"Let's go there your Majesty." Alarice said while still dragging Nicholas.
The city lights are bustling and the people were lively. One wouldn't think that this place was once the poor slums that Alarice saw four years ago.
She was so glad that she was able to fulfill her role properly.
"How much is that?" asked Alarice to the man selling street food. A common street food back in her home town. Isaw.
"It's 5 copper coin each." He said
"I'll take 15." She said
"What? That's too much. Can you eat all of that?" He said
"Nope. That's why you're here. You're going to eat the rest. We still have about 10 stalls of street foods that we can buy from." She said
"You're unbelievable. You're the only one who could treat the Emperor like that."
Alarice gesture to feed the Emperor the food and he eats it.
"You said that but you still ate the foods I gave you." She smiled. "Besides, I earned it from all the works I've done this past weeks. Plus, according to your country's law, it doesn't matter if I am a foreigner or not. I am your Empress Regnant which means I basically stand next to you so I can do whatever I want as long as the law permits so." She said while eating.
Napailing na lamang si Nicholas. He never wins in argument when it comes to this woman.
"Oh look! A shooting game!" She said as she shoved the remaining foods in his hand and ran towards the game stall.
He saw the prizes to be nothing but stuffed toys.
"I wanna play!" She said as she gave the man in the stall coins.
He still remembers the first time they did this kind of thing. It was a year after their wedding. The Empress Reganant who just moved in his office suddenly slammed a pile of paper in his desk.
His new toy was conceited and arrogant. It's like it didn't know it's place and just do whatever it wishes to.
"Give me permission to roam around this street." She said
Nagpantig qng Tenga niya. How dare this woman order him around?
His aide saw his expression and just loses the color on his face as it knows that he does not like the way she behaves.
"A-Ahmm. You Majesty the Empress, please just-"
Nicholas cut off the aides words which attempted to stop the Empress for saying something he doesn't like further.
"No. Let us hear what the Empress has to say. Surely, it will be interesting as she needed to act rude."
"Oh, I apologize for being rude. It's just that, I need to see the situation first hand in order to see what further development I can do in this streets. However, the law states that I need your permission. So please, can I go to that street?" This time the Empress said less rudely
This woman is strange. Even though she was raised as a Princess, she rarely behaved like one. She was fearless that she can get killed for earning someone's contempt due to that fearlessness.
"But why would I care about those lowly commoners? They are the minority. They won't affect the progress of the Empire that much."
She opened her mouth in disbelief. For Nicholas It's normal for nobility let alone Royals to neglect the minority of individuals. After all a ruler have so much on his plate that he have to cater to everyone's needs.
"Are you stupid?" Alarice finally said.
That's his last straw. He drew his sword and pointed it at her slim, white neck. She got takes aback.
"Say one more word and the Empress' seat will be vaccant one more."
His toy really needs to know it's place. He doesn't want anyone to dictate him on what he needs to do.
She muster her courage and spoke.
"Your Majesty, the people's lives are equally important no matter minor group they are. You are their ruler and it is your duty to help them. If you can't cater all of them I am here. I can do the minor tasks even if I have to work overtime everyday. They matter to me and that is the reason why I married you." She said trembling. From anger or fear, that he doesn't know.
They are the only reason why I married you. He felt stuffy. He doesn't like hearing those words.
But still, her words sounded rational. Despite his emotions in turmoil, he needs to still make a logical decision.
He put his swords down.
" The next time you talk to me like that just to bring up nonsense, this sword will pierce through you without warning."
The Empress bow her head. " I understand Your Majesty." She said.
That night, from his office he saw the Empress dressed as a commoner with black hood together with her night sneak through the backdoor.
He felt a sudden tightness in his chest and before he knew it he was running towards the place where the Empress' is at.
That was when he grabbed the Empress in her arms.
"Where are you going with him?" He asked. Danger was in his voice.
"What do you mean, Your Majesty? You gave me permission to visit the street in the slums." She said puzzled.
The knight bowed his head.
"Why are you with him?"
