Between the Two Lips

 

Between Two Lips

 

 

#1

 

 

Honestly, the whole idea of an arranged marriage was undesirable to Esmeralda. There must be a reason why she was the one to be the bride but the twenty-four-year-old young lady was not happy about leaving for Diarmuid for an engagement with a sixteen-year-old teenager. However, marrying the little boy is thousand times better than marrying the old man who has a protruding chin, mental illness, erectile dysfunction, and other illnesses due to intermarriage. In any case, sixteen was not too young either.

It hurt her ego to be engaged to a teenager in her mid-20s, but Esmeralda decided to think better of it for her own goods. The negotiations were all over and she was already at her arrival in Diarmuid. She couldn’t just change her mind about it after a long journey through the cold winter’s dry desert.

Esmeralda leaned her body towards the soft cushion in the carriage. The mammoth’s crying was annoying but a carriage on a mammoth was the most luxurious and comfortable means of transportation from Morway.

‘I shouldn’t come off as stupid when that arrogant king arranged this mammoth carriage for Morway’s reputation.’

She pondered for a while and soon giggled to herself. She couldn’t help it when thinking about how high the expectation was shown by the king, a father who has never given love to his daughter. Unfortunately, she was not going to live up to her father’s dreams. Never, ever.

Esmeralda proudly entered the castle in Diarmuid’s capital on the giant mammoth. The crowd made a way for her and curiously watched an animal that they have never seen before. Esmeralda liked their eyes filled with innocent curiosity. Diarmuid’s first impression was nice. Anything would be better than Morway.

She climbed down the rope ladder from the mammoth’s back and made the first steps towards the Diarmuid Castle. This place was magnificent just like it was known. The empire’s wealth was reckonable by seeing the gold-covered columns under the roof. Esmeralda walked behind the servant with a neat uniform hoping to see the Diarmuid empire's famous golden bathtub tonight.

“Princess Esmeralda of Tulloise from Morway is here.”

For a second, Esmeralda considered acting as if she wasn’t so perfect in Diarmuid language. It was her way of life to avoid any trouble even if she was looked down upon. But she got rid of that stupid thought.

It was the first audience with Alexandre Odin Diarmuid, the sovereign of peace of Diarmuid. And now Esmeralda was representing her mother country, Morway. She walked a little nervously.

She thought that it would be a private audience with the emperor but when she entered, there were several men and several women scattered throughout the room. The velvet carpet laid all the way up the steps and there was a shiny throne, where the ‘Sovereign of Peace’ Emperor Alexandre was sitting.

Esmeralda walked to the empty space in the middle of the room in order to meet him without completely seeing Alexandre’s face. There were many people but the room was silent. The noise from her heels were all that was heard.

Soon, Esmeralda stopped where the emperor could identify her face and hugged her shoulders with both arms, then vowed to Alexandre by gently bending her knees as a Morwegian etiquette.

“I, Esmeralda of Tulloise, vow to the great sun of Diarmud.”

“You may rise.”

A cold voice with no emotions spoke. Esmeralda unbent her knees while trying not to judge the voice’s emotion. And when she fully got up to meet the emperor, Esmeralda’s eyes were completely taken away by the man she encountered for the first time.

She heard that those of Diarmuid’s royal blood had silver hair like the sharp sword and mysterious purple eyes. But she never heard that the silver hair would have a shiny texture nor that those eyes were so deep that they would make the heart pound down.

Beautiful but tough Esmeralda lost her words for a second. Unfortunately, her husband-to-be was not Emperor Alexandre who was sitting at the top, but his young son, Patrick Diarmuid.

Seeing that the young boy was not here to meet his fiancé, she assumed that he’s not so much interested in her. Well, how could a sixteen-year-old boy going through puberty accept a fiancé who is eight years older than him? Esmeralda wasn’t even disappointed with him.

“You’ve come a long way, Princess Esmeralda of Morway. You must be tired.”

“No, your majesty.”

“Your arrival on top of the mammoth, the divine animal, from Morway was very impressive. It was well seen from far away because of its size. Quite interesting.”

“Its name is Beo. I’ve had him since I was a young girl.”

Bull shit. I’ve never seen this mammoth before. Mammoths origin from Morway but they are so rare that Esmeralda, the Princess, has never seen one. So there was no way it would have a name. Esmeralda laughed inside thinking that the name she came up with was just too funny.

“Dear benevolent ruler of the Sehera continent, your majesty, I will dedicate my mammoth, Beo, to you.”

“Great. We can celebrate together for your arrival to the Castle of Diarmuid. I will accept this animal.”

