The Devil In Guise - Chapter 164

Hi besties, I know it been twenty days I last uploaded. Sorry for that, I wish there was a way out of this. I just finished my law exams this month. Hopefully, I will drop Ten chapters soon. Thank you for your supports.

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The Author’s POV.

The next morning, grandmother waited patiently for the news. She wanted to hear the Emperor scolding queen Ariadne, downstairs. If the plan succeed, the rights of being the mother of Prince Edward will be shifted to Queen Valeria.

“Grandmother, the Emperor will not say anything to her , watch and see” queen Valeria told her. The woman has been undermining queen Ariadne’s ability. She forgot that the emperor was charmed by her.

Grandmother looked at queen Valeria once again. Where was her faith? Why did she always give Ariadne the credit?

“Did something between you and Sargon while I was away?”

Quickly, she bowed her head and squeeze the ropes on her dress. If Grandmother finds out the truth, she would definitely side with Queen Ariadne.

“No Grandmother. We had an argument but we resolved it” queen Valeria lied. She stood up from the seat and made her way to the room. Had it been she spend another second with the old woman, she would have found out the lie. The big secret, she kept away from her.

When Queen Valeria entered the room , she saw Naana sitting on the couch , as usual she had a plate of herbs in her hand.

“Grandmother almost found out the truth today” She said, closing the door behind. Queen Valeria walked to the mirror and glared at it. “The old hag asked if something went wrong between us. I told yes but we resolved it. There is no problem between Emperor and I. The only problem will have so far is Queen Ariadne. That woman has taken my space, just like that.”

“Not just like that,” queen Valeria Naana spoke. She dropped the plate on the table next to her.

“What do you mean by that ? Hit the hammer on the nail, old woman” Queen Valeria crossed her arm and turned to Naana.

“Whatever is going on between you and the emperor had nothing to do with Queen Ariadne, my lady” Naana said , looking down. She didn’t want queen Valeria to think that she was on another person’s side. They made mistakes in the past when she was yet to meet Ariadne. And now, it was known that the young woman earned her position with her beauty and character.

“Fine. Everything I did was for me and Sargon, yet he allowed another woman to come between us” Queen Valeria said , angrily, throwing the vase on the floor. What was annoying her the most was that the Emperor did not want to look at her face . They don’t even lay down together again. He told her openly the other day, that he loved queen Ariadne. That woman was nothing but viper. A real snake. First it’s was mother, the queens and now she has the Emperor in her palm. Even Naana seemed to like her. What so special about Queen Ariadne?

“I even encouraged you without doing investigation. Please, don’t do anything that will put you in to trouble” Naana came closer and advised. The way queen Valeria looked at her, it was clear that she already nursed a plan. “What are you planning now mhh?”

“If the emperor leaves Akkad this month, we will finish the story of queen Ariadne. I am going to clear her name and make sure that no one ever mention her again in Akkad” She said with a smile, going to her bed to sit. The joy of seeing her rival leaving Akkad again made her happy.

“No, my lady. Don’t involve your self in such things again, please” Naana came and knelt beside her. She loved queen Valeria as if she was her own daughter.

Who say I am doing it? Grandmother will order her execution anyways” She told her. “You know after the Emperor leaves, the old woman becomes the regent governing Akkad.”

“I don’t have the right to stop you, queen Valeria” Naana stood up and went to the door. “Be careful when it comes to the Emperor’s favorite. He is obsessed with her.”

She rolled her eyes before gritting her teeth. Few months ago, the old hag was the one advising her to get rid of queen Ariadne. What change her mind all of a sudden? Has queen Ariadne charmed her just like the way she did to the Emperor??

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Queen Ariadne’s POV.

I woke with a headache. There was no Anne to give me a head massage or to prepare me warm bath. I dragged my lazy body to the bathroom and took my bath.

After dressing up, I went to check on Princess Arya. She was excited to see me.

“Where is Anne , mother ?” Arya asked me. I was avoiding this questions for days. Grandmother thought she was punishing me but in the real sense, Arya was punished also. Anne was the only playmate she had in the palace.

