CH 108

Bang! Bang! Cecile used every ounce of strength to slam against the chamber doors. “Your Majesty! Please open the door!” She hollered.

“You mustn’t do this, Your Majesty!” The astonished attendants desperately tried to persuade her. “Please calm yourself!”

As astonished as they were by her maniacal actions, none dared to restrain her as it was forbidden by imperial palace law to lay a hand on the empress without permission. There was nothing they could do but stand about restlessly. As they watched the empress rampage, the same thoughts ran through their minds. ‘What madness was this? The empress pounding on the emperor’s door? This was unprecedented! Did she come barging into the main palace simply because the emperor refused to visit her palace?’ Their faces were turning blue with fright.

“Your Majesty! Please return to your palace! This is not proper. His Majesty has retired to bed. You must not interfere with his rest!” An attendant pleaded.

“Rest my foot! Come on! Open the door! Don’t you hear that sound?” Cecile angrily retorted.

“What sound might you be talking about?”

Cecile was frustrated by the attendant’s expression that clearly questioned her sanity. ‘Really! Why can’t they hear this sound?’ The disturbing sound had accosted her the minute she’d stepped into the main palace. At first it had sounded like wailing, but on a closer listen, it was more jarring and grating than normal wails and screeches. The source wasn’t clear, but it was obviously nothing good. More importantly, her ears had picked up a faint groan.

‘Your Majesty?’ The minute Cecile realized the uttered groan came from Estian, she dashed into the palace, ignoring the attendant’s cries that it was against decorum. She was well aware that even the empress didn’t have the authority to enter the main palace on a whim. She’d likely be subjected to a huge scolding later, or could even be kicked out of the palace. It wasn’t that she was making light of the matter, but this wasn’t the time to dawdle.

* * *

Four days had passed since Estian stopped visiting her palace. On the first night, Cecile had gone to bed alone without noticing anything unusual. It wouldn’t be the first time Estian was tied up with work. On those occasions, she would wake to find him nestled against her the next day. Yet, when she opened her eyes the following morning, he was nowhere to be found. When she reached out to feel the space next to her, all she found was a cold bedsheet, with no trace of anyone having occupied it.

‘I had so many things to tell him,’ Cecile thought despondently. Every night Estian would listen to Cecile prattle on about her day’s activities. In truth, life in the empress’s palace was quite mundane, and there was nothing amusing worth sharing. Still, Estian always listened till the end. Cecile would recount her day enthusiastically because she took delight in seeing Estian listening with enjoyment.

There must be a reason for his unexplained absence. Cecile decided to wait patiently for Estian to explain, but he failed to appear the next night, and the one after that. Even after sending an attendant to find out the reason, Cecile failed to receive an answer. It was then that she received a visit from Tania, with Girgantia in tow.

“Uh… Your Majesty. Are the rumors true?” Tania cautiously asked.

“Rumors? What rumors?” Cecile asked.

“They say the emperor’s going to chase you out. Is it true?” Girgantia exclaimed, jumping into the conversation. “Kegh! Kegh-kagh! Hey! Let go of the leash!”

Tania yanked hard on the dragon’s leash before he had the chance to finish. Her handmaiden had clearly grown more proficient with her leash-handling. ” Ah, no. Actually…” Tania trailed off. Her flustered bewilderment was clear evidence that the rumors were running wild.

The whole situation infuriated Cecile. She couldn’t figure out why Estian was suddenly acting in this manner towards her. ‘If you don’t like me then say it!’ Now entering the fourth day, she made up her mind to act. If she was to leave, she’ll walk out on her own terms. Although she was concerned that she might be overwhelmed by Estian’s murderous aura and end up begging for his forgiveness, she decided it was preferable than foolishly sitting around and waiting for his verdict. Firming her resolve, she set out towards the main palace.

* * *

All of which led her to where she stood now, pounding on Estian’s chamber doors. She instinctively understood the minute she heard that earsplitting sound—it wasn’t that Estian had stopped coming to her, but that he was prevented from doing so by that abnormal sound.

“Your Majesty! Please open the door quickly! Are you alright!” Despite her desperate pounding, the only response from within were more groans. Cecile resorted to hurling herself at the door, but it wouldn’t budge. Her shoulders ached and her skin was grazed, but she paid no heed to the stinging sensation.

“What are you all doing! Hurry and open the door!” Cecile yelled in frustration, turning towards the palace attendants, some of whom had begun crying.

“How could we dare to do such a thing!” One attendant stammered. ” Your Majesty, please control yourself!”

Cecile gritted her teeth. The strange sound was clearly coming from Estian’s chamber. The lack of response from him only fueled her anxiety. Did he collapse inside? Cecile was panting, as she glared at the unbudging door. ‘I have to stop that sound!’ She thought, clenching her fist.