Chapter 75 - Grandmother Is Coming II..

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Queen Ariadne's POV.

We spent the whole day preparing for grand mother's  home coming. No one paid attention to any thing except for what she wanted. Even the children were making little toys for her. Mother was restless and had been working throughout the day. When evening came, I thought they would stop the running up and down but No! It continued.

The opposite room to  mine was grandmother's. I wondered why her room was closed to me! What if she does not like me then, I have to wake up every morning and see her face.

"What color of bed spread should will I put on mother?" princess Morgana asked. She has been searching for a spread since, we entered the room. It seemed she did not know her grandmother well.

"Red of course" I answered her instead. Mother turned and gave me a look *how do you know*.

"Red Is her favorite color but how do you know that Queen Ariadne? You have met her yet" mother asked, while she removed the white bed cover. With the news every where no one need to meet grand mother before knowing her.

"They said grandmother loves everything the Emperor likes. His best color is red , so I guess she might like red too" I said, helping Princess Morgana to put the red bed spread.

"That's true. The both of them are very close" Mother said with a smile. "I remembered when Sargon refused to eat for two days , grandmother also did not eat. She waited for him ."

"The bond is stronger than I thought mother, what did you think?" I asked her. She did not respond, it seemed mother was lost in her thoughts. Princess Morgana went closer and placed her hand on shoulders. Mother stood up quickly, like the chair was too hot for to seat.

"What is wrong mother?" I asked. We were both worried with the way she was lost in her thoughts today.

"Nothing my child. Please hurry and take a night rest you two. I will go and check what is going on down stairs" She said, moving towards the door. Her daughter stood and watched. She was surprised why her mother's face became sad all of a sudden.

We hurried up and arranged the room neatly. After mother was gone , I was tempted to ask more questions about grandmother. Princess Morgana might tell what type of person, she really was. But I changed my mind. The Emperor was the right person to ask.

It was late already. I was told that the Emperor was having a little party with his brothers and grew nobles. It seemed like the coming of his grand mother really changed things around. He was not a party type,  I wondered why he wanted to party all of a sudden.

The emperor finally noticed me when I got to the garden. They were drinking and making merry to whatever it was. Instead of coming, he sent one of those girls to me. These girls were his concubines kept in a reserved area. Anne once told me that its was not far from our harem. No one was allowed to go there except the woman who was in charge of them. They were meant to pleased the men of the Palace.

"The Emperor is calling you queen" She said. Queen? I looked at the dress, she wore. I could see her naked body beneath that net. He had thousands of wives, yet, he was not satisfied.

I walked carefully down the stairs to where they were sitting. Prince Elvin's face brightened up when he saw me. He came to me and said "it's been long I saw you Queen Ariadne".

"I am more than surprise to see you prince Elvin. I thought you left few weeks ago" I asked, the Emperor stared at me the whole time. His mood seemed to change. I like what was happening.

"Yes, you came to join us?" He asked, looking back at them. They were looking at us too. May be it's was odd and I had to dismiss prince Elvin before the Emperor punishes him.

"See you later" I said, going to meet the Emperor who was now, talking to one of the girls. I waited for them to finish whatever they were doing. The girl was beautiful with a slim body. Her flat belly was quiet tempting to the men who sat there. I wondered why the Emperor told me that he likes my body. I was totally the opposite of this girl. I was average in height, she was tall. My body size was thrice hers!

I became jealous when she giggled and looked at me. That bi**h. If there was no way I could punish her then I will gladly do it. "Do not gossip me young lady" I said to my self.

Like she heard what I said. The girl left while smiling at the Emperor. I felt like breaking her bones, how dare she go close to my husband?

"Queen Ariadne" he interrupted my thoughts. Maybe he did not want me to break his girl's bones, that why he called.

"Your highness" I curtsied. My dress was long I have to watched my steps here.

"Do you want us to talk?" He asked me.  The Emperor eyes were not red today. He smiled and sip from the cup in his hand.

"Yes your highness. I will be glad."

"Here or elsewhere  ?" the Emperor asked another question. He would be the town crier Instead. Of course, in private. I was not sure if he could concentrate while his naked concubines danced.

"In private my king" I raised my head up to see his reaction. He smiled.

He stood up from this and followed me. Soon we got a spot behind the flowers in the garden. The Emperor looked handsome than I thought. No wonder all those girls were around him. His lips calling me for a kiss but I ignored. Do not disgrace your self Ariadne.

"Your concubines are way beautiful than I thought" I blurted, wished they never came out in the first. He gave me a laugh.

"I like it when you say that" he said, while nodding his head. But why will he said that in the first place, did he prefer his concubines to me ? I was full with anger every thing was wrong about today!

"Why will you say that your highness?" I managed to asked.

"Because is better you do not underestimate your opponent. Even in war, I always tell Apollo to send the best of my men to conquer areas that requires lesser men" The Emperor told me. So this was one of the strategy he used in conquering the entire south, west and north . Clever man.

"Lesson learnt" I said in a low tune. I wondered how managed he became the king of kings. What was the ideas that came to his mind at that time. Anne told me that Prince Elvin was supposed to be the king and not him.

"You wanted us to talk Queen Ariadne" the Emperor interrupted my thoughts.

"Yes Emperor. There is something that have been bothering me, I want you to tell me what is going to happen tomorrow" I said, while touching the back of my head.

"I am not a soothsayer queen Ariadne, how do you want me to tell about tomorrow that is yet to come" he said, drawing closer to where I stood. Not too far from us, the girl I saw with him earlier was watching us. Time for a lesson. I moved closer and hugged the Emperor. He was confused but he wrapped his hands around me.

"What happened Queen Ariadne ?" he asked.

"I am scared your highness" I said with a pathetic voice. His chest did not pound like mine or did he not feel any thing for me? Just then I remembered what he told me few days ago in his room.

I tried to shrugged the idea but this was real. I placed my right ear at his left chest. No sound. He had no heart beats. That's, mean the rumor we heard about him was true.

I wanted to pull off but I was afraid to make him angry so I held back.

"Is something wrong?"

"Yes your highness. It's about grand mother's home coming."

"What happened to it Queen Ariadne?" He asked while stroking my hair. I enjoyed what he was doing so I wasted his time, by taking my time to answer.

"I am afraid of what will happen… what if she dies not like me or Arya?" I said, with tears in my eyes.

"Come here," he held my face In his hands. "Don't say that please. My grandmother will accept the both of you. She does not have a choice my queen" he kissed my forehead.

Oh that kiss! I smiled when I saw she was still watching us.. I wondered why the girl was stressing her self! This man was mine and not hers.