Should I vow to the floor to show how grateful I am? Esmeralda debated for a bit but she instead turned her face away as if she didn’t understand. She didn’t want to be servile. Esmeralda actually forgot that she was speaking fluent Diarmuidic and ended the conversation in passing as if she couldn’t speak the language.

So, Esmeralda was ready to go as soon as Alexdandre granted her a rest. But only until she saw a woman kissing on Alexandre’s foot at the top of the steps to the throne.

The woman was naked and anxiously seducing the emperor. This never happens in a conservative Morway, especially in the public, but Esmeralda observed her without any sense of repulsion. Rather, her blue eyes were lively sparkling. The Diarmuid Empire was known for its liberal and free ideals, and she thought maybe there’s something positive about leaving suffocating Morway.

Morway, where Esmeralda was born and raised, was renowned for conservativeness. A woman who reveals her collar bone would be flogged to death. But Esmeralda was not an obedient woman who accepted Morway’s conservative education and training. A part of the reason for not refusing to come to Diarmuid was that she heard about its atmosphere and culture.

Esmeralda knew better than anyone else that she shouldn’t do anything disgraceful. So, she tried her best to keep a straight face to hide her excitement and bit her beautiful lips.

“I hope that my mammoth’s owner will only be you until his death. I will go now.”

A very soft voice spoke but the true meaning behind it was not.

‘That prostitute should never go on top of the mammoth, the symbol of Morway.’

Alexandre’s eyes sparkled out of excitement. He seemed to have understood the hidden meaning but Esmeralda turned her face away from him like she didn’t know.

It was a bummer. Not being able to look into those gorgeous eyes for too long was just unfortunate. Esmeralda felt sorry for herself that her fiancé was not Alexandre. But if it’s that man’s son, his visuals wouldn’t be disappointing. She comforted her sadness with that thought.

“Let Princess Esmeralda stay in the best room on the third floor.”

 

< Submitted The Above >

 

             As soon as Alexandre finished, his mistress, Countess Katarina Sherate who was sitting arrogantly at the foot of Alexandre, frowned. The room offered to a delegate of another country was on the left end of the hall on the second floor. And the third floor was for the imperial family. Eleven years ago, Alexandre got divorced with Princess Baraiya and no one has lived there, even Katarina, who has been married to him for several years now. Katarian felt like she was neglected and could not make a straight face.

             Esmeralda sensed a glare from the behind but she ignored it and followed the servant. Her footsteps were lighter than ever.

 

            

             Esmeralda was brought to a room that was a few times larger than the room that she lived in back in Morway. She was satisfied and astonished at Diarmuid’s unique architecture which differed by a lot from that of Morway. She took off her robe and strolled around the room with excitement. Soon, she stopped after realizing that the servant was watching her.

             “Is there anything else I need to take care of?”

             She spoke coercively like no one would believe that she was the same person who was cheerfully exploring the room. The servant looked down to the floor as the answer to her question.

             “The emperor has ordered me to help you take a good rest after a long day.”

             “Did he? So what’s your name?”

             The servant was surprised at Esmeralda’s fluency in Diarmuidic but quickly controlled her feelings and answered.

             “Garnet of Terezia.”

             “How did you get hired in the castle?”

             Mrs. Terezia didn’t want to be in this situation where she was being interrogated.

             ‘The princess of an uncivilized empire is too arrogant.’

             Honestly, the Diarmuid Empire was a tremendously powerful nation that the Morway Empire couldn’t even be compared to.

             An unprofitable marriage. And an undignified princess from a barbarous northern country.

             Every single lady in the Diarmuid Empire criticized this marriage. Furthermore, no one volunteered to assist the foreign princess. Lady Terezia also had no intention of becoming her assistant so she responded in an arrogant manner.

             “I couldn’t make enough for living after my husband died. So I took on this job with a referral.”

             “Do you have any children?”

             “I have three.”

             Esmeralda wanted to ask who referred her to the position but she didn’t. The more she asked, the more arrogant was Lady Terezia’s response. Well, that too bothered Esmeralda but she didn’t point it out, yet.

             She was especially unaware of the system of the Diarmuid castle and what goes on inside. There must be a time when Lady Terezia will become useful.

             ‘The wouldn’t have let someone stay close to me without any verification unless they’re planning a diplomatic dispute. I don’t really like her but…...’

             It was only the first day. Esmeralda was so sure that it’s not just all in her mind but she tried to calm herself down by putting off this unpleasantness behind the wariness and sadness due to the unfamiliar environment.

