The Empress's Revenge

Chapter 10

I tried to ignore Tasheyo's letter, but wherever I went, it haunted me.
I was bewitched.
I highly doubted that Lady Periclene was a sorceress, so I knew Tasheyo was lying.
I received an invitation to Duke Abaster's annual banquet shortly after I received Tasheyo's letter.
Her royal majesty is invited to the Annual Abaster Banquet.
I wasn't sure if Duchess Abaster had fully finished the divorce file, but I hoped not.
Maybe I could convince her that Periclene was lying.
I accepted the invitation and was getting dressed for the banquet when Harlow strutted in.
"What do you think, my queen?"
He twirled around, showing off a black dress jacket with golden buttons with the imperial crest embedded in them.
His hair was slicked back, and his eyes shined with purpose. He too, had received an invitation.
I smiled.
"You look amazing." I replied.
He grinned and flopped himself on my bed.
My ladies-in-waiting continued to dress me, adjusting hems and lace here and there. It was a lilac ballgown, with short sleeves that didn't cover my shoulders. There was lace around the hem and a silver belt around my waist. The V-neck of the dress made way for an amythest necklace I was gifted by my mother.
"My queen."
I turned halfway to look at the emperor, lounging in my bed, running his hand over the blankets.
"When will we share a bed?"
I felt my heart flutter and my face most certainly turned red. I turned away back to the mirror and tried to calm myself.
"We are officially married, are we not?"
He had gotten off my bed and was standing behind me, staring at my face through the reflection of my large mirror.
I took a deep breath to steady my breathing.
"Normally, royal newlyweds share a bed after they get married in a big wedding and a honeymoon."
Harlow pulled my hair back and kissed my neck.
"Technically, we are married."
My face flushed as he muttered these words in my ear.
I closed my eyes and tried to focus on Lady Mayalen sewing lace to the bottom of my dress. I felt Harlow stop and shortly after, he left me, probably returning to the bed.
A sigh escaped me. I loved Harlow, but I hadn't known him as long as Tasheyo.
I was bewitched.
My head throbbed. So much to do, so much to think of.
"Renata."
I jumped hearing Harlow. He didn't sound like himself. He growled my name from the back of his throat, and he didn't sound happy.
I whirled around to look at him and a shiver rolled down my spine as my blood ran cold.
Harlow was crouched next to my dresser, holding the scattered letters. His face was furious as he read the letter that I hadn't.
I didn't know what Tasheyo had written after he finished his sentence about bewitchment, but whatever he wrote, Harlow wasn't having it.
His eyes were transfixed on the letters and Lady Mayalen cast me a scared glance.
He looked up at me and his expression changed completely. He had looked furious but now he looked sad.
"You never told me you received a message from him."
I shook my head.
"I didn't really read it."
Harlow sighed and gathered the letter.
"So, you're telling me you didn't read the part about the begging, the disloyalty, the hating, the disrespect, and the threats?"
I rubbed my arms and looked away from his accusatory stare.
"I only got to the bewitchment part." I replied.
Harlow rubbed his forehead then proceeded to fold the letters and shove them in his inside coat pocket.
"Please continue getting ready, your majesty."
With that, he turned and left my room.
________
The carriage bumped along the road that led away from the imperial palace, leaving two newlyweds plunged in an uncomfortable.
It was really uncomfortable. I could feel the anger and sadness rolling off Harlow in waves. It hurt me.
"I meant to tell you."
The emperor looked up from gazing out the window and raised an eyebrow.
I took a deep breath. I needed to fix this.
"I started to read it, but I only got to the bewitchment part. I couldn't read past that, I just couldn-."
I trailed off, letting tears roll down my cheeks.
Stop.
You can't cry.
You're the empress.
I wiped my tears and blinked furiously.
Harlow gazed at me, uncertainty in his eyes.
The silence refilled the carriage.
I sighed and turned to look back out the window.
"It must have infuriated you."
I turned my gaze to Harlow as he spoke.
It had infuriated me. The fact that Tasheyo had cheated on me, then tried to pass it off as bewitchment was unrealistic.
I curled my fists up on my lap.
"Of course it was. My former husband had grown up with me, then to find out he was cheating hurt too much." I replied.
Harlow gave a sigh and reached into his jacket pocket to pull out the letters.
"What do you want me to do with these?"
I glared at them. There were at least five pages that I hadn't read, but I needed to hear what they said.
"Can you read them to me?"
Harlow smirked.
"If I didn't know any better, my queen, I would've thought you liked the sound of my voice." He said, chuckling at his own comment.
I smiled at him then resumed my gaze to the window.
"I was bewitched.
You may not believe me, but when I was finishing signing the papers on the annual meeting, a sorceress crept in and cast a spell on me.
I sound like a madman, but please Renata, believe me.
I think you made a mistake marrying that scoundrel, Harlow.
The marriage between you and him will only cause problems to the Empire, the Empire I took care of.
I will give you one last chance to divorce that peasant and restore me to my rightful place, or you can deal with the consequences.
I don't want to have to do this, but I will.
You made a mistake."
By the time Harlow had finished reading the letter, my heart felt like it was crumpling into a ball, and my smile had vanished completely, without a trace or sign of it coming back.
Consequences?
I could have him punished for threatening the empress.
But something inside me told me I wouldn't do anything.
I unclenched my fists, leaving little marks in my palms from my nails and took a deep breath to calm my heart.
Harlow folded the paper back up and tucked it inside his jacket once again.
The carriage continued to the banquet, letting the muffling silence surround the two highest powered people in the Eastern Empire.
I was bewitched.
I was bewitched.
I was bewitched.
I was bewitched.
I was bewitched.
The carriage came to an abrupt halt in front of Duke Abaster's mansion.
Harlow got out first and held his hand out to me, to help me step down.
We glanced at each other and I nodded. He smiled softly, then proceeded to lead me into the mansion.
The Duke greeted me as I stepped in the door.
"Your majesty! Welcome to the banquet!" He called to me, kneeling and kissing my hand.
I gave a slight nod in return.
"Duke Abaster, how lovely it is to see you again."
He grinned at me then turned to Harlow and bowed before him.
"It's quite an honour to meet you, your majesty. I've heard great things!"
Harlow smiled and reached to shake hands with my friend.
"The honour is mine, my friend."
The Duke scurried out of sight, seeing another greetable couple, and we were left in the foyer alone.
The silence was stifling. I fidgeted with my hands, adjusting my white gloves.
Harlow looked around the foyer and listened to the sound of chatter coming from one of the doors around us, but we weren't sure which.
I didn't really care who was attending the banquet as long as it wasn't him.
I was bewitched.
Duke Abaster eventually came back, chattering away to some new guests.
I hadn't given it any thought, but I didn't really know who was attending the Abaster's annual banquet. I should've thought to ask him before answering that I was coming.

