“Your Majesty, what a pleasant surprise,” Ragi moved out of the way for her to come in. Ivory walked in. “I'm sorry for barging in on you, unannounced,” she apologized.“It's totally fine. I'm glad to have you here. What may I offer you?” He asked. Ivory didn't really want anything but she realized she needed the liquid courage to ask this outrageous question in her head. “Your finest wine. Impress me,” she shrugged, taking a seat. Ragi walked to his bar and picked out the wine on the topmost shelf. “I hope this doesn't disappoint you. It is not the finest wine in the kingdom but it is the finest in my possession,” he told her. “That is quite sweet of you. Almost ungeneral-like,” she teased. Amusement lit his eyes as he grabbed two glasses. “I heard you were not feeling well. I assume you're better now?” He threw a glance at her.“Thankfully.”Ragi poured the drink in both glasses and offered her one which she gracefully accepted. She took a sip and her eyes widened. “This is in
“Marriage?” Lord Blane spoke up after the prolonged silence. “You have barely been married for three months and you are considering the possibility of taking another bride?” “I love my wife but do not get me wrong. This marriage is purely a transaction. There are no feelings attached. She offered herself as a price for her people's freedom, do you expect me to dash her hope?” Styles asked the council.They shook their heads with disappointed expressions. It was unlike the emperor to make such rash decisions.“You barely know her, your Majesty. What if she is not the angel you presume her to be? What if she's a woman of questionable character?” Lord Orio asked. Styles gave a thought to the possibilities, “I don't think so. Princess Heli seemed like a very noble woman to me. She is only desperate to protect her people and retrieve the ones who were forcefully enslaved to another land. If anything, I think she is brave.” “Brace? Do you call a marriage proposal brave? Why are we not lo
“May I have a word with you?” Ivory was beyond surprised. This had to be a dream. Klein, talking to her politely? Certainly a dream. “Why?” She couldn't stop herself from asking. “Why do you suddenly want to talk to me?” “I would have gone to the Emperor but he is unavailable for now. I thought I should see you since you have almost the same authority as him.” Ivory resisted the urge to tell him that the next authority after the Emperor was his second in command, which was none other than General Ragi.“What do you need?” “My father is severely sick. Can you permit me to take him to the royal ward to be attended to?” He asked.“Pa is sick!” She gasped. “Why am I just being informed? Take him to the royal ward immediately and tell the doctors I instructed them to attend to him immediately. I need to get ready and inform my husband of my whereabouts.”“Is that the only thing you'd be informing him about?” Klein muttered and Ivory froze on the spot.“I beg your pardon?”“Pardoned,”
The Emperor wants to take a new wife. They say she is the princess of a primitive village. They call it Yung,” Cedric informed Mona. Her mouth went agape. “The Emperor wants to take another wife? It's been barely four months since he got married. Why does he need another wife?” She asked. “I wouldn't know that but this is our opportunity. From what I have gathered, the Empress doesn't know about this yet. If we can inform her ahead of him with a little twist here and there, I am positive we can get her to work with us,” Cedric said. Mona frowned. She didn't like the idea of working with the woman who stole her man. It was better to leave her to die of the heartbreak“Do we really need her?” Mona grumbled. “Of course we do. She is the closest to the Emperor and if she is against him, it would give us easier access to him, don't you think?” Cedric asked her. Mona could not tell him that she was still bitter about the fact that Styles chose a maid over her. “I am only worried if she
Ivory thought her day couldn't get. anyskwdworse when Liah knocked on her door. The girl hurried inside as soon as the door was opened. Ivory shut the door in surprise, wondering what the problem was. “Have you heard the news circulating around the palace?” She asked. “What news?” Ivory asked. “That the Emperor is taking another wife,” Liah informed her. “Quiet! Don't you dare speak of my husband like that!” Ivory snapped.Liah quickly bowed, “Forgive me, your highness but I speak nothing but the truth. His Majesty is planning to take another wife. They say she is some beautiful princess from a faraway Kingdom.”“You apologize get you still go ahead to speak nonsense. My husband loves me. He would never think of doing something that cruel to me,” Ivory defended. Liah raised her slowly. “It might be difficult for you to believe me but I know what I'm saying. I think you should confront him if you believe what I speak is false.”Ivory didn't know what to think. The girl sounded r
“I can't believe you're making me do this again.” “Can you stop complaining? Whether you like it or not, I am doing this for the good of the people. Stop being a chicken and let us move,” Heli snapped. “Are you really doing this for the people or your selfish reasons? You could have asked the king for help. He seems like a nice man. You don't have to conjure him into marrying. You know the consequences…” The words died in his mouth when he was suddenly lifted into the air. “How dare you question my motives? Everything I do is for the good of the Yung empire and you know that! Why are you trying to paint me the villain?” Heli yelled at him.“Y'all should be thanking me. Without me, you will all be miserable slaves to the Wang Empire. I am trying to save and you stand there, scolding me? How dare you?!” He struggled in the air as her grip on his neck tightened. Her blue eyes were completely black and it terrified the hell out of him. It was easier to handle when a human was strangli
“What did you find on the Yung princess?” Ragi asked Lord Archie. “I didn't find anything unusual. The princess was speaking the truth. The Wang Empire is indeed terrorizing them. They took their people captive and raided their town on several occasions. The princess’ intention might be pure,” Archie answered. “I agree with Archie. People make marriage treaties all the time. She probably thought this would be the best way to get accepted,” Lord Blane concurred. Ragi had nothing to say to it. Since the investigation concluded that everything the princess said was true then all they had to do was revise the proposal.“The Emperor has declared his disinterest in continuing with the marriage,” Ragi informed them. The confusion on their faces mirrored his exact expression when Styles informed him. “I don't understand. Wasn't he the one declaring he would marry her at all costs? You even got insulted in your effort to dissuade him,” Lord Orio imputed. “I know. I was just as surprised w
“ I think she's gaining consciousness, ” Ivory heard faintly the murmurs of the maids that attended to her.“ W-where am I?” Ivory blinked her eyes open, her eyes heavy with exhaustion. She tried to comprehend what had happened, her memory was a bit fuzzy.“ You're in the Royal infirmary, Your Highness,” one of the maids answered.“ H-how did I...” she gasped in realization. Everything before she fainted came flooding back, her eyes popped open and she quickly sprang up into a sitting position, her breath unsteady and her heart pulsating.“ Your Highness, are you alright? Should I get the doctor?” One of the maids panicked.“ Is... Has His Majesty...” her chest tightened as thoughts swirled through her head.“ I was just about walking inside to talk to you. I'm glad you're awake,” Emperor Styles’ voice made Ivory stop midway through her sentence. Her trembling was obvious and so was the anger on Emperor Styles’ face. “ I'm sorry, Your Highness but I had to tell him the truth,” the doc