I woke up in the morning all groggy because I failed to get enough sleep after my visit to lady Marian's room last night. My eyes felt so heavy even when I went to the dining area to eat breakfast with everyone including Alpha Aster who was silent the whole time eating at the head table while Sera and Katrina were talking about newly fashioned dresses released by a new designer that came from Europe. Helena, on the other hand, who was sitting closer to the Alpha has been murmuring to him words that I cannot hear with my weak senses. I guess she is reporting to him about some progress in the palace household and the activities of the concubines throughout the days that we both were in Talaphatia. I didn't try to speak anything though, not wanting to get Helena’s attention on me. But Marian has been staring at me the whole breakfast meal while eating her vegetable salad and oats. It made me think that Marian loves animals so much that she never wants to eat meat at all. All I see on

Inside the carriage, I just can't help but feel worried. But I had to remind myself I wanted this and refused to be left behind just like what Sera wanted while Helena, Katrina, Marian, and got into the carriage. We are still waiting for one of the councilors to assist us until we all get to the venue where we will distribute the goods to the people in person, to glorify the name of the new Emperor of the Empire, and to bring back the faith of the people to the monarchs.Ten carriages are going to the middle of the town square in the capital nearest to the Headow Stronghold which is the first place that the palace wants to extend help until they all reach all the capital and towns surrounding it. It will be the largest project and expense of the Empire this year and the council was not in favor of it. But Alpha Aster insisted that he must give what the people need first before anything else. And I guess that is true because happy citizens mean that the Empire governs well its premi

As soon as the carriage arrived at the Headow Stronghold, the Eunuchs immediately assisted me to the corridors back to my room. I could not do anything but give Lady Marian a helpless glance, scared and confused about what was going on. My whole body was still trembling with adrenaline rushing through my veins. Neither Cecil nor Nina are with the Eunuchs dragging me back to my room. Are they pissed that I made a scene in the town plaza? I don't think it was my fault if it was about the Rogue that almost killed one of them. I never expected an attack like that would happen in a place where our purpose was only to help the locals of that small town. But then I know that not all citizens like the new Emperor sitting on the throne. They hate the crown and the influential people living inside the walls of the Headow Stronghold. They always think that the palace people are not working for the people but for themselves. To milk the citizens using the tax Aster already declared to cut in ha

Nina immediately composed herself and moved away from me. She did a low curtsy in the presence of the King of Talaphatia who walked inside my room with a huge smile on his face. The Eunuchs came immediately, keeping their eyes on me and the King, making sure that the man would never dare touch me as I am one of the properties of the Emperor. Our environment is not like in the castle of Talaphatia anymore where I can freely talk with him even without an entourage.This made Laurent a little uncomfortable and I can see the awkwardness in his smile while looking at my Eunuchs through the corner of his eyes, “I am happy to see you well and fully recovered from what happened, you Grace. I came here this morning to give you this…” he pulled a small bottle from the pocket of his coat and a small white handkerchief to cover it delicately, “I have provided a strong healing antidote against the venom. I apologize it came so late. It was not easy to find advanced Healers in my Kingdom…”“I appre

“H-How about the great hall? You will see the faces of my ancestors there. I still wonder why Aster hasn’t removed all those old portraits when lady Helena asked him to throw them away. I guess he respects the history of this place more than I expected,” I said to Laurent, my heart pumping fast against my chest because I am never ready to go back to the place where I saw how Aster lied and betrayed me. Deep inside, I wish Laurent would change his mind and just agree with my suggestion. But his brows raised in curiosity as he spoke, “Why? I thought the library is your favorite place here. I know how you love books and I need your suggestions of what kinds of books you prefer me to read.”I stopped, as perturbation etched on my face. I never wanted to tell Laurent what I found out in the library. And being one of the concubines with all my duties and responsibilities in the palace and with the Emperor, it was irrational to say that Aster betrayed my heart because I am just among the fi