After the embarrassing dinner, at least for Alarice they all disperse to talk about business with other nobles.
Alarice went to her parent's table.
"Mom! Dad! How are you? It's been a while?"
"We're doing good sweetie. How about you?" Her mother asked
"Didn't you see those two earlier? It's actually quite disgusting, I almost lost my appetite." His brother said
"Shut up brother Jacob. You're just jealous 'coz you'll never be able to experience that."
"Oh, I don't mind not experiencing that. I'm too busy playing with girls." He smirked
"Human trash."
"Stop it both of you. Sweetie, the other ladies are waiting for you. Why don't you go talk to them. We'll just arrange tea time with you for the next day." Her mother said
"Argh. You know I hate doing this." She grunted
"Well, you are now the Empress of an Empire you ought to do these things." Her father said
"Mkay. Fine." She said. The kissed her parents and second brother goodbye.
Her brothers were twins. Although the came from the same womb and nurtured at the same time the both of them has completely different personality.
Her first brother Jacob was a playboy and a troublemaker. He's a genius swordman but is nonchalant about work. His only interest is on weapons and playing with women.
On the other hand, her second brother Alejandro was closer to her. He was quiet and loves reading book. He also hates socializing just like her. He only love reading books. Since they were kids he express his interest in becoming a farmer.
None of them wanted the throne. Although they were all capable, they don't want work. Too much work. This is also the reason why Alarice chooses to be married to another Kingdom rather than take the throne. Though, what she didn't realize is she will still be bombarded with lots of work.
She sighed. The banquet hall is full of glittering lights and sparkling jewels. The ladies were all adorned with their best dresses and smiles.
Ha! If I know they were just talking about dirty things behind their fans.
She saw two ladies coming to her beaming. One with red hair and the other with purple hair.
"Ally! It's been a while." Said the red haired lady.
Even though she rarely attend social events she managed to make some connections due to her hard work.
The red haired lady with brown eyes is the younger sister of the Emperor's aide Pierre, Olivia Eleanor Lomoan. She became friends when she met her at the private dinner birthday celebration of Pierre which they were invited.
"Ally!! Why didn't you answer my last letter!" The one with the purple hair complained
"I'm sorry. I've been busy for the last few weeks. I barely even got to take a bath let alone sleep " she said feeling haggard.
"The Emperor is too much. She made you work day and night. Just look at the marks on you shoulder."
The purple haired lady with green eyes was the daughter of the southern duke. Adeline Liliana Castedras.
Her family has been one of the powerful ones after the Royal family. They contributed in lots of wars and now pledge their undying loyalty to the Emperor. They met when she visited one of the orphanage she was planning to sponsor. It turns out that Adeline was also eyeing for the orphanage to be sponsored.
"My shoulder?" She said the looked at her right shoulder. She get flustered when she noticed that the mark became slightly visible.
"Argh. This is a pain!" She complained.
The both of them chuckled and order their maids to fix it quickly.
"I'm sorry I'm a bit of a mess today."
"Are you kidding me? You look so beautiful! We always know you're a beauty but today you literally shines! You were the talk of every ladies in here. We were questioned a lot earlier about you because they know we were close!" Adeline said
"Plus, that Public Display of Affection you and the Emperor did earlier! You will become the talk of town for the following months!" Olivia added
"Stop it. I already have too much on my plate. I don't want dramas. I don't even know what the emperor is thinking!"
The both of them giggled.
"But by the ways Ally. Who's that gentlemen in you parents seat?" Adeline asked
"Who?"
"The one with the short hair and playful smile." She said giggling
She gently flicked Adeline's forehead.
"Not him. He's my brother and a human trash." She said
"What? What do you mean?"
"I meant what I said. He's a playboy who loves playing with women. He'll just hurt you. Give up he's a red flag."
"I can change him bestie." She said with her eyes sparkling while looking at him
She looked at Jacob and saw him winking at Adeline.
Oh boy. This is not good.
She was about you say something but the music changes into waltz. It's a signal that means that the dance will now commence.
When Alarice saw Jacob stand up looking at their direction she immediately grab Adeline who was still on cloud nine but Jacob's feet was faster.
