Chapter 45 - Love Is Calling...

"Can I go in?" I asked the guard, who stood at the door of the Emperor's room. 

"Sure my lady" he said. He stopped me, before I could knock.

"The Emperor said if you are here, I should let you in side without knocking. Because he might be reading at this hour."

"Oh okay, thank you" I said. What was the need to say thank you? I wondered when I was going to get used to  being a royalty.

I opened the door, slowly and I looked around. The Emperor was no where to be found. I entered the room and started searching for him. On his reading table, were letters, books and drawings. 

I was attempted to touch them and of course, I did touched. I saw a letter King Gaius wrote to the Emperor. It's was all about me. My personal details were presented in this letter, no wonder the Emperor knew about my birthday. In the end, I was glad that I was allowed to keep my identity here, instead of hiding under Princess Eva's skin.

"Is that how you touch people's things without their permission in Camelot?"  A voice interrupted me from behind. Of course it's was the Emperor, there was no need to look back. 

"No your highness" I said. I turned around to see where he came out from. I almost screamed when I saw him. The Emperor wore nothing except for a piece of cloth that was tied around his waist down to his knees. His chest was bare and abs reflected the strength of a warrior. His muscles popped out as he kept his hands on his waist.  There was a turban tied to his head. This man was indeed a handsome devil in disguise of a man.

"Am talking to you Queen Ariadne" The Emperor shouted. I jumped when he did that. His voice was really loud to my hearing.

"Am sorry, I was thinking about something" I said. 

"About what exactly?" He took a towel from his bed and started mopping his body.

"Nothing. Are you still carrying that?" I said, with my hand rolling around my head. Am sure he knew that I was referring to the turban on my head.

"If you don't want us to have any problem, never ask me about it again" the Emperor warned. Damn! It was just an ordinary turban so why was he getting angry for?

"Forgive me your highness" I apologized. 

"No problem, please do sit" he ushered me to seat on the bed. The last time, I was invited to sit there , something almost happened. This time , I just hope it's goes well.

"You sent for me Emperor" I sat down on the bed gently. He was still naked, I wondered if he had forgotten that a woman was standing in front of him. 

"Yes I did" he came to where I sat. It seemed like he noticed that I was not comfortable in room.

"Really?" He took a step back. 

"Am not okay, seeing you like this" I said, with my head bent. I don't even know whether I was shy or ashamed.

"If you can't see me like this, then how are we going to make babies?" he asked.

"What?" I exclaimed. Babies?? Who spoke about making them in the first place?

"Why are you surprised? You said that at the table. You even made it seemed like you were already with a child" the Emperor reminded me of the fight. Actually, this was funny. I made a joke of Queen Valeria and he took it serious. How was I going to get out of this mess?

"I didn't say that" I stood up from the bed. I was scared, of this man now. What if he try to take advantage of me? Of course he was my husband but I wasn't ready yet.

He didn't say a word, rather he came closer and held my left hand "I can see that you are scared of me, if you aren't comfortable, then I will go and changed."

"Okay do please" I murmured. Slowly, the Emperor dropped my hand and headed for a room. Am sure that was his changing room. I sat back on the bed waiting for him. He took more than twenty minutes to dress up. What a man!

The door opened and he came out of that room and he was dressed completely. The emperor wore a white shirt and trouser. His turban was still on, I was eager to find out why he always had it on. Maybe Anne or  princess Morgana we're the right source for this kind of information.

"How do I look now?" The Emperor asked.

"No need to look at the mirror, my king. You look fabulous" I smiled. This was the first time he asked me about his looks and I was glad that no one was here to make me feel shy about it.

"Thank you Queen Ariadne. This is the first time you are putting my before the king."

I understood what the Emperor meant. I never called him my king. It was either your highness, Emperor or your majesty. Even I, didn't know why I switched today.

"Don't tell me you don't know why?" He sat on the bed next to me. The strong scent of his perfume almost choked me. I cleared my throat and spoke.

"Am serious your highness" I answered. The closer we became the more I was shy.

"I want to give you a present" he said.

"What present are you talking about? You already given a precious gift today, by bringing my Parents to Akkad. Am very grateful" I thanked him.

"That was a different gift. What I want to give you right now is something I made by myself. I hope you like it my Queen" he said. My queen wasn't bad , I like it though.

"Okay, can I see it now?" I asked politely. The emperor stood up from the bed. He bowed like a gentleman in front of me and said

"Shall we, my lady?" he took my hand in his, and he helped me stood up from the bed.. We made our way into a room which was on the next to his changing room.