Chapter 32: Answered Questions
"Oh my,your question is complicated princess" she sigh and gave a serious look at ria "will it be hard to answer?" Ria ask and the empress dowager shook her head "no it's not however you must be prepared for the consequences of learning about the truth" "i will" ria replied "dealing with his majesty's lover wasn't hard as she was naive but the power she yields as she was his lover was not easy to handle and it became a threat after she was being used to bring us down maybe your not aware of the fact that his majesty actually has an older brother and he's one of the Duke's in the empire" she paused and ria made a conclusion
"So the concubine was a puppet of the duke to bring down both of you but the main target is probably the queen since she holds great power in the empire once she'll die without proper evidence her supporters will seek justice that could bring down the emperor right your majesty" ria ask "yes aside from the power that leticia holds the people were her strength so by killing her meant that the people of the empire will revolt and assassination attempts will also be experience by the emperor, the duke had planned it perfectly as he also sent prince Lucius in the battlefield after his 15th birthday, it went smoothly but he didn't expect that the young prince will survive and take over the throne"
"Is the duke still alive" ria ask "yes although his majesty already knows the culprit behind the death of his mother, he can't easily kill the duke as no evidence were present and he was being protected by the temple,his majesty may be a tyrant but he can't kill someone who is under the temple since there was also a pact that the imperial family and the temple had made in the past" she said
"So that's why the empire had fall, thank you for answering my question your majesty" ria "hmm now that I've answer your questions do you not mind answering mine as well" "Oh uh sure what is it that you would like to ask your majesty". "what made you so sure to trust me,why would you believe my anwers when I'm just a stranger that you just met" she ask sir Paul and sir Gerald who was standing besides ria stared at her and Sir Paul smiled as he was waiting for her reply
"Well my magic attribute is wind so i can Sense if a person is dangerous or not and it's more of like my instinct your majesty" she replied and the empress dowager giggled "pfft that's a fine answer princess but it would be better if you be careful, strangers are not trustworthy and might be your enemy" she said and ria smiled "i might be new to this place your majesty but like the wind that scattered everywhere it's not hard to know or learn someone, Thank you for your time your majesty,we should excuse ourselves since we disturb your tea time"ria stood and bowed but the empress stopped her
"Why not spend your afternoon time with me princess as I would like to know you" "ah if you wish so your majesty I'll be in your care" ria sat down and the empress dowager stared at sir paul "the Black Knight is already old,how was your life sir paul, i haven't see you for almost 15 years" she said "I'm doing fine your highness and your still beautiful as before" he replied and ria was just listening at them "I'm still in my 30s sir Paul unlike you whose in your 50s" she teased him and ria widen her eyes
"H-how old are you your majesty" ria ask "im 39 princess" she replied "eh why is she so young" she ask while the empress dowager called for someone and the door opened and a butler entered,she gave him some orders while sir paul answered ria "that's because the empress was been brought and married to the emperor when she was only 16 princess and she gave birth to the prince when she was 18"sir Paul "Ah hmm pardon me your majesty but do you have a lover"ria had her serious face "hahaha i thought you can gather any information you want since your one with the wind so how can you not know" she giggled
"Umm" ria blush "hah i haven't laugh a lot in days princess" she said "im curious as well your majesty" sir Paul "well would you mind telling them about my current life sir Gerald" she ordered sir Gerald as she took a cup of tea that the servants were serving "her Majesty has a daughter and count Henry her former body guard is her husband" he said "oh" ria and sir paul was acting cool but they were shock "i never knew that you'll end with my squire your highness" sir Paul "He's the best husband i could ever had sir paul and he's a good father to my children" she said and took a sip of the tea "this tea came from my homeland have a sip princess" she said and so ria drank the tea, their conversation took long that ria didn't notice the time
Meanwhile at the office of the main palace, Lucius was being informed that ria went to the empress dowager palace so he kept tapping his finger in the table and glare with sharp eyes at evan who was sitting and doing his paper work at the corner of his office "what is it that you want from me your majesty" he ask while sweating with fear "no hmm" he said and stand from his seat so evan was surprised "your majesty your work is still not done yet" he said while acting like he's crying "where are you going" he added when Lucius was about to go out "I'll take a walk,you stay here and finish my paper work" he glared at evan "but but your majesty i can't touch your paper work" he cried but Lucius didn't wait for his reply and walk out
"Your majesty" as Lucius walks out of the room he could hear Evans scream and he just continued his walk,.Sir el accompanied him since sir Joseph was training the imperial Knights "what could her reasons to meet the empress dowager when she doesn't even know her" Lucius mumbled
After their tea time Ria bid farewell to the her Majesty and said to meet her again and as soon as they walk out of the gates,ria saw Lucius coming near them "greetings your majesty" the empress dowager bowed "did the princess caused trouble at your place aunt" he ask with his poker face "not at all your majesty i even enjoyed my time with her" she replied "what brought you here your majesty" ria ask "I'm worried that you might have caused some trouble here so i have no choice but to come and why did you approach the empress dowager what are you up to princess Astria" he asked with his suspicious look 'she's well behaved since she arrived in the empire but she's seeing someone she doesn't know she's up to something again tsk i haven't even punish her for her crimes' Lucius thought and stared intently at her like trying to dig up her soul
"She was concerned about the imperial family your majesty but i already advise her not to dig any information so she should stop and shouldn't you help her build her status in the empire since she'll be the future empress she needs power your majesty" she said "I'll tell evan to arrange her place and her lessons" he said "i hope she'll be doing fine in next week your majesty since she must enter the noble society and must meet with other noble ladies" she said "hmm alright" he said
"I'll try my best as well your majesty" ria smiled but she was annoyed with Lucius "glad to hear your determination princess then see you again next time, your majesty see you again as well"she said "we'll take our leave aunt" he said and walks first then Ria who bowed at the empress dowager followed him "your majesty why did you sent the imperial Knights at the main palace" she ask "you already know why so don't ask and what were you doing at the empress dowagers place" he ask again "i was curious about the imperial family" "tsk what is it that your curious,how i became a tyrant or how i killed my father" he coldly ask and ria gulp
"No your majesty i was simply curious about the imperial family and it's best if i stop my curiosity like her majesty had advised me, forgive me if i overstep" she said and bowed her head as they were walking "you need to move out at the main palace and must stay at the rose palace, it's where the princesses live however you can use it and if we'll get married you can stay at the emerald palace where the empress resides"Lucius "until when we'll be married your majesty" ria was serious "since this marriage is a contract it will be fine if it will end in 2-5 years later as long as you help me achieve my goal, I'll set you free" Lucius, ria felt joy as she heard his reply "i understand thank you your majesty" she said with a smile
Lucius smirk as he knew that ria was delighted from his reply "starting tomorrow after you move to the rose palace,a tutor will be sent there, they'll be different professors that will help you in your studies,do your best in learning about the empire princess cause you need it to please the nobilities" "yes your majesty"ria "hmm" they walk back with a silence atmosphere and as soon as ria reach the hallway towards the main palace she excuse herself "Thank you again your Majesty,may the Goddess of sun bless you" she said and went ahead Lucius smiled "how funny that you want me to be blessed when i nearly destroyed your kingdom" he said and walks as well with a satisfying smile.....