The Devil In Guise - Chapter 162

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Queen Ariadne’s POV.

I laid in bed with no hope of seeing the Emperor. He was very angry when I left the room. His eyes were filled with anger as he pushed me away, forcefully. If not for prince Edward , I wondered what would have happen to me.

For sure my body would have hit the ground after losing such balance.

That evening I promised myself that I must find out the secrets that hidden in the tongues of the Royal family. They all nursed secrets one way or the other. In order to Know who I was dealing with, I needed to know everything little secret they had. But how will I go about it?

I shrugged with these thoughts in my head. My head was aching so much that I wished for nothing except sleep.

I closed my eyes to sleep when a knock came on the door. I answered and a maid walked in to the room. There was no need to celebrate because Grandmother would never send a maid to serve me again.

“Greetings Queen Ariadne” She bowed. The girl was one of the maids that were serving the Emperor. They wore an attire that was different from all the maids in the harem.

“Thank you. How is your evening ?” I asked with no interest at all. I was very weak to stand up from the bed.

“Fine my Lady. The Emperor sent for you. You should prepare tonight” the maid said, with a smile as if she was the one who was going to meet him.

I jerked up from the bed Quickly and went to where she stood. I wanted to be sure of what she was telling me. “Did you mean he wants to see me ?”

“Yes my Lady. You should prepare. If there is anything you want me to do for you, please let me know” She smiled again.

“Nothing dear. I can manage on my own” I told her. When she was gone I fell back on my bed and laughed my heart out.

I wondered if the Emperor had forgiven me? If yes, why so quick?

‘Stop asking your self those stupid question , Ariadne’ I slapped my forehead gently. Mother must have spoken to him.

Queen Vida told me that she was with him after I left his room. I wondered how Mother was able to convince such a cold-hearted man.

Her throat must have been dried from pleadings.

She was my savior. The one who saw my sorrows and decided to take them away. I wished she could live forever with us.

I quickly had a bath and combed my long dark hair. My skin was glowing after that bath. The Emperor was waiting but I wanted to be worthy of his eyes and heart.

He forgave me so easily. The thought of him pushing me away again came to my mind. What if he decided to slap me this time?

‘What will I do?’ I asked in my head.

‘Nothing Ariadne. He is not just your husband but the Emperor of the world’ My heart told me.

A knock came on the door again. I answered and went to the door. I was yet to wear my dress. My hair was still wet from the water I used to wash it. I opened the door half way and looked at the person who stood with his back facing me.

I blinked my eyes severally to see if the wool that blinded them was still there. The Emperor was the one who knocked at my door. The women lined up as they watched us. I couldn’t go out of the room because of my cloth I tied.

“Your highness” I managed to say with a bow. He turned around and smiled.

“Can I come me?”

Was that a question? Why will I refused the Emperor of the world?

“Sure , your highness” I said, stepping aside for him.

The Emperor walked in to the room. His eyes darted from one place to another. There were no maids and I think he was satisfied.

“If you excuse me , your highness, I would loved to change in your something that is worthy of your presence” I closed the door and leaned on it. The fear of him slapping me gripped me tightly.

He looked at me strangely. It seemed he did not notice what I wore , before. The Emperor took few steps, closing the gaps between us. “There is no need for that. You look more worthy to be in my presence tonight.”

“W-what?” I swallowed hard as his hands wrapped around my waist. He kissed my hair then my lips. I put my left hand on his and my other hand around his neck.

“You shouldn’t stress your self much about what to wear” He said when he stopped kissing. “Come here.”

The Emperor wanted us to go to the bed and I obeyed.

“I just remembered” He started . “I didn’t see any of the maids, when I came. Did you send them away?”

“No. Your highness. Grandmother took all my maids, including Anne. She said two were enough for Arya and they was no need for an extra maid.”

“Yes she told me about. There is a shortage in the harem. I will organize for some slaves to be send to the harem soon. Just manage the two you have for now.

“Your highness, You don’t understand. I think the other queens have their maids. Why will grandmother punish me like this?” I asked, looking at him hurtfully. He noticed the tears in my eyes and asked

“Is the matter serious?”

“You should get a extra maid for me please. Talk to grandmother, she will listen to you” I tried to convince him.

The Emperor frowned “There is no need for that my queen” he kissed my forehead while I rolled my eyes. “Grandmother explained her self already. Also I don’t want to interfere with the order of the harem. You should be patient, my love.”

Patient? Should I be patient even after my death ? Grandmother has declared a war, if nothing is done about it, she was going to kill when they finally leave Akkad. I wish the Emperor could understand me. He said he was my better half and yet he did not see my agony.

“As you wish , your highness. I won’t force you to go against your grandmother. I wanted equality. No one should treat me as a slave” I told him with annoyance. He never believed what I said.

“No one will dare you, queen Ariadne. You are my wife, grandmother will respect that” The Emperor embraced me. I wished it’s was true.

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The Author’s POV.

“Grandmother, did you see that? Queen Valeria said, stretching her neck to see if the Emperor will come out from queen Ariadne’s room. He has been there for the past three hours. “She will report you to Sargon. I hope he does not humiliate us again.”

“Stop weeping and gather your self, queen Valeria” Grandmother looked at her shivering body. She had already taken cake of that . The Emperor was not going to believe whatever queen Ariadne had put together. “Don’t worry about her. I told the Emperor already. We are having shortage of slaves in the Palace. Her little whisperings won’t save her from my punishment.”

Queen Valeria was relieved. She placed a hand on her pounding chest. The thought of Ariadne winning again drove her crazy. If there was a way to keep Sargon away from her, then it’s was Grandmother. Ever since she came back to the palace, her sorrows reduced. Now she could smiled at Queen Ariadne’s downfall .

Queen Valeria looked around. Queen Marlena was not here. It seemed the girl has cultivated a habit of disappearing anyhow. Yesterday when Grandmother called everyone together, she was nowhere to seen. When she came back , she gave an excuse saying no one told her about it. “Grandmother, where is Marlena?”

Grandmother looked at the stairs. The women were whispering to one another. It seemed like Marlena was not there. Her eyes traveled from the stairs case to the various corners and joints were the women normally sit. There was no Marlena. “She might be in her room. Why worry the poor woman queen Valeria?”

“You don’t seemed to understand, Grandmother. Yesterday when we needed her, she was sleeping. If she was here earlier, the Emperor would have gone to her room instead.”

She nodded. Queen Valeria was making a sense “send a maid to call her.”

Queen Valeria called one of the maids. She sent her to check if queen Marlena was in her room. After few minutes of checking, the girl returned back with an answer, she was hoping to hear.

“The queen is not in her room.”

Grandmother was surprised. Where could she be at this time of the night? The rules of the harem was made cleared to every woman who lived there. If you were not to spend the night with the Emperor or attend any functions, it’s was expected that every woman should be in the harem.

“Check her in queen Aslaug’s room. You will find her there” Grandmother commanded.