Empress Miliani's breath caught, her face pale, but she forced herself not to look away.
Crown Prince Casimir couldn't keep his cool by her side. He moved forward to defend his mother. He gazed at Myrrh, who was still bowed and supported by the butler, before turning his gaze to his father. " Father, that's enough. What you're saying is enough. Please just forgive my mother. She is your Empress. I hope you don't disrespect her too much. " Castillion's ears perked up as he heard his son's words. he straightened on his back, His expression contorted into a dangerous sneer.
" Boy. . ." His voice was low, rough, and full of hatred. " who are you. . . to tell me to stop? " He grabbed the Golden Goblet and flung it at Casimir. And it smacked his forehead, causing him to bleed. Empress Miliani's eyes widened as she shielded herself to protect her child, but Castillion pointed at him.
" Do you think just because you're the Crown Prince, you can order me around? Do you think your words have more meaning than mine? " He spat.
" Stop, STOP! I beg you. " Empress Miliani's plea to the emperor
He looked at Empress Miliani, shook his head in the void, looked at his palm, and covered his eyes, and laughed softly until his laughter grew louder, which worried and frightened Empress Miliani. " ahah- haHAHAHA- HAHAaa "
His laughter died in his throat, and his eyes burned with disgust as he fixed them on Empress Miliani. " Are you taking advantage of the fact that I cannot stand up? " he spat. His voice rose into a thunderous roar. " If that is what you think, then you are sorely, MISTAKEN! "
His words shook the chamber, heavy with wrath.
" Miliani, Celest's intention and request for you to leave was plain, and I agree with her. However, it appears that you were not pleased with her request. Because you believe she has no right to order you and your child! Because you hold a higher position than her? " His tone dripped with scorn. " Don't be a fool, Miliani. You seem to have forgotten that her mother was my first wife and Empress of Vailenor. . . That alone places Celest far above the reach of your pride. "
Miliani's lips tightened, her chin lifting ever so slightly, as if to armor herself against his words. Yet the flicker in her eyes betrayed her.
" You dare throw that dead woman's name in my face again? " she hissed, though her voice quivered beneath her attempt at composure. Her hands gripped her gown so tightly the fabric " I am your Empre- "
" Blah, blah, blah" he mocked, dragging the words with venomous disdain. He leaned forward, sneering. " Is that all you are capable of, Miliani? Screaming this screaming that, tsk. until even the walls grow weary of your voice? " His laughter, sharp and bitter, cracked through the air. Then his tone snapped to ice.
" Enough. Leave. Get out of my sight-and take your son with you. " The command fell heavy, final, and absolute.
" Your Majes- "
" I said ENOUGH! " He thundered. his voice crashing through the chamber like a storm.
The Empress flinched, silenced mid-breath. The Crown Prince stiffened beside her, his pride stung by the sheer force of his father's words.
The Emperor leaned back, his expression hardening. " Let's not prolong this conversation for now. I need to rest, don't test me, Miliani. " Following that, He shifted his gaze to his butler. who nodded. He rose up and supported Myrrh so that she could also stand, then approached the Empress and the Crown Prince.
Bowing again, the butler spoke in a hushed tone, his voice barely carrying. " Your Majesty, your Highness. . . I urge you to leave immediately. Do not enrage the emperor too much. " His eyes flickered upward, just for an instant, betraying a silent plea that they take his warning seriously.
Miliani's lips pressed into a thin line, her pride warring with reason. Casimir clenched his fists, but at last, with rigid movements, mother and son turned toward the doors. The chamber was hushed, all eyes following their retreat.
Princess Myrrh Celestia lowered her gaze, her face the picture of obedience and innocence. But within, her mind danced with cruel delight.
" How laughable... The lovely Empress they named has a secret madness, tsk, tsk. There are two faces, just like a mother and son. "
Her lips twitched, unable to fully conceal the curl of amusement. The faintest smile touched her face, sharp and fleeting as a blade's edge.
Casimir caught it as he passed. His eyes burned with silent fury, a flash of humiliation igniting his pride. Miliani stiffened, her back straightening further, but she did not turn.
