The Empress's Revenge

Chapter 4

Over the next few days, Fedyor accompanied me wherever I went. If I was in the library, he too, was there, picking out a book of his own liking. If I was writing letters in my office, he shadowed me, writing back to his homeland.

I thought of him as the big brotherly type. He always watched out for me and wanted the best. I think, sometimes, he had to remind himself I was the empress and I had been doing my work before he had arrived.

There were other issues as well. for instance, Fedyor's presence made Tasheyo very cold. I rarely saw him, but whenever I did, He spoke coldly to me, or ignored me.

One particular evening, I was sitting in the library with Jade on my lap, when I heard a cough and looked up to find Tasheyo leaning against the bookshelf.

Fedyor was currently off running errands for himself, so I was alone. I stared at Tasheyo, waiting to hear what he had to say, and sure enough he couldn't hold it in any longer.

"Your majesty, I feel uncomfortable by the Northern ambassador's presence." He said.

I gave a sigh and put my bookmark in my novel before closing it.

"You need not concern yourself with the Northern ambassador, your majesty. I invited him in, so he is my responsibility."

Tasheyo rolled his eyes and glanced behind him. I stroked Jade, who was glaring daggers at my husband.

"Nothing is going on."

The emperor whipped his head back to face me as four words escaped my lips. He raised his eyebrows and Jade gave a hiss.

I regretted the words I spoke, for they gave me power of jealousy over the emperor. But I remembered him from my childhood, the boy who I told everything to. My lips felt hot as Tasheyo advanced towards me.

He crouched in front of me and smiled. Jade tried to swat him, but I held him tight to me. My heart was racing and I felt sick again. My husband put a hand on my cheek and leaned into my ear.

"I guess we both have secrets."

I felt my blood drain from my face and heard the emperor yell. He didn't have a secret, I already knew it. I didn't have a secret either. What was he talking about? Was he assuming I was lying? He must not know me. 

A large black cat was thrown at me as I sat there in a daze. I recovered quickly and got to my feet.

"What are you doing?" I  demanded of Tasheyo, who was doubled over, holding his face.

He straightened up and I gasped. 

Jade had left three identical scars across the emperors face. 

They ran bright red as the blood dripped to the carpet of the library.

"I will have that beast executed!" He snarled in my face, still doubled over.

But in response, Jade only gave a low growl from my arms.

Jade, executed?

He wouldn't. 

I wouldn't let him.

I put Jade down and turned to face the emperor.

"You will not touch my companion, or execute it for that matter."

Tasheyo glared at me as I took a steady breath to slow my racing heart. I continued.

"I do wonder what would everyone think, when I tell society that you tried to attack the empress of the Eastern Empire. They would overthrow you."

"And when they find out you blamed the empress's loyal companion, there will be bloodshed." I continued.

My husband straightened and gave a small smirk. The new scars on his face that ran diagonally down his right eye had stopped bleeding, giving the occasional drip.

"And what would society think if I told them you were cheating on the emperor with the Northern ambassador?" He replied.

I was dumbstruck. He was trying my own cards against me. I raised my chin and strode to him. After placing a hand on his broad shoulder, I leaned into his ear.

"Only you have the secret."

As I walked out of the library, Jade hot on my heels, the emperor stood there, dumbfounded, wondering where his beloved wife, that he once knew, had gone.