Conquering the Emperor - Chapter 100

The dress was nothing short of amazing and breathtakingly beautiful. I never imagined that I would have the honor to see such a dress in real life, let alone have the opportunity to wear it.

This isn’t what I think it is…is it?

It was slightly different from the ones commonly used in my town, but the motifs present on the dress were quite similar. This was also the most elaborate dress that I had ever seen. More like, I have never dreamt that such a wonderful dress existed.

“Umm…this…isn’t a wedding dress, is it?” I asked suspiciously.

Since I wasn’t from a royal family, I have never seen a royal wedding dress and definitely not one from the Flame Dragon Empire or the city of Darukai.

“Of course, it is, My Lady. Well, to be precise, this is a minimized or simple version of the real wedding dress. It is not for wearing on the day of the wedding itself but worn for a month after the wedding,” the maid replied and started to explain the details of the customs here in the empire.

This is the minimized version of the wedding dress?! I couldn’t imagine what the actual wedding dress worn on the wedding day would look like.

“Worn for a month after the wedding?” I asked, not fully understanding.

“It’s custom for royal ladies and high ladies of the court such as princesses to do this. Umm…the main reason is to make sure that everyone acknowledges that the lady has married,” the maid explained in a small voice as she looked admiringly at the red dress worn on the mannequin.

To make sure everyone acknowledges that the lady has married…she said…and Ren wants me to wear this? We’re not married, though. How does this make any sense…?

However, just when I was about to open my mouth to ask more questions about the dress and the custom, there was a knock on the dressing room door. The maids looked at each other in confusion as to who could be at the door. As for me, I had a pretty good guess…

“Please come in…” I called out as I gestured for the maid to unlock the door.

The door slid open immediately after it had been unlocked from the inside and there stood the man I had most and least wanted to see.

“Ren…I mean, crown prince,” I said as I bowed to him.

I bit my tongue for my slip of tongue. I only called Ren by his name when we were alone. When there were other people around, I had always been mindful of addressing and referring to him by his official title of the crown prince.

The maids immediately bowed and silently exited the room, closing the door behind her, leaving me alone with Ren. The atmosphere in the dressing room was so tense and all I could hear was the sound of my own troubled heart beating loudly in my chest. I knew that I would have to face Ren; however, I didn’t think that it would be this soon.

The silence between us stretched on as I didn’t know what to say to him. I didn’t even dare look at him, I just kept my eyes glued to my own feet. What I did was truly inexcusable, and I knew that it was no one’s fault but my own. How would Ren punish me? Would he…hit me?

I heard the sound of his footsteps as Ren walked into the room. I kept my head bowed low as he walked right past me. Ren…he must be so angry. It hurt me more than I could ever imagine seeing him so angry and so disappointed in me. His disappointment in me only made me hate myself more.

“Come here, My Lady,” Ren said in such a cold voice.

I didn’t not miss his choice of words. Although we were alone, he didn’t use my name. If I needed solid proof of his dissatisfaction, I didn’t need to go very far to look for one.

Slowly, I turned around and walked towards where Ren was seated on a long wooden sofa. I stopped and stood in front of him with my head still bowed low as I waited for his next words. As for me, I still had no idea what I wanted or should say to him. All I knew was that I had to apologize to him somehow; not that he would ever forgive me.

“Later today in the afternoon, the emperor will be hosting a council to discuss and get to the bottom of the issue that took place yesterday between Prince Kin, my younger brother, and you, my woman. Before that happens, I’ve decided that we need to talk first,” Ren said, emotionlessly.

His words and tone only added to my discomfort and guilt as I stood there. I didn’t know how to reply to his statement, so I just nodded my acknowledgement.

“Let’s start then. Lift your face up so that I can see you,” Ren commanded.

“Yes, crown prince,” I replied in a soft murmur, and I forced my head up to look at him.

Ren’s face was an emotionless mask, and his eyes were stone-cold. It reminded me of when I first met Ren as the crown prince and that did not stir up many good memories.

“Why were you with Kin at his palace yesterday?” Ren asked, his eyes staring straight at me.

“I…” I began speaking but my voice was so shaky that I had to pause.

“Be honest, My Lady,” Ren said as his eyes narrowed at me.

Did he honestly think that I would lie to him at a time like this? Has he lost that much faith and trust in me? If he had, I guess I couldn’t blame him.

“When you were away at war, I was so worried…and no one could tell me where you went. Then, I ran into Prince Kin in the garden. He told me that he would tell me where you were and if you were ok…if I promised to have a meal with him at his palace…” I began telling him the honest version of my story.

–To be continued…