Myrrh lowered her head again, masking her face in solemn composure. Yet inside, her thoughts echoed in cold mockery.
" Yes, walk away. Your fall has already begun. "
Castillion cleared his throat, the rasp echoing in the chamber and drawing all eyes back to him. Myrrh rose gracefully and approached, her movements soft and dutiful. She slipped into the seat beside her father, gently taking his hand into her own.
" Father... " she said, her voice laced with tender concern. Her gray eyes shimmered, wide with innocence. " I'm worried about you. Why do they treat you and me so cruelly? " She leaned closer, lowering her tone as though confessing a wound.
" I only fear... " she whispered, her voice trembling with practiced fragility, " ...that they no longer see you as Emperor of Vailenor. That they whisper against you, Father. The Empress, the Crown Prince... perhaps they think your strength is fading, and they... plot to take what is yours. "
Her gray eyes lifted slowly, shimmering with worry. " I may be wrong. I pray I am wrong. But when I see the way they look at you, the way they speak, it feels as though they wait for your fall. " Castillion's Ice Blue eyes flashed, his breath growing harsh. Myrrh glanced at him quickly, as if afraid she had said too much.
" Forgive me, I shouldn't have spoken, " she whispered, withdrawing slightly. " You will think me wicked for suspecting them. I only... I only love you, Father. And I fear the day when those who should protect you instead seek to... replace you. "
Tears welled in her eyes-tears born of calculation, but appearing pure and fragile. She brushed them quickly, as though embarrassed to show them, and whispered:
" I want to believe they mean no harm. I truly do. But... " Her lips quivered, and she glanced down, almost ashamed. " Sometimes their words and looks... make it so very hard to believe. "
Castillion's face twisted, torn between rage and a father's pity. Her hesitation, her "regret," only made her earlier words ring truer. His breath grew heavy, and he pulled her close, pressing her hand against his chest.
" My child... my Celest, " he rasped, his voice breaking. " You are the only one who speaks truth to me. The only one who loves me without guile. I see it now. I see it... " He stated this while stroking her hair with his palm to ease her concerns.
" My poor child, who only thinks of me and not about herself... Seraphina, I was completely wrong from the start. "
" Don't worry, Celest; even if I can't walk anymore, this father will not disappear. I can still give orders. Remember- " His back straightened in defiance of his failing body, his eyes flashing with stubborn fire. " I am the Holy Emperor of Vailenor! And no one-no one-can usurp my throne! " The words echoed like thunder in the chamber.
Myrrh still bowed her head, hiding the small, calculated smile tugging at her lips.
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The Queen had just taken her seat before the mirror, her ladies arranging the folds of her gown, when the door burst open. One of her attendants, pale and trembling, hurriedly curtsied before speaking.
" Your Majesty! " she gasped. " The Emperor-he has lost his composure. The high council reports chaos within the imperial chamber! "
The Queen turned slowly, her reflection revealing nothing but calm.
"Chaos?" she repeated, her voice smooth, almost detached.
" Yes, Your Majest- "
The Queen's eyes flicked toward the young woman, silencing her at once. Her lips curved into the faintest, chilling smile.
" Lady Rainie, " she said softly, " watch your tongue. The court thrives on rumor, and you know how quickly foolish words become treason. "
Rainie fell to her knees immediately. " Forgive me, Your Majesty! I spoke only what I heard from the guards outside the imperial palace they said the Emperor shouted names and cast aside his Empress and the crown prince. "
The Queen rose from her seat, her reflection shimmering in the mirror like a phantom. " Names? " she murmured. " Whose names? "
" The late Empress Seraphina "
A brief silence followed. Then the Queen gave a low, deliberate laugh - soft, elegant, and dangerous.
" So the ghost of Seraphina returns to haunt the living? " she said, brushing an invisible speck from her sleeve.
The lady-in-waiting bowed and approached the Queen to whisper in her ear.
