Ophelia's POV
I was supposed to go to Laura's party today. That obviously means I have to exit the palace and I frankly do not want to do so.
Avila and two other maids were currently helping get dressed while Sage sat down on my chair watching. So by now everyone has caught on to our relationship, meaning we have to publicly announce it soon. Imagine having to publicly announce your relationships, one of the parts of being a royal.
Avila came behind me and tightened the corset off my dress and all the oxygen was knocked out of my lungs.
"Avila!" And she just gave me a cheeky smile.
They all exited, except Avila because she was coming with me.
Sage got up and wrapped his hands around my waist from behind. My lips turned up into a smile as I placed my hands on his.
"You look ravishing," he whispered into my ears and did my face go red? Yes, yes it did.
"Thank you," I giggled and I heard Avila groan.
"You both are sickeningly adorable!" She exclaimed as she faked a gag, making me laugh.
"You need to find love. I saw you looking at the guard Sage sparred against the other day," I knew I was right when her face went pink.
"Oh so you were looking at him?" I teased and she rolled her eyes.
"Maybe," she mumbled.
"I'm sorry I didn't catch that," I really just wanted to get on her nerves.
"I said maybe," she said irritated, a bit louder.
"I'll take that as a yes," she looked ready to throw her shoe at me.
"You should talk to him," I told her as I looked up at the clock,"and we have to go, we are already thirty minutes late. How did that happen?!" I exclaimed.
We had to use one of the pods because my magic was still not working. I know everyone else uses the pods but I was not everyone. I am aware that I sound incredibly ungrateful.
We arrived and it was a huge event. I was under the impression that it was only going to be Laura's friend group, meanwhile basically everyone was here. All that's left now is my parents.
She sighted me, walked over and dragged me along with her. Well Sage would have to socialize.
I was surrounded by a series of people congratulating me on the successful battle. I know word travels fast but this was serious. I personally did not expect everyone to be on board with me killing the emperor and I was right.
Barely thirty minutes into the party, people started to gossip. They held on longer than I had faith in them, so I gave them my applause.
"Can you imagine, I heard the princess was in a relationship with her guard," the two women discussed with such disgust in their voices that you would think I had relations with their fathers. If you are going to gossip at least do it more than eight feet away and reasonably quietly.
It seems Laura heard it too because she turned to look at me with a look of annoyance.
"People say nonsense way too much," she rolled her eyes, and I hummed in agreement.
"I mean they do have a point," my head shot in the direction of the screechy voice. It was the short girl in the group of ladies we were talking to, who had not said a word. Yet now she chose to speak.
"I'm sorry what?" I tried to feign a smile.
"Your guard is a bit beneath you, why not go for a Duke or Lord," First of all the dukes were my father's age and I do not possess daddy issues that would make me want to have a relationship with them. Secondly, BENEATH ME, who the fuck does she think she is to say he is beneath me. I mean if anything I was the one beneath when we- MOVING ON.
"It seems you have forgotten your place-" she has the audacity to cut me off.
"I was just pointing out the obvious," well that was it.
"I WILL REMIND YOU THAT WE ARE NOT ON THE SAME LEVEL! I AM YOUR FUTURE QUEEN AND YOU HAVE NO SAY IN WHO I CHOOSE TO HAVE RELATIONS WITH. BE GRATEFUL THAT I LET YOU SPEAK TO ME. THE NEXT TIME YOU THINK OF TRYING IT REMEMBER YOU MAY NOT LEAVE WITH ALL YOUR LIMBS. YOU SAY HE IS BENEATH ME BUT IF ANY OF US IS BENEATH ANYONE HERE, IT IS YOU! YOU ARE A PATHETIC DISGRACE," my voice got louder with every sentence and Sage noticed this and was next to be before I had even finished talking.
"Princess, is there an issue?" He asked, as he placed his hand on the small of my back.
"No, no, Lady whatever her name is, was just leaving," I smiled and that was her cue to walk out in shame.
"Well she is officially not invited to any of my gatherings," Laura murmured and I snickered.
"I nesd to drink something," Would a server have come to give me one? Yes, but there were also desserts and drinks lined up aesthetically on tables and I was going to make use of them.
I walk of with Sage's hands around my waist and make my way to the tables. In front of the tables two men have heir backs turned to us and heavens help me.
