...34...
THE EMPEROR LOVES YOU
Things had been going quite well for her, extremely well that she had actually forgotten just who she was in this empire.
She had forgotten who she was to the Emperor and how so little she really meant to him.
She stared at her two aides sleeping by her side, looking tired and exhausted.
They had had about nothing to eat since the dawn hour.
She sighed softly and then tried to turn to her left.
The sharp pain that her nervous system hit her with reminded her of the aching wounds on her back.
She grunted as she tried to get into a more comfortable position once more.
She began to cry, light streams of liquids that drifted down her cheeks like a gentle autumn breeze.
She would never forget this, what she had to go through today and just who put her in that position.
This incident had been a jarring reminder that she was still nothing more than a captive, a slave who was being manipulated and hypnotized by her captor.
She couldn't really blame herself for having fallen for his antiques.
She blamed him for doing this to her without no conscience.
Oh damn the man!
He was so evil.
It had all happened exactly six long days after his departure.
She had woken up to the faint orange light of dawn.
She had sat up in bed, stretching and yawning for almost thirty minutes before lifting herself out of bed and journeying to the bedroom door.
She had opened it only to find her aides sprawled there.
Xiera had been asleep on the makeshift palette with a thick blanket over her.
Her red hair had been practically scattered messily but attractively all over the whites of the palette.
She wondered why they didn't just go to sleep on beds in rooms quite close to hers instead.
Vura had also been asleep on the ground near the door with her back to the wall.
She had had her hands resting on one knee which was folded upwards and the other stretched out on the ground.
She had woken up the instant the bedroom door had opened.
Her eyes had met her mistress' whose eyes instantly shifted to her counterpart sprawled atop a palette, wallowing in the entrancing beauty of sleep.
'My Lady, Good Sunrise to you!' she had greeted, getting to her feet.
'Good sunrise to you too Vura. I am very sorry to have awakened you,' she told the lady who shook her head a little bit sleepily at her mistress.
She yawned softly.
'No My Lady, you didn't wake me up. I am a light sleeper you know?' she told her mistress who smiled at her.
'Whatever Vura,' she told her. 'I would like a bath. I feel very unclean and uncomfortable,' she told her.
Vura nodded.
Then she bent and grabbed her sword holster which was by the bedroom door where she had been sitting and sleeping.
'I will get Hyeera for you My Lady. She was here about thirty minutes ago to check on you. She was the one who left your blinds open."
She realized then that the sounds she had heard in her sleep must have been Hyeera in the bedroom.
"I am sure that was what must have woken you up, the lights that seeped through the opened blinds. You are sensitive to them,' she mumbled.
Vura was indeed right.
"Oh, they did wake me."
But, something instantly crawled up into her head.
It was suspision.
She squinted her eyes as she stared at Vura questioningly.
How had the lady known that she was sensitive to the light?
"But Vura, I never once told you that I was actually sensitive to the morning lights,' she said to her in a questioning tone.
Her large eyes were filled with suspicion that quickly jarred Vura awake to defend herself.
'I just... It's umm... I just figured that out all on my own My Lady,' she stammered quickly.
Her answering tone was suspicious too.
And she was just intending to dig deeper when Hyeera's voice made her turn to the direction that it was coming from.
'My Lady, Happy morrow to you. How may your night have been?' she asked with a small bow.
She had not even heard the healer come up to them.
'It was fine thank you Hyeera,' she answered her with a smile. 'I hope yours was too?'
Xiera awoke then with dull eyes, slowly sitting up on her makeshift palette sleepily.
'What is all these noise about?' she murmured through eyes that were clouded with sleep.
They all turned to her.
"I am trying to catch my beauty sleep. I am trying!' she slurred in a sleep ridden voice.
The corner of Rose's lips began to curl in utter amusement.
Xiera sighed softly before falling back onto the palette and going straight to sleep.
Vura made a small stifled sound which quickly became laughter.
The other two who were present joined her in doing so.
'I apologize My Lady on her behalf. She must be so tired. She was for the most part of the night guarding your bedroom door,' she informed their mistress with her head hung low.
She still had that crazy amused smile on her beautiful face.
'Oh there is no need to apologize for that Vura. She is only subconsciously doing that and I know,' she assured her aide with an amused smile of hers.
Hyeera giggled at their interaction.
'Thank you for being so gracious My Lady,' Vura said.
