For the umpteenth time, the throne room settled in a strange silence as the nobles and envoys watched the empress wide-eyed dealing with the terrifying beast like a pet.
The meek and gentle empress had the beast act so docile in her palm. Suddenly the rumored image of the empress seemed to vanish from their minds.
''Of course, if that is alright with your majesty.'' Everyone watched as the empress put forth a request directly to the quiet emperor.
Concerning the imperial couple, there were many rumors about them. Some say the queen was greatly favored since she was the emperor's first and true love. Others say the emperor favored the empress because of her beauty.
No one knew the truth about the imperial couple since there was no sign of a child yet from the empress or queen. It could even be that the emperor truly favored neither women.
''If that's what you wish, empress…'' For the second time, the emperor said something, and it was to answer the request of the empress. No… for both times, the emperor only spoke when the empress was involved.
The envoys and nobles noted that as they watched the empress smiling pleased at the emperor before returning her gaze back to the cage and continued petting the beast that sent shivers down their spines.
****
''Her Majesty's gloves! Quickly bring them!''
''Don't let her majesty's hair down! Use these hair pins.''
''We don't have time! Quickly get her majesty's shoes!"
''The make up on her majesty should be very light!''
''Her majesty…..''
Within the closet of the empress's bedchambers, Leanna with familiar two maids and Valerie could be seen running helter-skelter trying to prepare the red-haired lady for the founder's day banquet.
'You humans love to cover your body too much.'
'Well, as the empress I have to dress in a conservative way.'
'Really? But your dress during the day was quite different from what I heard in the tribe.'
'Different?'
'Yes. I heard the ladies of the Landian empire loved to wear gowns shaped like a ball.'
''Pfft!''
''Your majesty, please don't move.''
'Like a ball?' Clearing her throat, Rose forced herself not to disturb Leanna, painting her lips with a serious expression. She plastered a poker face, trying to hold the laughter threatening to escape her lips because of the words from a certain silver beast.
'Yes….Ah…'
'What is it?' Rose questioned immediately, detecting a change in the beast's voice.
'It seems I am going to turn back to an actual beast soon.'
'But…aren't you one?'
'Remember what I said about being an irregularity among the members of my tribe. From birth, I was born in this form but with a human mind. However, it is not all the time that I could maintain the mind of a human. There are times that my mind would be that of a literal beast.'
'So you're changing into a literal beast? Should I be worried?' Rose inquired, wondering if she made a mistake of releasing this silver beast into her room. The beast had pleaded with her not to be in the cage as she wasn't a feral beast to be kept trapped all the time.
'No. For some reason I feel a connection with you so I can't possibly harm you in that state. However, tell the other humans not near your room unless they want to be killed.'
'I see.' Rose almost nodded in understanding if not for the concentration that Leanna was putting on her face. Since there was nothing left to discuss, Rose ended her inner conversation with the silver beast and focused on her seamstress and maids flying around like buzzing bees.
After many minutes of arguments and agreements, Rose was finally dressed up for the banquet.
''Your majesty's beauty is so out of the world.''
''Now this maid understands why many has praised your majesty's beauty.'' Valerie, Leanna and the two maids all teared up when facing the empress wearing the results of their hard work.
''Haha…thank you.'' Looking at their teary faces, Rose shook her head like she did not know what to do with them.
Finally having the chance to move from the spot, Rose wandered over to the mirror on the side and looked at her reflection on the glass.
'You are truly beautiful, empress.' As always, Rose did not forget to praise herself. Valerie really did her a big one and Leanna with the maids did a good job in fitting her into the dress.
''Make sure no one enters this empress's room, including you, Leanna. Mira will be the only one left in my room. '' While giving instructions, Rose turned around and stepped out of the room with Leanna following her in toe and the others tidying up the mess in the closet.
''Your majesty is leaving the beast free in your room?''
''Of course. Mira will be our watchman.'' Stopping in front of the silver beast laying on her bed, Rose's fingers brushed through the soft silver fur.
'How long will it take, Mira?'
'Not too long. It will be best if they leave now.' Mira, the silver beast raised her furry head to the red-haired woman adorn in a white gown and long chains across the clothing material.
''If possible, leave the room after I step out.''
''…As your majesty wishes.'' Leanna replied after a moment of staring at her mistress. For her mistress to say such words, perhaps there's something about the silver beast that she took in.
When the beast came to the empress's palace, Leanna fainted on spot at the terrifying sight. To think her kind-hearted mistress had the control of the terrifying silver beast in her palm.
Her mistress even released the beast in her room and the beast did nothing but watched them like they were not palatable food in its eyes.
Now her mistress was urging them to leave the room immediately and the silver beast inside. Perhaps her mistress probably did not want to risk their lives since she would be away from the beast.
''I'll see you later, Mira.'' Rose gave the silver beast one last grin before turning around and stepping out of the room. The ends of her long sleeves trailed after her, painting her as an angelic being descending the worldly lands.
Once the doors went shut, Rose instructed Leanna to get the knights after leaving with Valerie and the others to be stationed in front of the empress's bed chambers. Afterwards, she left the empress palace to the main palace, which was also the emperor's palace where the banquet was taking place.
On the way, each maid and manservant that came across her all widened their eyes at the sight of her before hastily giving their greetings. From their widened eyes, Rose could guess that she was truly magnificent to their sights.
'As it should be…' As the empress of the entertainment industry, Rose welcomed their reactions wholeheartedly.
The distance between the empress's palace and the main palace was neither too long nor too short. All palaces in the entire imperial palace were connected through hallways, and so, it did not take long before Rose stepped into the main palace.
The servants of the main palace caught the sight of her and quickly ushered for the head maid who hurriedly guided her to the emperor and queen that had been waiting for quite some time.
On the way, there was a strange silence which ticked the head maid's nerves. The middle-aged woman kept on throwing glances at the empress as though she hadn't seen the red-haired for a long time.
''Enjoy the banquet, your majesty.'' At the sight of the emperor and queen at a distance, the head maid stopped on the spot and bowed to the empress, who walked forward, not sparing her any glance.
''Ah, your majesty made his majesty and I patient for quite some time.''
>Enjoy!<