Mona stretched lazily and touched the side of the bed. A frown etched on her face as she felt the empty space. Where did he go? Did he sleep with her and abandon her without paying her?That would be asking for trouble. She got off the bed quickly and just then he stepped out of the bathroom. Relief washed through immediately. “I thought you were gone,” she said. “Why would I leave a beauty like you in bed? I just wanted to cool off some of the heat. Are you in a hurry?” He asked her. “I've been away for so long. I just return to my duty post before the Prince makes more trouble for my family,” Mona told him. Cedric immediately picked interest in what she said. It seemed like she was entangled with the Prince somehow. “You speak of him like you both had some kind of misunderstanding,” Cedric tried to get the truth out of her. “Yes, but it was mostly my fault. I don't blame him for hating me,” Mona said sullenly. “What did you do?” Mona's eyes flickered to him. She thought of
“You summoned me, your highness,” the maid bowed. “Liah, you know you are my most trusted aide, right?” Cedric straightened up. “Yes, Your Highness,” the girl bowed. “And your family promised that you would be there to fulfill whatever I desire of you, do you remember that?” He asked. “Yes, Your Highness.”“You remember that I am the only one who stood firmly with your family during their times of trial when they were unjustly sentenced by the previous Emperor,” he reminded.Liah couldn't help but look up this time. Why was he reminding her of that suddenly?“Yes, your highness,” she answered nonetheless., swallowing back the questions that arose within her. “Are you willing to do anything for me, no matter the cost?” He asked her. As much as she wanted to respond quickly, she couldn't. There were a lot of things involved in that statement that didn't sit well with her. Sure, she could do whatever he asked her to do but there were limits to it and she intended to make it clear.
“Disrespecting your queen?” Mona repeated, unable to believe he actually said the words. He called a lowly maid a queen in her presence!“Are you questioning me?” His eyes darkened, anger swimming in its depths. “But Styles…”“Your Highness!” He corrected coldly. “Address me without respect one last time and you will regret the day you were born.”Mona was visibly trembling. He had never spoken to her with so much contempt before. To think he was treating her like trash all because of a clumsy, useless maid.“What do I have to do to make you forgive me?” She asked sullenly. “How do I prove that I am truly sorry for everything? When will you deem it fit to take me back?” Styles was taken aback by the audacity. The woman was the most delusional person he had ever come across. “You believe I have plans of taking you back?” He snorted. “Your education was a waste if my wedding was not enough proof that I have moved on with my life. You have five minutes to clean this mess and head out
“Are you alright?” Ivory asked when she noticed the girl's petrified expression. It seemed she was battling her inner thoughts. “I… the thing is that my tears dropped into your fruits and I'm not sure how you'd react if I asked that I present you with a new set of fruits. I'd add more pineapples this time,” Liah said. Styles didn't understand why such a small thing was making her tremble so much but Ivory understood the fear of doing something wrong before your masters.“It's alright, Liah. You can take it away,” Ivory said softly. The girl hurried out of the room almost immediately, thanking the gods that they didn't insist on making her eat it or scolding her.“She looked so pale. Is she alright?” Styles asked Ivory.“I don't know. I guess she is just overwhelmed. It's not every day someone offers to make your dream come true,” she shrugged.“Let's start with the shrimp soup, I'm sure you will love it,” Styles told her.“Let's see how crazy it drives my taste buds.” Liah reached
“It's been forty-eight and the coronation will start in a few hours and Styles is still far from incapacitated,” Cedric fumed. “I'm sorry, my Lord but I don't know what happened. I added the substance just as you instructed…”“Do not give that!” Cedric snapped. “If you indeed gave him, he is supposed to be down in less than twenty-four hours and it's been two days already. Do you think I'm stupid?” The man was furious and it terrified Liah but telling the truth was not an option. “Maybe the quantity was too little to take effect. You told me I needed just a lunch so I didn't see the need to add more than that. I guess we were wrong in the specifications,” Liah suggested.At first, he seemed to buy her explanation but then he remembered he had used just a pinch of that medicine to incapacitate the late Emperor.How come she was claiming it didn't work for the son? The girl was obviously playing games with him and he would make sure she paid for it. “You think you're smart right? I'
Ragi and Styles were on a stroll around the palace. “I will make sure all parameters are heavily guarded and I also the crowning ritual takes place in a very strategic corner to prevent both seen and unseen attacks,” Ragi informed Styles.“Is all that really necessary? It's our day, shouldn't we enjoy it?” Styles said. “We will enjoy it but it must be with caution. Your father had many enemies and there are still people who do not wish to see you on the throne. We need to make sure that no matter what happens, no harm befalls you,” Ragi pointed out.“You have a point. I'll let you do your thing then and please make sure to tell the guards that no one without an invite should be allowed in. The ceremony is strictly on invitation,” Styles said. “I will ensure that the information is conveyed, your highness. I suggest you get ready now. The ceremony begins in an hour. You can't be late to your own coronation.”“I won't even dream of it.”*****************Guests began trooping in from
“Why are you just telling me about this?” Elena scolded the girl. Mona was still recovering from the bruises inflicted by the whips and as a result, her family skipped the coronation.Elena was cleaning her wounds when Mona told her about Cedric's offer. “Because I already declined, mother. I didn't think there was a need to mention it,” Mona responded with gritted teeth. Elena flicked her forehead, “You stupid, stupid child! What were you thinking? Someone offered you the opportunity to be an empress and you declined? Were you drunk?” “Why are you scolding me? You were the one who told me I could win back Styles,” Mona whined. Elena smacked her temple with a groan. When would the girl ever be smart? Of course, she said that, but that was only because she felt that Styles was doing this to make them grovel. From what they could see, it was obvious the Prince was really interested in the lowly maid. He had to go as far as ordering his guards to whip her daughter!This couldn't be
Ragi having dinner in his room when a knock came. He was reluctant to respond at first but reasoned that it might have been the young Emperor.“Come in.” He set his food and true to his suspicion, Styles walked in. “Your Majesty,” he bowed, ready to stand but Styles stopped him. “I see you are having a little feast. All by yourself, of course,” Styles teased. “You are always welcome to join me, Your Highness,” Ragi chuckled.“Exactly what I was hoping you'd say,” Styles snatched the bowl from him along with his chopsticks. “You haven't stopped this rowdy habit,” Ragi shook his head, grabbing another bowl from the set of dishes.Styles let out a small moan and Ragi hit his head with a chopstick.“Is this how you treat your emperor?” Styles frowned.“Is this how an Emperor is supposed to behave? Snatching bowls and moaning like a street urchin?” He retorted. “You haven't changed a bit. Just as mean and uptight as always,” Styles mumbled, returning to his dish. Ragi smiled fondly a