The Abandoned Empress

Chapter 21

"... Yes, did you call me? "

"I don't think he called you just for a cup of tea. As far as I know, the emperor never breaks any promise he has made. You don't have to be so scared. Just go there with a light heart."

"Sure, will do, daddy. Thanks. "

Although I felt nervous, I smiled at him because I didn't want to worry my father. I went up to my room with a heavy heart and prepared to go to the Imperial Palace.

I sighed a little while looking at my makeup and hairdo done by the maid. Unlike my gloomy look, my outfit was very colorful. Touching my braided hair tied on both sides, I headed for the Imperial Palace.

"This way, Lady Monique."

Guided by the attendant, I headed to the imperial garden. Recalling my past memories when I was 17, I looked around. By the time I reached there, I could see a white table. When I greeted him cautiously, he smiled at me tenderly. At that time, I thought highly of him who was kind enough to care for me who was hungry for affection.

I sat down with bitter feelings. I thought my meetings with him were very precious back then.

What happened since then? Who knew that a day would come when I felt so uncomfortable about meeting him?

While I was fidgeting with a teacup, I stood up when I saw something blue far away. Looking at the shadow getting closer to me, I suddenly stiffened. Why did he come here?

"...How come you are here again?"

His dark eyes reflecting the deep sea were looking straight at me. The moment I saw something scary in his cold eyes, he frowned. He was standing there and pulled me after scolding me.

"Go away. I don't have time to talk with you long now, so I'll rebuke you for your rudeness later. "

"..."

I heard his cold voice ringing between the buzzing sounds. When I opened my eyes after breathing out nervously, I felt something hot flowing between my fingernails. I came to my senses, still feeling scared about him.

"I felt it before, but you are really arrogant. Why are you still there? I clearly told you to go away."

"... Your Majesty."

I barely opened my mouth, and I took a deep breath to calm my troubled mind.

'Hey, stay calm, Aristia. You vowed you would accept the fact that you've earned a new life. You made the firm vow that you would lead a different life from your past, right?' I murmured to myself.

"Oh, are you going to reply to me this time?"

"I am just..."

I swallowed dry saliva.

'Do not be afraid, Aristia. You can live quietly without being noticed until Jieun comes. If you can avoid the fate of being the emperor's concubine, at least you won't repeat the same thing as you did in the past.'

But the more I thought I had to act calmly, the more I was breathing irregularly. Over and over again, I tried to pull myself together to stay alert. I kept thinking that the body standing before me was not not the man from my memories. He just looked like him. Without thinking like that, I felt as if I had been thrown into a vortex of scary feelings.

"I've come here at the order of His Excellency."

"His Excellency's order?" He sharply retorted, looking at me coldly.

I found myself curling up at that, so I straightened up.

He looked next to me while trying to say something with an annoyed expression.