Chapter 114 - Cruel Eye-Opener

With my shawl wrapped around me, I walked back to the inn. 

As I approached the door, I saw two blurry figures reaching for the door knob just as I did. I looked up, startled, and there stood Mama and Sven. 

I raised my eyebrows, surprised. "There you are! Where were you both?"

Even in the fog, I saw Mama's forehead crease in a frown. "You were asleep so we went off by ourselves to show Hector and Klyn to the nearest stables since the border is too far to cross on foot."

Sven nodded. "But whereabouts are you returning from?"

I shrugged and headed inside.

"Right, why were you out, lassie?" Mama asked as she removed her own shawl from her shoulders. "And out when it's so dark. Really, you should've known better. What if you got sick? Or lost? Or God forbid, both?"

I sighed. "You all disappeared on me. I got scared and went out looking for both of you."

Mama scoffed. "The sensible person would have stayed put."

I folded my arms. "But the sensible person in question hasn't had an experience like this before." 

I knew I was lying. When she was alive, my own mom and sisters back in Korea would disappear as they pleased. But I never got scared, since I never really cared much about them. But I remember how Juwon once got lost and I was in literal tears. That was because I was protective of him. I couldn't ever imagine a life without him.

But right now, I realized how much I care about Mama and Sven. Why else would I have gone out searching for them? I could have been indifferent about it, just like I was with my sisters. But recently, I had learned to care about the people around me. 

And my outburst back at Mister Beckett's inn…

I shook all thoughts away from my mind and turned to Mama, who looked worriedly upon me. 

"Shall we prepare for dinner?" I smiled and headed to the kitchen.

✿

[Meanwhile, at the Palace]

Yvonne headed to the Grand dining room, the folds of her dress clutched in her fingers. Tonight, she wore a pretty brown gown, which was warm enough to get her through the chilly night.

Stace, who usually accompanied her lady to the dining room, was held back because of some work in the kitchens, since the palace had become short on staff lately. 

Yvonne fixed her red stained lips in a gentle smile as the guards let her in, the bouncing light hitting her eyes from the chandeliers. Even despite the blindingly bright lights, Yvonne maintained her composure and an unwavering smile.

"Greetings, Your Majesty," she recited robotically as she curtsied.

The Emperor laughed through a mouthful of food, and though all the mistresses despised it, none of them made a comment.

"Come, my darling! Sit right next to me," he beamed and gestured to the empty chair beside him on the long, rectangular table. 

Yvonne rose from her curtsy and walked over the carpet to her pre-defined seat, and wondered why someone else hadn't occupied it before her. Of course, Elora was one of the only mistresses who displayed interest in sitting next to the Emperor. None of the others were so keen on following her example. 

Elegantly, Yvonne slid down in her seat and a guard on duty pushed it in for her. Before she started eating, Yvonne flashed a welcoming smile to each of the other mistresses, since that was taught to her in upbringing.

Elora, who sat across her, looked away upon receiving a fatal smile from a rival. Yesenia maintained a stony expression. Odette and Lorlei smiled back, though only a wavering simper. Christabel, who sat beside Yvonne, didn't even look at her, and as expected, Enya was altogether absent from the meal.

Sighing, Yvonne glanced at tonight's menu. Salmon canapés for starters; poached eggs topped with basil and truffle shavings; ham and different assortments of cheese; mushroom soup; a flavorful chicken fricassee; and finally for desert, lemon meringue pie and cream. 

With a clearing of her throat, Yvonne filled her pristine white plate with the food items of her liking and dug in. As soon as she took her first bite, Elora cunningly spoke up.

"I heard you went out today," she said with a smirk. "I'm sure His Majesty never even got word of it. Did it not cross your mind to inform him of it before taking off?"

"Is that true?" the Emperor turned to her, surprised and perhaps offended at the same time.

Yvonne blushed as she hastily tried to gulp down her bite. Everyone stared at her as she chewed, and Yvonne cringed with sudden embarrassment.

Eventually, she swallowed her food and sighed. 

"Forgive me for not informing you before I 'took off', Your Majesty" Yvonne chuckled at Elora's wording of her accusation as she glanced at her, "but I believe this little mistake of mine should be pardoned since it was only the first time I went out of this palace. I'm not used to the rules here, and I never really took King Irvin's permission before heading out before, so I beg your pardon, Your Majesty, I really do."

