Feeling suspicious though being told not to leave the restaurant, Covina curiously stepped out only to be stopped by Cynthiana, who for some reason offered her a smile that didn't reach her eyes and looked forced.
"What are you doing here?" she asked though the smile, Cynthiana's penetrating gaze puzzled Corvina as she wondered why it was so.
"I was just taking a walk"
"Your aunt is looking for you…" she said
"Ohh…!" Corvina stepped back as she climbed back up the stairs, returning to the room but was amazed, when she saw the young girl from earlier still standing in front of Floria, turning behind her, she also saw Cynthiana.
"You are…?" The question sounding like a threat.
The young lady before Floria gave Corvina a respectful bow, as she introduced herself, as well as her sister.
"I'm Cythera my lady…and this is my younger sister Cynthiana" she paused after completing her sentence.
Corvina notice Cynthiana, still giving her a penetrating gaze as the latter refused to bow despite knowing her identity.
Hmm…
"I want to go somewhere else, I hope Anut didn't mean to keep me here when she promised to bring me out last night…?"
"Of course not Corvina… Why don't you let Cythera accompany you?" Floria suggestioned as Cythera stepped forward giving a low bow.
"I don't mind…" Corvina replied as she stepped out of the room, not forgetting to glare at Cynthiana on her way out.
*******************
Two hours later
*******************
On the busy streets, the ladies walked together, with Cythera slightly intentionally falling behind, in other not to be seen as having equal footing with Corvina.
"You seem to be more responsible than you sister…?" Corvina's comment, left Cythera speechless.
Not hearing a word from Cythera, she continued.
"You seem to be quite close with my anut…Maybe too intimate for a subordinate, are you two related…?" This is the first time Cythera has met someone, who can speculate, from just a few minutes of interaction.
"No!..." She immediately denied "Ma'am saved mine and my sister's live when we were little, she is like a mother to us, I don't want my lady to misunderstand." She tried clearing the air.
"Oh… I see no wonder your sister gives me such unfriendly gaze, you see, I too consider Anut Floria my mother, maybe we can be like sister's in the future…?" Corvina sugar coated words like knives to Cythera, clearly understanding their meaning.
"O-Of course my Lady…"
"No just call me Corvina…"
"Yes Lady Corvina…"
"We'll cross the bridge when we get there…?"
Hmm… Cythera who always thought she was a smart person was puzzled by Corvina's words
"The bridge, look it's just miles away" Corvina looked at the stone bridge, as she joyfully watched the confusion and uncertainty play in Cythera's eyes laced with caution and danger.
'This lady is not as easy as she looks' Corvina's thought ran deeper as time went on.
At the Palace
"His Majesty the Emperor wishes to see you Lady Diane…?" A servant reported as Diane who was resting after just returning from a long walk in the garden with the Dowager Empress was astonished.
"Why is his Majesty….?
"His Majesty the Emperor has arrived…!" Before she could finish her question, an Echunch loud voice resounded from the outside.
As the lady in the room stood up to give a proper bow.
"Long live his Majesty the Emperor…!"
"You may raise…" His deep voice resounded in the room, though not loud but gave off the fear of that in authority.
"Please sit your Majesty…" With a blush she offered him a seat and poured tea for him.
Staring at the transparent liquid in a cup that gave off a pleasing scent. He could not drink it, because he simply disliked them from a young age, considering how suspicious it would be to come to a lady's courtyard in the middle of the day, but not drink what is offered to him.
He took the cup and took a sip, which he immediately regretted but could not return it to the cup, so he bore with it for the time being.
'Afer all this, and I don't get something useful out of her, She will seriously regret it.' The threat in his thoughts where not a joke, as he already imagine drowning her in the tea she loves so much.
"So, how was your walk with my mother, I hope you weren't bored, and the garden was to your liking…?" His voice having a gentle touch and was smooth to the ear.
Not intending to let this opportunity pass, Diane immediately began explaining how the day went and how fun it was, skipping his main point of being there in the first place.
"The Dowager Empress is very friendly to me, I wish she was my Mother, that way I could take care of her everyday"
Only a fool will miss the meaning behind those words, but the Emperor was in no mood to play house, and decided to direct the conversation to his intentions.
"My Mother is indeed very nice, and we only regret not having a daughter to call her own…" He paused for a second before he continued.
"When I was little she had always wished for a girl who she could tell her stories, but unfortunately I never had a sister".
At this point, Diane eyes where sparkling like gems, as her excitement reached it's peaks.
'Does that mean the Empress Dowager takes me as a daughter, am I going to be Empress one day…?' The blush one her face was difficult to hide and that is what a certain person was waiting for.
"My Mother has traveled around the world, her experience is precious, she doesn't share it with just anyone".
Still wondering when the dumbbell will speak, he instigated her more, but he finally came to a realization, that he didn't have much time before he should return to his palace, he had to hurry up.