The Empress's Revenge

Chapter 3

Sooner or later, Tasheyo was going to discover that I was awake.
And sure, enough he did.
One afternoon, I was reading with Jade curled up beside me, when the door slammed open.
Tahseyo burst in and looked around wildly. His eyes stopped on my and he strode over and dropped to my bedside.
"M'lady, are you alright? Have you been poisoned?"
I stared at the cheater blankly. Then I shook my head. He let out a huge sigh and let his head fall on my blankets.
I tried inching away from him, but he just layed there.
Dramatic.
I hesitated, then put my hand on the back of his head and tousled his hair. I flipped my book open and kept reading.
Jade opened one eye, sighed, then went back to sleep.
I smiled at him. He was so humane.
I'm not sure how long the three of us stayed like that. Long enough for Lady Yanalise to come and remind me that I had a meeting with the Ambassador of the Northern kingdom.
I sighed and closed my book. Tasheyo raised his head and gave me a look.
"What?" I asked.
He got up and sat on the edge of my bed.
"I would like to take care of the meeting for you. So, you can get better...and... Northerners aren't...predictable."
I pulled off my blankets and started towards my closet, Lady Yanalise in tow.
"I am perfectly capable of handling myself. No need to worry. I'm sure you have other matters to deal with." I called over my shoulder.
Tasheyo remained seated on my bed. Jade was awake, giving the emperor a glare.
As I stood in front of my mirror, getting changed into my signature red dress, with shoulder less sleeves that went to my elbows then fanned out. It was a wide skirt, with sparkles of gems decorating it.
Lady Mayalen tied my hair up in a bun and put my crown around it.
In the time of a second, Tasheyo was there, kissing my neck.
I jumped when his lips touched me, but he didn't seem to notice.
How can he do this?
Why is he doing this?
How can he act like everything is, okay?
I squeezed my eyes shut and waited for him to step away. But he wrapped his arms around my waist and kissed my cheekbone harder.
"Excuse me, your majesty."
I opened my eyes. Tasheyo stopped kissing me.
Lady Yanalise stood in front of us, seeing my body language, and was frowning in the emperor's direction.
"Her majesty has to get to the meeting. So if you don't mind..."
She had trailed off as she grabbed my arm and gently tugged me from Tasheyo's grasp. We hustled out the door, and I saw Jade yawn and stretch before leaping off the bed to follow our procession away from the cheating emperor.
As my bedroom doors closed behind us, I let out a sigh of relief. Lady Yanalise chuckled.
"Oh no, m'lady. We are not quite done. You still owe me an explanation for your body language."
I shot my old friend a thankful smile.
"Anything."
Lady Mayalen was quiet on my right side and Lady Yanalise was clearly lost in thought on my left. Jade strode around us and led the way to my office, that he learned to find because of the many times he was there with me.
As I stepped into my office, a servant came rushing to meet Lady Yanalise. They exchanged whispers and the servant scurried off. Lady Yanalise cleared her throat.
"Your majesty?"
I looked up from the ambassador's letters that I needed for the meeting.
"Yes?"
Lady Yanalise took a step forward.
"Forgive me, but the Northern Ambassador has requested to meet elsewhere on the palace grounds."
I frowned. Guests didn't normally decide where meetings or dances were held. But I would go with it. Something new...
I nodded and Lady Yanalise stepped out the office door back into the hall. Jade shot a curious glance at me and didn't go until I stepped out into the corridor.
We walked along and Lady Yanalise stopped by the large double doors leading to the gardens.
"The Northern Ambassador requested to meet in the gardens?" I asked.
Lady Yanalise nodded and curtsied.
"Yes, your majesty. And this is where I must leave you."
Lady Yanalise started back down the hall from which we had come from.
Jade sniffed the doors and looked back at me. Something was odd about this whole scenario.
Before I could say anything to my companion, he slipped out the door in a blink of an eye.
"Jade!" I hissed, fearing for the cat about what lies ahead.
I took a deep breath. To take charge means no cowardice.
As I pulled the doors open, the sunlight filled me, masking the drainage of my courage.
But I continued.
I had to meet with the Ambassador to discuss an important issue that he mentioned.
It will be better off to tell you face-to-face, he had written.
As I walked along the cobblestone path, I kept my eyes peeled for danger, Jade and the Ambassador.
As I rounded the corner where I first spotted Tasheyo with that woman, I found what I was looking for.
And I gasped in shock. 
Sitting against my tree, petting Jade, was the Northern ambassador.
And he was unique.
His hair was as white as snow, and his eyes were the lightest blue you could think of.
