Chapter 73 - I Want You To Love Me, Emperor ...

**

Queen Ariadne's POV.

The next day …

"Princess , please allow me to put on your dress" she pleaded. Arya kept running around the room. It became more fun as Anne went after her.

Early this morning, Arya had her bath. She has been roaming around the room. A short was the only cloth she wore. I knew what excited her. The Emperor had ordered that the princess should be enroll in a school today. After that his sister Morgana will take extra classes with her – the princesses class. To teach Arya out to behave like a royalty.

"Arya, listen to her will you?" I asked. She stopped what she was doing and went to where Anne was. Her lips were tight, I knew she wanted to laugh. Funny child, wasn't she?

"Mother, When will I be back from school?" She asked me. Anne started dressing her up immediately before she changes her mind.

"By noon sweetheart. I promise to bring Lunch for you. Also, there is food at the school too" I said. The shirt I was knitting was for her. It's was pink in color.

"Noon?" Her eyes widened. "That will be take a lot of my time mother. All friends will be waiting for me."

"They are all going to school together. You do not have to miss them" I gave a smile. Her friends were the children that lived in the Harem. Anne had made friends within this short time. I was also surprised that every one wanted to play with her.

The door opened quietly, it was Princess Morgana. She was supposed to take Arya to school this morning. "Is my baby niece ready?" She asked stretching her neck to see if Arya was done.

"Sure Princess" Anne said, combing her hair quickly. It was fun sitting down while Anne and Arya play from one angle to another.

"Take your time and comb it very well. Today is her first day at school, we want her to look very beautiful and neat" Princess Morgana said, as she walked to the room.

Arya ran to Morgana and she lifted her up. She kissed her on the forehead and asked her if she slept well.

"Yes aunt but mother woke me up very early today" Arya reported me to her aunt. Anne stood at the mirror side with a comb in her hand. She did not even know the time Arya left her.

"Arya, do you want Anne to punish you?" I asked. She nodded quickly. They played a lot. When ever Anne was to dress her , this was what we face in the room.

"It seemed like you are naughty, little niece" Princess Morgana told her. Arya's jaw dropped, She thought her aunt was going to side with her. Disappointed Arya!

"Go to Anne and finish up. We have less than twenty minutes to go" The princess let her down. The reaction on her face showed that she was really disappointed in us for taking Anne's side.

In less than five minutes, Arya was ready for school, she left together with Princess Morgana. Finally we could have some peace in the room. I stood and helped Anne to arrange the things, she scattered before leaving for school.

"Arya is really a headache" I said, picking one of shirt from the floor.

"She is the best energy to have around. I like her" Anne said. Why will she said that? I thought Arya was tormenting her already.

"You like when she is stubborn like this?" I asked her.

"Arya is a kid. One who is free and she loves playing a lot. Watch and see , you are going to miss her today" Anne told me. I was missing her already. If she was here, we will all be laughing.

"Have you heard from Queen Valeria?" I changed the topic. Last night, I thought of the punishment that the Emperor would give to her.

"No. Not even the Emperor, but people are saying her punishment might be death" Anne told me.

"Death? Is that not too much?" I started arranging the clothes on the bed.

Anne was surprised to hear that from me. This was the woman who wanted to kill me few months ago. Why will I feel sorry for her?

You want her to go scot-free? Do not forget  , she is a murderer The death is the only penalty for murders".

"The Emperor might spare her when his temper is down. She is his first wife, do not forget" I said.

**

Emperor Sargon's POV.

I could not sleep through out the night. My eyes hurt and morning finally came. I kept on breaking everything I  came in contact with. The betrayal of my first wife was blow to the Empire.

There was no way I could kill her. After Queen Ariadne recover from her illness, mother had asked me to pass a law that no king was allow to kill his wife no matter what. This was because of the way, I treated my last wife.

Now, the empire has found out who the criminal is, but because of this law, Queen Valeria could not be killed. I thought of the punishment, I will give to her . Everything seemed too easy,  and light for me. Evelyn must avenge no matter who it was.

The punishment was supposed to serve as an example for those who would think of betraying me or the empire in the future.

A knock interrupted my thoughts. I told the guards I did not want to see any one today, why will they allow this person to disturb me.

I took the cup of wine and sip it "come in" my voice thundered.

It's took four minutes, before the door opened. Queen Ariadne walked to the room. Another disaster!

She stared at the broken glasses, ceramics and furniture littered around the room. This was the only way I could express my anger without hurting any one.

"Did you do this or there was an earthquake in your room?" she asked, as eyes kept on searching around the room.

"Good morning my queen" I greeted. She wore a red gown , which was my favorite. Her lips curved a smile when I called her my queen.

She curtsied "Greetings your highness."

I managed to get up from where I sat and went to her. The strong perfume , she wore made me  drew closer to her. Her head was bowed, Queen Ariadne was shy, I wished she would have not.

"Am sorry you have to meet me in this state again" I said, touching her straight long hair.

No answer. Her face was still down. This woman was shy of me till date. I lifted her face up and placed a kiss on her soft lips. She did not resist like I expected.

It's was obvious that queen Ariadne wanted me but she could not say it. "For how long are we going to wait?" I asked when our lips parted. Actually I was the one who drew back.

As long as we can" She said. I want to you to promise me that there will be no wife after me. I want …

"Want?" I laughed. Come sit down and tell me everything you want before I can become your lovely husband."

We sat down on the bed. Our hands touched and the reaction on her facial expression changed. She wanted to retreat but I held her hand in mine. Queen Ariadne was smiling, I knew she liked it.

'Tell me very thing my Queen " I requested. "The Emperor is desperate for you."

"I want to be the only light that shine in your darkness. The woman you want to be with for the rest of your life" she said. How I wished I could stick to one woman though!

"Are you done?" I asked. She shook her head negatively. So there was more to it!

"I want you to love me Emperor of Akkad. Only me" she said. Did she just say Love?

"How can I love you when I do not have a heart Queen Ariadne ?"

"You have a heart. Every thing you do depends."

I looked at her pitifully. She was yet to know my story. "The Emperor of Akkad do not have a heart, it better you believe in the rumor you have heard."

"Believing in you is what I want not them" Queen Ariadne's told me. Was she in love with me?

"Do you love me?" I stared in to her giant eyes. They looked lovely, when she smiled, rubbing her feet together. Do I make her feel this way?

"I am not sure" she said. "The only thing I  know is that you are the man of my dreams." Was I that important to her? If Queen Ariadne meant what she said then I will try my best to make her happy.

"I wished I could love you queen Ariadne. My facial looks might deceive you for now.. See me as a beast because that is my true nature."