30 The Empress Awakens Part 4

To her anguish, that hope was extinguished as the fire in his eyes was turned toward her. "Eve, I demand you apologize to Queen Fae, and receive to slaps yourself to repay you for your deed." The silence gathered for a moment, the sound of a heart breaking and freezing over hung between them.

"Evelyn. Don't call me Eve again." She corrected him mercilessly. Tears in her eyes gatherers and threatened to fall. Surprise met his face as he heard her brush away the affectionate nickname they had shared since they were young. "And if I say no?" She asked meeting his eyes with a icy gaze. He felt the torrent of cold disappointment wash over him, leaving him momentarily confused. When he finally gained his senses again he glared at her.

"Then you will move to the cold palace until you take your punishment. I will not tolerate My Empress attacking my Queens." He replied, his voice and stance protective as he wrapped one arm around Queen Fae and the other resting tenderly on Queen Kira's waist. The site sent a jold of pain through Evelyn's chest. Fine, She knew it would be this way, but it didn't mean she had to take it quietly.

"As you wish, Emperor. You have opened my eyes this day. I will die in the cold palace before I allow this injustice to pass. I will protect myown." Empress Evelyn replied, her voice soft and gentle even as she made such a harsh declaration. His eyes widened as he stared at the beautiful woman that wa his chosen wife. So long had passed since he saw her this emotional. If it was any other emotion, perhaps he could enjoy seeing this passion in her eyes. However, the violence and the anger she had just released was striking compared to her docile nature. What ever had gotten into her, he could not just let it pass.

The broken hearted look in her eyes send pangs of guilt to his heart. He had spoken out of anger at her defiance. Everything about her personality of late said she would yield to him… and yet she had not. Nor did she try to reason with him as she had in the past. Both were equally troubling to his heart. "Eve…" He let go of the girls and took a step toward her.

His arm wrapped around her waist, drawing her close to him. His lips met hers, tenderly caressing her warm soft skin. To his surprise, those lips that always yielded to him, stayed still as stone. She didn't respond to his kiss, or his caress. Even as he rubbed his cheek against hers bringing his lips to her ear. "Please reconsider, forget the slaps. Just apologize." He asked softly. Something deep within him warned if she walked away now, he would lose something precious to him.

"It seems Tears has chosen her Mistress." Mally said with a grim smile. The Emperor sighed.

"Perhaps I should reconsider." He whispered as his Queens went to play with the children, triumphant over the Empress but trying their best not to show it.

"Your Majesty, all due respect, you may not give you that chance." Mally knew the Empress well. She had been like a daughter to her for so long that the hard shell Evelyn showed to all others was unnecessary. Therefore Mally knew once her Lady's heart was broken, she held it together with a thick wall. The blind man in front of her would never be able to open the door. With a pitying glance, Mally walked back into the gardens.