Episode 32 (The Empress)

*

*

*

Hmm~

Which book should I read? There are so many!

Every room was already lit when I came outside the bedroom. I was really happy, as in the Loire I had to light up all the candles including the fireplace of my room.

Although I didn\'t mind doing that. But sometimes when it got really dark and cold, It was really hard to do that. As I hate dark places. I feel suffocated whenever I am in one.

Sigh~

I shouldn\'t think about that.

After that Isabella started looking at the books again. And after a while, a book caught her attention.

That book…

It was a book with a blue velvet cover. For some reason, it was sparkling.

But it\'s at the top…

Hmm~

I looked around the room and found a wooden ladder.

I moved the ladder in front of the shelf where the book was. As there were wheels under the ladder, it was easy to move around.

I was getting up, suddenly-

Knock* Knock*

I flinched at the sudden noise.

"Your Highness, the Crown Princess. It\'s me, Cande. May I come in?"

I hurriedly got down from the ladder.

"Yes. Come in."

"Greetings, Princess."

Cande bowed and said.

"It\'s time for you to prepare for the Ritual."

"Okay. Let\'s go."

"Yes, Princess."

*

*

*

When I reached my room, 10 maids including Ella were already there. Although I couldn\'t see Anne anywhere.

They were preparing my dress and the other accessories.

As soon as I entered my room, the maids bowed and greeted me.

"Greetings, Crown Princess. We are here to prepare you for the ceremony."

"Ah- Okay."

After that, the maids started to undress me.

"My Lady! You will be wearing this for the Ritual."

Ella said and showed me a white dress. It was a long white sleeveless dress. It wasn\'t puffy. But it was too revealing! The dress was backless.

"Umm. Ella."

"Yes, My Lady?

"Isn\'t the dress too revealing?"

"It is traditional attire for the Ritual, Princess. Honestly, the previous ladies wore dresses more revealing than this."

What? How can it be more revealing than this?!

"But don\'t worry, Princess. Your back will be covered by your hair. So there won\'t be any problem."

"I guess."

After that, the maids helped me wear the dress.

Ughh! So shameful!

It\'s revealing too much skin on my chest.

Gasp*

The maids of the room gasped at Isabella\'s beauty.

"You look beautiful, Princess."

"Do I?"

I\'m uncomfortable though.

"Yes! You really do!"

Cande replied with enthusiasm.

"Absolutely, My Lady! You are the prettiest!"

Ella added.

"Yes!"

"You are like an angel, Princess!"

The other maids started praising too.

Ah. My face feels hot.

"Th-Thank you, everyone."

\'She is so cute~\'

Everyone in the room thought at the same time.

"Ah! We haven\'t done her hair yet."

Cande suddenly remembered.

"Ha! Yes! And the accessories too."

Ella added.

After that, the maids started doing my hair. As planned, my hair was left untied. And a beautiful head chain was put on my wavy hair.

"The necklace-"

"Don\'t. It\'s a gift from My Lady\'s grandfather. She cherishes it a lot."

Ella informed Cande.

"Oh, I see. Then the Princess doesn\'t have to change it."

"I apologize. But if it\'s necessary I will change it."

"No way, Princess. No need to change that. I should have known that the chain was important to you from the beginning."

Cande said eagerly.

They are so considerate.

"Thank you."

Isabella said with a gentle smile.

"Princess, Your hand."

"Oh, here."

I forwarded my hand. Then a maid tied a Golden bracelet that had a beautiful crystal that looked like a burning fire.

"It\'s a Fire Stone, Princess. Her Highness, the Empress designed it especially for you. To make sure you stay warm."

"The Empress?"

"Yes."

"I see."

It took an hour for me to prepare for the Ritual.

Suddenly the Knight outside my room announced a presence.

"Her Highness, the Empress Alicia Cedric Carados Fellmirr is entering the room."

Wha- The Empress?!

Every maid in the room bowed their heads.

I hurriedly got up from the chair.

And in a minute, the Empress entered the room.

So pretty~ She is probably the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. Silver hair… Silver eyes… She looks kind of familiar.

"Greetings, Her Highness, the Empress."

Isabella gracefully bowed and greeted the empress.

"Greetings! Everyone, leave us alone."

"As you wish, Her Highness."