“Anne is sick. Grandmother told her to go and treat her self” I lied. Arya looked at me with a start and her eyes became teary. She was about to cry. “Don’t cry , my moonfaced princess.”

I sat on the bed and hugged her. The way she held me tight, I knew she missed Anne a lot. But what could I do?

The door of the room opened and the Emperor walked in to the room. His eyes were charming like the sun. I stood and bowed. “Greetings, your highness.”

“Good morning, queen Ariadne” He smiled at me. I thought he was going to scold me for what happened between Prince Edward and Queen Marlena.

“I came to visit Arya” I told him.

“My princess” The Emperor went to where Arya was and took her in his arms. “The joy of my heart.”

Arya giggled as he kept showering her with praises. If only she was his real daughter! The Emperor treated Arya and prince Edward with love. I wondered why the creator did not bless him with a child. Or was there a reason for his childlessness?

“Father, where is Anne?” Arya finally spoke. I was not expecting her to ask the Emperor such questions. He might think I was the one filling her mouth with such words.

“Arya… Keep quiet dear” I shut her up, politely.

“Let her speak, Queen Ariadne. She is the daughter of the world’s emperor” he said. “Come on , Arya tell me, do you want to see Anne again ?”

“Yes… Father. She was my only friend in the palace. I want to see me again” She started sobbing. The Emperor kissed her forehead gently and assured her that Anne was going to come soon.

“Really? I asked, with a surprise look. I didn’t know whether to shout or to hug him.

“Yes. We are leaving for the campaign in two days time. Anne will join you in the palace. I don’t want her to stay alone in her condition.”

I was very happy to hear that Anne will be joining us in the palace. She was pregnant and it would be better if she stay around people that would look after her. But who brought such ideas to his head?

I held his hand and kissed it. A smile appeared on his face. The Emperor drew me in to his arms and we hugged. Arya stroked my hair. We were both in her father’s arms.

“Don’t miss me too much, queen Ariadne” He told me.

I almost teared up when he said that. This was the first time, we were going to stay apart . Grandmother was going to kill me before he returns. “Can I come along?”

The door of the room opened and Grandmother walked in to the room. Mother came as well.

“Don’t weep. Women don’t go to war with their husbands, queen Ariadne” Mother smiled at me. “We stay at home and pray for their victory.

The Emperor released me when the other queens entered the room. I wondered why they all came to spoil this precious moment we were having as family.

“It’s good that you are here mother. Teach her everything a good wife should know” The Emperor wiggled his brow at her. Was I not a good wife? I wondered though.

“How long will the war last, my child?” Grandmother spoke for the first time. She didn’t look happy at all. What was going on in her mind? Was she disappointed that I was not scolded for whatever happened between Prince Edward and queen Marlena.

“I don’t know Grandmother. We must conquer all the cities before coming back” He handed Arya over to her. The reaction she gave was surprising. She liked Arya. “I entrust my daughter to you. You won’t fail me right?”

“Sure my son , I promise to protect her till the day you come back” Grandmother said, kissing Arya’s forehead.

“Good. We will be leaving soon. Grandmother, I leave you in charge of the Harem. Please don’t disappoint me at the end of the day.”

“I won’t, my son” she said with a smile. When our eyes met, Grandmother gave me daring look. I quickly looked away.

Mother was happy that Grandmother was in charge of the Harem. We all knew the old woman was that will be the one, Emperor Sargon would entrust the women to. Little did he know that , She was the destroyer of the things he loved.

“Why don’t you leave prince Edward in charge? They should be a man in the capital to avoid uncertainties” I suggested, looking at grandmother. If prince Edward stay, back , he would protect me like a son.

“This is our prince first time of going to the battle field. We can’t stop him right? It is a tradition that a prince goes to war with this father while he is still alive. It shows strength” Queen Valeria came closer. She didn’t want any of the men to stay back. This showed that they were plotting something bad. But what was on their mind?

What ever the emperor say will be the last decision. I waited for him like the saying goes…. The patient dog eats the fastest bone.