost made me drop the soap but I composed myself.
"But he's the emperor, he could've had anyone." I was truly shocked.
"I know, but it's true." Verbena turned her head over her shoulder and grinned. "So make me look pretty Colette, Orion takes his breakfast at the library and I want to start my plan."
If what she says is true? Then maybe Verbena's plan might work because no man could ever refuse a woman's touch when she was offering it herself. Especially a beautiful princess like Verbena. I did as told because it was my duty as a maid. I let her hair down and made her wear a thin fabric gown, from which her body was prominent and perfumed the most exotic of smells that she had brought from Kralen. "I'll get going now," Verbena said looking at herself in the mirror, satisfied.
"Good luck, Your Highness." I nodded at her and watched her leave, when she closed the door behind me I slumped down on the chair, my heart had been beating so fast.
That's when I decided to sneak on her, knowing it was a big risk. But I couldn't sit still and not think about Verbena seducing the Emperor while I watched her become the empress and ruin the empire. I got up and left the room, making sure to take a basket of fruits with me, as an excuse. If caught, I could tell them that the princess had forgotten the fruits and asked me to bring them to the library.
Yes, I thought, that was perfect.
I took two left turns and then went down the narrow spiral staircase and stood outside metal doors. It was opened slightly ajar, and I could hear muffled talks inside.
I put the basket on the floor and crouched a little so that I could look at what was happening inside.
I could see a portion of a rectangular wooden table, and further from there I saw Vebena's back to me, I couldn't see the Emperor. She was looking at something on the table, then her head turned to her right and she smiled.
Orion came into my view. Shirtless and wearing a robe. They spoke, but I couldn't hear them, so I could only rely on their movements. I saw Verbena's hand reach out to touch his chest, her lips slightly parted, and something in my stomach twisted. Orion didn't move, he kept looking at her. The rumors were true then, I thought, he had never felt a woman's touch.
Orion lifted his hand and grazed his finger against Verbena's cheek, down her neck, and stopped just above her cleavage which was breathing heavily. She had closed her eyes. I couldn't watch anymore, it was making me angry and I didn't know why. I shut the door close, so that they knew someone had watched them, so that she might be scared a little, and I ran upstairs.
************************************
Back in her room, I pinched myself twice to make that dreadful feeling go away. After a while, the door opened, and in came Verbena, feeling satisfied.
"How did it go, Your Highness?" I asked, holding a rag.
"Wonderful, Colette. Don't worry, I won't forget my promise." she winked at me and twirled in the room, going towards her bed, probably daydreaming about her and Orion's children.
Someone knocked at the door and I opened it. Emmiline greeted me, "How are you, Colette?"
"I am good, My lady. What brings you here?"
Emiline handed me a folded piece of paper and my heart lurched seeing it. I had been summoned. "Go, I'll make an excuse for you." she gave me a kind smile and I nodded, looking back at the princess and then walking out quietly as she took my place inside.
I opened the note: "Library." was he going to tell me that the plan had been changed? That he had fallen for Verbena? Men are such fools. I thought as I made my way to the library and before I could open the door, I froze. The basket, I thought. I had forgotten the basket. I looked down but it wasn't there. Did a maid come and pick it up?
Gathering myself, I opened the door to the library. Books and parchment looked down at me, the smell of old paper filled the room. Orion was leaning against the table at the end of the room, where Verbena had met him.
He was reading a book, his robe discarded and now I knew why. It was unbearably hot down here, I had taken three steps in and my back was drenched in sweat.
"You called, Your Majesty," I said. Orion looked up from the book, upon seeing me he closed it and walked a few steps towards me. My eyes landed on the basket behind him, the fruits sitting untouched.
"You left something on the door." He smirked, seeing my reaction.
"I…I don't know what you are talking about, your majesty." I shouldn't lie to him, he could cut my tongue.
"Do you know the consequences of spying on me, Colette?" Orion was close now, towering over me.
"I….i didn't" I stammered, "Every suite has its special basket, Colette and I recognized this one from the princess's suite. " he cut me off.
"I was…I was just trying to see what she was planning, your Majesty."
"You were worried about me?"
I swallowed, my throat dry from dehydration, and nodded.
"What plan?" he asked, folding his arms and taking a step back. I was relieved to have room for breathing.
"She said that there is a rumor in the palace about how…..how you…..haven't felt….a touch of a….woman." I quickly looked down, blushing.
"It's true," he replied, bluntly. I stared at him, my mouth slightly open, Orion took a step forward and I backed up, and my back crashed against something hard. It was a table.
Orion leaned in, putting his hand on either side of my hips, not touching my body, but the table. He was so close that I could make out the golden hues in his pupils.
"Can you help me with that, Colette?" he whispered, making me shiver.
"Your majesty?" I tried not to close my eyes, tried not to fall for it.
"You said you could never say no to me, So I ask you, Colette. Will you help me dispel that rumor?"
It became difficult to breathe, and so many thoughts ran in my head, but there was one which stood out. Revenge. Verbena may have gotten her hand with him first, but I'll make sure to seal the deal. I know this was a far-fetched idea, but there was only one way to stop Verbena from becoming the empress.
The only revenge that would make me happy, was to become the empress.