"Are we there yet?" I asked. Ariel peek at my carriage and shrug. I don't feel good about this evening but I have to attend since I have to introduce myself to the Empress Consort Serrah.
According to Lord Arzael, the Empress Consort is a sophisticated woman with a hint of wickedness. He said that there has been a rumor circulating all those years that she killed all the Imperial babies for her son to succeed to the throne of the Emperor. However, the Emperor set Eryx, son of the Imperial Noble Consort whom the Emperor truly loves, took it.
"You don't have to talk to her. Seeing her and she, seeing you is enough. Don't go near her."
That's the Emperor's words earlier before I got in this carriage. I have to avoid her but the purpose of my attendance this evening is to see her, right?
I am confused. I don't even know what to do when they all gank me, people I don't even know. He just let me have Lord Arzael and Ariel. He said he has to finish something tonight.
The carriage stops.
"We're here, milady." Lord Arzael said and offered his hand to help me get down my carriage. I saw Ariel looking at the huge extravagant palace gate in front of us. It has a mark of a dragon, and has fierce guards everywhere.
Lord Arzael walks towards the guards and presents a token. "We are the people of the Emperor, please let us in." he said.
The guard looked at me. "You can go but these two women are not familiar to us. Who are they?"
Yeah, who am I here?
"She's the soon to be Empress of this nation." A hard and deep voice said. When we all turned around we saw Emperor Eryx riding a white horse. He said he's not going to attend?
All of us bowed to him and all the guards immediately opened the gate and let us all in. When I tried to look at the Emperor, I saw him already looking at me.
"You don't have to speak later, let me do all the work." he said, walking by my side in the hallway of the Dragon Palace. He's wearing a warm blur uniform this time and a black cloak that has the mark of the Emperor. His long hair we're also tied.
Ariel looks at me as if she can hear what I am thinking. Well, she can hear it for real.
We stopped as we reached a door, from here I could hear loud music inside. I gasped when the Emperor reached for my left hand and put it on his right arm.
"W-what is this?" I asked.
"Act normal. You know the rules, we have to pretend in front of their eyes and if they see us not even touching each other, they won't believe that you are my soon to be Empress." he explained.
This is awkward, do I really have to be this close to him?
The door of the room opened and a very bright light welcomed us. The room has stairs to come down and meet the people. They are all chatting, drinking, eating and dancing. All the very important, rich and powerful people are here.
"Stay with me."
My body shivers as the Emperor said that, his face is close to mine right now!
Gosh, he's really beautiful!
Ariel coughs but only to tease me because she can hear my thoughts.
We walked down the stairs and people began to notice our presence as the music stopped. They all look at us with curiosity, jealousy and shocks.
"Don't be scared of them. I'm here. "
I like that phrase knowing that even if it's just pretend.
I didn't even notice that we are now walking in the middle of the pathway that they made when they see us.
I can't help but to tighten my grip on Eryx's arm.
"I'm on your back, don't be scared." Ariel said. I forgot that they were walking behind us too, with Lord Arzael.
"Who is she?"
"She looks so beautiful."
"She looks wicked and fierce."
"Did Majesty really marry a woman like that? She looks like villainess more than an Empress."
When we reached the golden throne of the room, I saw a beautiful woman sitting on it. Her hair is red and so is her exquisite gown. It has the details of a gold dragon symbol. And her headdress stands out because of its flower designs. She looks beautiful in every angle.
This is the first time I saw the Empress so close. I just managed to see her carriage before and her hair but not her face.
Emperor Eryx bowed to her so I did it too. She didn't change her expression even after seeing me beside the Emperor. It's hard to read if she likes me or not. Well, it doesn't matter.
"Royal Mother, "Emperor Eryx said after bowing. "This is—"
"Quite gorgeous, rare color of eyes and hair. She's a daughter of Duke Thornfield?" the Empress asked, interrupting the Emperor's greeting. "State your name dear."
What should I do? Eryx didn't move or react so I responded.
"Replying to Empress Consort, " I said and bowed a little. "I am indeed—"
"Everyone!" the Empress shouted and everyone in the room who's busy chatting loudly stopped. "Your soon to be Empress is talking so have some respect. "
She's really fierce, and maybe that's her way of showing me who's the real master in this palace. "Now dear, talk."
"I am indeed Krestamore Kingdom Duke Mandel Thornfield's daughter, Valeraine Thornfield." I replied. I'm trembling. One wrong word and I might die again. Powerful people are dangerous.
"I'm not informed that there is enchanting beauty in the Krestamore. I heard about the news that you broke off your engagement to the Sollaine Kingdom Grand Duke's son. And now you're here with the Emperor facing me. Did you also enchant him?" Her voice and tone changed and I know that the Emperor noticed it since he touched the walk in front of me.
How did she know about that? Well, I forgot that they have connections to each other.
"Royal Mother, I am the one who stole her from that mere man who just wants to abuse his family power using a woman." The Emperor said.
"A week ago, I remember that I told you to agree on my wife's selection arrangement for you, you said you never want to marry. And then now you're here, creating a scandalous affair with a mere duke's daughter?" The Empress Consort slammed the armrest of her throne and shouted. "You are the Emperor, you're supposed to follow the law of your own country and make your subjects follow you."
"I am the Emperor, what I did is not out of pity or just for trouble. It's love at first sight."
"You insolent—" The Empress Consort stopped herself from standing up and look at me.
"What are you gonna do if people start criticizing the Emperor because he stole a woman?" she asked. "Right now, people gossip because of that scandal. Saying that you are holding a woman because you want her family's ranch?"
"We should talk about this in private, Royal Mother." The Emperor said.
"This is a matter of state."
"And this is about my affection for a woman. " The Emperor said, he sounded upset. "Everyone may think that I pity her, so I stole her from danger. But I am in love with her, the state can be against it but I will protect my future Empress." he said then grabbed my hand.
We walked out from the same pathway. He's walking so fast and I can't even walk properly. Those words that he said made my heart beat fast even though I know that everything is just for the sake of their plans.
When we reached the gate of the Palace, the Emperor let go of my hand. "I told you not to speak, why don't you listen?" He said.
But he said I don't need to speak, not don't speak. Besides, it's the Empress Consort. I will die if I don't obey.
"I just answered her—"
"Arzael, " he said, then climbed to his horse.
"Yes, your Majesty?" Arzael replied.
"Take them to my villa. Don't let anyone enter the villa and see them. I will go to the East Palace. "
"Yes, your Majesty."
I tried to speak again and stopped him to explain but he immediately ran away from us. Lord Arzael told us to get in the carriage to go back to his villa.
"You didn't do anything wrong, stop thinking negatively," Ariel said as she sat in front of me inside the carriage. "Let's just call it a night. Be stressed tomorrow."
The carriage began to move and I can't help but to think about the attitude of the Empress Consort to Eryx. She sounded so upset about the news of what happened to my engagement.
I hope it won't —
"AH!" I shouted as an arrow went straight through the window of my carriage.
"Get down!" Ariel said. She held my head and got down with me. So many arrows are flying right now, the sounds are terrifying to hear.
"Are they assassins?" I asked.
"I don't know but keep your head down. I will try to know how they are." Ariel said and opened and vanished in front of my eyes.
Where did she go?!