Her mistress shook her head in an exasperated way and said nothing to her in return.
'May you need anything this morning My Lady?" Hyeera said to her mistress who turned to look at her. "I am here to assist you with whatever you need."
Rose nodded tiredly.
'I was just telling Vura to come get you because I would much need a warm bath before you dropped in on both of us,' she said to her.
Hyeera smiled broadened.
'Oh! Then that is perfect timing My Lady,' she exclaimed.
Rose let out an exasperated sigh.
'Must there be My Lady in each of your sentences. Is it not quite bothersome to you, all of you?' she asked them with raised brows.
She was gradually getting sick and tired of that title phrase.
Hyeera smiled and then began to slowly shake her head
'No My Lady. We cannot address you any other way lest it be tagged as treason by the Emperor,' she said.
She stared in confusion.
'And why on earth would he do that?' she said. 'When I am not his consort or even his wife or much less the Empress?' she added.
When they were silent for so long after sharing very obvious knowing glances, she glared suspiciously at each of them one after another.
'What do you both know that you aren't telling me?' she threw at the both in an authoritative voice that she was surprised she owned.
'It's... no I, it's just that...' Vura began to stammer stupidly again like earlier.
She was more suspicious of the both at that moment.
What were they hiding?
'It's nothing My Lady,' Hyeera answered her quickly, interrupting Vura, in a more composed voice.
'Yes My Lady, nothing,' Vura instantly added in corroboration.
'Yes, nothing My Lady,' they both said simultaneously, staring at each other for only but a moment.
'Really?' she said.
Her nostrils flared in disbelief.
Did they think she was a child?
She could clearly see that this was actually not nothing.
'Yes My Lady,' Hyeera answered as Vura nodded, swallowing.
'What is it that you know that I do not know?' she asked again, a sinister threat in her hard voice. 'This is your last chance.'
'Nothing My Lady.'
None of them met her eyes.
They all looked away, at anywhere else but at her.
Her suspision slowly morphed into fear and anxiety.
Their reactions were keeping her in the edge now.
"Look at me and lie, each of you," she said in a stern voice.
Hyeera looked up alongside Vura.
Vura made to speak but hesitated, probably because the words became stuck in her throat.
She couldn't tell the truth to her mistress lest the Emperor had her head in a silver platter.
And she could not lie to her lady outrightly because of the amount of respect that she had for her.
Hyeera composed herself and stepped forward to rescue Vura.
'There is nothing My Lady, be rest assured,' Hyeera announced with an uneasy queasy smile.
That uneasy look was enough to make Rose perceive the thick stench of the rat that she had smelt in their cupboard.
The smell came more strongly, quite overpowering.
She stepped forward and spoke through gritted teeth.
'Last chance!' she simply said to the both of them, glaring.
Both of them chose to be quiet rather than answer her.
They did not even see her coming because she was very quick.
She was like a feline.
Her hands reached for the sword in Vura's hands and cleanly pulled it out of the sheath.
It was only when the sword was pointed at the both of them that they realized she meant all the threats in her words.
And they were absolutely nowhere near empty.
'My Lady!' Vura exclaimed.
"Start talking," she threatened them with feral eyes.
The sword was drawing closer to Vura than to Hyeera.
She swallowed softly in quiet apprehension at the weapon was held to her neck.
'Shall you both begin to speak or shall we do this the hard way?' she demanded from the both of them.
Vura swallowed in alarm as her lady brandished the sword that she had pulled out from her holster with a type of speed that totally belittled lighting.
She looked to Hyeera instantly for some kind of support.
Hyeera, however, seemed to be unfazed by her.
But she had the decency to not act foolish around a sword.
'It is not that My Lady,' Xiera's voice came from behind as she rose from the mat.
They all turned to her.
"Finally, someone who will speak," Rose saudz eyeing Xiera.
'Good morrow to My Lady,' she greeted before turning to Vura to continue with her speech.
She sneered softly.
"Why don't you just tell her that you both think she would be Empress?! Is this secret worth your lives?!' she asked Vura.
Hyeera stared between the two aides with confusion.
What had both of them been discussing in their spare time?
This? She facepalmed.
Xiera continued to speak without shame from her palette.
'Vura keeps saying that to me, that the Emperor loves you and that he would marry you and make you his Empress and not that bitch of a lady that claims to be his fiancee!' she snapped.