             “Good. You may go now. I need to rest.”

             “Madam? Do you not bathe in Morway? Well, it’s quite a bit north so it wouldn’t be easy to warm up the water.”

             Esmeralda was convinced that Lady Terezia must be thinking that she’s uncivilized just by the tone of sarcasm. But she responded as she quelled her anger.

             “......I’m not sure if the ladies of Diarmuid are incapable of taking care of themselves, Terezia, but I’m different.”

             “Madam?”

             Lady Terezia didn’t understand what Esmeralda meant. Esmeralda had to frown and point to the door.

             “That means that I can bathe myself so you may go. I hope I won't have to repeat myself in the future. My Diarmuidic isn’t so bad so if you didn’t get it, then wouldn’t it be your problem?”

             Lady Terezia roughly bowed and left the room full of resentment in her face. Esmeralda began to slowly explore the room completely freed from any disruption.

             There was a large living area right behind the door, a table with a tea set with distinctive shapes painted on it, and a luxurious and big sofa with cozy cushions. The bedroom was to the right of the living area and the dressing room was connected to the bedroom.

             Esmeralda observed Diarmuid’s unique architecture. The building patterns and the room structures were totally different from that of the Morway. Esmeralda then realized that she’s in a foreign country.

             She didn’t feel bad about the issue with Lady Terezia a moment ago. Rather, Esmeralda’s heart was fluttering. She decided to think positively of Diarmuid for its openness and sociable characteristics.

 

***

 

             The next day, Esmeralda began to dress for the encounterance with Patrick, the first imperial prince of the Diarmuid who is also to be her fiancé in about a month in March.

She was clueless of which garment style and makeup were in trend in Diarmuid so she had to get help from Lady Terezia. Lady Terezia was being very unkind to her as if she was repaying her for last night’s unpleasant feelings.

“What is that?”

Esmeralda was annoyed at her for not explaining any of the garments and accessories of Diarmuid on how to wear or what it means. She began to speak in an unpleasant tone of voice. Lady Terezia sighed showing how pathetic Esmeralda was.

“You don’t know this?”

“I don’t know how Diarmuidic people wear their clothes. You should know that the weather and culture are totally different for me so it’s obvious that I wouldn’t know. Someone knowledgeable would have known but you make me question your qualifications.”

Lady Terezia’s face glowed with the cold response. But she decided to blame everything on Esmeralda.

“I’m baffled that you don’t even know a simple thing. This is a brassiere coat. People in Morway may not wear this basic undergarment but you are going to have to know what this is here from now on.”

“We don’t wear this kind of brassiere in Morway.”

Lady Terezia ignored her as if she didn’t hear anything. Then she continued with her explanation about the brassiere coat.

“Ladies in Diarmuid wear a brassiere to cover the bust and a corset to tighten the waist to achieve a beautiful dress silhouette. This brassiere coat that joins the two was invented a few years back.”

“......”

“I did hear that Morwegian people wear barbaric garments. But Princess, we are in Diarmuid. You need to get used to the sophisticated attire of Diarmuid.”

That was a blatant disrespect. Esmeralda’s look in her eyes changed and glared at Lady Terezia.

Even if she wasn’t patriotic, a foreigner’s mockery wouldn’t be welcomed. It was the first time Esmeralda actually seemed angry.

‘Crazy broad. How dare she……’

She wanted to tear up Lady Terezia’s mouth at the spur of the moment. But Esmeralda had to resist her urges because this was Diarmuid, not Morway. She couldn’t inflict a harsh punishment on her servants like she did in her motherland. She didn’t want to give up her right to make decisions on a piece of clothing.

“I’m not going to wear it.”

“Madam?”

Lady Terezia bursted out laughing mockingly. Esmeralda was unsure of how Lady Terezia understood her.

“Everyone in Diarmuid wears a brassiere coat under her dress. If you don’t wear this brassiere coat, then you’ll be uncovering how uncivilized Morwegian women are to the whole world. That would definitely affect your fiancé Prince Patrick’s reputation.

Well, there isn’t a reputation to keep. Lady Terezia held back her thoughts. But Esmeralda knew why she was laughing.

“Morwegian women are not uncivilized. They hold different aesthetic standards from that of the Diarmuidic women.”

“However, others would not think the same as you are.”

“Funny. Do Diarmuidic people learn that being different is wrong? Morway is known for its closed and conservative tendencies but we are not narrow-minded.”

Suddenly, Esmeralda raised her Morwegian tunic dress from the bottom to above her breasts.

“Look, Terezia.”

