Chapter 44: Most embarrassing moment

Before the matter escalates the whispering started, as they all agreed to what I or Katherine had said

"Oh dear, these men always behave like they are free to move and we are bound to the home. It's high time that we would also work," spoke Meredith, and many nodded.

In this way, everyone soon started discussing it. I took a sip of my aromatic tea. Its taste was wonderful, due to royal tea or because of my first win, the only god knows.

I continued nodding my head every now and then when my eyes fell on Isabella. There was a smirk on her face. 'Why!'

Suddenly bad premonitions started filling my heart as I found her smirk unnerving. Oh lord! Does she also plan something? But what.

'Maybe her plan was the same as the past.' This idea gave me new hope as I closed my eyes to remember what had happened in the royal tea party in the past.

But no matter how hard I try to remember there was nothing that seemed out of the ordinary.

The only incident I remember was between Killian and me. As I was being mocked by the nobles in the past, Killian approached me. And I took all my anger by pouring hot tea over him in the name of the accident.

But I was not going to repeat it in any case then why! Why was she happy?

Just then I heard voices in the background.

"Your majesty, your majesty." some maids came there with hasty footsteps.

"Your majesty, the kids are fighting."

As the maids finished her words, I saw Isabella's smile growing wide as she looked at me and then her eyes widened in surprise in a blink of a second.

That was the moment my eyes widened too. Had she done something to Killian? Before anyone could react or ask anything?

Before my mind could process what was happening, I was already running to the other corner of the royal garden, where kids were playing.

I heard many gasps, whispers that were turning into loud noises. But I did not have the time to think about it.

If Isabella had done something to Killian, she would have planned it in a way that its blame would come on me.

But how! Weren't there two knights with him.

It took me fifteen minutes to reach there even when I was running, that's how large the garden was.

The scene that I stumbled upon was Killian beating two children of duchess Meredith. Oh lord! What just happened?

"Killian, Killian" I was calling him but he was not listening.

I saw all the knights were standing there hesitating. It was no surprise to me as all kids were nobles and taking one's side may cost them their life.

The kids were not in grave danger, that knights needed to interfere.

So now I had to depend on myself.

I walked forward trying to hold him, still calling him, "Killian what are you doing? Killian left him."

Just when I touched him, he was pushed backwards. Its pressure fell on me as I stumbled upon and was about to fall.

I closed my eyes, afraid of falling.

'Oh lord, This would be the most embarrassing moment of my past two lives'

But what I felt was not the hard ground but the hard muscles.

Someone had caught me, thank goodness, I will not fall now.

I opened my eyes and the first thing I saw was deep golden phoenix eyes.

I had never seen such beautiful eyes in my life.

"Are you alright, your highness." the man spoke only then I came out of stupor.

That was when I realised I was still in the arms of a man, a stranger!

My eyes widened as I tried to stand properly but my legs wobbled.

He held me again, this time his hands were on my waist.

"Are you alright?" he asked again.

"Yes I am, sir…" I didn't even know his name. But that was not important right now, what important was his hands on my waist.

It could create a great scandal. We live in a world where a female could not be touched by a man except her hands unless he is her husband.

I straightened myself just on time as the other ladies entered. I took a breath of relief at the fact, no one saw what they would call opprobrium. But I was so wrong, just when I turned, I saw the empress.

She was looking at me with twinkling eyes. As she moved towards me, her eyes were mischievous. But why?

For a minute I even forgot why I was here. She approached us with a smile as she asked,

"Are you alright Marianne?"

That was an intimate way to call me. Normally she would have called me duchess, or lady Marianne. But just taking my name was something I was not expecting.

"Yes, your majesty. I am fine. Thank you ``I replied with a bow.

No matter how she behaved, I could not break the protocol.

She nodded and then looked at the man, then only her gaze went to the children as others also joined us.

They were huffing just like me, I wondered why the empress was not, she was standing there like a demure lady she was. Now I feel jealous of her stamina.

All the maids, knights and children presented there bowed as they wished her.

"Glory to the empire, her majesty."

"What is happening here?" she asked the knights.

"Your majesty, the kids were playing here, then suddenly they started to fight. We could not interfere as it was not a grave situation," they replied hesitatingly.

"Grave or not, I expect you to help the children in maintaining the decorum of the palace." she commended coldly.

As I was looking at her mesmerizingly. She was a gem, I say. But the emperor was foolish to not realize that.

Finally, her gaze went back to the man standing on the sidelines, the one who had held me as she asked him,

"Are you alright brother?"