Chapter 203: New version of her

Katherine POV

I would have stood up and walked to the door. I would have bowed my head. I would have given him an amiable smile when he had entered but now all I had was wrath!

I gave a courtesy nod while sitting leisurely at my seat, he raised a bow at my change in behaviour but said nothing.

"Glory to the sun of the empire, your majesty"

"I would have said rise, but i guess it would not be needed."  he said with a laugh as he sat down.

"How have you been, Katherine?"

"I am fine, your majesty. What would happen to me?"

"Hmmm, I got a letter from the empress chamber that you changed most of your staff, even the one who are working here since long were dismissed. May I ask the cause of it?"

"Well, the appointment and dismissal of the staff or royal palace and all the estate under the name of emperor and empress had been under the control of empress, may i ask you the reason for your interest in the normal appointment and dismissal of my chamber, your majesty. I am sure you have other important tasks to do so."

"Katherine"

"Yes, your majesty"

His jaws clenched as he looked at me, it was obvious that he was angry, he must have mixed a few moles in the staff for keeping an eye on me. Too bad! I was not interested in his child play anymore.

"Sophie, serve tea to his majesty"

"Yes, your majesty"

He looked around, and I did not need an oracle to know that he was searching for his beloved. It meant that she had not reached to him yet. Ah! I guess I need to wait longer to see a spectacular show.

"Beth"

"Yes, your majesty"

"Since his majesty is here. I want you to help Ben with all the parchments."

"Yes, your majesty."

She bowed as she stood up and took files in her hands and passed it to Ben. He took it with a blank face while Charles raised a brow.

"What are these papers about, Katherine?"

"Ah, nothing major, your majesty. These papers are the detail of the law of our empire and what right does it provide to the empress, the first lady of the empire. I have decided to claim them '' I said with an amiable smile while all the colour of his face drained with the tea he was having.

"Is the tea not up to your liking, your majesty.'' I asked, feigning ignorance as his hold on the cup tightened.

I could see his hands turning white yet his face had the same amiable smile. 

"It is just perfect, Katherine. Is there anything else that i need to know?" 

"Oh, not at all, your majesty. Everything is in there."

"Very well. I must say you have become smarter, Katherine."

This was the first time that a compliment sounded like a curse. If looked closely this man was nothing but a pathetic man who could not even have his lover as his first wife. But if looked from my point of view he was nothing but a trash, who had destroyed my life in his greed!! But i would not let him, he would have to give all my rights as his first wife.

"Then i shall take my leave" he said trying to stand up when i added making him sit again.

"By the way"

"Yes"

"I am going to the town tomorrow. I want to visit and see how the market runs and all other details of my empire." i said in a soft voice when his brows furrowed, he shook his head in an exaggerated manner.

"Katherine, I thought we have discussed it many times before." his voice was full of authoritativeness. If it would have been past, I would have just nodded and accepted it as my destiny.

"I think there is some misunderstanding, your majesty." I said in mid of his fixed speech and he tilted his head as he stared into my eyes that were filled with a laugh, as if I could not believe that he was having this type of misunderstanding.

"What do you mean?" His eyes were full of confusion yet anger.

"I am not discussing it further, your majesty. I know that your time is very valuable. I am informing you, the detail is already in the file, you can read it when you deem fit." 

I replied sipping my tea leisurely as if i was already bored of this meaningless discussion

"Ah, I see, so now you will take the decision of going out yourself too?" he asked with a soft laugh, but I could see the bubbling anger inside, like always he was good at controlling his emotions.

"you are smart, your majesty. I knew that your wits are unparalleled ``I mocked the same way he always complimented me. I wish he could feel the way i did!!

"Very well, empress. I get it perfectly now. Are you going with the duchess again?" he asked as he looked at the files, and the sheer amount of parchments surprised him again.

"No, I am going with a convoy of knights. And I am going in disguise. So there is no need to be worried about it."

"Very well, then i will arrange a batch of knights for you." he said with a sigh, as if he was accepting defeat, but i knew it was one of his tactics again.

"Oh, how kind of you, your majesty. But as i said your time is very valuable so you need not to be worried about it. I would personally visit the first order of knights and would choose a new group of knights that would serve me in the future."

"Is there anything else that you are going to do?" he asked as he got my point that he could not control me anymore. But i was not ready to show him all my plans, at least not when i still need to plan them.

"I am still in the learning period, your majesty. I would tell you when i would know more."

"Very well, then i shall take my leave."

"Yes, your majesty"