Rose's eyes instantly widened with shock first.
The shock was quickly replaced by amusement.
She lowered the sword that she had been pointing at them.
'Is that it?' Lady Rose asked Vura with a small smirk.
Vura nodded lightly.
Rose instantly burst into laughter as all her worries quelled.
Was that what they were hiding desperately, from her?
They didn't know better.
That piece of news from Xiera's mouth had just made her cringe inside with happiness.
Was that really true?
Was the Emperor in love with her? Did they think so too?
Was the emperor going to marry her and make her his empress?
So many thoughts flew through her head all at once.
'Yes My Lady. I thought it would be rude to say something like that to your face, but I see that it doesn't matter to Xiera,' she said glancing at Xiera with a sneer.
Xiera gave her a dirty look.
'Oh my, oh my! You all crack me up!' she giggled.
She clutched her stomach as she had been laughing hard.
"Where on earth do all of you bring all these ridiculous jokes from?' she demanded with mirthful eyes and a smile that suggested that they were surely unbelievable.
But she wanted to believe that everything they said was true.
'It's just one of Vura's many thoughts,' Xiera said.
She ended with a scoff which was directed straight at Vura.
Vura glared at her.
'It wasn't mine alone My Lady!' Vura protested. 'Xiera was in on it too. It was a collective thought!'
'Collective thought my foot!' Xiera snapped at her.
'So, all you do is gossip about me in your free time and come up with astonishing theories?!' she asked them. 'Well well, it must be such a nice way to spend your time,' she chided them.
As if she was not glad inside.
As if she didn't like the astonishing theories.
As if she didn't think so too.
'No My Lady,' Hyeera said. 'I am not always idle. But when I am, it is quite good to talk highly about My Lady you know.'
Her sincere smile stopped her from saying anything to the dutiful maid.
She instantly bit her lower lip to hold back a broad smile.
'Oh whatever.'
'Do you forgive us My Lady?' Hyeera quickly asked her mistress with pleading eyes.
As if they had committed any sin.
If they had sinned, then it only meant that she had sinned too.
That was because all of these things she had once thought.
'Please My Lady,' Vura joined in.
Xiera sneered at her entrance into the conversation.
'Forgive Hyeera My Lady, but not that deft gossip,' she told her mistress, referring to Vura.
Rose held back her laughter with so much at Xiera's statement.
What was this warrior so effortlessly funny?
She never ceased to make her laugh and forget everything.
'Oh, it's quite expected of someone as ungrateful as you to say that!' Vura barked her.
Xiera rolled her eyes at her.
The action must have angered Vura as she lashed out.
'And to think I was even here apologizing on your behalf when you were yelling obscenities at our Lady this morning in your sleepy state,' she informed her.
Xiera's eyes instantly widened.
Her hand flew to her mouth to muffle a loud gasp.
'I did?!' Xiera asked after a gasp because she could tell by the look in everyone's faces that she must definitely had done so.
Yet she prayed desperately that it was all a prank, a bad heart plodding one.
Her eyes glanced between everyone present, waiting for someone to counter Vura.
But no one did.
'For your information,' Vura said turning in her direction and then going up to her.
Xiera looked up at her with fear written all over her face.
"You did so with so much disrespect, like the one that you are currently displaying."
Xiera reached out and clutched her chest as her heart pounded.
"You literally asked our Lady to keep her mouth shut,' Vura exaggerated.
Xiera's jaw dropped.
She had done that? In her sleep?
She was doomed.
But, when Vura smirked devilishly at her, she began to think that the warrior was just pulling her legs.
'There is no way on earth did I do that!' Xiera disagreed. 'I wouldn't dare to do so, even if it be in my sleep,' she further said.
Vura shook her head repeatedly as she repeated Xiera's statement with a mocking gaze.
'Well, you did,' Vura said with all seriousness, "and I ain't even joking about that."
The warriors mouth hung agape at Vura's declaration.
She blinked for a second or two, her eyes darting around.
And then, she fell to her knees at that instant.
'Oh my Lady, I know I dare not ask for your forgiveness, but please I beseech thee, forgive this lowly servant," she began to beg.
She put her two palms together in a begging gesture.
The sight was more hilarious than everything she had been doing all morning.
And Rose found it really hard to hold back her laughter and spoil Vura's evil tease.
"Please spare me despite my grevious sins which are well deserving of death,' she said to her lady.
