The Empress's Revenge

Chapter 11

"Champagne?"

I accepted the glass from one of the many waiters lingering around the gathering. Right now, people were lingering around, chatting, whilst waiting for the banquet to begin in the Abaster's large dining hall.

Harlow had shot off like a racehorse as soon as he made sure I would be safe strolling through the crowd, but I was actually listening to the gossip around me, including the gossip about me.

"The empress has been sleeping with every stranger to enter the palace!"

"Do you think that includes her own gender?"

"Hard to say. The pain she's probably experiencing must be blinding enough to make her need to make love to distract herself."

"I'm surprised there is no children."

"The empress is infertile, remember? The emperor explained it at the ball that the empress planned herself."

"I'm not sure who the former emperor thinks he is, leaving the empress like that."

"Shame on him."

"Impregnating a commoner! How preposterous!"

"What a waste on royal blood!"

At least I knew that the people hated Tasheyo equally if not more to myself.

I took a sip of my golden champagne, letting the flavour swish around in my mouth. There was very little in the glass, so I called for another.

And another.

And another.

I knew I was getting ahead of myself, and that I was probably going to end up drunk, but every glimpse I saw of Tasheyo laughing while talking to someone, with Periclene at his side, made me want to forget everything.

I was bewitched.

I grabbed another glass off a passing waiter's tray and took a sip. It tasted like sugar to me. Maybe the Duke ordered the new champagne that was being made in the South. Importing prices would cost him, but I enjoyed it.

"My lady."

I turned to see Duchess Abaster curtsying in a yellow dress with her deep brown locks rolling over her shoulders. The top of the dress was being held up by single straps, leaving her shoulders slightly exposed.

As she rose out of her cursty, she looked slightly uncomfortable. I nodded to let her know I was listening to whatever thing she had to say to me.

"I deeply apologize to you. I shouldn't have believed that woman when I saw her, but I didn't know who she was or what she looked like at the time. Please excuse me for ever listening to her. You're still one of my closest friends, My lady."

I nodded again and she took this as her cue to leave. I watched her slip through the crowd, more anxious than ever.

I finished my glass and was going for a fresh one, when a loud voice announced that people were to make their way to the dining hall for the banquet.

Harlow was still no where to be found, so I entered by myself, stumbling ever so slightly, as my balance had been messed with due to the alcohol I had been consuming.

There were name cards on plates at a long oak table, so it took me a few minutes to find my own name. Harlow was thankfully sitting beside me.

The seats across from me remained empty, but I had a sinking suspicion that proved to be right when the two people sat down across from me.

Tasheyo and Periclene.

Honestly, I couldn't seem to get away from them. Wherever I went, they were always there, mentally and physically.