Alarice sighed. She's really really tired now. During the first dance, instead of dancing with Mael or Naveen as her first dance she was having conversations with the ladies of the new nobles.
I wanna rest. After this, I'm gonna file a one month vacation!
When the ladies all disperse to dance with their partners she thought she'll have time to rest but Mael and Naveen approached her. Mael lend his hand asking for dance.
"Give this Empress Mother of you a time to rest, children." She pleaded
"I'm sorry Empress Mother, but we need to dance. It's the second dance now and if we don't we'll be criticized." Mael said while smiling
She looked at the bright, dazzling dance floor of the ball. Everyone was so lively. It seems like she's the only one tired.
My social battery is almost zero. As I thought, I can no longer hold on to this. I need divorce.
She sighed and took Mael's hand. On the dance floor, Mael tried to ease her tiredness by making her laugh all the way true.
Is he really his child? His son's way better than him.
Then he danced with Naveen. She did enjoy the dance that she forgot her fatigue. She was about to seat but a gentleman with black hair and red eyes like rubies approached her. He was dazzling.
Who?
She felt that the banquet hall's atmosphere changes. All the nobles attention was with them.
What? What? Am I missing something?
I looked at Adeline who was at the back of this gentleman. She was restless.
"I heard your brother was making a pass with my sister." His deep clear voice said
"Huh?" She was so overwhelmed by his appearance and voice that she spout out things like a fool.
"He was giving my sister a lot of wine. Is he trying to make her drunk?"
Alarice's jaw almost clenched. Her stupid brother!
"He seriously did that?!"
"Yes. So if you are hiding him can you-"
"Brother stop! I told you it's not like that!" Adeline who jumped out of her brother to stop him.
"You're in the middle of the dance floor. You're embarrassing Ally. A lot of people are looking." Adeline murmured
"Is that so?"
"Yes, brother. So please." Adeline almost beg
Alarice was somewhat relieve but then the guy suddenly lend his hand for a dance.
"Please have a dance with me, Your Majesty The Empress."
Wow. He's so rude so I thought he doesn't recognize me. Turns out he does. What a waste of his face and voice.
Alarice has a mixed feelings. She don't want to accept the dance but this guy's looks like someone who won't stop untill he gets what he wants.
I'll extend my vacation for two months. She said then held the guy's hand.
They start dancing in the middle. He can feel the gazes of the people around them.
"Please tell His Majesty that I only ask you to dance because I need information about your Brother." He suddenly said
"What do you mean?"
"His piercing gaze almost dig a hole through my head."
I subtly looked at the Emperor and there she saw him glaring at them.
Should I extend my vacation for three months?
"So, where is your brother?"
"I don't know. And if you're worried about your sister. I also warned him that my brother is a human trash. She gets down to every person wearing a skirt."
His face darkened. Siscon? This guy seriously love his sister. But this is the first time she saw her friend's brother.
Although Adelines was her friend for 3 years, she hadn't been to the south and only meet Adeline when the lady visited her.
"Who are you again?" She asked rudely. But who cares, this guy is also rude
"Vincent Reux Castedras." He casually said
Wait? Isn't he the 2nd ML of this novel? It's been a while since the novel finished without much happening because I prevented almost every scenario in the novel as it will harm a lot of people.
This second ML was destined to sacrifice his life when a plague break out and fought with the witch who held the only cure just to save Qashanna the female lead.
But because she prevented the plague by secretly Healing the first patient it didn't happen. And now after 3 years, this guy is still alive treating her rudely.
Yes, I'll take this as your thanks. Alarice thought sarcastically.
"Lord Castedras, I know that you love your sister and will do anything for her but just to remind you that she's now an adult. She can make decisions on her own so stop meddling too much in her business." She said
He was about to say something but the music suddenly stop.
A strong hand grab her from the Young Duke. She looked up to see the seething in anger Nicholas.
"Hey, that's so rude!" She said
The Emperor, for some reason suddenly kissed her in front of everybody.
She struggled but his hand on her waist was just too strong.
What's with this man all of a sudden?!
The kiss became deeper that she almost see white. This is the kiss that he gave her in bed. When he realize that she almost ran out of air he stopped.
He licked his own lips and hugged her. Almost as if hiding her.
Of course he will. Her face probably is a mess right now. He then carry her, leaving the astonished people on the banquet hall.
She let him be as his legs gave out both from the kiss and the embarrassment.
I'll really need a vacation!!
When they arrived at his room he gently lay her in bed
"What's wrong with you?!" She hissed
He looked at her with his gleaming blue eyes. She stepped back a little. He looks like a dangerous beast right now. It would not be a good idea to provoked him.
"Why did he asked you to dance?" He asked almost calmly
"Nothing. He just asked about my brother." She answered
The Emperor not convinced, just stared at her.
"That's the truth! My brother is making a pass on Adeline that's why he's asking where is he." She insisted
He slowly remove some of his clothes.
"Come on! What's your problem? You danced with other women." She argue
He almost slammed his hands on both of her side.
"You're my wife. Your supposed to dance with only me." He said
"And I told you that it's not what you think!" She said started to get annoyed.
"You never even care if I dance with other women. But I almost punched that bastard for touching you."
He let her hair loose and held some strands of it.
"Why would I care about you dancing with other women? They're also your wife."
"Yes. That's right. That attitude of yours is something that shakes me up. It's driving me crazy, everytime."
He said then kissed her neck. That's when she smell the alcohol.
Oh, he's drunk. That's why he's like this. This is gonna be a long night.
---
After that exhausting night, Alarice woke up in a peaceful morning. She looked at the person at her side who was sleeping peacefully.
I wanna punched him so badly but his sleeping face is like an angels. She thought, conflicted.
The bedroom was covered by thin curtains. And she was about to get up but Nicholas held her back on the bed.
"Later." He murmured
"You already tormented me all night Your Majesty. Please let me go."
"My head's aching." He grunted
"You deserve it. My whole body hurts."
They stayed like that for a while. Alarice sometimes wish that they could stay like this forever. As she has that thought they were interrupted by an excited knock at the door.
"Come in!" The Emperor said so she covered her body in the sheets.
The head maid of the rose palace came in beaming.
"Your Majesty! A good news! We just found out that the Empress Consort was pregnant."
She was shaken up. And here she thought she can never get hurt again.
--
Hi! Sorry for the late update. I need time to grind my school works and luckily I finished all of it. Yey!
and as promised, I'll upload 2 chapters todaay. Here's thw first one and the second will be later at night.
See you later!