The Devil In Guise - Chapter 144

Queen Ariadne’s POV.

We got to the castle quite late. The guards and the maids received us. As soon as I came down from the carriage, my eyes were graced with a beautiful building. It’s was made of crystal walls. I could see my reflection.

There were drawings on the wall too. The maids told me that the Emperor drew some of them. I was not surprised. Back at home, he drew beautiful pictures of me.

We entered the castle. It’s was not as big as the palace. There were so many women around. They were laughing, dancing and singing when we entered the large hall.

When they saw us, they stopped what they were doing. A straight line was formed and all their heads were bowed.

“Greetings Grandmother” an old woman who should be in her early fifties greeted. She looked like their instructor.

“Greetings. I can see that you are taking good care of the girls in my absence. They look cheerful and happy” She gave her compliments.

“It is my duty to handle them with care. I did what the Emperor commanded” the instructor bowed.

“Good. Girls , I am sure you have met Queen Valeria before” Grandmother said aloud. She moved to where I was and continued “This is queen Ariadne. I Know this is your first time of seeing her.

The girls giggled and laughed. I could hear their whispers.

Grandmother turned to the instructor. She was confused and her look demanded an answer. “What happened?”

The instructor smiled “They have seen Ariadne’s portrait before.”

“Where?” Queen Valeria spoke for the first time. I thought she lost her tongue on our way.

“In the Emperor’s room upstairs. It’s very beautiful” One of the girls answered. I smiled. This was going to make my night beautiful.

I was happy that he had me in his mind even when he was far away from home.

“Fine” Grandmother swallowed hard. She started walking towards a room and we followed her behind.

Its was the dinning room. We did not waste time to settle down as the maid served. My mind wandered back to the girls, I saw in the hall. I wanted to know why they were many of them.

“Who are they Grandmother ?” I managed to asked with a hope that she was going to tell me.

“Who ?” She asked with her brow narrowed in confusion.

“The girls that greeted us in the hall. Who are they ?”

Queen Valeria was the first to laugh and Grandmother followed. Even Arya went ahead to laugh. She was just a child learning from her elders.

“Now, you are going to realize that I did you a favor by bringing you to the castle” Grandmother told me. “They are known as the Emperor’s concubines and slaves. He did not marry them like you and queen Valeria.”

I looked at them with shock. What was she saying? Maybe she was lying to get new angry. How come no one told me about this?

“I don’t believe you” I said in disbelief. They stopped eating and stared at me with pity.

“Why will mother lie to you ?” Queen Valeria asked. “This is how it works when it’s comes to Emperor Sargon. His wives live with him in the palace while his concubines live outside the palace.”

I was surprised. He never mentioned any thing like this to me before.

“That’s why he does not take any of his wife to the castle. While he is here, the concubines spend the night with him” Grandmother explained. They were smiling and mocking at me.

“It’s does not matter. The Emperor said he loves me. I am okay with that” I said.

“Do not let his words deceive you Ariadne. My grandson has no heart. How can he love?” She asked with a smile.

Cold shiver ran through my spine. I lost my appetite. They wanted to make me sad, so I took Arya and went upstairs. There, I laid on the bed with tears in my eyes.

******

The Author’s POV.

They laughed as she left the dinning room. Queen Valeria was happy that they were able to make her sad. “Who did Ariadne think she is Grandmother?”

“I don’t know Valeria. The Emperor is the one giving her the power to misbehave. See how we shocked her today.”

She laughed again. Queen Valeria wondered what Ariadne would do if she find out the main reason why she was brought to the castle.

“Granny, what is going to happen now?*

“Nothing” she made her way upstairs while queen Valeria followed her. She wanted to know how things will end.

The guard opened the door and grandmother walked in to the room. She sat on the bed and faced Queen Valeria.

“You should not worry. Marlena is spending the night with the Emperor. By tomorrow, we will return to the palace.”

Queen Valeria understood the game. If queen Ariadne was in the palace, she might prevent Marlena from spending the night with the Emperor or he might decide to spend the night with her willing.

She wondered what was wrong with Sargon. They have been married for years, yet he fell in love with another woman. Or was he lying to her? Grandmother said it’s was impossible for him to love.

“Thank you Grandmother. I appreciate everything, you having been doing for me. But I have a request.”

“Tell me what is it ?”

“Its been long I spend the night with the Emperor. Please can you do it for me ? I want to spend time with my husband too” queen Valeria went on her knees and asked.

“Stand up my child. You know everything I do is for your happiness as well” Grandmother told her. “I will do something about it when we get back.”

“Thank you mother” She said happily. “I am grateful for your love.”

******

Queen Ariadne’s POV.

The next morning, after I bathed Arya. A maid told me that Grandmother said we should pack our bags and leave immediately. I was stopped from taking my bath.

I did not want to create a scene, so I obeyed. When we got down stairs, I noticed that Apollo had come. I wondered what brought him here so early.

“Greetings Queen Ariadne” he bowed. Apollo did not look happy. Maybe the Emperor scolded him again. “His majesty told me to come here. We are going back to the palace now.”

“What of Grandmother?” I asked looking around. They was no sign of her and queen Valeria.

“She is the carriage already. Forgive me but the Emperor gave me only two hours to return with you to the palace” He said. What a pity!

Quickly, I gave Arya to him. My dress was too heavy. They did not give me time to wear something simple. Nobody informed me that there was an emergency.

The carriages started and we arrived at the palace quite early. The horses rode faster than yesterday. When I saw the gates of the palace I was relieved. It’s was not easy staying in the space as queen Valeria and grandmother. They hated me.

“Where is the Emperor ?” Apollo asked the guards, as soon as he came down from the carriage. He was sad today.

“He is waiting in the harem” one of the guards told him. The atmosphere in the palace was quite tensed. I wonder what we did wrong. What happened when we were away?

The harem was quiet. The women were not outside as usual. Some peeked from their windows as we entered. I knew at once that we were in trouble. But what did we do?

“Father” Arya called when she saw the Emperor. He turned around and opened his arms wide for a hug.

“My princess, my joy” he hugged her tight. She kissed his cheeks and laughed. “You looked very happy today. May you be bless.”

“Greetings your highness” we greeted at same time. I was surprised that Grandmother did too. But he ignored us. What a heartbreak!

“Take the child to the room” he handed Arya to Anne who was standing closed to him. I tried asking her what was wrong but she could not speak.

“My son, you look sad. What happened?” Grandmother spoke.

The Emperor looked at his mother who was standing behind. He turned back to grandmother and shouted “Where were you last night?”

“We were at the castle” she answered. The women continue to peek through their windows.

“Why? Who gave you the right to leave the palace ?”

His question was surprising and confusing. She was his grandmother, there was no permission to do just that.

“I did not want to disturb you with such things” she answered with fear. Grandmother was in a state of panic.

“You took my wives out of the palace without permission and you did not feel the need to inform me! Is that how you run the Harem?? Do you do anything you feel like…”

“I only took Ariadne and Valeria. Nothing much… She Interrupted.

“Don’t try to be right Grandmother. You were wrong* he cut her off with his deep voice. I am the Emperor. I determine who leaves the palace and when to. Stop making silly decisions without consulting me.”

Grandmother was silent as she bowed her head in shame. The Emperor was furious. His red eyes were red. His chest went up and down as he spoke with anger. They wanted to teach me a lesson in the end , the Emperor taught them a lesson too.. I smiled as he walked out of the room.