Chapter 62 - This Is Reality...

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Queen Ariadne's POV.

The carriages were ready. The gifts were arranged in the baskets. I checked and everything was in order. Mother came out with my parents, they were to leave today.

I was going to miss them. Unlike, before when we had no relationship. Queen Celesta came to me, I hope she does not apologize again.

"Am grateful to you and all the love you have showered on us. We are sorry for causing you pain" she apologized just like I expected. I have forgiven them including Princess Eva.

"Please do not apologize to me again. You are now, my mother. I just hope that you treat the other maids with much care when you go back to Camelot" I told her. She nodded, almost crying. "Oh no don't do that" I said to myself.

"You are so kind, Ariadne" Queen Celesta started sobbing. I hugged her, she was going to make me emotional soon.

"You have started crying already mother" The Emperor interrupted our conversation. We were waiting for him to come.

"Do you think easy for me?" Queen Celesta asked the Emperor. She was still crying.

"I understand. Sorry for taking your daughter away from you" He wiped her tears. "You must stop crying now mother , every one is watching."

I turned around and all eyes were on us. The Emperor seemed to draw attention every where he went to.

"Anytime you miss her, send me a message and I will bring her to Camelot my self" he told her. Was he serious or trying to make her feel better?

Queen Celesta was not convince. She looked at the Queen mother, who assured her with a smile "am in support of this Queen Celesta. He will do it."

Of course, he was going to do it. I heard that the Emperor never go against his words and promises, no matter what it was. That was what differentiated him from the previous kings.

"Okay then, please take care of my sweet child. I won't take it if any thing bad happens to her" Queen Celesta held my chin gently. I was going to miss her that's was for sure.

"Don't worry Queen Celesta. You need not to worry. She is in safe hands" mother kept on assuring her. I wished the Emperor would have said that instead.

"I believe you all' Queen Celesta said.

It's was now time for them to leave. King Gaius thanked the Emperor for taking good care of them during their stay in Akkad. They were about entering their carriage when we Queen Celesta whispered to my ears " please be careful of that witch and Queen Valeria, they do not have any good plans for you."

What a thing to say? I knew that she was telling me the truth. I have to been careful with her.

"Bye my sweet child" she hugged me and the carriage started. Finally, they left without the Emperor finding out about Eva. I was relieved of that burden for now.

"Shall we?" the Emperor asked. I nodded. We were going to the village to see the priest as earlier planned. Mother and the other queens were also going to be there.

"Yes your highness" I replied , holding my dress with one hand. Queen Valeria was no where to be seen. Anne told me that every year, she went with the him – the one who the Emperor invite sits in the carriage with him. This year I was honored to be by his side.

"Why is Queen Valeria not here?" I asked Anne who stood closed to me.

"Perhaps, she is jealous that the Emperor is going with you instead" she giggled. I shook my sadly. Anne disliked queen Valeria so much.

"There she is I showed Anne" Queen Valeria was coming from behind. She walked faster than I expected. She passed me and went to the Emperor.

"Sargon , you did not care to inform me about the prayer, why?" She said. Sargon? She calls him by his name and not his title, what a brave step to take.

"Everyone knew about it. How come you are not aware that we were supposed to visit the village priest today?" The Emperor answered. At first, I was scared that he might tell me to take another carriage why he share this one with his special queen.

"Every year you send me an invite. Why didn't you this time around" she was angry I could tell from her voice. Sweat kept popping out of her face. This question was rude , I wondered how the Emperor was going to take this?

"Don't you have respect for me again Queen Valeria??" The Emperor shouted at her. We were not prepared for this. He was mad at her but I thanked the creator that he found her question disrespectful.

"Forgive me your highness. I did not mean to disrespect you Queen Valeria apologized. By now, every one began to enter his or her carriage. No one wanted to watch this fight.

"She is sorry your highness. Calm down please" I said. May be I should not interfere in their matter, the last time she warned me not to.

"If you want to join us then, do I have no time to waste" he told her. Sad enough, the Emperor left for his carriage. I followed him behind like a chicken, Queen Valeria gave me a hot look for taking her place.

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Carriage started and the journey began. I was too afraid to talk to the emperor because of the way he sounded out there. I was scared of him just like the old time.

No one spoke except for the wheels of the carriage puddle. Reaching my hand through the window, I felt the hotness of the sun on my palm. The weather was more harsh than I thought it.

"What type of weather do you prefer Queen Ariadne?" He finally broke the silence. I was surprised by the question he asked me.

"I prefer summer your highness" I said.

"I see that"

"The journey seems so long. It's was not like this few months ago" I said, changing the topic.

"You are too eager Lady Ariadne. The road is till the same" he said. Come here" the emperor drew me closer to him and I laid my head on his chest to rest. My heat skipped a beat as I found my face close to his heart.

"I hope someday will have children of our own Queen Ariadne" he said. I was surprised to hear him say that. We have never spoken about children before. No one has never done that in the palace not even the Queens.

"Our children are going beautiful like you" he continued. Really? Was he serious about this?

"I pray the creator listen to your heart desires " I said , quietly

He looked down and beamed me a smile " do you think so? Those are my heart desires and not my reality. This Is reality Queen Ariadne."

I felt bad hearing him say that. He had lost hope he had in the creator. I didn't blame him much because of the situation he found him self in.

All the kings around him had at least one child to celebrate with while he had none. Being an Emperor was tougher than I thought. He had to pretend like nothing was wrong.

The carriage halt in front of the village temple. The Emperor gave me a help when he came down. I was happy when he did that.

The temple was filled up already, only few chairs were empty. It seemed they were reserved for us. The village priest came out and welcomed us into the temple. He prayed and asked the creator to take away any evil eyes that came close to us.

Just when we were about to join the rest, my eyes met with Queen Valeria. So she came I asked my self. I hope she was among the evil eyes that the priest cast away from us.

Inside the temple, a woman showed us our seats. I did not like the way she was behaving in front of the Emperor. She seemed to blinked her eyes frequently when he asked her if his mother has gotten a chair ?

I drew closer to the Emperor and I kept my hands on his arms showing her that he was mine.

He noticed what I was doing. When we sat down he whispered to me " don't be jealous wife, she is just a subject."

"Just ? " My eyes widened. She is a woman Emperor. "Don't forget that" I said, regretting my words as soon as they cane out. What a foolish thing to say Ariadne. She was a woman and every one would see that. There was no need for me to tell. Next thing I had was the Emperor's laugh, perhaps he was laughing at my stupidity.. I removed my hands for his arms and I focused on the priest that stood in front us.