Chapter 60 - Kill Who...

***Queen Ariadne's POV.***

I went to the Emperor's room. The guards told me that he was not in. I wondered why the maid told me that he was in chambers while he was not. I was moving through the walk way when I saw a room. The door was not locked. It's was half opened and I could hear the Emperor's voice. It seemed like he was scolding someone – perhaps Apollo.

"Excuse me your highness" I said while standing beside the door. He took him more than thirty seconds to answer. I could hear things moving quickly and the noise of irons falling down. It's was clear that they did not me to know what was going on. 

"Come in" the Emperor answered. Someone opened the door for me although I was yet to see his face. I walked to the room that looked like a hall. It would have be empty if not for the swords hanged on the wall. They were of different shapes and sizes. I was no warrior but I knew that these instrument of wars were Sharped and could kill at strike.

There were two long tables in the middle of the room. Maps were spread on it . The Emperor stood closed to the table. He examined the maps for some time, he looked up and our eyes met. I looked away to avoid his gaze.

At usual besides he were Apollo and Prince Edwards. These two have become his shadow with in this few days. I tried to close the door behind me and I saw the man who opened the door for me. He was a knight, I could tell from the armor, he wore.

"Greetings mother" prince Edwards said with a smile. He looked very handsome in that red shirt he wore.

"How are you dear"  I answered him.

"Son? Mother?? This is serious" the Emperor said. He was surprised that prince Edwards and I got along so easily.

"Yes he is my son" I said with a lot of confident although it's sounded odd to my hearing.

"That's good. Am happy that the two of you got along without me stressing my self" he said, drawing one of the maps to him. It seemed there was going to be a battle soon.

"She is a great woman father, you are lucky to have her" Prince Edwards praised me. I was happy when he said so. I smiled and bit my lower lip.

"She is lucky to have me too" he restored. Lucky to have him? May be yes! Because when I got married to him, the life of a slave girl left me.

"You sent for me your highness" I reminded him why I came here in the first place.

"Will you love to go and see the village priest?" He asked.

"Yes of course. It's been long I saw him" I said excitedly.

"That's good. Am going to village this afternoon to see him. Go and prepare" the Emperor said. Really? He wanted me to accompany him to the village while was he acting like I was the one that brought the idea.

I did not moved from where I stood. Prince Edwards was surprised with the way his father tendered his invitation to me.

"Do you want me to along?" I asked.

"W-what … no… I thought you wanted to visit the village priest" the Emperor stammered. I could not stop my self from smiling. Seeing him pretend made happy. He wanted to spend time with me but his pride over shadowed him.

"Then, I won't come. I will spend time with mother and prince Edwards, we were supposed to see the garden today" I lied. If the Emperor sees that I was not ready to go with him, he might decide to ask properly.

"Father, you should ask her like a gentleman would do" Prince Edwards said. Am glad he understood me better.

"Actually am not a gentleman' the Emperor winked at me. It seemed he has become naughty these days. I looked away immediately, hiding the  fact that I loved what he did.

"At least tell me you want me to come with you" I came closer to where he stood.

"You look beautiful this morning Queen Ariadne" the Emperor closed the gap between us. He brought her front hair backwards. All men in the room, turned their faces to wall. Damn! This man was making me feel hot. Our gaze met and he gave me a kiss on my neck. The temperature of the room became hotter, it seemed like there was a burning furnace in here.

I actually loved how his lips ran down my neck. They tickled me. He took my left hand in his and he whispered "if you give me a chance I will go further."

I took a step back when I heard him say that. The Emperor had played a trick on me. I fell for it, now he might think that I was desperate to lay with him.

"I would love to take my leave now your highness" I told him. I felt ashamed of myself. I was the one who kept on singing that we should wait for love to grow.

"Go and get ready. You are coming with me" he said aloud. "Also, tell mother to give you some of the grandmother's jewelry. We need it.

"Yes my king" I said, regretting the words as soon as they came out. Why did I have to say my? Was he truly mine…

"I will meet you later my queen" he smiled at me. Was he trying to mock me?

I left the room. What happened back there proved  that the emperor had finally charmed me. I have fallen for the devil and next time he tries that again, I might have no choice but to offer my self to him.

***************

The Author's POV....

"What are you going to now?" Naana asked her.

"I don't know. Am confused at the moment" she said, sitting down on the bed. Queen Valeria became frustrated after the Emperor's announcement. To make the matter worst, he gave her the major role to play in finding the criminal.

"The gods forbid but, I don't know what the Emperor will do to us if he finds out the truth" Naana said.

"I won't allow that to happen. Sargon will never forgive me, I know him well" Queen Valeria started sobbing, as she ruffled her hair.

"Don't cry dear. We might come up with a plan sooner or later" Naana consoled her. She went to where queen Valeria sat and helped pat her back gently.

"Sooner? I can't wait for that long Naana. We have to act now that the Emperor is yet to find out."

"Then , we think of something."

Queen Valeria did not answer her. She was quiet for few minutes. All of a sudden, she stood up from the bed and  said " I have a plan."

"Are you serious?" Naana was surprised. Few minutes, the both of them were clueless and now, Queen Valeria has an idea.

"Of course. There is no time left for us to joke" She replied. "Are you ready for action? Because I need your maximum cooperation Naana".

"I will do what ever you ask of me, my Lady" She assured her. Saving her life was a debt she was grateful to Queen Valeria for the rest of her life.

"We need to kill Evelyn before she mention our names" she said in a low tone. Naana's eyes widened when she heard her.

"Kill who?"  Naana almost shouted. Queen Valeria covered her mouth with her palm. This old woman was going to expose her to the emperor.

"Naana, stop shouting, some one might hear us."

"Forgive me Queen Valeria" Naana started whispering. "Why will you do that?"

"Why? I do not want the Emperor to find out about this! My position in the empire is at stake Naana" she told her. Naana knew that was her major concern – power.

"What if he finds out that you are a killer also?"

"He won't. I will not allow such to happen. That's why we have to be careful with every step will take" She replied.

"Starting from now" Naana added. "Queen Ariadne is already steps ahead of you. I even heard that she is going to the village with your Emperor to the priest" Naana informed. Every year, when the Emperor was going to see the priest , he always ask Queen Valeria to accompany him but, today was different.

"That's not true. Am the only one who goes with the king to village Naana. The information you got was wrong" she said with confident. Allowing queen Ariadne to take her place like that was the last thing on her mind.

"May be , you should ask around.'

"Stop it Naana. This is not the time to joke" she said in disbelief. "Back to the plan."

"When are you planning to do it?"

"Delay is dangerous Naana.. I shall do it tonight" She gave a smirk.