"May I have this dance, My lady?" He said kissing Adeline's hand
Olivia tapped my shoulder
"Give up. Let her experience what she had to." Olivia said
"But-"
"But the Emperor is looking for you." She said
--
Nicholas keeps on smiling. He always thought these kind of events were boring. But for some reason, tonight was different. He actually finds himself enjoying it.
When the music changes, his eyes automatically look for Alarice. When he saw her with two young lady he was about to go to her direction but a hand stopped him.
"Your Majesty, it's time to dance." Qashanna, the Empress Consort whom he forgot said
He stared at her for a while then looked at the people who were dancing and some nobles anticipating his dance with his Empress Consort.
After all, this is what they always do. In all the banquets he attended. His first dance was always with the Empress Consort followed by the second concubine.
His eyes looks at Alarice's direction. She was talking to some other noble lady. She wasn't even paying attention to him.
He sighed in disappointment and took Qashanna's hand. The went in the middle of the hall and dance
"Your Majesty, what's wrong? You looked down today." Qashanna said sweetly
He adored this girl. She was his fiance ever since he's a child.
He always liked her sweet demeanor despite being abused by her father. He knows of the abuse that is why he was determined to take her as his wife.
When they were 18, Qashanna drenched in the pouring rain begged him outside of his palace to shelter her as she can no longer take his father's abused.
There she was in her worn out dressed and messy hair. He always took pity on her. He cannot directly took action as it is a private family matter. Being her fiance can only do little.
Qashanna, while crying asked him to marry her immediately. Though, confused he oblige as he, too can no longer endure seeing his childhood friend in pain.
After their quick marriage, he took a move and gather evidence to punish the duke. However, he can only gather little dirty information about him. The duke was a crafty bastard. He also was considerably powerful as many old nobles supports him.
When they found out that Qashanna was pregnant after three months, he filed a report against the duke even though it's still not enough. He knows it's a dangerous and hasty move but he has no choice. He needs to protect his wife and his future child.
He cannot let the duke took more power when Qashanna birthed a son. He doesn't have much power that time. His father dies when he was ten and his mother as Empress Dowager took on the heavy responsibility of the throne. Although, like other noble ladies she doesn't have enough knowledge to run an Empire. Which is why they were constantly mocked but his mother desperately hold on to power.
His only support during that time was the father of his fiance Duke Elmea but he was the enemy. When Mael was born a Duke from the east countryside and a Marquess offers their help with the condition of marrying their daughter and taking them as his concubine.
He refused at first as his first wife just gave birth but his mother on her knees, tired and barely holding on pleaded.
Her mother that night cried in front of Qashanna asking for forgiveness as this was their only option. Qashanna painfully accepted the decision. In return, she became his Empress Consort in order to give her power to rule the harem.
That was the reason for marrying his first Concubine Charlotte Tabitha Robindrey and second concubine Elisha Vashti Laidsa. The duke of Laidsa doesn't have political power but was a highly respected scholar and has a monopoly of the mines in the east of the empire. On the other hand, Marquess Robindrey was the leader of the Imperialists faction. The ones who swore loyalty to the Emperor along with the Northern Duke Castedras.
In the end, Duke Elmea didn't completely lost his power. After all it wouldn't be good for an Empress to have his family ruined but almost all his assets were confiscated, only his main house and one business that operates were left to his hands. Very few noble supports him now.
He still attended these events as a formality and to fulfill his obligation as the Duke.
This lady he was dancing with was someone he fought so hard for to protect. But the crack started when Alarice brings up the education she's imploring to his son Mael. The few nail scratches and bruises in his son's body and her glares and constant fight with his other wives.
And most of all the incident with the first concubine.
He doesn't know what to feel. He let her to what she wants because he pities her and she is dear to him. He believes that all the things that she's doing is due to her trauma.
She was not at fault. It was all the Duke's fault. He endures her deed hoping that one day, that genuinely sweet child that was once his friend will show up again.
--
Hi! It's Me author again!
I don't know if this is a sad news but yeah, I might not be able to update tomorrow. My school works are now piling up so much so I need to do them..
In return, I'll work harder on the day after tomorrow and upload two chapters.
Thank you!