Chapter 2 2

Five years later...

The whole empire is bustling with happiness; every house is lit up with light, and there is a smile on everyone's face. It was a festive moment for everyone. After years, for the first time, their Emperor married. It says that the late Emperor fixed this marriage with the daughter of the Supreme Family. The Master Supreme saved the late Emperor when an enemy attacked suddenly during a celebration. So the late Emperor was pleased with this loyalty and wanted to return this great favour with a marriage.

So even after the Emperor died of illness, the crown kept the promise of his father and married the supreme's daughter. This was a rare sight to see how much the Prince respects his father and his words. Even after all these years, he's still keeping the late emperor's words. And even took the first step to ask for marriage in the supreme mansion, though he had never seen the daughter before. The supreme kept the mansion under high guard so that the inner information did not leak outside. Not much of the audience ever sees what the precious daughter of Supreme looks like. She always stayed inside the manor and barely came out to attend any occasions. But today the current emperor finally married her, and now she is the empress. Outside the palaces, there was too much rumour spreading through numerous lips, but inside the imperial palace, the situation was different.

In the Zuma Palace Courtyard...

Princess Aiko threw a flower vase, causing it to smash into pieces. The freshly picked flowers were roughly smashed by Aiko's foot. The maid beside her shook her head before lowering her head. Razia, who was sitting on a chair and enjoying the tea, looked at her daughter's angry face before placing the cup on the table.

"Aiko, what are you doing?"

Mother," Aiko looked up as tears ran down her cheeks. "His Majesty is married to that lowly girl. If no one has ever seen her clearly or how she looks, then how can His Majesty marry her?"

Razia shook her head. "You need to calm down, young Princess. Just because of this matter, you can't forget the etiquette you've learned over these years." Her voice was strong as she scolded Aiko.

"Mother, how can you be so calm in this situation?" Aiko walked forward, then took the seat beside her mother and said, "That unknown girl was lucky to get married to the emperor, but here I am rotting with that cripple." Then she cried again.

Razia sighed. The later emperor was a good friend of her husband. But after that war, to avoid the destruction, she had to move to Grita. The late Emperor even bestowed a marriage on Aiko and the second Prince. She stroked her daughter's head.

"This marriage couldn't be terminated, my dear; you have to understand the political rules of the kingdom. Besides, the new empress is just a lowly girl from the supreme minor, so you don't have to be worried about it. It won't take time to snatch her title."

She wants to see her daughter as an empress of Grita. The vastness of the country makes even enemies fear attacking or causing harm. And the only one who was eligible to rule was her daughter, Aiko.

Aiko looked up "You have to help me deal with it, mother. I can't stand any other woman beside the Emperor."

"Don't worry, the Emperor is only yours. In no time, he will understand that you are the only one who is eligible for him. And then no one can stop you from ruling the throne," Razia assured.

Just then a maid entered, bringing information: "Your highness, the bride's handmaid has arrived."

Aiko clenched her fist and gritted her teeth. "Speak of the devil..."

Razia patted Aiko's shoulder lightly and said, "Don't lose your manners before everyone. Don't forget, no matter what, you have to keep calm and compose yourself every time; that's how an empress does."

Aiko finally nodded. Razia smiled, "Let's go now and welcome the new empress."

At the gate, Empress Sirikit was already there with her maids. The horse carriage stopped, and the emperor got down from the horse first, while two unfamiliar maids got down and helped the bride come out of the carriage. Empress Sirikit sighed, finally seeing her husband's wish fulfilled. The two maids supported the bride as she passed the gate.

"The empress is here; help the empress rest in her palace," Empress Sirikit said, and immediately her maids came forward to lead the way.

Razia and Aiko stood side by side and looked at the bride, who was going inside the palace. Aiko's lips twitched as she looked at the veiled bride, and she couldn't help but feel anger in her heart. All these years, she was trying to find a way to seduce the emperor but failed, and the same was true with her bestowed marriage with the second prince. With all these things, she couldn't help but feel extreme anger, despite looking calm and composed on the surface.

Vortex Palace Courtyard

The maids led the bride inside the palace and finally to her room. The huge bed in the middle is decorated in red. There were numerous candles lighting the room. Once they settled her on the bed, they left quietly. The whole room fell into silence; only her breathing could be heard in the chamber. Suddenly, the sound of foot steps can be heard from outside, and then the crack of the door.

The Emperor walked inside the room and looked at the woman who was sitting in the middle of the bed. He sighed and then walked forward. He saw her clenching the dress, then fixed his eyes on her.

"You don't have to fear anything. I won't do anything to you," he voiced out. But the bride remained silent. So he continued.

"From today on, you are my wife, and as loyalty demands, a husband shouldn't keep any secrets from his wife, so I want to tell you a very important thing." He paused. "Though you are my wife, I can't give you the rights of a wife that every wife expects from her husband. Except for having all the rights of an empress, I won't interfere with your work or anything. You can trust me on this."

He expected his wife to show anger, but instead he was welcomed with silence. He frowned but continued to explain.

"I know you might be feeling confused, so let me clear it up. I have someone in my heart already, and I can't replace her with anyone. Except for a husband's love and rights, I can't give you anything. I am emphasising this because I don't want any misunderstanding between us, so I truly hope you can understand my words." Then he looked around before looking at the wife again.

"It's late already; you should take your rest. I will take my leave," he said, and as he was about to turn, he heard a voice that seemed familiar.

"Your Majesty," his steps halted, and he turned around to look at the voice again.

The bride got up from bed and took a few steps towards him before stopping a few metres away from him.

"I appreciate your majesty's honesty towards me. I am grateful that his majesty came forward to explain this to me, but there are still certain things I would like to show. Before his majesty leaves, I want to share my plight with his majesty because I also want to make things clear between us that have not been disclosed to others. So I want his majesty to remember what his own wife looks like," she said before pulling up the veil and revealing her face.

The emperor was shocked when he gazed at the face. So delicate and charming, a face that no one knew before. But what was more captivating were the pair of gorgeous dark green eyes. The eyes, which he can never forget in this life. The eyes captured his heart and mind, but except for those beautiful green orbs, nothing else was familiar. Her gentle voice reminded him of a scene from years ago.

"You...." He couldn't find any words for some time. No, it can't be. Though those eyes are similar to what he remembers, they have different facial features. He shook off the thought and looked at her again.

"Thank you for your understanding; you should rest before performing tomorrow's ritual," he said.

She nodded. "I will, your majesty, have a good night."

He did not say anything more but left silently, shaking his head. The bride starred at his disappearing back as some emotions flickered in her eyes, her hand clenching in a fist before she shook her head too. Waving her dress, she walked towards the bed before fanning the candle and finally extinguishing the light.