Rieka Astelle Vict
Younger sister of the current emperor of the Eastern Empire. Has been traveling to different places, enjoying the freedom of being away from the prying eyes of high society . After months of not returning, she has decided to come...
Reika sighs as she plops on her bed, her conversation with the Empress weighing down on her mind, feeling guilty that she couldn't answer all the questions that the blonde probably had for her.
"Are you aware of the rumours circling around the palace, as of late?" The blonde woman asks, taking a sip of the freshly brewed tea that the princess's ladies-in-waiting had quickly prepared.
Rieka paused, what rumour was her sister-in-law talking about? She couldn't recall of any rumour that she has been a part of recently. Almost fidgeting in her seat as she placed her cup down, she warily looked up towards the older blonde.
"I do not recall. May I ask what its about?" The princess asks, thoughts racing with different possibilities. Although her initial ideas were far easier topics to explain than the one Navier had dropped on her.
"It is bout your relationship with Duke Ergi"
The ravenette wished the floor would swallow her up, it was no surprise to the staff that worked under the princess, but how was it that it had leaked out and reached the ears of the empress? Who had carelessly talked about the two lovers? Rieka tried to formulate the words to respond, but could not find it in herself to make proper sentences.
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Navier sighed, placing her cup on the table, observing the usually cheerful and collected princess in front of her slowly loose the mask that she put up. Watching as the walls she kept around herself start to crumble at being put in an unexpected spotlight.
"Navie... Navier, I'm sorry, I really wanted to tell you about it, but I can't right now. It's far too early for you to know about the plan" the ravenette explained, trying and failing at keeping her voice steady and devoid of nervousness.
The empress raised a hand, signalling her to stop. "Little star... I'm not angry... I'm just annoyed and frustrated that I keep being kept in the dark about this plan that you, the duke, and even Heinley have known but are keeping from me. I cannot fault you for loving someone, but I am hurt that you didn't trust me enough to confide in me about this topic. I might be the empress of this empire, but before that title, I am your friend, your sister-in-law, I'm your family..." Rieka felt her emotions go haywire as she kept her head down. Hoping to avoid the scrutinizing gaze of the blonde.
Seeing the princess having a hard time responding, Navier decided that it was best to leave for now and come talk to the ravenette again when both of them have a clear grasp on their emotions.
"I'll leave you to your thoughts... Let's talk when we've both calmed ourselves down"
Rieka nods as she watches the empress leave through her raven colored locks. 'I'm sorry Navie...'
•|•|•
Rieka sits on a chair overlooking the whole palace courtyard, there she could see the different maids, and other staffs going round and about, busily cleaning and making sure that the 3 palaces looked their best.
The ravenette almost laughed at her sorry looking state. Her hair was not in it's usual silky and pristine condition, face lacking it's normal glow, and just her whole demeanor was off. She couldn't get the words that had been directed to her by the empress. She knew that Navier meant to harm, and she did understand the frustration of being left in the dark, but it was too risky for her to know about the plan.
After all, a rebellion against her own brother was something beyond the boundaries of craziness. It was pure madness, every other people that tried to lead a rebellion against the imperial family was either banished or even executed, being burned in the capital for all the world to see, to set an example, showcasing the imperial family as an unbeatable force that wasn't to be messed with.
Stuck in her own thoughts, she failed to sense the movement of the person who had walked inside her room, them clearly aiming to walk in her directions.
"Princess?" She heard, the familiar sound of the deep and soothing voice of the brunette almost felt like heaven for her. It had been some time since their last meeting, both had been far too busy with their own endeavors to be able to meet with each other.
Ergi picked up his lover, wrapping his arms around her waist and underneath her knees to carry her bridal style towards her bed. She had been too preoccupied to realize that she was shivering in the cold crisp air.
The duke leaned on the head board of the 4 poster bed, keeping his arms around the princess as he whispered words of comfort and encouragement. He let her wrap her arms around his neck as she lied on top of him, completely exhausted from the many sleepless nights that she started experiencing.
"The Empress gas been giving me looks of judgement for the past few days... I take it she already knows?" He asks, stroking the long locks of raven hair that had been messily sprawled on his chest. Rieka nodded as she snuggled into him more, desperate for the warmth that he emitted.
"Have you figured out how she was able to figure us out?"
"From what Theo has investigated, it seems her lady-in-waiting had seen us together multiple times, and reported it back to Navie, who put two and two together" the princess let out a sigh, " I didn't intend for her to find out like this"
Ergi placed a kiss on top of her head. " Everything will work out, and it's fine as long as it's only the empress and her close aides that are aware, it would be too bothersome if the emperor got a hold of that information."
" I guess that something to celebrate..." The ravenette says, trying to stay positive about the entire situation.
" Stop worrying, because I'll be with you every step of the way"
