How To Tame An Empress (BOOK I)

Chapter 19 - Joyous Occasions

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"What... What did you just say?" I whispered, head reeling from her words.

"I am with child." She repeated, leaning in as her lips kissed my cheek, jolting me back to reality. 

I exhaled shakily, leaning my forehead against hers as my eyes travelled down to look at her womb over which my hand rested. There was a child growing in there right now, a child which I put in there. And it was no random child, it was ours.

What an unbelievable coincidence, I thought to myself, almost laughing out loud. Just as they had suggested replacing her, she entered the room, carrying the very legacy which they had claimed was missing.

"Well, say something then. You are worrying me." She lulled me out of my thoughts as I laughed, just once, low and breathless

"You are certain?" I asked. She nodded.

"I do not know why I was so surprised to find out, the clues were there all along. I just did not stop to think that I was going to become the mother which I always dreamt of being." She chuckled, rolling her eyes at the situation as I kissed the top of her head.

I felt my hold on her tighten, hugging her body to me as if she might vanish. As if this was not real, and only a figment of my imagination or a simple dream from which I would soon awaken.

"I love you." My voice whispered.

"And I love you." She responded.

"I promise you, I will try my best to be as loving of a father to this child as your father was to you, so that he may one day speak fondly of me to others just as you speak of your father." My words were filled with nothing but the truth, and seeing how her smile lit up her face, she saw just that.

"I have no doubt in you." She chuckled as I moved to kiss her lips.

"This causes for celebration. Today, we will hold a grand banquet in the name of our unborn child, and the whole empire will enjoy it." I jumped up from my seat with her still in my arms, and as her arms hung around my shoulders, I spun us around with the largest smile on my face, raining kisses all over her face.

And so, that very same evening, the banquet roared in the great hall as golden flames danced across the pillars, laughter echoing through the palace like songs of triumph, and musicians played their stringed instruments.

While nobles toasted, and servants hurried in every direction with trays of honeyed wine and roasted meats, I stood at the centre of all the perfect chaos with a laughing Ria beside me. Just for today, she had chosen to be imperfect under all their judging gazes, putting her happiness for our unborn child over her desire to be the perfect empress. But to me, this sight of her was perfection in and of itself.

"I owe you both an apology, I had underestimated your love for one another and thus, made a horrible mistake in advising you to take a concubine, but I see now that you are right, your imperial majesty; Just because something is the norm, does not necessarily mean that it is always the correct path to take." One of the senate members spoke as I hummed in response to his words.

"Well, admitting your mistake is the first step in improvement, so consider yourself forgiven." I replied as a thankful smile swept over his face before he shifted to look at Ria.

"And congratulations are in order for you too, your imperial majesty. May your pregnancy be smooth-sailing, and I pray that you give birth to a strong and healthy heir." She smiled, but I noticed the forcefulness in it.

"Thank you." She simply replied as he stepped away.

"What is the matter, flower?" I asked, my finger brushing over her cheeks. She looked up at me softly before shaking her head.