Lady Terezia unknowingly rolled her eyes from the top to bottom. She could only see her silhouette because Esmeralda was standing back-lighted from the window. But Esmeralda’s body was gorgeous. Rather, stunning.

Bouncy breasts and slender waist. Curvy pelvis like the waves. Lean thighs with the right amount of muscles and stretched calves. Who would ever criticize this perfect body?

“We would be flogged to death if we reveal the collar bone in Morway. It’s a conservative country but we are not told to cover up because our bodies are hideous. It’s to value our bodies prior to meeting our life companions.”

“I wasn’t intending to hear your explanation…”

“No, you need to listen. You might not like it but you ARE my servant and you need to assist me.”

Lady Terezia glared right into Esmeralda’s face. But Esmeralda didn’t care. Esmeralda has gone through so much sweets and bitters before coming to Diarmuid so she wasn’t provoked by a servant’s vulgar manner.

“Morwegian people love their bodies and know how to value them. They don’t wear this sort of funny undergarments because they believe their bodies are beautiful the way they were born.”

Lady Terezia wanted to make a case but she couldn’t say a word because she was overwhelmed by Esmeralda. Esmeralda quietly spoke in a soft tone on the contrary of her brutal look in the eyes as she explained.

“And that goes for me too. I’d wear Diarmuidic garments since I’m in Diarnuid but I don’t plan to suffocate my beautiful body.”

Lady Terezia finally realized that Esmeralda was not going to wear the brassiere coat so she stubbornly shoved the brassiere coat in Esmeralda’s hands with a wry face.

“You must wear it. What do you expect people to say when they see your unkempt portrait?”

Esmeralda scoffed at her question and she hit Lady Terezia on the back of her hand that was holding the brassiere coat. The brassiere coat plopped on the ground. Lady Terezia prepticiously looked down at the brassiere coat and Esmeralda whispered into her ear with a low voice.

“Whoever considers this body hideous probably has a very low cognitive awareness. It’d be better to pluck out those useless eyes.”

“Oh my……”

“I told you that I’m not going to wear that funny undergarment. I’m warning you. Don’t make me repeat myself.”

Lady Terezia bit her lips and bowed. Esmeralda then seemed satisfied.

Twenty-four. It’s not an old age but Esmeralda has seen many self-conceited servants throughout her life. Lady Terezia was pretty easy to handle for Esmeralda. She could have intimidated her more but she knew when to stop because it wasn’t always the best to reveal oneself to someone who cannot be trusted.

Lady Terezia handed her a halter neck dress with a grumpy face. This dress wasn’t a pannier dress that is in trend in Diarmuid so no one could notice even if Esmeralda didn’t wear the brassiere coat. However, Lady Terezia leered at Esmeralda’s revealing skin through the thin layer of fabric thinking that she’s indecent.

Esmeralda felt the leering eyes but she ignored them and stood in front of the mirror to adore herself. She went off at Lady Terezia because she was being too condescending but frankly, Esmeralda was a person who despises Morway’s culture of covering up the body.

Maybe that’s why she’s more content. She was in a country that doesn’t flog a person to death for revealing her collar bones or the arms. She was in a country that doesn’t interrogate a person for breathing differently. All came to her realization when she wore that dress.

Esmeralda left satisfied to meet the young boy who will be her fiancé.

 

***

 

             Just because things happen a few times, it doesn’t always grow into someone. It was especially for Franz. The young Franz was forced to look straight up because his face was squished in between the knight’s hands.

             “Hah, you’re impish! Imperial Prince! Hmm.”

             The naked woman was gasping in front of Franz and it wasn’t his first time seeing her. This slender and beautiful lady casted voluptuous glances towards him whenever they bump into each other at the balls.

             “Oh, please!”

             Her name was Edith Francello. She was adopted to the Francel Family two years ago by General Joseph Francel. She was quite famous in the society for being an esteemed daughter. She had voluminous and beautiful brown hair. Everyone knew how conceited she was in turning down all men asking her out on a date. But this lady was moaning to the careless touches of the young boy.

             “Impish?”

             The low tone of voice was mixed with an uncomfortable laughter which was not favorable at all. Franz knew but there was nothing he could do to help Edith. Edith lied right at Patrick’s feet out of arousal.

             “Yes sire. And please now. Won’t you stop teasing me and let me hold you. I will serve you to my best abilities. Yes?”

             “Of course, Edith, I can stop teasing you. But as you know, I am very generous.”

