Emilie of the Royal Heart

Chapter 26: The Emperor Gets Rather Persuasive

 Emilie ran her fingers along the embroidered strawberries on her skirt. She stood outside the drawing room and she could scarcely be sure of what she was doing. She knew that she came here to tell Elias that she wanted to go back to the palace with Aurora. But she worried that once she stepped inside and saw him she would say something entirely different.

What was the harm in that? Really? Beyond breaking her word and hurting Aurora? She would likely only have to see him again at ceremonies and only at big ceremonies if she became the Empress. Even so, she didn't want to be the person who would promise somebody one thing when it meant a lot to them and then turn around to do something completely different.

And there was this other feeling too, in the back of her mind. She remembered how Lady Diselle swooned over their pairing and how much Emilie liked hearing that she and Aurora were compatible. On top of that, there was something she really liked about the fact that she was the only one Aurora would loosen up around. Even if he still seemed a little tense with her, she knew he would never show so little poise with anyone else. She liked being the only one he would allow to laugh at him, to be playful with him.

Elias was playful, but he laughed with anyone. She and him had a unique instant understanding when it came to joking and to teasing and to romancing. It was exhilarating to get caught up with him.

But just as much, Emilie liked being Aurora's exceptions. She recognized that he changed his protocols for her and that meant a lot from someone as strict as he was.

Elias might even be the perfect match, but what Aurora said buzzed at the base of Emilie's brain. They practically fell in place together whether they wanted it or not, but if there came a time when she needed more than compatibility, would Elias be there for her? Would he be willing to change if she needed it?

She sighed. It was pointless to chase herself around her own head. Emilie took the doorknob and entered the drawing room.

She had glimpsed the space once before. There was a table for card playing, a desk for letter writing, a few sofas for socializing with a coffee table and a blue carpet underneath. The windows were tall and narrow with grand olive colored curtains - three such windows stretched along the right side of the room as Emilie entered and there was a bay window on the far side of the room. This is where Elias sat waiting for her.

Evidently, she had entered quietly enough that he didn't notice and so Emilie lingered in between the door and its frame just to watch him undisturbed.

He sat on the window seat with his back leaning against the place where the window met the wall. One of his legs rested long against the ledge and the other was held into his chest with a lazy arm wrapped around it. It was overcast outside and the softened, grey light called out the pearly white in his crown and the palest tones in his skin. Emilie was shocked to see him in a simple black shirt and black pants with no adornments, but then she saw his royal robe, shining silver draped over the back of a couch.

She wanted to introduce herself, but she couldn't choose the best way, so she simply stepped inside and shut the door behind her loud enough to make him turn his head.

Elias perked up and he beamed at her, practically leaping from the window seat and rushing over to her.

"You're right on time," he said warmly, approaching her and taking her hands in his.

"Um..." she bit hard down on her lip. It was like her brain wanted to tell him she wasn't leaving with him and her body wanted very much not to say that.

"This is a very nice dress, I must say," Elias commented, eyes flickering about her person. He pulled their hands out to the side to get a better look at her.