Chapter 42 - A Horse Thing....

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Queen Ariadne's POV.

We got to the dinning door, the guards opened it slowly. My breath almost seized when I saw them! King Gaius and Queen Celesta-my fake parents!! This was bad, why did they came to Akkad or where they planning to tell the Emperor the truth? Nope, I don't think so, they were not so foolish to do that because the Emperor would never spare us nor  Camelot.

Cold shiver ran through my spine, I started sweating immediately. The dress I wore became too heavy for me to walk… everything happened so fast that I didn't know when the Emperor tapped be at the back. 

"Is something wrong Queen Ariadne?" He asked , looking deep into my eyes. I quickly looked away to avoid him knowing that I was lying.

"No… I … your… highness. I wasn't expecting this".

"That's why it was meant to be a surprise" he said with a smile. This was a surprise and I didn't like it! This was tension!! High Blood Pressure!!! I wished the Emperor knew that he spoilt my birthday already.

Without much regret, because the harm was already done. With courage and good faith, I adjusted my self and I faked a scream showing that I was surprised to see my parents.

"Mother! Father!!" I ran towards them to give that hug a daughter would give to her parents after they got separated. Queen Celesta was the only one I ended up hugging, king Gaius wasn't my father and of course, I won't hug a man who wasn't related to me by blood.

"We missed you so much" Queen Celesta said, with her right hand running through my hair. This was quite lovely of her but I Know these acts we were putting on were all Pretenses.

"Welcome Father" I bowed to show my respect but he stopped me. Very strange and usual but this was funny.

"How have you been my child?" He asked.

"Am fine, how is everyone at home?"

"We are all good in Camelot. We missed you" Queen Celesta answered. 

"Come to the table please" Queen Aslaug directed. I didn't notice that the Queen mother was present in the room. She was going to be friends with Queen Celesta, I hope she doesn't find out those her bad characters.

We all moved to the table, sitting where we belong respectively. I sat down next to the Emperor as usual.

Queen Valeria walked in with some of the members of the Royal family. She sat closed to mother. I hoped she didn't mind by tomorrow she was going to take her place as the special queen.

"This is my first wife, Queen Valeria" the Emperor introduced her to my parents. I hated when he did that. Today was my day and not hers what was the need for him to bring this introduction up now.

"Greetings to you" she said. "You are just like the way people say you are."

She was referring to Queen Celesta. I don't want her to be friends with my fake mother. The hatred was much already, two crazy women might make the matter worst.

"Really?" Queen Celesta asked. 

I didn't wait for Queen Valeria to answer, I went ahead and changed the topic " father, is Henry still in Camelot?" I asked King Gaius. Henry was Eva's favorite horse. I didn't know the reason why I brought this up.

"He is healthy , though he had a bad foot few days ago".

"Is that a horse?" The Emperor finally, figured out what we were talking about unlike the rest who didn't understand a thing we were saying.

"Yes your highness" King Gaius replied. He was trying to reach out for the pot in front of him when Queen Valeria shifted to him. That was nice of her. I wasn't expecting that.

"Is it Queen Ariadne's horse?" The emperor asked. He was the only person on the table who was not eating. His left hand was on the cup in front of him but he never took it up to his mouth.

"Yes, since she was a child" Queen Celesta answered, before she dropped some sweets to her mouth.

"But you told me that you can not a ride horse Queen Ariadne, as a fact you haven't sat on it before. So what are you keeping a horse for?"

I wish I never brought the topic up. Now we were faced with such a big question, I hope my parents don't mess the whole plan. 

I looked at my fake parents and the expressions they face carried was quiet shocking. A horse thing was going to cause a problem between me and the emperor.

"Is true that my daughter doesn't know her to ride but she knows how to take care of a white horse" Queen Celesta restored the silence. "Henry is like a friend to Queen Ariadne" she concluded and gave me a motherly smile- strange but convincing, I wish I could record all these moments for her. Am sure she was going to hate them.

"I missed Henry so much" I lied. This wasn't good at all. The Queen mother had showered me with a lot of love and yet, I was one of the biggest liar around. I hoped to tell her some day.  Now was not the right time. I wondered how she was going to take the news.

"He is now a big boy don't worry" Queen Celesta said.

"So you love pets?" The Emperor asked me. 

"Yes of Course" I replied. I took care of princess Eva's pets like they were mine.

"I don't like pets, animals are scary and they disgust" Queen Valeria said. I know she was going to hate what I like we were two different people so it's didn't matter what her opinion was.

"But Animals are lovely Queen Valeria. They are better that most humans when it comes to friendship" the Emperor told her.. I was happy that this time, he reasoned like a normal human instead of the devil they said he was.