             Franz knew it was time. His motions stopped. However, the poor foster daughter of the Francel family didn’t notice the cold atmosphere. Edith started licking the top of Patrick’s foot with completely relaxed eyes.

             “Ha-ah. You’re so kind. Then let’s hurry…….”

             It happened in the blink of an eye. Patrick kicked Edith’s chin as she was licking his foot. She fell backwards defenselessly.

             “You’re too loud. You’ll never get me aroused.”

             Patrick made a wry smile and spoke. Edith still didn’t know what was happening to her. She grabbed her chin and was about to cry. He, soon, gave a brutal command. It was so brutal that nobody would believe that she was the lady that he was having sexual intercourse with until recently.

             “Take that crude chick and cut her loud and dirty tongue.”

             This command was not the first to Patrick’s knights. Edith was shaking out of fear and one of the knights that was waiting outside Franz’s bedroom came in and forcefully opened her mouth wide.

             “Ump, up, oup! Sire! P, p, please!”

             Unfortunately, Edith could not resist any longer. Patrick’s knight was merciless as much as his owner. It all happened so quickly that she couldn’t realize what had happened to her. There was a piece of the cut tongue on the ground and so much blood came out of her mouth. That’s when she finally realized it.

             “Ugh! Ughhhhh!”

             Edith mourned loudly. But Patrick didn’t give her a glance because he lost interest in her. And Franz’s face was still locked in between the knight’s hands. He was forced to watch everything from the beginning to the end.

             He couldn’t even close his eyes. Whenever he tried to look away, not realizing that he was, the knight’s hands were becoming more forceful and tighter. Someone started breathing heavily. Franz wasn’t sure if it was him nervously breathing or the lady gasping for air because she couldn’t believe what had just happened to her.

             “Too loud. I cut off her tongue and she’s still too loud. Isn’t she?”

             Patrick’s cruel act didn’t suffice him. He kicked Edith, who was on her knees and crying mortifiedly, on her waist.

             “What a humble girl. You don’t even know where you come from. Very self-conceited.”

             Merciless snickerings towards the poor woman were heard around Franz’s bedroom.

             Patrick never supported education. He had countless tutors in the past but all of them could not stand his misbehavior. He was far from being smart or intelligent but there was one thing that he was great at compared to any others. It was his ability to determine who he should conquer so that person won’t cause any more trouble in the future. Also in this case, he knew that his relationship with the Francel family would be maintainable even if he killed Edith. So it was possible for him to do such brutal things to this innocent woman.

             He kicked her a few more times while she was helplessly lying on the floor. He stopped when Edith fainted and didn’t respond anymore.

             “This is what you deserve, you little brat.”

             Patrick laughed atrociously and spitted on her body. Franz wanted to close his eye so badly because it was too unbearable for him but the knight also forced his eyelids to be kept open. Patrick saw that and made a cruel grin.

             “Broads like her become so self-conceited when you’re being nice to her for once. Franz, what do you learn from this?”

             Patrick’s knight released Franz’s face. Franz closed and opened his dry eyes. The purple eyes that were hidden behind the eyelids stopped shaking.

             “......Brother, You have shared a merciful lesson that a person must know one’s bearings.”

             Patrick frowned at Franz who answered in peace when he could have wet his pants out of fear.

             ‘Rude sucker.’

             Franz is Patrick’s birth brother. But Patrick had no affection towards Franz. Rather, he might have been hating him.

             Patrick always tended to shift the responsibility to Franz for all causes of unfavorable situations he gets into. It all started when he realized that he might not have become the royal prince because of Franz.

             ‘Self-conceited jerk.’

             Patrick hated him with all the resentment that he could ever have. His plan was to kill his siblings, Franz and Maria, as soon as he was proclaimed heir to the throne.

             “I thought that you were useless but I guess you’re not as bad as you are. You also agree that you need to know yourself and where you stand, huh?”

             Franz knew better than anyone else what Patrick was trying to convince. But he looked down and politely answered.

             “I’m too inexperienced so I’m not sure what you are trying to say.”

             “You don’t know?”

             “......I heard that the princess of Tulloise from Morway is here. Brother, I’m just worried that you’re having her wait too long because of me.”

             Franz wanted to change the subject. Patrick viciously laughed and walked over to his little brother who was hoping to talk about something else. There was a sound of a slap and Franz’s face turned away. It happened so quickly.

             “How dare you teach me what to do? All you do is try to take over my place, you vermin.”

             Honestly, the two princes’ servants have always seen Patrick assault Franz. But they were never used to it. They shifted their looks away to hide their thoughts but Franz seemed to be calm.

             Smack!