" Your Majesty, there's another rumor. Following the commotion, Princess Myrrh Celestia, the arch Princess, was slapped in front of the emperor by Empress Miliani. "
The Queen's lady-in-waiting approached quietly and murmured something in her ear. The Queen's expression darkened; she gave a slight shake of her head before taking a rose from the vase beside her. With a slow, deliberate motion, she clipped its stem.
" Empress Miliani Yaria has brought shame upon herself before the Emperor, " the Queen said coolly. " Truly witless. "
" Perhaps she imagined that being the Emperor's favored lady and succeeding the former Empress gave her and her child the right to act without restraint. " Her lips curved into a faint, disdainful smile. " How audacious. "
" Shall I spread the word, Your Majesty? " the lady-in-waiting asked, her tone barely above a whisper.
" No, " the Queen replied, her voice calm and silken. " Let the court gossip on its own. I find that a woman's downfall is far more exquisite when it blooms naturally. "
A faint sigh slipped from her lips - soft, deliberate, almost mournful. Then she turned to her writing desk.
" Bring me my stationary set, " she said.
Lady-in-waiting Rainie obeyed at once, placing before her a velvet case embossed with the crest of her House. The Queen opened it carefully; the faint scent of jasmine and old parchment drifted out. She chose a sheet of ivory vellum and dipped her quill in ink as black as obsidian.
Her pen glided smoothly, each stroke graceful, each word carrying the weight of command disguised as courtesy.
She paused, letting the ink dry before folding the letter and sealing it with wax, the emblem of her house pressed deep into crimson. " Send it at once, " she murmured. " Quietly - through the southeastern courier. "
" Yes, Your Majesty. "
She faintly smiled a smile that promised ruin dressed in grace.
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" Get out, I said GET OUT!! "
Empress Miliani's voice rang through her chamber, sharp enough to make the maids flinch. The sound of hurried footsteps and rustling skirts filled the room as the servants bowed hastily and fled, closing the gilded doors behind them.
For a moment, only her ragged breathing remained.
" Moth- " Casimir began, stepping forward.
She turned to him sharply, her eyes gleaming with fury and humiliation. " Casimir, my dearest child, " she hissed, pressing a trembling hand to her chest. " That girl-that child-is vicious! She set me up! "
Her gown shimmered faintly as she paced, the fabric whispering like angry wings. " She purposefully embarrassed me before the Emperor! She wanted to humiliate me! "
Casimir frowned, uncertain, his hands curling into fists at his sides.
" Humiliated? Mother... " he said carefully, trying to steady his tone. " You just smacked her in front of Father. You know how much he adores her. How could you do that? " Miliani froze mid-step, her back rigid.
Casimir went on, almost pleading now. " I'll confess, I didn't like her ordering us to leave either. She's arrogant, yes-but still, she's his daughter. Everyone knows how protective Father is of her. Why would you attack her so suddenly? "
For a moment, there was only silence. Then Miliani turned slowly to face him, her eyes narrowing with disbelief.
" Suddenly? " she repeated, her voice low, trembling with both anger and pain. " You think I acted without reason? Do you believe your mother to be some jealous fool? " Casimir flinched at her tone but said nothing.
Miliani's lips curled into a bitter smile. " You didn't see what I saw, Casimir. The look on her face when she told me to leave-the defiance, the mockery in her eyes. She wanted to provoke me, to make me look unhinged before the Emperor. Your father. "
She stepped closer, her voice breaking. " And it worked. He looked at me not as his Empress, but as if I were some petty woman beneath that girl's shadow. " Her hands trembled as she pressed them to her chest.
Casimir hesitated, watching his mother's trembling shoulders. The air in the chamber was heavy with perfume and anger, the scent of roses nearly suffocating.
" Mother... " he whispered, stepping closer.
He reached out to take her hand, but she brushed him away sharply, her jeweled sleeve cutting through the air like a blade. Her eyes burned-not with tears, but with fire that refused to die.