4 things happened at once.

Harlow gave a quiet gasp and quickly wrapped an arm around my waist. I heard the voices that I hated and recognised. Duke Abaster was chatting quietly, and I felt like I was going to pass out.

I leaned into Harlow as he whispered comforting words.

"It's alright, my love. Just hang on."

He whipped his head around looking for an escape for me, but I was frozen like a statue.

It was too late.

I gripped Harlow's wrist as I listened to the voices stop as they caught sight of me and my husband.

I would stay strong. For the Empire.

I turned around and stared expressionless at my former husband and his mistress. Her stomach was slightly bigger and she had both hands curled around it.

I caught her eye, and she glanced away.

Tasheyo stared intently at me, not breaking his gaze away from me, but I was focused on locking eyes on the woman who ruined my life.

"Have you no manners?"

Harlow stepped forward as he growled those words. I watched Periclene's eye glisten as she glanced at her beloved.

Tasheyo's will seemed to shatter as he looked at his feet.

"Lord Tasheyo greet's his majesty, the emperor of the empire." He breathed as he leaned forward into a low bow.

Harlow nodded. "And my wife?"

The former emperor's nostrils flared but he turned to me and bowed.

"Lord Tasheyo greets her majesty, the empress of the empire."

Harlow seemed satisfied and he put a gentle arm around my shoulder.

"Come, my love." He whispered.

But I stepped away from him.

"Does your mistress follow your incompetent lead in manners?" I said to Tasheyo.

He narrowed his eyes at me then turned to Periclene. She seemed uneasy as she curtsied.

"Lady Periclene greets her majesty, the empress of the empire, cheater of men."

I heard Harlow roar beside me. "How dare you?!" But I raised a hand and took another step towards her and smiled.

"Empress Renata greets Lady Periclene, whore of the empire."

Tasheyo stood stonily, as Periclene paled. She looked up to him, possibly for comfort, or reassurance, but he offered none. Instead, my former husband had locked eyes with my new one.

Harlow took my hand and led me away. My heart was racing, and I felt sweaty, but I was determined to enjoy myself.

Tasheyo would not ruin my time out of the palace.

That would be a fact.