Chapter 65 - [Bonus ] A New Member Of The Family....

"She had a kid of  six. A beautiful young girl, I hope she is save where ever she is."

"A kid?" Both Princess Morgana and I asked. We were surprised to hear that. Evelyn was not a young woman. A woman of her age should have children closed to my age.

"Yes, my lady. I was told her husband died as soon as her child was born. Now the poor baby is an orphan."

Tears rolled down my cheeks when she said that. It's reminded me of the fact that I was an orphan. Growing in a such a wicked world without parents was so difficult for me, how will a six year old child survive?

"That's so painful. I wondered what she must be going through right now" Princess Morgana said.

"What if she saw the scene? I mean how her mother was murder, because it's happen in the House" Anne said.

"Stop saying all that Anne. Even if she was present, let's pretend like she did not" I said. I feared for what was going to happen to this poor kid, if the murderer finds out that everything happened in front of her.

I stood up from my the chair "am going to see the Emperor right now. What ever we discussed here earlier should not go out of the room please" I warned. With fear, in my heart. I went to look for the Emperor, who might of not listen to what I have to say.

**

I met the Emperor in his throne room. He sat down with one hand supporting his chin. The atmosphere of the room was sober. His face looked gloomy but the anger was still there.

Queen Valeria sat down with few women and Apollo was also present. They were having a meeting. I waited at the door for the Emperor to signal me in. And he did when he saw me.

"Come in Queen Ariadne."

All eyes were on me. Queen Valeria rolled her eyes when she saw me going to meet the emperor. I wondered what was get problem? We have a serious matter on ground and yet, she carried so much hatred in her heart for me.

I greeted both the Emperor and the other people in the room. They all answered except for queen Valeria who looked away when I tried to greet her. The Emperor saw this and his face became more furious.

"She greeted you Queen Valeria, why didn't you respond?" He asked her. She was surprised by the question the Emperor.

"Emperor… I .."

"Let it not repeat itself again. The both of you are my queens, if you don't respect each other , what do you want the others to do?"  He said, pointing at the women in room.

"Forgive me your highness" She stood as a sign of respect. If there was something about Queen Valeria, I came to understand was that she pretended when ever the Emperor was around. He was not aware of true character.

He nodded and turned to me "why are you here my queen?"

My queen? Did he want Queen Valeria to hate me more? I drew closer to the throne and I said in a quiet tone "I want to speak with you, in private."

"Is it something serious? Am having a meeting right now" he told me. I was not going to leave the room without saying what I wanted to. Someone's life was at stake here.

"It is urgent my king" I said, showing how serious I was.

"Come closer and tell me am listening" he said. I climbed the remaining stairs and went to him.

Standing besides him I said "Its about Evelyn."

"Really?" He said aloud. I wish he never said that. People might hear us. "Privacy. I will get back to you through Apollo" he told them.

"W-what, this is a very serious matter. Why will yo.." Queen Valeria started.

"This is my order Queen Valeria" he cut her off. I noticed recently that the emperor have been rude and mean to her. Unlike before, when I first came. Was this how he was going to treat me when he gets tired of me?

Everyone left the room apart from Apollo, who sat down with eyes on us still. What a man! So devoted and dedicated to his friend. In this world, where jealously and betrayal dwelled, a friend like him, was not easy to come by.

"What did you want to tell us Queen Ariadne?" the Emperor asked me. (Us? I said you , young man)

"Evelyn's child might be alive in the village, alone" I said. "Don't you all think is dangerous to let her stay alone?"

"A child? No one told us about it" he turned to Apollo who approved it, by nodding his head negatively.

I also learnt this from my maid Anne. She told me that Evelyn had a child before she died".

"Then, it's not safe for the child to be out there alone" Apollo added.

"How old is the child?" the Emperor asked me, the anger in him seem to reduced when he had about the Child.

"She is six. I will be pleased  if you let her come and leave in the palace with us. I want to take care of her" I asked of the Emperor. My hope was that high, I prayed he grant my request.

"Apollo what do you  think?" he turned to Apollo.

wait… when had he started asking for Apollo's opinion? I remembered when I came to this palace, not even his mother's opinion matters.

"The Queen is right your highness. I go with her request" he answered.

"Fine then. Send some men to go get the girl. She is adopted." He told his prime minister. I was surprised that we did not argue before he grant my request. In deed , the had changed.

**

The Author's POV.

"Do you see the way he sent his Empress out because of Queen Ariadne?" One of the women, who were in the room asked the rest.

"Yes. They said the new wife have become more precious to him that the first. I hope she gives him an heir soon" another said.

"We pray so. She is very beautiful, I did not blame the Emperor for making her become more special than the Empress."

Queen Valeria wondered if they were not aware of her presence or was this a planned issue to frustrate her? The Emperor had already done his part by looking down on her in front of everyone. She could take that from him but not from them.

"Don't you have anything to do you in the village?" She asked them.

By their reaction, she knew they were all surprised to see her.

"Yes my lady. We are on our way, right now" the oldest among them spoke.

"You better hurry up and leave" she said. They obeyed her immediately.

"Wait" she stopped. "what happened in the room earlier, if I ever hear of it else where..".

Queen Valeria did not finish the sentence but they understood what she everything perfectly – punishment.

*****

Queen Ariadne's POV.

I was sitting out side my room, knitting a shirt for Evelyn's girl before mother came.

"I heard of what you did" she said with a big smile on her face.

"Mother" I dropped what I was knitting and curtsied. 

"Indeed you have proven to the Emperor that you are his better half" she added. Mother was good at praising me right from day one.

"Although, you are the youngest of his wife. What you did today one may think you are the eldest daughter in law" one of the women, who came with her said.

"Please, do not say that. I only did what I think was right. Nothing much" I told them.

I did not want people to see what I did as a means to grow higher in the Harem. The first  wife was Queen Valeria, she deserved it and I was not dragging that position with her.

By afternoon, many women came to praise and thank me for saving a young girl's life. I wondered why the Emperor told them that I suggested it. This women kept on going in and out of my room.

"Close the door please" I told her. "These women are going to suffocate me with gifts".

Anne was  trying to arrange the gifts. There were more than I expected. "you should get used to it my lady".

"I hope so. Have you arrange the room , I told you to ?"

Yes we did. In fact, I added more decorations to the wall".

Am eager and scared. I want to meet but what if she does not like me ? Her mother died because of me right?

Please don't say that my Lady.. It was no fault of yours, everything happened as the creator had planned Anne told me. I know she was right but what if the girl fails to see it that way …