" I'm afraid we need to prepare, my son, " she said, her tone low and deliberate now, the rage beginning to harden into resolve. " Because I believe your father will do something. "
Casimir's breath caught. " Do... something? "
" Yes! " Miliani's voice cracked through the air, trembling between anger and desperation. " We need to do something, my child. You witnessed your father he doesn't seem to be in his right mind anymore! He's... he's gone insane! " She pressed a shaking hand to her temple, pacing across the room like a trapped storm.
" You saw how he lifted his hand at me-at me! and roared like a beast, when all I wanted was to console him in his sorrow. " Her eyes glistened, fury and humiliation swirling together.
" And what did he give me in return, Casimir? " she demanded, her voice breaking. " That dead woman's name! That ghost, that shadow, still on his lips! Even after all these years, he speaks of Seraphina as though she still lives! " Her words faltered, then turned into a bitter, trembling laugh.
Casimir stood frozen, unable to find his voice. His mother's fury filled every corner of the chamber.
Miliani turned to him sharply, her expression suddenly fierce again. " Listen to me, Casimir. If your father's mind has truly fallen into madness, then this Empire is already in danger. We cannot wait for him to destroy us. We must act before he does. " Casimir swallowed hard, fear and confusion clashing in his eyes.
" Mother, what are you saying? " he stammered. " Please, Mother this is an act of treachery against Father and the Vailenor Empire! " He stepped closer, his voice trembling with both love and dread.
" Father has yet to recover from the incident that occurred. He's been ill-unstable, yes-but he is still the Emperor. Why do you speak as if he is our enemy? You are the Empress, the heart of this Empire! Why are you acting against him? "
Miliani froze, her jaw tightening. For a moment, she simply stared at her son, her eyes glistening with the shadow of something unspoken-hurt, perhaps, or disbelief.
Then her lips twisted into a trembling smile, half sorrow, half fury.
" Are you blind, my child? " she hissed, stepping closer, her voice trembling but sharp as glass. " You've seen how your father acts and moves he's already insane! You call that the Holy Emperor of Vailenor? Look into his eyes, Casimir! There's nothing left of him but delusion and grief! " Her breath quickened as she spoke, anger bleeding into panic. " And yet, you remain loyal, even when you know what's coming. You'll see soon enough-when he orders his guards to lock me up in this palace like a prisoner! " Casimir flinched, taken aback by her words.
" Mother, stop-please... " But Miliani pressed on, her voice rising.
" That woman's child-that snake-she's already twisting your father around her little finger! Do you not see it? She smiles, curtsies, speaks sweetly, but every word is poison whispered into his ear. She wants me gone, Casimir. She wants you gone! " Her hand trembled as she pointed toward the door, as though seeing her enemies through it. " She's plotting against us! "
Casimir's heart pounded. He took a cautious step forward, lowering his voice. " Mother, you're letting fear rule you. Princess Myrrh is just a girl. She- "
The sharp crack of a slap cut through his words.
Miliani's hand trembled where it hung in the air, her chest heaving.
" Enough is enough! " she hissed, her eyes glinting with both rage and anguish. She pointed a shaking finger at her son, her voice rising like thunder in the confined room.
" Don't you dare defend that child in front of me! Have you gone blind? Have you forgotten who you are? " Casimir's cheek burned, his eyes wide with disbelief, but he said nothing.
Miliani stepped closer, her presence imposing and volatile. " Look at you- " she spat, her tone laced with bitter disappointment. " You resemble a frightened mouse, cowering in the shadows of your father's wrath. Look at your forehead, Casimir! "
She seized his chin, forcing him to face her. " Still swollen and bruised from what your father did, and yet you feel nothing! You forgive him? You still call him your Emperor, your father? " Her voice broke slightly, torn between heartbreak and fury.
" You are his son, my son the heir of the throne and you bow to him as though you were one of his servants! " She released him suddenly, turning away with a bitter laugh that cracked like glass. " Pathetic. "
For a long moment, she stood motionless, her trembling hands clutching the folds of her gown. Then, with a heavy breath, she spoke again softer this time, though her tone still carried that fierce edge.
" Get out of my sight, Casimir. "
To be continued....