Taking a stroll in the gardens quite early; It's just a habit I suppose. . .
As, I was walking i heard a gentle like voice come from behind me
"Sister!"
"Your Highness! Is it alright if i call you that"
"Sister" - is Rossette insane? I thought to myself as i glanced behind me as I heard her running towards me quite quickly, her heels Tapping onto the ground.
"Who are you? To ask me to call You 'Sister' Like that. My lady? That would be some sort of scandal in High Society; You shouldnt risk your reputation for such nonsense" I said sternly as I looked at her, trying to figure out if she had ulterior motives. I knew one of them, was to make my downfall happen - Or in other words to simply Kill me by using whatever methods she could get her hands on. Even if it would have meant making my own husband do this, as he could be excused for those crimes . . . Very easily.
A Countess doesn't have a lot of power, she can't do shit even if she wanted to. . . plus her family status makes her a bit weaker - No one should look or acknowledge her presence, considering her family history.
"Princess then? Would that be more appropriate" Rossette said as she looked at me. That Cunning smile still plastered across her face, as her eyes stared deeply into my soul.
I quickly removed her hand from my dress, as I shoved her away dismissively - Not wanting to cause a scene or make a well-known scandal in high-society as I knew it wouldn't end well, for someone of my status.
I turned to my Lady-In Waiting and good friend Audreyn; Who glared at the Countess, before then walking up to her and insulting the Countess. Somehow The Crown Prince, hearing this from nearby as he was out, quite early in the morning showing the advisors what he plans to change about The grounds of the Imperial Palace, when he takes over the throne.
"You have no right to speak to the Princess like that!"
"Your just some lowly Countess from a fallen name"
Hearing the commotion from across the garden, that my Lady-In Waiting, Audreyn Ellia Carail was causing with The Crown Princes Lover, Rossette Toussaint- Mostly known as the Countess of Jina all throughout the realm. Leonardo quickly came over, as he ran to the defence of The Countess.
"Goodness."
Audreyn, and the other ladies-in-waiting quickly lifted their skirts to bow to him, but he gave them a hellish glare, One that made the hairs crawl on my arms as my spine felt like it wanted to collapse on itself.
I had already seen Leonardo a few times earlier in the palace, and I stared at him quietly instead of greeting him again. Leonardo looked at Audreyn Ellia; Before he then turned to Rossette.
Leonardo sighed. Rossette's eyes were wet, probably out of surprise, and the wide look she gave him made her look like a poor frightened animal.
"Don't cry."
Despite his attempt to soothe her, tears began to drip down her face.
quite sympathetic for someone who always had a weak facade around Leonardo. Angry in private with anyone who tried to interfere between her and her relationship with the Crown Prince, While also being too soft to gain his sympathy and favour when she's with him
No wonder? I always felt so Goddamn inferior against everything that went on, there was no order in The Imperial Palace, and I'm sure there never will be at this point. As I've assured myself before that - There was never any room for me in this marriage? All I was, was a political tool he could use to gain power.
" . . . '
"I said don't cry."
Despite the unsympathetic tone in his voice, Rossette did not stop. She seemed unafraid of his infamous cold attitude, and the bloodshed that she knew he spread fighting with the empire against various wars and times of difficulty for the citizens. I kept staring at her. When Rossette continued to cry, to my surprise, Leonardo pulled out a gold embroidered handkerchief and held it out to her. Her tears didn't cease even when offered the handkerchief, and he sighed and wiped her face himself.
"You're a handful." speaking to her like she was a child
There was a note of worry in his tone, and the corner of my heart throbbed again. No, it was natural...it was natural. I reminded myself of Viscountess Adriannes words, and turned around and instructed my ladies-in-waiting to follow.
"Let's go. My legs are aching from standing here so long"
I wouldn't be able to stop Leonardo from having a Mistress in this life or any other that I had previously lived. As it was always deemed to happen by fate, but I was free to avert my eyes from it. The ladies quickly followed after me.
"Wait. Stop."
Leonardo called out to me before we had even taken a few steps out of the garden. First Rossette, and now him? Leonardo glared at Audreyn Ellia and pointed to her.
" . . . "
I don't know what he could want? But it surely isn't good if Rossette is still crying in his arms like a child, That cold tone of voice I was quite used to. As it rang in my ears,
"Leave that lady-in-waiting behind, Duchess."
"What for?"
"Leave her."
"She is my lady-in-waiting. You need to tell me first."
I stood cold in my tracks, as I turned back around as I glared at Leonardo. . . I knew defying his orders wouldn't be good - He could easily punish anyone, no matter your status.
Audreyn's complexion turned pale as she glanced at me, her breath seeming to catch in her throat as it swallowed her whole.
I also felt an ominous and conflicting wind blow through my thoughts, surely he wouldn't, No he would never. The Leonardo that I knew would never.
Is this event different from my previous Lives? I can't remember ever experiencing another life like this one.
Surely he wouldn't punish Audreyn for what she said to Rossette, would he? While Audreyn's behaviour was not exactly exemplary, she was still a lady-in-waiting of the Princess. Rosette, on the other hand, she was a mere Mistress, Barely any titles to gold her name and a fallen family name that has been punished for the last three generations of her family line through her father.