             Patrick slapped Franz once again to break down his emotion. Franz’s face turned the other way. His lips were bleeding but Patrick wasn’t satisfied. He raised his arm once more to slap his brother.

             “Prince Patrick, the Emperor is looking for you.”

             The earnest voice was Duke Antoine Ainsel. Duke Ainsel, the leader of the internal faction, heard that Prince Patrick was making comotions again in Prince Franz’s room so he rushed to get permission from Alexandre to terminate the situation. Duke Ainsel was Alexandre’s henchman. Patrick stopped the moment he walked into the room.

             “Prince Patrick, I am informing you again that the Emperor is looking for you!”

             Patrick lowered his arm down with Duke Ainsel’s resonant voice. The fact that he was called for by Alexandre in front of Franz made him look honored. Patrick nodded with a satisfied look on his face.

             “Alright. The Imperial Emperor is looking for ME, so I shall go.”

             “Yes sir, We shall.”

             Patrick followed Duke Ainsel with an arrogant face. Duke Ainsel ordered Lord Ruan Carlos to clean up and rushed out of Franz’s bedroom with Patrick.

             Ruan Carlos is Franz’s aide and Duke Carlos’ second son. He was very used to taking care of situations like this. He helped Franz, who was still in shock, to sit on his bed and covered him with a blanket. Then he ordered the servants to clean up.

             Some female servants carried Edith, who became a mute, out of the room and the male servants uncovered the carpet that was splattered in blood and wiped the floor. When things were wrapping up, Ruan turned over to Franz.

             “Sir.”

             “Lord, do not say a word.”

             But Ruan didn’t listen to Franz. He had his straight face on, walked over to Franz and pulled the blanket away from his legs. The tiny fists were still shivering underneath the blanket. Franz glared at Ruan for his weakness being caught but Ruan didn’t care what this young prince was thinking and he picked him up.

             “Lord.”

             “You must rest.”

             “Lord, I’m not a child!”

             Franz was close to tears and cried out loud. But Ruan maintained his straight face when he could have had some sympathy for him.

             “......Lady Francel’s misfortune was not something you could have stopped. You need to take a rest so please remain silent. And I consider a fifteen-year-old a child.”

             Ruan took him to Franz’s new bedroom. Franz had countlessly changed his bedroom. And he laid Franz down on the bed and took his shoes and silk socks off.

             Franz didn’t cry but his small body was still shivering from the shocking experience. Ruan was an indifferent person but he knew Franz. The prince needed time to himself to cry alone. He didn’t stay too long in Franz’s new bedroom and left almost right away.

             “Lord Carlos, how is the prince?”

             Ruan raised his head when he heard a woman’s voice. It was Lady Merpiu. She was a nanny for all three siblings, Prince Patrick, Prince Franz, and Princess Maria. She was still a nanny for Franz and Maria.

             “He is going to need some time alone. You should let the servants know that the prince’s bedroom has been changed. I need to go see the emperor right now.”

             “Yes, sir.”

             Lady Merpiu answered with complicated feelings. Ruan could have counted for her sadness but he rushed over to Alexandre’s office.

             The time was past due for the proclamation of the heir to the throne but Patrick’s proclamation was being pushed back. Well, it wasn’t even a part of any discussion at all. Alexandre declined the comments about his successor and Patrick became more sensitive day by day ever since he knew.

             However, it was hard to say that hurting his brother out of stress for not becoming the royal prince was the way to go. He got his aggressive character from his birth mother, Princess Baraiya.

             Ruan sighed. He was hopeful about the news that the princess of Tulloise arrived in Diarmuid yesterday to engage with Patrick. Ruan hoped that the princess would draw enough interest for Patrick.

             He obviously didn’t care about the princess’ safety.

 

***

 

             What a poor treatment.

             Esmeralda was actually very angry although she never reveals her emotions. Being on time is an etiquette in any place in the world if Diarmuid had a unique custom to not do so. But Prince Patrick, or her fiancé, did not observe the most basic etiquette.

             In other words, Esmeralda and even Morway were looked down upon. It was a national humiliation.

             She came a long way from Morway to the capital of Diarmuid for the engagement with Patrick. But they weren’t engaged just yet. She waited not twenty minutes but two hours. Wasn’t that enough patience?

             Esmeralda couldn’t wait any longer and got up. Lady Terezia had been maintaining a ridiculous smirk on her face the whole time but when Esmeralda tried walking away, she straightened her face and blocked her way.

             “Where are you going, princess? The prince has not come yet.”

