"Yes, Your Majesty," I replied with determination. Orion's lips spread into a smile. "I'm glad we are on the same page," he said before backing up. "What do you need me to do?" I wiped the beaded sweat from my forehead.
"For one, I don't want you near Verbena. I will announce in the court today that i have taken you as one of my maids."
"But wouldn't the court point fingers at you? For taking in a stranger?"
Orion nodded, biting his lower lip, after thinking about it for a while he spoke, "I think Verbena will be happy about it and she will back me up. I'll act naive towards the princess's plan."
That was one way of doing it, i thought looking away from the emperor before i started to blush. I could tell Verbena that it was the only way that the emperor could keep her close.
"I should go, the princess will start questioning if I stay any longer." I bowed to him and left the library.
"Colette." I turned around as he called out to me. "Yes, your majesty?"
"Don't wear the bandage. I don't like it." I blushed and muttered my reply before walking out of the room.
I gasped, gulping in the air, how could he spend hours inside that library? It was suffocating. I started going upstairs and then towards the bedroom. Thinking about what would it be like to serve the emperor himself? Will Verbena even let me near him? I opened the door and found Emiline chatting with the princess, who looked bored. The girls turned around to see me and I bowed to the princess.
"About time, come here and massage my head. It's hurting," she said, lying her head back on the sofa and closing her eyes. "I apologize for cutting you off, Emiline. But I have a headache because of the hot weather."
"I should take my leave then, Your Highness." Emiline got up and gave me a wink. Was she aware of the Emperor's plan? I smiled at her, taking my place on the back of the chair.
"His Majesty will hold court today, to announce my engagement to his brother," Verbena muttered as I massaged her temple. "Can you find out if Jasmine has a lover or is she already engaged to someone among the nobles?"
I can't believe she was targeting the poor girl, she was only 16. "Of course, Your Highness," I said.
The sun went behind the clouds and cool air started blowing. I opened the window to let the air wash out the warm temperature in the room. By the time the sun went down, I accompanied Verbena to the throne room which was already filled with nobles chatting animatedly with each other. In that same group, with the same people. I noticed Jasmine sitting quietly on the chair, behind her mother who was surrounded by men and women. Grace caught my eye and I bowed my head to her. She gave me a polite smile and went back to listening.
"My lady, you look beautiful as always." Helios interrupted us by cutting in our way, Verbena was taken aback by his sudden appearance.
"Thank you, your highness," she replied.
"I wanted to ask you this tonight after our engagement announcement, if it's not too much trouble, would you accompany me for a walk in the garden after dinner?"
I saw her eyes shift from Helios to the empty throne and then back at him. "Of course, your highness. How could I deny your kind offer." Helios kissed the back of her hand and left.
"Ugh," Verbena whispered under her breath, wiping the hand on her dress. "He looks so much older than me, I can't believe Father is making me marry an old man."
"But, his Highness is only 22," I answered. Verbena snapped her head at me, "I didn't ask for your answer, Colette." she sneered and fanned herself. "When will he come?" as if on cue, the doors behind us opened and entered Orion. His cape blew behind him, flanked by two knights and his old advisor. Everyone bowed to him as he took his seat on the throne and beckoned his advisor closer. The old man whispered in his ear while Orion nodded and then diverted his attention to the court.
"I would like to make an official announcement today." His voice echoed in the hall and everyone stopped talking to hear the emperor. "I am pleased to announce the engagement of my younger brother, Helios to Verbena, Princess of Kralen." the court erupted in applause. Orion lifted his hand and the applause stopped.
"I would also like to announce a new addition to my personal staff."
I held in my breath and went back a few paces, to hide from the audience, behind Verbena. "The maid Colette. She has Waedal blood and was raised in Kralen, a rare combination. I have taken Colette to be on my personal staff, as we begin this new form of alliance with the kingdom of Kralen."
Maybe the crowd wasn't sure what to do in this situation but it was Grace who started clapping first and the rest followed her lead. Verbena whipped her head to me, there was something in her eyes that I couldn't recognize, before she could accuse me of something, I took one step closer to her and whispered to her.
"I think the emperor wants to keep you close to him, a clever move so that people won't accuse him of anything." the emotion in her eyes changed as she narrowed them and looked at the emperor.
"Like I said, Colette." she smirked, "no man can ever deny a woman's touch."
Emiline came to congratulate me and asked me to report to her tomorrow so she could give me a new uniform and quarters. "But she'll also serve me right?" Verbena asked. "You can't possibly leave me to fend for myself?"
"I apologize Your Highness, but his majesty's personal staff only serves him, i will make sure to give you two personal attendants, the best ones in the palace." Verbena scoffed, turning away from her.
After dinner, when she saw Helios approaching her Verbena hid behind a pillar, pulling me with her. "Can you go to him and say that I'm not feeling good?"
"Your Highness, you haven't spent any time with your fiance, people will talk."
"I'll marry him next week anyway, what's the rush… why is that sly thing smiling at Orion?" I followed Verbena's gaze and saw Jasmine smiling up at Orion who was saying something to her.
"She did grow up in the palace, maybe they are friends?" I replied.
But Verbena ignored me, and walked towards the Emperor, lifting her gown a little. Helios noticed her and started making his way towards her but I interrupted him. "Her Highness wanted me to pass this to you, but she isn't feeling very well, the weather is still hot for her to get used to."
"She's right there." he pointed behind me.
"She's thanking her majesty for his blessing, your highness." Helios raised an eyebrow at me and then looked at his fiance over my shoulder. Maybe he didn't believe me, but there was nothing I could do. He left.
"Colette, can you come here for a second?" I heard her sickly sweet voice and flinched.
"Colette is the best attendant you'll ever find, I am heartbroken seeing her leave my side." she pouted and with a swift move, elbowed Jasmine out of the way to take her place, "Maybe, you could take back your word?" she twirled a lock of her hair on her finger and for a second I thought he would fell for her tricks.
"No," Orion said bluntly. Pushing past her and walking towards the group where Grace had taken the stage again.
"Don't you have a fiance?" Jasmine said, coming back.
"Yes, and?"
"Verbena, stop making it obvious that you want the emperor. The court won't like it if your pit the brothers against each other."
"Maybe you should stop oogling at the emperor and go back to playing with dolls."
Jasmine smirked at her, and shook her head. "Idiot." she muttered, walking back to her mother.
"Colette, i know exactly what to do now." Verbena smirked looking at the girl's back. "If she want's a man's attention so bad, i'll give her just that."