"Can you imagine, the princess killed the emperor," the distaste was rather obvious.
"I wonder how she managed to do it,"one of them told the other.
"The emperor must have been suicidal. I can't imagine the princess being able to singlehandedly kill him alone. There's was no way she could take on a fully grown man," See now I think they are stupid. I looked up at Sage and I could feel the anger radiating of him as his hold on my waist tightened.
"And did you hear she's now with her guard. How the mighty have fallen," That was crossing the line. I cleared my throat and they turned with a raised brow that quickly fell when they saw me.
"Nobles are really mouthy nowadays, isn't that right, love?" I asked Sage and he replied with hum.
"Your highness we didn't mean it," one apologized for both of them.
"I hear what you are saying but I am not really convinced,'' this drew the attention of everyone and now all eyes are on us.
"We are really sorry, your highness," this was almost comical.
"During my time as princess, which is my entire life. Have I ever abused my title? Have I ever been a dictator? Have I?" I turned towards the crowd surrounding us and most of them shook their heads and there were some audible, "No your highness"s.
"Of course not, your highness,we apologize"they shook their heads profusely.
"This begging isn't all too convincing," I told them.
"I think it would be better if they were kneeling. Don't you think princess?" Sage asked, and I nodded.
"Kneel for her highness," Sage commanded then and they turned to look at each other, then they still did not.
Seeing that they weren't planning to, Sage moved behind both of them and pushed them both down by their shoulders forcing them to drop on the ground.
"Much better," he said and moved back to stand behind me.
"Apologize," I whispered to them as I bent down to their level.
When I stood back up they were apologizing alright. It was very enjoyable.
I turned to face the crowd, and stared right into the souls of the two girls I heard talking. Was what I was about to do going to make more people talk? yes. Was I going to take the risk? Also yes and I did not really care anymore.
"It seems some of you have "apprehensions" about me vanquishing the emperor and even more of you have an issue with my relationship," I was not in the mood for the 'your obligation is first to the people' crap.
"If I didn't kill the emperor, none of you present here would have lived. Have any of you ever wondered why the shifters were gone? Well that's because he was killing the nobles and locking up the commoners. Did none of you actually question why there was an influx of shapeshifters? Oh and he opened the shadow barriers, if not for me they wouldn't have been closed," gasps rang around. I wasn't usually one to pride myself on things but this was ridiculous. I got fucking stabbed and died for this bullshit. My healing powers were still off and my teleportation wasn't working, but they want to stay her and complain.
"And in regards to my relationship. I will be with whoever I want to. My duties and role and royalty doesn't rest on who I choose to be in a relationship with. So the next time you question Sir.Caddel's level, think about it. You just might loose your own title," I ended with a smile and the Laura being who she was started clapping, then others joined, before I knew it practically everyone was clapping. The two girls who were talking were gone now.
I was ready to live, so I turned to Sage and he got the clue. Avila saw us and came to my side then we walked out the door. When we exited the door, Laura came running out.
"I am so sorry for ruining your party," I apologized.
"What's that supposed to mean? Shut up. You made it less boring," she told me and I laughed.
"Let me make it up to you, come to the palace whenever you can and I'll host you," I suggested.
"First of all I don't need to be made up to. Secondly, you would do that anyway," she said and I rolled my eyes.
"My offer still stands, I'm going to go," we exchanged good byes and we used one of the pods to get back to the palace.
When we were in the palace, it suddenly dawn on me ragt I hadn't seen lady Harrington in a while.
"I want to go to Alkazar tomorrow, I haven't seen Lady Harrington in a while," I told them as we walked down to my room.
As we were walking my legs quite literally gave out but thankfully before I could fall Sage scooped me up in his hands.
"Thank you," I smiled at him.
"Anytime, princess," he replied.
"Okay, I think I can walk now," but he didn't put me down. He just started walking to my room.
"Sage what are you doing?" I squinted my eyes.
"Carrying you," he replied like it was obvious.
"You are aware that there are quite a few halls to walk through till we get to my room right?" I asked him.
"I am fully aware," he deadpanned and Avila straight up cackled.
So he ended up carrying me to my room, through the halls and every single person in the halls had to make one comment or the other. Although there were an unruly amount of "awns". I just buried my face in his chest.