The banquet hall was so quiet that Alarice feels like vomiting. Everybody's eyes were in them.
"I feel so sick." She murmured
"That's because you're so pretty Empress Mother." Naveen said
"He's right. And it's an honor to be your escort." Mael said
"But I hate gatherings. I wanna go and rest and sleep." She complained.
"Please bear with it Mother."
"You're really just like your father, Mael." She grunted.
She saw her family and greeted them formally. Then she went straight to the throne.
"We greet His Majesty the Emperor." The three of them greeted.
The Emperor gestures us to sit down. Then the banquet starts with some speech from the important nobles and my Father as he is a special guest.
"You didn't tell me you will be escorted by my sons." The emperor beside her said
"I didn't? I clearly told you last night." Said the puzzled Alarice.
The Emperor just looked at her. "You didn't. Are you so drown in pleasure that-" he didn't finished what he's saying as Alarice swiftly covers his mouth with her two hands.
She was blushing from embarrassment.
"Nicholas please. Stop saying things like that!" She murmured.
She felt Nicholas' smirked in her palm. He held her hands and remove it from his mouth.
"What? Isn't it true? Now I wonder how hard your maids worked so they can cover all the marks I left you!"
"You did it deliberately. They really had a hard time!" She hissed and gently kick him.
"I'd rather you enter with all the marks-"
"Nicholas!" She said loudly
She glanced at the nobles below them. All of them including Duke Elmea who's delivering his speech were looking at them.
She glared at him.
"Now great! I'll gather more attention now. Don't talk to me for the whole night. I'm exhausted just looking at you." She said and smiled at the crowd and wave.
She glanced at the Qashanna who was at other side of Nicholas trembling and looking down.
She sighed. I don't like to be involved in drama.
After the long speeches the food was served for the guests. Most of them were Eastern dishes.
"What's this?" Naveen asks while showing the chopsticks.
"Oh that's chopsticks. It's been a while since I've used one." She said then get one to use.
"How do I use this?" Naveen asked.
Alarice showed how to use it but Naveen had a hard time. Makes sense. Chopsticks are a bit hard to use.
She just used hers and feed Naveen herself. Mael looks like after many tries got used to eating with one.
"Your Majesty, please eat your meal also. I'll take care of my son." Concubine Elisha said
"Are you sure? You haven't finished your meal yet. I can feed him first then after you finished your meal I'll eat."
"No it's fine. Naveen can't always act like a baby. He ought to be mature by now." Elisha said
"Oh, okay." She just said and starts eating. She saw Qashanna eating with her spoon and fork.
She glanced at the Emperor who was trying to use chopsticks but never got to scoop food.
"What are you doing?" She asked
"I don't know how to use these."
"Really? I thought you did study how to use that."
"I did, but I haven't had the chance to really use these so I now forgot how to."
"Here. Like this " she said as she attempt to show him and pick a piece of chopped meat using the chopsticks then she face him.
She was dumbfounded when the Emperor eat the meat in her chopsticks.
Loading...
"Eh?"
"The meat was nicely seasoned." Nicholas said
She just looked at him puzzled then blushed.
"Why would you do that? A lot of people are looking." She said while glancing at the crowd when we're murmuring.
She just wanted to sink in her seat.
"It's called working smart. Instead of trying to learn using these that'll take a lot of time I'd rather you feed me so I can eat immediately." He said.
"Now feed me."
She opened her mouth to say something but she can't find the right words.
"You're unbelievably shameless."
She said but picked some meat and feed him.
"You eat also."
"No, I'll just eat after you. I don't want to constantly change chopsticks." Alarice said
"Why do you have to? You can use what you're using."
"What? No! That'll be like an indirect kiss!"
"Really? You're worries about that? I can just kiss you-"
"Here now. Eat a lot your majesty." She said as she shove food in his mouth and also eat after him
What's going on today?
--
Qashanna leave her seat. He didn't even need to ask permission because she doubt someone will notice her. She was trembling from annoyance and jealousy.
"Have you seen the Empress Regnant? She's so beautiful and elegant!"
"I know. I wonder where she get her dress. I want one, too."
" And her jewels. It suit perfectly with her silver hair."
"Have you seen how the Emperor looked at her. He's completely swept off his feet."
"Oh how romantic. She even feeding her."
"And earlier, the Empress was blushing. They must be conversing something naughty. I heard they spent last night together."
She gripped her hands tight.
It wasn't supposed to be like this. She know the Emperor somehow has special feelings for the Empress Regnant from the beginning. She always worked so hard so she can never loose his affection.
Though he never neglected her, she can feel that she's no longer the one in his heart. And today was the first time he showed it publicly.
She felt humiliated. But most of all, scared.
What will her father tell him? What will she do if she became pregnant? What if the reason why His Majesty never named an heir despite having two prince is because he was waiting for his child with the Empress Regnant?
Here she thought that the second concubine is the only one she should be wary of. She even eliminated the first concubine when she got pregnant so she can narrow down her enemies.
Mael, her child was becoming awfully close with the Empress Regnant that she's losing her grip in him. He started disobeying him and even expresses his disinterest in the crown.
Her first child was now becoming useless to her. She thought everything will be fine when she gave birth to his son.
What's happening now? Everything's a mess. After all she had done to get out of the clutch of her abusive and gain this position. Will she lose it all?
--
Hello! I had sometime after having my late lunch so I decided to upload a chapter. Enjoy reading!
And oh, I did change the cover but I feel like it looks bad but oh well haha. I'll just change it again if I have time.
What do you think?