"As the Empress, dangers are all around me. I can't just go out without an escort, can I? Besides Ricky was the only knight available." She reasoned out
Ricky...
"So you're going out with him?"
"Yes, your Majesty."
He looked at them for some time the decided
"I'll go with you." He said
"What?" She asked dumbfounded. "You said you don't care about what happens to these people so why are you now joining the visit? You have much more important things to do so I beg you not to waste your time here any longer. Please release me so I can be done with my business. "
"Are you really thinking of going out with that knight? You are even on friendly term and calling him in his nickname." He said " and you" he looks at the knight. "Aren't you the second son of Viscount Kierre?"
"I am Your Majesty." Roderick said
"Your Majesty! You're being unreasonable and rude. Please, I know your mad because of the way I speak earlier but from now on I will no longer speak to you that way." She said
He looked at her puzzled. The scenario earlier was not even in his mind.
Right now, what he wants is the bastard knight to stay away from her.
"You are My woman. So you can't go with another man." He said in a low voice
"What?! Are you serio- I mean, our relationship is not like that Your Majesty."
"How can I not now that the visit is only an excuse to fool around with that knight."
She pressed her fingers in her forehead. She sighed and removes his hands on her shoulders and look at her straight to the eye.
"I don't know where this jealousy came from but please do remember that our relationship is not like that for you to demand me something like faithfulness. The law also dictated that I as an Empress Regnant can have my concubines legally. We are not to meddle in each other's private life, that is one of the clause of our contracts. Lastly, you are not my lover Your Majesty. What gives you the rights to act like this?" She said in a serious tone.
He was shocked. All that she said was true and logical. What is happening to him? He looked at her for a while
"I'll still go with you." He insisted.
Alarice just sighed and just resigned. "Suit yourself." She said
The three of us roam in the streets of slums.
The situation is more decent than he imagined. He saw some people's face brightens when they saw her.
"This is not her first time here?" He asked the knight
At first he is hesitant to answer but as a subject he need to answer the inquiry of his Emperor.
"This is her first visit with your permission. There are times that the Empress just went here without your permission but just briefly as she doesn't have much time and there are people waiting for her to make a mistake, as you know an Empress setting foot in this kind of place is a disgrace. She failed to get your permission for the last year as you were always busy and doesn't approve her written requests." The Knight explained
A foreign Empress. He was reluctant to accept it at first due to various reasons but he have to admit that his workload decreases and he sees progress in the Empire's economy.
After walking around the streets, they went back to the carriage.
"Your Majesty, I know you deemed them insignificant." The Empress break the silence " however, those people deserve more. It is our duty who have position, wealth and power to help them. That's why I beg of you. Give them hope Your Majesty." She said and bowed her head.
He sighed. There a tightness and pain in his chest for unknown reasons.
"The next time you visit. Tell me. So I can also learn about them" he said
--
"How was that Nicholas? I got this small lion keychain."
The Empress broke his train of thoughts.
"That's nothing. It's just a consolation prize, right? " He chuckled.
Sometimes he was flabbergasted as to how their relationship progress for the past years.
"Oh come on. I still got something. Look, the lion has golden fur and ocean blue eyes, just like yours." She said
He secretly smiled. "That toy looks as ugly as you."
"I'm not ugly!"
"Mommy!" A kid suddenly called.
The both of them looked at where the voice came from. Then, they saw a silver-haired girl with black eyes running towards them.
"Hiciel! My baby!" Alarice excitedly said as she runs to hug the child.
For him, the scene doesn't seemed right.
-----
Hello! Author here!
Thanks so much for reading this work of mine. I honestly don't know if this is interesting or what but still glad there are people reading this.
To chucker_23, HeraZinque thanks so much you guys! I don't know if it's okay to mention you with out permission but I'm just so so grateful. You're my first reader, voters and commenters!!
Thanks much!!
PS. You can comment on what you really think about this story at the comment section. I accept honest criticisms hahahaha . While crying nga lang but who cares, bounce back na Lang ahahaha
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