"Where is my Mother?" His voice turned cold from impatient as he hated waiting too long.
"Oh!... Your Majesty" She hurriedly bowed revealing her almost exposed chest. Though she received no reaction from the Man before her, she was not discouraged in the slightest. Instead, a determined look flashed across her eyes.
"Her Majesty went for a walk after she finished eating, though she ate a little late, so she might take some time"
Raising her head a little with a blush on her face, she nervously asked.
"Is his Majesty going to wait for her?" Afraid that he would deny, she add "It shouldn't take long, by the way his Majesty is already here…?"
After weighting the pros and cons, he decided to stay, as he took a seat across from her.
"Her Majesty drinks Jasmine tea every night before sleeping, because it always calms her down from everyday stress in the inner palace" She began explaining her actions, hence her purpose for being in the Empress's palace so late.
"Hmm…" He appeared lost in thoughts.
"Is something bothering his Majesty, I know this one is lowly, and unworthy to be told, I…"
"It's a good thing you know your place" Derek immediately cut her off, making her slightly embarrassed.
"I…"
"The dowager Empress has returned…!" The loud voice of the eunuch attracted the attention of the two inside the room.
Unlike the Emperor, as a daughter of Baron, she has stood up to greet the Empress.
Catching sight of the Emperor, who seemed to be lost in thoughts again, as it seemed he did not hear the ehunch outside.
Taking advantage of the opportunity, she stood with shaky steps, as she walked beside Derek, suddenly tripping as she fell onto his thighs in succession.
His dark onyx eyes gazed at her, there was no emotion, but it sent shivers down her spine, she was so shocked she couldn't move.
Just then, the door opened, revealing four pairs of astonished eyes that were almost as big as a pigeon egg.
Of course the one to snap out first was the dowager Empress, as a smile couldn't help but form on her face as she stared at the two in an ambiguous position.
Seeing the Dowager Empress's arrival, and unwilling to lose face, the young lady hurriedly stood up in embarrassment as a blush creeped on her face, she bowed her head with a hand on her chest and the tip on her dress.
"Greetings to the Dowager Empress…!"
"Greetings Mother…!" Derek followed suit though not giving a bow.
"You may rise" her tone doting, though she was referring to Tiana who blushed more in embrassment.
The Dowager Empress took a seat at the hostess chair as she quietly washed the impatient look on her son's face.
"I hope I didn't interrupt anything?"
"No your Majesty…!
"No Mother…! They said at the same time though different lines.
"Then…"
"Mother, I will be taking my leave now, I will come and see you another time…!" He hurriedly left stunning the women in the room, as the misunderstood the situation.
"So he didn't come to see me then, If I had known, I wouldn't have returned when that servant girl told me he was hear"
"No your Majesty, it's not like that…!" Tiana tried to defend as the room erupted in chuckles.
"Don't worry Tiana, I understand, I was once like you, Thank you for the tea, you can go and rest now" saying this, she signaled her lady in waiting, as she led Tiana into another room to rest.
On her return, the Empress asked in a doubtful tone,
"Do you think there's something going on between them…?"
"Your Majesty saw the scene earlier, I doubt his Majesty will let anyone touch him without his permission, more less a woman"
"You're right, if not for the fact that I'm his mother, even I will not be allowed to touch him" The Empress complained.
"But you Majesty, Isn't her title as a Baron's daughter going to affect the royal family…? One of the ladies in waiting announced her worry.
After thinking about it for a while, The Empress also agreed "You're right, the throne is not stable yet, any rumor can cause serious problems…!"
"I have a suggestion…?"
"What is it Diane…? One of the ladies in waiting inquired.
"Rumor's wouldn't be a problem, if lady Tiana's rank was increased right…?"
Everyone was astonished as the clearly knew who she was implying.
With a sigh, The Empress Dowager conculed "This Empress want to see how the turn out from here, then this Empress will decide, end of the matter, everyone can go rest…!" Soon everyone dispatched and went their separate ways.
Also the dark figure at the darkest corner of the room also disappeared undetected from the beginning.
Derek's palace
"Master, that is all they said…!" With one knee on the ground he summarized everything in detail to Derek who only had a pair of loose pants on, showing off his well- built physique. He had the look of an immortal god who can go down to earth, just to show these measly humans what perfection looks like.
"Why did Master leave…?" It's curiosity was hard to contend with, as all this could have been avoided in the long run.
"She soiled my clothes with her filthy hands, then let's see, if she can use my Mother to become on top of the aristocrats" Going straight to the point, he threw the shirt into the fireplace as he watched it burn to nothing.
'Her filthy hands? She smelled of jasmine, why is he so picky with women, though she doesn't hold a candle to the lady in the alleyway, she isn't bad either, would I never understand humans?' he sighed deeply.
"You can take your leave if there's nothing to report!" He ordered.
"Yes Master" The shadow figure disappeared into the night wind as the room returned to it's silent state like it once was.