             “You. Unless your head is made of rock, you’re not expecting him to show up when he didn’t for the past two hours, are you?”

             She sounded calm but she was about to burst out of anger. While Lady Terezia hesitated, Esmeralda passed Lady Terezia with a stern face.

             Diarmuid was the evident loser after Conquest Monarch Ferdinand II unified the southern Shehira continent. And Morway was a weak minor nation compared to Diarmuid. If the Conquest Monarch survived the war, Morway could have been a subordinate country to Diarmuid or become a completely different country.

             In the end, Morway didn’t have to fight against Diarmuid and didn’t have to become a subordinate country. So Esmeralda had no reason to receive poor treatments. That was just crystal clear.

             Esmeralda soon arrived on the third floor where the royal family stays. On the left was a straight path to her room but she turned right to the hallway to the emperor without any hesitation.

             “Is the emperor inside?”

             The knight was amazed at her question and gazed at her. But when he was about to answer, he was speechless because he was so surprised. He saw that Esmeralda’s dress revealed her skin and curvy silhouette.

             While the rattled knight tried to hide his thoughts, Esmeralda walked over to the hallway to the emperor.

             “P, princess! You should not go that way!”

             The knight, who unwillingly let her pass by him, shouted but Esmeralda leisurely walked. And she spoke to the servant in front of Alexandre’s office.

             “I understand that it’s impolite to come without a notice but I need to see the emperor. Please inform him.”

             This hallway to the emperor was a place where not anyone could just come by. Not even Katarina, who served Alexandre for over five years. So it was obvious that the servant was surprised by Esmeralda’s appearance.

             But the servant determined that it would be better for her to inform Alexandre that she’s come to see him as it was requested rather than keep her waiting in the hallway.

             While the servant was in Alexandre’s office, Esmeralda took out a small hand mirror to calm her flushing face. She was still frowning between her eyebrows but she was doing well with her anger management.

             Shortly after, the servant, who went to notify Esmeralda’s visit, came out. And she bowed as she was holding the door open so that it was easy for Esmeralda to walk in.

             “You may go in.”

             Alexandre’s servant treated Esmeralda entirely differently from when Lady Terezia treated her. Esmeralda felt that her bad mood had gone down a little and she carefully walked right inside.

             In just a moment, she met eyes with gorgeous purple eyes.

             “......What brings you here, princess?”

             Esmeralda’s mind went blank for a second when she heard the sweet voice. But she regained her consciousness and spoke. She didn’t know, but Esmeralda was one of few people who confronted Alexandre in close proximity and was able to quickly remember the reason for the visit.

             “Sir, I’m sorry that I didn’t make the request for this visit in advance. I came to ask you something.”

             “Sure.”

             Alexandre removed his white right hand that was resting on his chin. Esmeralda thought that his eyes were sparkling for a second.

             “Bring some tea for the princess.”

             He got up and walked towards her as he ordered. She only saw him sitting before but Alexandre was so tall that she had to look up a lot.

             “Why don’t you sit, princess. I don’t like to keep my guests standing.”

             She wasn’t sure why but Esmeralda thought that his voice was sort of peculiar. Alexandre would never guess what she was thinking in her head. He offered her a hand.

             “Yes, sir.”

             Esmeralda composedly let him take her hand. He held the small hand and let her sit on the sofa. Then he sat across from her. The servant brought the refreshments and left. Until then, both Alexandre and Esmeralda were silent and just looked at each other.

             “Have some.”

             Esmeralda nodded to Alexandre’s offer and grabbed the teacup. He greeted her even if she came without notifying him. Esmeralda tried her best to cover her complicated feelings by drinking out of the teacup.

             “So, what brought you my way, princess?”

             Esmeralda hesitated but she spoke to achieve her goal in finding an answer.

             “Prince Patrick failed to show up for the meeting with me without a message. I came to ask if this is how Diarmuid thinks of Morway or if Prince Patrick’s dogmatic decision.”

             “I see.”

             Alexandre nodded sympathetically. But Esmeralda felt more nervous thinking that he understood her. She bit the inner skin of her mouth to wake up and think properly.

             “Princess.”

             “Yes, sir.”

             “As you know, I allowed you in the office even though you have not made an appointment. And I brought you refreshments and am treating you with manners.”

             Alexandre spoke in a low tone of voice. Esmeralda slowly looked up to his face. The red, crescent shaped lips were hard to believe that those were of a man. They were oddly provocative and Esmeralda felt her heart beating unevenly.

             “You might have not been informed yet but I was teaching Patrick a lesson. Now that I think about it, Patrick’s servant might have forgotten to let you know.”

