My eyes began to blink at the mere light that had shone onto my emerald eyes, giving my eyes an ideal of life, the hooves of horses began gradually clattering and clanging as the horses' trotted against the cement path, where the carriage's hind wheels bumped against the rocky road.
"Hera, are you okay?"
Uttered by one of the ladies in waiting,she pressed her hand against my knee, caressing it with the motions of her thumb, I jolted out of my day dreaming state.
My eyes averting towards the eyes of the maiden before i could utter another word, but just a slight sigh under my breath that had hissed against my lips, exhaling it from my mouth, I was quite tensed, my stomach began gurgling butterflies as my anxiousness peaks to it's highest.
"I'm quite fine, just a bit anxious that's all."
"Ah—I see, you must have missed his highness, while you were away from your journey back to you home town in the Eastern part of Endarria."
"Of course, he must be waiting for me whilst preparing for a brunch feast, it has only been a week since I have not seen his face."
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A chuckle came from the maiden, as the back of her index hand pressed against her plumped, reddened lips, She couldn't help but laugh at my sudden remarks that had made her filled with joyful expressions.
"Your majesty, you seem a lot more anxious then to have left the Empire, not so long ago when going to the Eastern part of Endarria, Now you look a lot more anxious when returning back to the empire."
"Hush, It's just me becoming homesick when wanting to come home, and it is time for me to relax instead of listening while sitting near the counsel meeting, all those selling land, criminal justice, renew laws, and trades have made my head quite feverish."
I huffed as I rested my chin against the left palm of my hand, as my elbow rested onto the window pane of the carriage ride, right then in there, with good timing, I jerked forwards a bit, signaling that the carriage had been on a halt.
"Whoa there!"
The horses began neighing as they stood on their hind legs, the coachman exclaimed, falling down to all fours as the coachman had patted against the back of one of the horses, that seem distraught.
"Coachman, what seems to be the sudden halt?"
Said one of the maidens as one of them looked in front of their rides, to have seen what made the sudden halt of the carriage.488Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpa45owUwWE
There stood the huge castle, plastered with the barbican, with men scattered around the bailey and there the parapet walkway stood high above the turrets, with soldiers and armies of men, had screamed on the top of their lungs with haste as one of them shouted;
"The Empress has arrived!"
"The Empress has arrived! Protect all perimeters!"
One by one began shouting at the top of their lungs before they could even give a proper word to each other, and the only message that had gotten around, was my returning to the castle.
"Well, looks like the men never hesitate to inform you that you have arrived at the castle, Am I correct, your highness?"
"Seems, so."
My gentle facial expression gave the maidens some gentle hostility as the coachmen had hopped off the driver's seat, his feet heavily dragged onto the floor as he approached the carriage's doors.488Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4txrXzLpSM
The doors crept open as I exited the right side of the carriage, where the ladies in waiting, waited patiently until I had left the carriage, pulling my expansive layered skirt, the pattering footsteps of clanging armor began approaching as each one took a kneel in front of me, each one pressing their right hand onto the left side of their chest, where their hearts were.
I had gotten out of the carriage, my feet pressing against the cement of the path as I looked over my right shoulder to have seen each soldier bowing their heads, with honor.
"Welcome back, Your Empress!"
With a gentle smile, I had given, I nodded off in the distance before each one of my maidens had left the carriage, and to their astonishment to have seen many soldiers on one knee, bowing.
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"Empress."
A deepened voice hushed against his vocals, I could notice the voice in an instant, as my eyes repelled from the soldiers towards the figure that had approached me.488Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3LE29RBlaJ
His reddened mantle, nestled against his shoulders with his tunic, untouched nor wrinkled, his disheveled jet-black hair. Including those ocean eyes, that had given me the slight feeling of ice-cold.
"Emperor."
I said, as in an instant my facial expressions began turning into a subtle emotionless expression, my eyes had stared into his, and from the reveal, his face had never changed it's icy-cold eyes from the day we arranged our vows whilst saying the words I do.
"Seems, you have returned."
He had said, as he towered before me, his lean yet muscular body had given me no intimidation, with a deepened breath, my chest began rising solemnly soon falling down as I had exhaled.
"Of course."
I said, giving a courtesy before I had faced my back, for him to look, leaving the premises, my heels clattering against the pavement, as each one of footing begins echoing before I had entered the gates of the castle.
"Good evening, your majesty."
Beau, one of my trusted ladies in waiting, uttered as she bowed, following right behind me, as his eyes traced along our way. I could feel his eyes give me a sudden chill down onto my spine.
"Wait."
I stopped, waiting on the middle of the stairs, I looked back to have seen him, facing forwards for eye contact with me.
"The feast tonight will be set for the returning of you and your ladies in waiting, Where the red woven dress the other maidens have set out for you."
"I see, I will attend."488Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBHfDDzLcxr
I clasp both of my hands together as I look into his eyes, then looking down onto the set of stairs, I was yet to walk up onto.
"Also, I had found a run-away prostitute."
"Prostitute? When?"
"Last evening, when you had prepared to leave the Eastern part of Endarria."
My facial expression never changed, until I turned back around, walking off into the distance with my back faced.
"We will discuss this during our feast. I will see you this evening for the feast."
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As I stumbled into my bedroom, with the ladies in waiting following from behind, I grip onto the door handle, opening it with one single pull down onto the latched knob, I give my strength to pulling it open.
I walked-in as I slumped over the cushion made bed, the door creeping close as the ladies stood at the edge of the bed.
"Your majesty seems the Emperor had found a prostitute of his."
"How, so?"
"And word is going around, she must be his next mistress."
"Endeavor, you mustn't speak of that with the devilish tongue of yours!"
Beau warned as she shook her head in disapproval, she had every chance to be so disappointed with the appointed words of Endeavor's. I shook my head as I sat up from the cushioned bed.
"We will find out during the evening of our own brunch feast."
"Of course, your majesty."
The knob shifted opens, as a noise came from the maidens, which a subtle dress onto resting onto their hands, it was the dress that the Emperor had suggested, the imprinted embroidery of the maroon-like burgundy elongated silk under-tunic, ornamented with laces and gems.
With the floral cuffs and luxurious red velvet woven gown. I would have said, the emperor had some good taste in the sense of fashionable gowns, the dress was as beautiful as the reddened roses.
I retrieved the dress as the maidens began the preparation.
**
In several hours, It had felt long before their preparation had been finished, my hair fixated into a bun, filled with delicacy and the standards of their taste with the necklace as more emerald gems coursed and flowed against the necklace matching the eye color of my eyes.
They clicked the necklace in place as they dusted off the paddings of my gown.
"Your highness! You look absolutely stunning!"
They exclaimed with cheerful noises as they clapped, all gleefully cheering on for me, as I gave a softened expression and smile, that had coursed against the corners of my lips, etching onto my dimples.
"Then, we are ready for the feast. I suppose."
"Of course."
I replied in a hushed tone of excitement.
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