The Solitude of an Emperor [TO BE UNPUBLISHED]

75: Her World

The gallops of the horse were so loud to her ears. Every step was like a stab in her chest. Every breath she takes was heavy as if her soul has been slowly plucked out of her body. Her mind screams one name. Her mouth says one phrase, “Please be safe.”

But before she could even reach half of her unexpected journey, she heard the Imperial eagle flapping its wings and screaming. She slowed down as she whistled through her mouth. So then the eagle goes down to her. She immediately checked the content of the message, tied on its legs.

“Rebellion”

It was Sir Lavenorth’s penmanship. With just this one word, she knows that it was serious and that the Imperial palace is in a dire situation. Her hands trembled as she found herself in a dilemma.

She was born to serve the Empire. She was born to rise up and help her people. She was born a woman to fight for the rights of her gender. She grew up and built an Empire worthy of praise, an Empire that is envied by Kingdoms and Empires. Her blood and flesh runs to rule. She fought for freedom and peace. But she was betrayed.

She was betrayed even after building a good Empire. She was betrayed by her own people. She thought that she had done enough but it seems like she cannot ease one’s greed. Now, she is in a dilemma.

Should she save the Empire she built all her life? Or should she save the ones that built an entire world in her heart?

She looked at her back where she was coming from. It was the only way for her to come back where she came from, to the place where she was born to rule. A place where she was raised by her loved ones. A place where she grew up to know about the world.

Then at her front is the destination where her whole world is located. A world where her heart beats. A world where she found peace. A world where she can be herself. A world that she could not live without.

She stayed there for a minute, in daze, before then she wrote a message to the back of the paper, tied it to the eagle and set it free.

She mumbled, “I am sorry…”

‘I entrust you to my home, Esteban.’

Two days after the Emperor announced her plan about choosing a main consort, Lorenzo was brought along by Count Marshall to join a noble’s party. He was not able to decline the invitation so he had no choice but to agree with whatever Count Marshall wanted.

During the party, Lorenzo was introduced by Count Marshall to some people and then, to some noble ladies. He knows the purpose of Count Marshall. He wanted more support and connections especially that they are in a bad position about being chosen.

“This is the daughter of Viscount Amorio, Lady Tanzania.” Count Marshall introduced a noble lady, two years older than him.

Lorenzo looked at this lady with a slim curve on her waist. Her hair is wavy and red. She is wearing a luxurious yellow dress that reveals her shoulder which emphasizes her bulky breast. That lady was undeniably the flower of the party.

“It is an honour to meet the fourth consort of the Emperor in person, Captain Lorenzo Marshall.” Lady Tanzania grabbed her dress and elegantly lowered down her head. “I would like to invite this young lord for a dance.”

Lorenzo was speechless as he watched the proud look on Count Marshall’s face. He does not know how to react but he is dazed by the new sight he is seeing. He had never seen such a noble lady to have the audacity to wear such an indecent dress on such a formal occasion. What’s worse is that this lady seemed to be enjoying the eyes of prying men towards her.

There is no reason for him to decline a dance request so he just used it to his advantage to not meet more people. While they were dancing, his brows would furrow when Lady Tanzania moved closer to him to the point that she squeezed her breasts to his chest with intention. This gave him a tingling feeling to his gut and something doesn't feel right to his lower abdomen.