Chapter 74 - Grandmother Is Coming...

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Queen Ariadne's POV.

His eyes searched my body while we sat on the bed I felt uncomfortable. But what was he saying? The rumor about him being a devil was true. I had the urge to ask why he said so.

"I do not understand your highness" I said, adjusting the collar of dress.

"You do not have to Queen Ariadne. I will freshen up now" he stood up from the bed. The bathroom door was opened , and I could see whatever that was inside.  "You want to join me,?" the Emperor asked.

"Huh .. No.. I have to see mother right now" I said, immediately making my way to the door. But I was stopped by the Emperor who held my hand and drew me back. He used his fingers to stroked my cheeks gently, while his left hand slide round my waist.

A cold shiver ran through my spine. It seemed my heart stopped beating. Sweats started forming from my face to my toes. I swallowed hard, to avoid kissing those attractive lips of his.

"You are one of the best thing that had happened to me" he said, letting go of my hand. I did not want him to stop caressing my cheeks but he stopped. The Emperor gave me a smile and left for the bathroom.

I thought of going to join him but I retreat. We have a long way to go, there was no need to be eager right now. I was going to take each step slowly and carefully without making mistake. With this final decision, I left the room for the harem.

*****

The emperor came to the women's quarters to see Arya. Queen Valeria was yet to come out of her room. I wondered if she was doing fine in doors. I took the cloth I was knitting and headed for my room.

"Anne, please if the emperor is done playing with Arya, let her have a nap' I said. She had spent most of the hours of the day studying and now, a proper rest was what my princess needed.

"Okay my Lady. Queen Alissa told me to inform you that the day after tomorrow is your turn' Anne said, folding the washed clothes. I did not understand what Queen Alissa meant by that.

"For what exactly?" I asked her. She turned and looked at me, like she did not know what Queen Alissa meant by that.

"My Lady, I thought you know" Anne said, shyly. What was going on with her!

Are you pregnant Anne I blurted. May be this question will bring her back to senses from where they went to.

"Not all my Lady. I am doing well"

"If you are ready to tell me , you will let me know. I will be on my bed" I dropped the needles and I laid down on my bed. My eyes were not closed, I tried to see if Anne was not crazy at the moment. She continued giving me a smile.

"Anne, what Is wrong with you please?" I asked again. This time I meant it.

"You are to spend the night with the Emperor" Anne said. Queen Valeria is no more the women's leader.

"W-what? Why me ??" I asked. Anne was dumbfounded as to why I said so. Many women were dying to spend the night with the Emperor. Here, was I with an opportunity of a lifetime.

"Stop distancing your self from the Emperor. Whether he loves you or not you will always be his wife, my lady" Anne told. I knew she was saying the truth. The emperor was just being patient at the moment. Sooner or later, he would come to senses and have me by force.

"I will think about it." I was afraid of what queen Valeria told me few weeks ago. She said that the Emperor might leave me for another woman when he becomes tired of me. The fear of becoming lonely again kills me. I have fallen for the trap that he set for me. Now, o was deeply in love in with him.

"As you wish my lady" Anne said. She was done folding the clothes, just when I was about to close my eyes. I heard the Emperor shouting. He was angry again and I hope it's was not my Arya. His voice echoed between walls of the harem.

I came down from my bed. Anne opened the door for me and I ran out to see what led to his sudden provocation. It's was Queen Valeria, who knelt in front of the Emperor. She was begging for mercy.

"He said you should go away Valeria" mother told her. She was holding Arya now. I wondered if he was going to forgive Queen Valeria at all.

She left quietly. I felt pity with the way they treated her. Who could imagine that the mighty Empress would fall like this. Truly pride goes with a fall.

"What punishment are you going to give to her?" mother asked son.

"I do not want to see her face mother. She has to leave the palace" he said. Leave the palace? Will that be my punishment if the Emperor finds out the truth. Exile will be my punishment.

"Where do you want her to stay? You already the situation with her parents" She said, feeding Arya some sweets. 

"Any where but not in my palace" he said , leaving his mother with a shocking look. I went to her immediately. To ask why queen Valeria's parents would not take her back.

"They had a problem with Sargon years ago. Queen Valeria married my son against their wish" She told me. "It's a long story that can not be told in a day. We will talk about it some other time."

"Okay mother. Can I steal Arya from you ?" I asked, while glaring at the beautiful princess who was lost in her grandmother's arms. I was glad that every one had accepted her and she was adjusting to her new home. Sooner , Arya would asked me questions about her mother. I hope that day does not come at all.

Just after he left, The Emperor returned back and his face brightened up as he entered the harem. This man was complicated, few minutes ago, he was angry and now he was excited about …whatever it was.

"Mother, I have good news for you" he said, walking towards his mother.

"What is it my child?' Mother stood up from her seat. I did not want her to go to him because I wanted to hear the good news too. Arya looked at me and laughed. This was her first time if seeing the Emperor smile this much.

'I just got a message from grand mother. She will be returning back to the palace tomorrow" the Emperor told her. His voice was quiet excited. It seemed the relationship between Grand son and mother was a closed one. The Emperor came to me, and said "the two of you have never seen grandmother before. Please prepare for her coming"

He was referring to Arya and me. I nodded in agreement to what he said. Another member of the royal family? I wondered if she was going to accept us in to her family.

I was very disturbed about it. Anne Said grandmother was tougher than her son Sargon. She sided with him on whatever he did while she was here. To make matter worse, no one dared to stand against her not even mother.

They told me about the Witches' raid. That Emperor had declare that the witches were not allowed to leave in Akkad any more and his grand mother supported his actions by making her consent official. They said she ran the council meetings some times.

Based from the other women's experience, she was not nice to them because they could give the emperor, an heir. Queen Valeria was said to be her favorite Because of the way she controlled the harem. If the grand mother of Sargon loves everything about his first wife Valeria, then I was in a hot soup.

Because I was the opposite of what queen Valeria was.

"What do you think Anne? Will grandmother accept us or not?" I asked. I was still carrying Arya in my arms.

"That I do not know my lady. But you all are  good people" Anne said. It's was not the matter of who was good! I was scared already.

"I am scared Anne. Not just for my sake but for Arya's."

"I understand what you are trying to say my lady. The Emperor likes you and princess Arya" She said , making the bed fir me to lay her.

"It's does not matter my dear. She is different" I placed Arya on the bed. Thank goodness she was asleep, now I could focus on impressing  grand mother.

"Grand mother loves what ever the Emperor likes, do not forget that" Anne said. She was indeed as complicated as her grandson. Why will she like what ever her son likes?

"If you say so Anne.. I will prepare her meal tomorrow, please inform the kitchen chef."