The Emperor stared at her, flustered. "Uh, it's alright. No need to apologize."

"No, it was a mistake on my behalf, and I deserve to be punished."

"I said it's alright, my dear. Be free of all worries."

Elora watched bitterly the exchange between her arch-rival to the Empress' throne and the man she swore to beguile by her cunning schemes. What did the Emperor see in this despicable redhead which was just so enchanting? What was Elora lacking? Why couldn't she get a hold of him just like Yvonne had?

Elora was pretty enough, she believed. With her long black hair and her shining ruby eyes, she was every man's fantasy. Before she had sworn her vows to this rotund man, her life had been filled to the brim with wedding offers and gifts.

But never once did she fall for all the cannon fodder. Her eyes were only on one man, the top of the hierarchy, the one who had it all: The Emperor. 

Though she never once found him attractive for his physical features, his wealth was all it took for her to say 'I do'. 

She had thought she had it in the bag, but then this wicked redhead came trotting along and ruined everything for her. Every night since, Elora dreamt of the Empress' throne floating farther and farther away from her reach, and oh what a nauseating nightmare it was each time.

Right then in the dining room, Elora seethed in her spot.

"Your Majesty!" she exclaimed, trying to gain his attention. "I have something to say."

The Emperor turned to her, and for a moment, Elora wondered if she had seen contempt in his eyes. Clearing her throat, she continued.

"About this tea party you assigned all of us to arrange," she said, pausing dramatically, "are you sure the division of tasks was truly fair?"

The Emperor frowned. "Whatever do you mean?"

Elora put down her fork and sat straighter, but not before throwing a sly glance at Yvonne, who did not reciprocate it in any way. 

"I was assigned the selection of dressing theme," she said with a pout, "but this one here,"- she pointed at Yvonne- "she was assigned the task of preparing the guest list, which is a far more important job than mine. Don't you think it's unfair to me?"

Yvonne tried to mask her scoff. All the other ladies rolled their eyes. Indeed, only one thing was on everyone's mind: 'Here she goes again…'

"My dear, I divided the tasks how I saw fit," the Emperor replied with an annoyed sigh. "Are you implying my judgement of all of you was fallacious?"

Elora waved her hands in surrender, flustered. "No, of course not! I'm just saying that I feel down because I wasn't able to gain your favor, compared to most everyone else."

There was an echo of incredulous scoffs down the table. Was this woman ever going to stop?

"Elora, dear, you should really learn to be thankful for even the smallest of mercies," Yesenia sighed. "What if the Emperor decided to omit you from the tasks completely?"

Elora laughed. "Of course, that would've never happened."

"But it almost did, my dear." The Emperor surprised everyone. "I had to specially make a task up for you to make you a part of this event. Since you are the least talented of my harem, I had to contemplate leaving you out of the activities when the tasks came up less than your numbers."

Elora gaped. "How am I the least talented?"

The Emperor shrugged indifferently. "Yesenia here displays a great skill in making people feel welcome and at home through her motherly touch; Lorelei is phenomenal when it comes to art and creativity in thinking; Odette is smart and a great intellectual thinker with a handy foresight; Christabel is great at engaging others in animated conversations; Enya, who is unfortunately absent at the moment, has a lovely voice; and lastly, my dear Yvonne is the beauty of our harem, and an amazing social butterfly. And you..." he turned back to Elora with an unmistakable look of contempt in his eyes. "I'm sorry, my dear, but you're nothing special."

Elora gasped. Yvonne's eyes widened. Lorelei, Odette and Yesenia's mouths dropped open in shocked pleasure and Christabel, though she remained silent, put her hand over her mouth. 

"Nothing...special…?" Elora muttered. "Me…?"

The Emperor nodded and wiped his mouth with a handkerchief. 

"Step off your high pedestal, my dear, and maybe you'll find people who might like you," he said coldly. "You are all one in this harem. There is no high or low, so don't pretend to be Queen when you're the lowest on my priority list, love."

With those harsh words, he left the dining room. Everyone sat back in their seats, trying to make sense of what had just happened. All of a sudden, Elora scraped back her chair and ran out of the room in tears. At that moment, everybody had not a single grain of sympathy for her in their hearts.

"Serves her right," someone whispered.