She kept quite, staring at the ground with her head hung low.
Therefore she didn't see Vura cover her mouth, trying very hard to stifle a stubborn giggle that threatened to give away the little game she was enjoying playing with the warrior.
'Should I really?' Lady Rose asked the warrior playing along just for the fun of it all.
Vura struggled to take breaths while holding back.
Her face was gradually going red from doing so.
But she persisted.
'Should I forgive you?' Rose managed to murmur.
'Yes My Lady, please do. I am sorry for what I have done, deeply,' she said to her mistress.
Her head was still hung low.
She seemed disappointed in herself for doing something that she hadn't even done.
Rose couldn't hold it in any longer and burst out laughing.
Xiera was quick to glance up to look at her for but a moment.
Then, she quickly lowered her eyes along with her head.
She was afraid to incur the wrath of her mistress.
It was all her fault.
She should have left her mistress to interrogate the other two with that sword in her hands and never gotten herself involved.
She wouldn't be in this position now if she had done so.
She would have not here kneeling, pleading and suffering from her Lady's transfer of aggression.
'Then Xiera, tell me exactly why I should forgive you, for insulting me in your sleep, for gossiping about me, for slandering me with ridiculous speculations and for being so funny that I just can not seem to stifle my laughter,' she confessed.
'Mayhap because I am a good aide, a good person and someone who really loves her mistress in no carnal way?" She shrugged.
Rose continued to laugh.
"It isn't anywhere near easy to be all that My Lady,' she told her.
She did not even seem to get her mistress joke which was at the end of her earlier statement.
'Oh get up Xiera,' she said with a sniff as she went to the aide and tried to help her up to her feet.
Xiera looked up, her body stubbornly refusing to bulge.
"My Lady?" Xiera whispered the question in confusion.
"Get up Xiera," she said in a jussive voice as the warrior began to slowly do so.
But, Xiera had second thoughts.
'You have forgiven me My Lady?' she asked, her body stiffening, causing both to crouch halfway.
'Oh yes Xiera I have,' she snapped as Vura then allowed her mistress to help her to her feet.
'Thank you My Lady, thank you,' she sing sang, bowing repeatedly with her loose red hair continually flying forward and backward at the gesture.
"Oh stop it!" Rose murmured.
She waved a dismissive hand.
'I forgive you Xiera because there is nothing to be forgiven of. For one, you never did any of those things that Vura mentioned to you,' she exposed the other warrior. 'She was only just playing around with you entirely for the fun of it.'
'What?!' Vura mumbled with eyes that went wide in surprise, then quickly squinting with anger. 'Vura!' she yelled out loud.
Vura burst into laughter.
She cackled evilly, the mirthful sound almost bringing her to her knees as she tried to stop.
Xiera sighed in frustration.
"Why are you so evil?" She demanded. "You have me thinking I was for the gallows!" She added.
'Oh, I am sorry. It was just so fun to do so and watch you."
"Really?" Xiera asked her with raised brows.
Vura nodded.
"You are so pathetic," she pointed out with a shaky voice.
"Although, it isn't entirely a lie," Vura continued to say.
"What isn't?" Xiera gave her a dirty look as she spoke.
"Earlier, you really did ask us to keep the noise down because you were trying to get your beauty sleep,' she divulged.
'Really? Is this really your prank?' she asked again with venom.
Vura laughed uncontrollably, causing her anger to spike.
'Oh, I am sorry. But it was just so funny, really funny!' she argued.
'I bet it won't be when I pull out all of the red hair on your head,' she threatened before rushing at Vura to carry out the threat.
They fought playfully like toddlers, laughing unladylike as they both did so.
This was premium entertainment for Rose who stood watching.
She wondered where the emperor must have found these jesters to accompany her everyday.
She was grateful for their hilarious company.
She turned to Hyeera.
'Hyeera?' she called.
'Yes My Lady, do you need anything?' the maid asked her with a small bow.
She shook her head, a smile at the corners of her lips.
'Yes Hyeera, please just get me my bath,' she said with an exasperated sigh.
'Shall you need anything else?' the maid added again.
'Oh Hyeera, just get me my bath,' she said turning away from the sight and heading towards the door of the bedroom.
'Yes My Lady.'
Hyeera turned and left to do as she was bid to, overlooking the crazy ladies who were now continuing the second round of their cat fight on the floor.
...OmaPhinaPhire