As well as myself, The Princess and future Empress of the empire; If i ever make it through to my own coronation or rule beside Leonardo. It would embarrass all of us even him
"I'm not letting you order me around blindly, Tell me the reason and then i'll consider it"
"If not, Leonardo? I'm sure our business here is done"
I stared at him, my eyes widened slightly, as he feared his next decision? He won't be cruel to punish someone, despite the bloodshed and trauma i've known him to witness.
He then swiftly turned his gaze back to Audreyn.
"She is a lady-in-waiting of the Princess, but she is also my subject. How dare she speak like that."
"Then I will scold her." I quickly reasoned, trying to find some sort of higher ground I could use as leverage, to stop him from punishing someone who I cared about like a sister. Ever since I arrived I knew I could trust Audreyn; She was different from the other ladies-in-waiting, less cunning and manipulative and more smarter and kinder. . . she was older than me by a year and I always looked up to her for guidance in situations. Never realising that I could embarrass myself
"You think a scolding will fix someone who calls another person filthy? Surely not."
"If it did? I'm sure the world would be quite delusional? My dear, am i right?"
Leonardo, clearly taunting me; trying to bring out a reaction from inside of me, knowing that I always had fought with my heart and my head. He then quickly barked an order to a nearby guard, pointing his chin towards Laura.
"Lock her up for three days and give her only water and hard bread."
Audreyn's face whitened, and the other ladies let out a small scream of distress, not understanding why he was being so cruel to someone who barely didn't anything to his mistress.
"That is too far, Your Majesty." I protested as I Glared at him
I wouldn't be afraid to speak up, not in this life. I'm sure to change everyone's fate, Even if that includes my own.
I stepped forward, protesting why he was wrong. As Leonardo glared at me, with that cold and intimidating icy glare. As the atmosphere around us tensed and thickened with every word we argued to each other.
"Your Majesty! That isn't necessary! You can't just punish MY Lady-in-waitings without my permission!"
I said as I glared at him, somewhat trying to keep what very little of the calm exterior I presented to people. I couldn't show how angry this made me feel; It would only fuel his desire to get rid of me later. . . Even stronger.
A coy smile still plastered on the teary-eyed face of Rossette.
"She called a women who should be respected by the court, Filthy, Dont you think that's too far Princess?"
". . ."
"Well, Your Highness, You only watched from afar."
"You simply heard a commotion and you came over, but i can assure you that Lady Audreyn, Did nothing wrong, not did she did offend The Countess"
I looked at him before I then continued speaking calmly as I looked at him. My patience was starting to wear thin and I knew that this would either become a scandal in High society or would just start rumours negatively about how the Princess? You know the Easterner? is quite selfish and only cared about herself.
"My Ladies-in-waiting only stopped her, as she pulled my dress quite hard, The Countess was also being quite informal with me. . . Your Highness? I'm sure you've been raised on etiquette as well as I have, But you should know that you can't touch or speak to anyone informally without harming your own reputation.
Looking at me, Leonardo's glare darkened as he peered into my soul.
"So? Was walking away the only option"
"!"
"Wife. . . Elisabeth if i must say? That is quite selfish of you? The least you could have done. Was to teach the Countess proper etiquette."
"Maybe one day I should make you do that? Surely you have to set an example as the future Empress of Tienne, and maybe also the Eastern region. . . If I ever take it over"
"It's not that hard to get rid of another country when you've married A person from it"
I quickly replied as I looked at him, knowing he was trying to make an argument out of the situation.
"Then I will have your servant pull at the hem of your cloak. Even if your cloak is not as noble as a human hand, is that still acceptable, would it be right for you punish that servant then?"
Leonardo raised his eyebrows and smirked.
"Your words are meaningless. Do you really think it is the same situation?"
"Is it different?"
"It is."
"Then what is the difference? Tell me Lady Elisabeth"
"As far as I am aware, Wife. . . Rossette, means a lot to me"
I wanted to ask him if I should change my example, and what he would do if a Mistress pulled on the hem of his clothes. but of course, fighting and starting an argument against him is fruitless, there is nothing I'm able to do to win against him.
"Lock up the Princess' lady-in-waiting for five days."
Before I could say anything else, Leonardl increased Audreyn's punishment. The more I opposed him, the more he severe he became, There was truly no way to win with this man.
It's all really frustrating at this point, and my patience wears thin everytime and every encounter, The Arguments are not ciivl at all.
I saw Rossette sitting behind Leonardo with her eyes wide open, staring at him as if he was some sort of hero, her saviour probably. The words I wanted to say threatened to leap from my mouth, but even the Princess could not overturn the Crown Prince's orders. I could call a trial to challenge Audreyn's punishment, but by the time the trial would be opened she would already be released from the dungeons in the palace.
"I accept the punishment, Your Majesty."
As I was agonizing about losing to Leonardo, Audreyn quickly stepped forward. My face turned red with shame and anger.
"Go."
Rather than asking why the girl was near the Imperial Garden of the palace; as they were discreetly reserved for high-ranking Nobility. Leonardo complimented me for working hard all day.
Leonardo and I weren't passionate lovers, but we were good friends. He knew how i acted from the time he ocupied The Manor in Murcadina During the war between the Northern and Southern Regions, some sort of civil unrest i think from what i got told . Now we were neither good friends, im probably making my own husband my enemy at this point.
I gritted my teeth and turned away. Now I understood why in my previous Lives, why making countless efforts to try and gain Rossette's trust and offer a friendship with her.
it was all pointless, there was surely no way I'd survive this life.