Chapter twelve

After Lord Dorkas, Empress Cassiopeia danced with Lord Asher. After him, Lord Wolfgang asked for a dance.

She had lost count of the amount of people who asked her for a dance, and she was now drunk on good company and classical music.

She made a point to deal with the rumours Lord Dorkas mentioned after the celebration. For now, she wanted to spin on the dance floor, eat fruit tarts and sip on apple juice.

"You should drink a sip." Lady Verre passed her glass of wine to her.

"I can't. I must make sure that everything is in order, and I would like to keep the dignified image I built for myself. Dulling my senses will do only damage."

"Oh don't be like that. It's a celebration for everyone, yourself included."

Lady Verre had always been a little unconventional, and that was what Empress Cassiopeia liked about her. She could speak clearly, and she minded not etiquette.

"Then just a sip, if that will make you quiet down."

Although Empress Cassiopeia did not enjoy sharing glasses, the lady had been her friend for years, so she took Lady Verre's glass and sipped a bit of the white wine. It was delicious.

"What is this liquid gold?"

"Chardonnay, I think." Chirped Countess Claudette from behind her. She came close by, leaving Count Zephyr to talk with some lords.

The Empress passed her the glass; she gracefully swung the content in small circles and slightly neared her nose to the wine.

"I was wrong, it's Pinot bianco. The smell is stronger in the Chardonnay."

The Empress chuckled. "I'm not surprised that your county is the Palace's official wine supplier."

"With an Empress like this, your winery will go bankrupt", chuckled Lady Verre, alluding at Empress Cassiopeia's non-existent drinking habits.

"It's quite alright, the knights still like drinking."

"Would you like another glass?" Asked Lady Verre, changing the topic.

"No, thank you. I made a point to stay sober, after all." Her resolve could not waver with just a taste of wine.

Her resolve wavered as a manservant walked close by with a tray of wine glasses.

She grabbed one without even noticing. Just a sip.

At the third glass, she felt a bit tipsy.

Lord Dorkas came to take the glass from her hands, "Your Highness, please do not exaggerate. Everyone has their eyes on you."

"Have you come here to nag at me?"

"Perhaps we should move this discussion to a more private area."

She nodded, and headed to one of the balconies of the hall.

The capital's lights shone brightly before her eyes. Although it was a sight she was used to, she couldn't help but be mesmerised once again.

She leaned on the railing, cold to the touch. He imitated her.

"Your Highness."

"Yes?"

"You should know how precarious Your situation is without me reminding You."

"I do know. Anyhow, just for tonight, just for a few glasses of wine, I wanted to forget that."

He turned towards her, playing with a red strand of hair that fell on her back.

"Forgetting is a luxury You cannot have, my Empress. Not even for a few glasses of wine."

"Is it so wrong?"

"No, it's not. Everything else is. That is why You cannot afford that."

She sighed, and he poured some of the glass of wine's content into the garden below.

"At least the plants will enjoy a bit of these festivities", she chuckled.

"I'm pretty sure I killed them", he retorted.

"You think so?"

"Aren't You the one who should be in tune with nature or something? You should know better than me."

She chuckled, only for them to fall into a peaceful silence.

"The wine was good."

"It was." He confirmed, then added: "I think we should head inside."

"Let's stay a bit more. If I cannot do that, at least let me enjoy some fresh air." She protested.

"As You wish."

"I'm sorry for the rumours."

"You should be, it's Your fault."

"Careful, I can behead you for high treason." She retorted, puffing her cheeks.

"I would rather that than endure once again the humiliation of being asked by my own father if I do not like women."

She chuckled, "that didn't happen."

"It did! Do stop laughing, Your Highness, it's not funny."

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry", she laughed.

"You don't look sorry."

"I am, but it's not my fault if people make up all kinds of rumours about me."

"You're the Empress, You're a woman, You don't have an Emperor, but five concubinus. One of them is the almost disowned son of a Duke from a distant land, one is a beast against whose people we are waging war, one is a social inept who stutters every three sentences-"

"Do not insult Lord Asher."

"And one is flirting with half of high society."

She turned around, only to find the second Prince of the Vindbjerg Kingdom entertaining three noble women.

"At least he's not a social recluse like the other four", she whispered, more to herself than to him.

"I'm sorry, are You implying that I am a social recluse?"

"Are you not?"

He huffed, "and here I was feeling bad for You. You're unbelievable!"

She chuckled, "thank you."

"For what?"

"For nagging me, and for keeping me company."

"It's my duty as royal consort to be by Your side and make sure no one tarnishes your reputation."

"You're not my consort yet."

"But I will be tomorrow."

"That is true. All their eyes will be on you tomorrow, aren't you nervous?"

He turned around, facing the inside of the room. He rested his back on the railing, supporting himself with his elbows.

"All their eyes have been on me since I was born. I am the only son of Duke Dorkas, and my mother abandoned us to be the first concubine of the Emperor, cheating on her husband and leaving a son behind. Also, I'm really hot, so everyone always looks my way."

She wanted to clear his mother's name, but kept quiet. She feared it would be stepping out of line to make comments on his own family.

"I saw your face on a magazine once. It was a sloppy portrait, but you were described as a decadent beauty, a cursed poet, damned and beautiful," she chuckled, and he covered his face in shame.

"Please do not mention that garbage again. Our maids never let me live that down."

Empress Cassiopeia saw his ears redden, and decided to take it a bit further.

"You didn't look too bad, and I'm sure half of the Empire got to appreciate the article. Maybe that's why your decadent beauty is so desired among nobles."

"Please, I beg of you, spare me from this misery."

"All right, I'll stop."

"I can still hear you laughing."

"It's alright, laughing is not a crime."

"It is, if you're laughing at the future royal consort."

"I'm not laughing at you, I'm laughing with you."

"It doesn't feel like it."

Her laughter finally subsided.

"Thank you for lifting up my mood."

"It wasn't my intention. At all."

Smiling, she nudged him with her elbow.

"Liar."

He wanted to retort, but she had already left for the dance floor.

He remained there for a bit more, staring at her as she headed back inside.

She talked with a lady he did not know, she laughed and covered her mouth with a fan.

Her Highness Cassiopeia walked over to the food trail, and picked up some strawberries and apple juice. He chuckled at the choice.

The cold night breeze ruffled his black curls, but he did not budge.

He stayed still, staring at the red locks that adorned her face, covered her neck, and fell on her breasts.

He gulped down the remaining contents of the wine glass.

He felt drunk already.