             “......I see.”

             Esmeralda quickly realized that Alexandre’s excuse wasn’t true but she pretended to agree. She knew there was nothing beneficial to cause disturbance so she ended it that way.

             “Well, it was a servant’s mistake but I understand that it could have made you feel very insulted. But I have no intention of badly treating the representative of Morway. It’s like how you came about without telling me and you also had no intention of insulting me.”

             “You are very fair, sir.”

             Him being fair was not just about his looks. Esmeralda unwittingly wet her dry lips with the red tongue. He had already concluded the situation but the nervous tension would not go away. She felt it in her instincts.

             A dangerous person.

             He was a dangerous person who was capable of speaking cleverly to move on. But that wasn’t all. If she was hostile, he could have been intimidating. Esmeralda perfectly realized why this man was renowned for the king of peace only after the situation had settled down.

“It’s fortunate that we have resolved the issue without any misunderstandings, but I have wasted the precious two hours of your time, Princess. What can I do for you to compensate?”

“My time cannot be compensated for anything else. I will just let it go, sir.”

She was afraid of what Alexandre was going to give her as compensation for her time. Two encounters were enough to determine that. The fact that he was an excessively strong man to deal without any preparation. There was no need to get deeply involved with him even if he was a father-in-law-to-be.

Esmeralda pretended to drink the tea to hide her fear.

Alexandre figured out that Esmeralda was very experienced with the Diarmuid etiquette.

He had known that since the day she said no one other than he could only ride the mammoth. She was an ambitious woman. So much that she was too golden to give away to Patrick in their marriage.

Perhaps she tried so hard to train herself to become that way because the marriage of convenience was decided not too long ago and she already mastered the Diarmuid etiquette.

Alexandre amusingly looked down at her.

“Unfortunate. But I want to make you feel better so don’t refuse my heart.”

“I’m totally fine……”

“Ruben, Send ten rolls of smooth silk so that the princess could wear something comfortable.”

“Yes, sir.”

Esmeralda declined once for all but Alexandre had already ordered to do so.

 

***

 

             Alexandre had great, discerning eyes. A lot better than she had expected.

             Smooth silk.

             Her heart wasn’t beating fast because of the fact that he gave her such rare silk that gets imported to the great Diarmuid for only a few rolls at a time. It was his observation and sensitivity that sensed how uncomfortable she was.

             Esmeralda did not wear the brassiere coat unlike any other ladies in Diarmuid. That means, she wore her garment right onto the skin. For other men, they would have been too busy peeping at her beautiful body but Alexandre knew exactly what she needed for her.

             Smooth silk was a hypoallergenic fabric that is super soft on the skin. This was a very thoughtful gift for Esmeralda who was irritated by the itchy fabric.

Her attire and body would have been too hard to miss because they were very provocative, but Alexandre’s observation, idea, and consideration were as amazing.

“Bring me the most comfortable dress with this fabric.”

“......Sure, I will.”

Lady Terezia disapprovingly made a face and received the smooth silk. She was testy about the fact that this barbarian northern princess, Esmeralda, was granted the rare and precious fabric from the emperor. In her mind, she wanted to crumple up and throw away the fabric. She couldn’t do it knowing how much it was valued.

“Your time is almost up for meeting the prince. Please don’t be late.”

“I know my time. So Terezia, don’t you worry and go make the dress.”

Esmeralda softly answered without even looking at Lady Terezia. Lady Terezia left the room with big thumps but she pretended to not care. But she wondered why Lady Terezia kept showing hostility towards her.

Was it simply because she was a foreigner from Morway? Or was it because her country enjoyed uncivilized culture? Were those reasons fair enough to treat her that way when she’s going to be engaged to the prince?

There was no clear answer. She was unsure about the internal affairs in the Diarmuid Palace.

She leaned over the sofa and pondered for a while. Soon, she opened her eyes realizing that it was time for her to get ready to meet Patrick.

She wanted to take revenge on the prince who made her wait for two hours but she wasn’t a child like him. There was no need to do such a thing that would turn back on her. Moreover, not when she was surrounded by unfavorable people.

‘Did he say it was a servant’s mistake?’

Esmeralda smirked at Alexandre’s obvious lie. His excuse was nonsense that was too hard to believe. She knew that she had to withdraw with a moderate apology to avoid a fight. Her opponent was too strong to put her pride first.

But she certainly wanted to see the young boy who made her wait for two hours today.

Ah, exciting. Esmeralda smiled with one corner of her mouth and made a silent chuckle.