The maids then bowed again and left the room.

"You…"

The empress said with a loud voice and slowly started walking towards me.

I looked down. Is she going to hit me? What am I supposed to do?

Isabella gulped.

Step* Step*

As she walked closer, it became hard for me to breathe. My hands were shaking.

And in a minute, she was right in front of me. Suddenly she grabbed my shoulders and pulled me towards her.

"Kyaa~ You are so cute~"

Alicia said while cuddling Isabella.

Wha-What?

"Oh, dear! I can\'t believe this! How come my stubborn son got a Pretty mate like you! Are you an angel? Kyaa~ You are so cute~ But why are you so skinny?! Aghh! You have to eat more! That Leonus! He can\'t even take good care of his one and only mate… … …"

Huh? Huh~? What\'s going on?

*

*

*

When the Empress entered my room she looked so dignified. But now-

She won\'t stop cuddling me!

"Oh my! Pardon me! It\'s just you are so cute that I can\'t stop cuddling you. I always wanted a daughter like you! But ended up having an arrogant son."

Alicia said while resisting her urges to cuddle Isabella.

I see. Now that I think about it, Leonus is the only child of Emperor Theobald.

"To be honest, I came here to check up on you. I wanted to see you so badly. When I heard you reached the Capital I came running. But that son of mine didn\'t let me see you and sent me back. Can you believe it! So I sneaked out when he was busy preparing for the ritual. Fufu~"

"Oh-"

"Oh my gosh! He probably reached the Sacred Ground already!"

"Huh? Sacred Ground?"

"You know where the Ritual will take place."

"I see."

"Now that I think about it, you are already prepared. And here I am wasting your time."

"Oh No! I am really happy to meet you, Your Highness."

"Your Highness?!"

Huh? Did I say something wrong?

"Then Empr-"

"Your Highness?! Call me Mother."

Ah-

"But how can I?"

"Listen, dear. From the moment you were tied up with Leonus you became my child too."

Ah-

"Dear Lord! Why are you crying, dear?"

What-

I touched my cheeks. It\'s wet.

I am crying?

"Don\'t cry! You don\'t like calling me \'Mother\'? It\'s okay! You don\'t have to."

Alicia said in a panic.

"N-No. I-"

Suddenly the Empress hugged me tightly.

"It\'s okay dear. If you don\'t hate me, then I assume you miss your mother. It\'s okay, Isabella. Shh~ Don\'t cry."

Like that, the Empress consoled me until I stopped crying. The whole time, she patted my back gently.

After a while, I stopped crying. And my senses returned.

Ughh~

How disgraceful! How can I cry in front of the Empress!

"Have you calmed down?"

"Yes. I-I apologize! You had to see something unsightly."

"What are you saying! Listen Bell. Whenever you are sad, I am always there for you. Understand?"

I nodded my head.

"Huhu~ Then shall we go?"

"Yes, Empress."

"Mother! Call me \'Mother\'."

"But how can I? It will be disrespectful of me to do that."

"Sigh~ This child. Alright then. Call me \'Mother\' when we are alone."

"Yes."

"We are alone now."

Ah-

Pfft! Hahaha~

She is like Leonus. No. More like, Leonus is like the Empress. He was also like this.

"Yes, Mother."

"Uwaa~ You are so cute~ I can\'t help it. This is the last time, I promise."

Saying that, Alicia again cuddled Isabella.

Knock* Knock*

"Your Highness! Sir Blaine is here."

"Oh my! It\'s time. Are you ready, child?"

"Ah. But do I have to walk outside wearing this…?"

"Pfft! No! Blaine will teleport you there."

"I see."

Phew~

"But you look beautiful in this dress though."

"Thank you. You look beautiful too, Mother."

"Oh my! Stop flattering!"

Empress said while putting one hand on her flushed cheeks.

"Oh! You should go now."

"Yes."

"Blaine."

"Yes, Her Highness."

Blaine replied from outside.

"Do it now."

"As you wish."

Whoosh~

A strong breeze struck me out of nowhere. Then a bright light glowed. I had to close my eyes because of the brightness.

Suddenly everything went silent. Instead of the strong breeze, there was a nice gentle breeze.

"Princess."

Hearing the voice, I opened my eyes in surprise. Standing in front of me, it was him.

Leonus....