The Devil In Guise - Chapter 149

The Emperor’s POV.

I came to the room with prince Edwards. Thank goodness queen Ariadne was fine. She looked a bit scared. I wondered what was going through her mind. Women were something else! They wanted to make my harem a mess. Now even Grandmother has joined them.

“I am going to my room” queen Ariadne stood up and headed for the door.

I sighed with frustration. Was she going to annoy me too?

“Come back here” I commanded. “Wait for me in bed.”

She turned back and stared at me. It seemed queen Ariadne was scared of me. She was frightened by the words that Grandmother said to her.

“I want to see Arya and take my …” she started again.

“I said wait for me in bed” I shouted at her. It’s just happened. I did not plan to scare her again. After all, she saw me as a monster. A devil!

She curtsied and went to bed. Queen Ariadne laid quietly. That was much better.

“What are you going to do now ? She is really scared” Prince Edwards whispered. He was concerned about her more than he was for his great grandmother. What a surprise!

“Queen Ariadne will be fine. She is strong. Come let’s go downstairs. We will work tonight” I told him. Working tonight might calm be down. I was too angry to stay with my wife. I feared what I might do to her when we are alone.

Prince Edward bowed and left outside. I turned to Queen Ariadne. She was still awake. “I will be back. Take care of yourself.”

“Yes your highness” she answered.

I left the room to where we planned to meet.

****

The Author’s POV.

The Emperor stormed in to the room. He looked at the faces of the people present. They were complete. He summoned both the council members, advisers and commanders. Since he could sleep because of the anger in him , he decided to discuss the measures they would take to conquer east completely.

The looks they had on their faces showed that they were surprised with the way he changed strategies. In the morning, he told them that it’s would be done tomorrow.

Without knowing why, they were called to attend the meeting at night when everyone was supposed to be resting.

“Don’t worry about your wives. They understand that state affairs can’t wait” The Emperor said with a sad smile. “Apollo, bring the maps.”

Apollo ordered a guard to bring the maps. They were spread on the table for everyone to see. The maps contained the roads leading to the east. Also, it showed the rivers , streams and mountains that were located in the east.

Apollo brought out some craftwork that represented the army of Akkad. He kept them on the table and waited for the Emperor’s direction.

“What do you think Edward ?” The Emperor asked.

He wondered why his father choose him of all people, when they were commanders present. Prince Edward looked at Apollo who assured him that he could do it. He managed to look at the Emperor, whose lips curved in to a smile.

‘This is not the time to fail my father’ he mumbled.

“Be fast, we don’t have all day , my son” The Emperor said.

“We will first of all go to Santok” the prince moved the army to where Santok was written.

“You can ask your questions, council. Prince Edward will give you an answer” The Emperor told them. He was proud of his son. And he hoped he does not disgrace him.

“Why Santok? It’s a small town in east. Why do we need to go such a place, when they are larger areas” one of the council men asked.

Prince Edward shut his eyes and wished for a miracle. They were going to drive him crazy soon. “It’s better to conquer the smaller states first. By the time we reached the top, we must have owned everything. This is the first time, we are going to the east. We don’t know the strength of the army.”

Apollo smiled him. But does it matter? If the Emperor does not smile, he will be in trouble.

“Also, if we will conquer Santok, we settle there and build our tents. When we finally get Aora, Beluria and Koda” Prince Edward moved some of the army to the three cities and continued “The army will attack from every corner of the region.”

The Emperor smiled at him and started clapping. He was happy that the prince did not disgrace him “Impressive Edward. That is more like a prince and a Commander. What a wonderful idea.”

“Thank you father” He bowed.

The commanders were also impressed with the prince’s idea. They began to bring more ideas and strategies to the table. Six hours later, they all arrived at a conclusion.

The army was going to settle in Santok first. After, defeating seven cities, they will head for the capital.

“Goodnight all” The Emperor left the room. He knew that they were not happy with him but he did not care . That was how life was. Things change easily.

When he got to the door of his room, the Emperor asked the guards if anyone came to see him but they said no.

He nodded and entered the room. Queen Ariadne was already asleep. She waited for him for more than six hours.

The Emperor did that on purpose. He did not want to hurt her tonight. She has been through a lot because of him.

He closed the door and went to the bed. The blanket was all her body. Was she that cold?

He laid next to her as he drowned in his thoughts.

The woman sleeping to him was his wife. He even when ahead to confessed his feelings to her. The Emperor wondered what she would do if she found out his true identity.

The horns, the long fingers he cut every week and the absence of his heartbeats.

Grandmother went ahead to tell her that he had no heartbeat.

What if queen Ariadne understood those words?

Was that why she was scared? If yes, then he was going to lose her soon.

**

Queen Author’s POV.

The peeking of the sun woke up me. I wanted to tell Anne to closed the curtains when I remembered that I was in the Emperor’s room not mine.

I opened my eyes only to meet with his. Was he staring at me the whole night? If yes then he was indeed a strange man.

“Your highness” I said before he placed a finger on my lips. Why was he behaving so romantic? I was still having my clothes on which means nothing happened.

“Forgive me for keeping you waiting last night. I had matters to attend and …the incidents that happened yesterday was not favorable to us. First, it’s was Elvin then Grandmother.”

I could not say word. His finger was still on my mouth.

“Say something please. Are you angry?” The Emperor gazed at me, passionately. Oh dear creator, this man was driving me nuts with those looks. He was too handsome to be called a monster, yet he was a Devil.

I removed his finger from my mouth and sat up. Only then, did he realized that he restricted me from talking.

“Don’t say anything” The emperor stood up from the bed. “I will teach you how to ride a horse today. Get ready.”

“Really?” My eyes widened as I jumped up from the bed. Before I knew what was happening, he held my hand and drew me to his chest.

But how did that happened? We weren’t even close ? Did he teleported? No , it’s was not possible. The Emperor had no magic! He was a human. They called him the devil because of his wickedness. That’s was it.

**

The Author’s POV.

“Did Grandmother hurt queen Ariadne?” prince Elvin asked with fear. He was worried the whole night. He did not sleep throughout the night.

Prince Baron rolled his eyes as he sat beside his younger sister, princess Morgana. In her hand was book.

“No my prince. Nothing happened to her. Sargon prevented it, you know how much he cares about her” Queen Texas continued with her kitting. Her stepson scared her too. She wondered what he was going to do this morning.

“Grandmother went too far” princess Morgana began. “She hates Ariadne.”

“Really? Is there anyone she likes except for queen Valeria. She is the only wife of the Emperor that she approved” Prince Baron told them.

“I wish I could take Queen Ariadne away from this pain. She is not happy in the harem” Prince Elvin said, sadly. They looked at him with a surprise look. He still nursed the feeling that she was going to be his wife.

“What a pity. I thought you have learnt your lesson after Sargon warned you last night” Prince Baron said with a frown. “You are going to get us in to trouble soon.”

“What?” The women screamed. They dropped the items they were holding and turned to his direction. Prince Elvin shrugged.

“I don’t want to see you talking or looking at that woman again” Queen Texas made her final decision.

“Mother…” he paused. It’s was no good talking to her. She made its clear to him.

But for how long will they separate him from his love?