336 How Dare I

"Are you saying you were provoked?" the Emperor asked raising a brow. The other 4 men in the room looked at him as though he was a idiot.

"Yes, My Lord, that is the first of a few issues with their tale of events. I also did not willfully ignore greeting Princess Feya. I simply had not met her and did not know who she was. When I explained this, she took offense. That is what started this altercation. If you ask the other princesses and even elder concubines I always greet them if I cross their paths. I had thought Feya was simply a Beauty or such for she looks like a tiny porcelain doll." Kyera pointed out, and as luck would have it, Feya was dressed in lace and frills looking the part of a children's toy. The Emperor seemed to consider this and nodded slowly.

"You make a valid point, this is a mistake on my part. I should have introduced you to the family by now, my dear. I am sorry for that." Clovis added backing her up, his adoring eyes apologetic and he smiled at her. He knew she was stressed. This was not easy on either of them. The Queen however scoffed and put her hands on her hips. The loving display however made fire of fury burn in Feya's heart. Not only did she steal away Clovis but the witch dared call her a mere beauty!

"Because you believed her a beauty you had the right to lay hands on her?" Demanded the Emperor his eyes flashing with indignance. Kyera frowned and shook her eyed, her expression troubled.

"My lord the Queen has completely misunderstood me. I never struck Princess Feya. It was she who intended to strike me." Kyera replied raising her eyes to meet his. The honesty and conviction in her tone enough to shake his steadfast oppinon of the case. Seeing the consideration on his face Kira growled.

"You accuse her of striking you. It is obvious by who is bruised who intended to do damage to whom." Queen Kira chided Kyera who looked back at her, standing at full height, shadows dancing subtlety under her feet.

"Your daughter in law shamelessly intended to beat me for no reason other than not knowing her name. A beating I did not deserve or earn. In my homeland that would result in death. I merely stifled that rage for the betterment of the family and pride of the royal family. How is this my fault, Lady Queen. If you can explain it I will gladly go for the punishment myself." Kyera offered honestly growing tired of this argument as well. "If you look at the bruise on her wrists it will tell the story I just told is true. Had I beat her there would have been more than just those few marks I assure you." Kyera added motioning to Feya's wrist.

"Kyera how dare you so shamelessly use the damage you caused as evidence of your innocents! It only proves you are a wicked woman. How dare you!" Feya cried loudly pointing a finger at Kyera exposing her bruised wrist.

"How dare you speak such lies.We saw it We saw it all!" The maids shouted in unison and Alexi had to place a hand on Clovis to keep him from teaching them a lesson. Before anyone could speak Kyera started to laugh.

"Kyera you best explain yourself. You dare to ignore their testimony to your wickedness?" Then queen asked and the room went silent. Something subtly changed… it broke. The peace Kyera was struggling to keep snapped like dry wood beneath a horse's hoof.

"Yes, how dare I. How dare I speak the truth when so many seek to slander me? How dare I refuse to argue against you in the garden when you accused me without asking my side? How dare I expect to be treated like a human being." Kyera replied tears in her eyes. "How dare I try to be honest. Yes How dare I but I have a better question." Kyera met her eyes, flames in her heart. Everyone stared, watching as Kyera let loose. The shadows causing a gentle wind puffing her silver hair. Even the two Shadow Veil royals seemed speechless.