He was wearing a white pelt that hung over his broad shoulders and that matched his shoulder length hair, with a black suit underneath.
He was talking to Jade, not noticing me.
"Pretty kitten." He said. He had an accent, and it was slightly hard to decipher, and it had a rough edge.
Jade swatted at the ambassador's hand as he reached to fluff his fur.
The ambassador didn't seem offended. On the contrary he roared with laughter.
"A feisty one. Just like the empress." He winked at the cat, and I found myself feeling flustered.
I took a deep breath and stepped into his vision. The ambassador looked up at me and grinned. His teeth were pearly white
"Good morning, your majesty. My apologies for moving the meeting spot. I find offices to be...snug."
With his broad shoulders, I wouldn't have doubted it.
I nodded and curtsied. "Agreed. It is wonderful to see you, Mr. Ambassador."
The ambassador patted the grass beside him. "Please," He replied. "Call me Fedyor."
I smiled at him as I sat down. Jade came trotting over and crawled into my lap. He stared at me with his emerald eyes.
I petted him, absentmindedly. "What was it you wanted to discuss, Fedyor?"
Fedyor picked a piece of lint off his suit and flicked it aside.
"I need a place to stay."
My jaw dropped. He needed to stay somewhere? Here, in the Imperial Palace? This man really was brave.
I wanted to refuse, thinking of Tasheyo's reaction, but I stopped when I remembered what the emperor face-down on top of an unknown woman.
As I stared at Fedyor, I washed my face of all emotion.
"Of course. But you must do something for me in return."
Fedyor nodded, jaw set. "Anything, M'lady."
The words escaped my lips before I could stop them.
"I need you to work for me."
I forgot to word my sentence more carefully. Northerners had dirty minds, and they immediately went to the dirtiest option.
Sure enough a soft blush appeared on Fedyor's cheeks.
He leaned in until his face was an inch from mine. His breath smelt of mint.
"It would be my pleasure."
My stomach rolled as I nodded. I stood up and Jade leapt off my lap. After scanning the garden for eavesdroppers, I turned and looked at Fedyor.
"We begin now." 
Fedyor stood and followed me as I strode back into the palace. When he stood up, he was quite tall. The top of my head met his chest.
Jade walked after us as we walked into the hallway.
Lady Yanalise appeared and greeted me and the ambassador. After she finished, I gestured to Fedyor.
"Our Northern ambassador requires a room."
She nodded and set off to set up Fedyors quarters.
I beckoned Fedyor to follow me. I needed to head to my office to grab some files for Fedyor to help me with.
As we strode down the hall, a door in front of us opened, and out stepped the emperor.
His eyes widened at Fedyor towering above him, then flashed to me.
"Good evening your majesty." I said to Tasheyo, curtsying. Fedyor followed my example with a bow.
Tasheyo looked Fedyor over then me.
He cleared his throat. "Darling, do you mind talking to me for a minute?"
I stiffened. In the heat of the moment, I forgot he was a cheater.
Fedyor's deep voice rumbled from behind me.
"With all due respect your majesty, her majesty has offered to show me to my quarters."
I nodded. "That is correct." I agreed, enjoying watching the emperor's eyes pop out.
Tasheyo shook his head and crossed his arms.
"We don't accept guests, or Northerners."
I glanced at Fedyor. He had narrowed his eyes.
"Was that an insult?" His chest rumbled.
Tasheyo stepped up to him and glared at Fedyors icy eyes.
"Depends on how you want to take it."
Fedyor stared at Tasheyo. It would've been funny watching them, for Tasheyo only came to Fedyors chin, but I didn't want things to escalate.
I stepped between them and put a hand in each chest. I felt impressive muscles on Fedyors chest which caused me to blank for a minute, but I regained myself.
"Enough. Things don't have to escalate." I turned to Tasheyo. "The Northern ambassador is our guest, therefore he will he treated with respect."
I gave them each a small shove. Tasheyo bowed to me.
"Forgive me, Darling. I forgot."
He whirled around and stalked off.
Fedyor watched him go then looked at me.
"What is it?" I asked.
He shook his head. "If I didn't know any better, I would say you and the emperor were in a tizzy and I was helping you make him jealous."
I felt my face flush. That wasn't my intention...but was Tasheyo jealous?
I shook my head. "The emperor was not jealous."
The Northern ambassador chuckled and reached to take my chin in his large hands. Though they were big, they were quite gentle.
Fedyor tipped my face up to look at him, though he had to bend slightly.
"Trust me, M'lady. I know a jealous man when I see one."