The Empress's Revenge

Chapter 17

"Your majesty."
Someone shakes my shoulder slightly.
Why can't they leave?
Can't they see I'm thinking?
My head hurts.
My body hurts.
Despite my soreness, I open my eyes to see a maid standing over me.
"My lady, I hate to disrupt you but..." She trails off, fidgeting with her hands.
"The Emperor and the Northern Ambassador are fighting."
I feel my blood drain from my face and I try to sit up. It takes me a few tries, but I stand and request my bedcoat. As I wrap it around myself, my legs feel weak and I lean onto the maids shoulder.
"Let's go."
As we hobble down the hall, I try to keep my breathing steady, and control my aches.
Why am I going to save these grown men?
Because I care for them both?
And why would they attack each other? Was Fedyor mad that Harlow told me the truth?
This was an inappropriate reaction.
I hear yelling and clanging of metal as the maid brings me to the outside of the ballroom. I sigh and give her a gentle shove.
"This won't end well. Stay out of the way and stay safe."
I lean on the doors and shove them open with little strength I have.
The scene before me makes me gasp.
Fedyor and Harlow are circling each other, like lions, swords in hands. Fedyor had a bloody gash across his face and the side of his white jacket is red with blood. The Northern Ambassador was sweating heavily, but snarling all the same.
My husband has a deadly glare on his face I've never seen before. His hair was a mess and the sleeve of his white dress shirt was ripped and in shreds. Harlow limped as he circled, his sword arm strong, but his other arm limp at his side.
Neither of the men saw me and they continue their battle.
Harlow lunges forward and Fedyor blocks his sword with a parry, then sidesteps with a fake attack that Harlow follows, leaving his side open.
Luckily, the Emperor notices this and intercepts the attack as Fedyor brings his large steel sword around.
"I've done everything as requested!" Fedyor snarls. "No matter how badly it hurt, I followed orders."
Harlow shifts his weight and grimaces as he tried to flex his hand.
"But you told her about your feelings, then proceeded to leave her in the rain!" Harlow roars as he leaps to Fedyor and slashes his sword across his calf.
Fedyor grunts and drops down, whilst keeping his sword infront of him.
"I never intended that."
Harlow cocks his head and strides uo to Fedyor.
"No? Then what did you intend, Lord Grlosbeak?"
Fedyor raises his sword feebly and Harlow swats it away. The sword clangs as it hits the ballroom floor, unreachable to the man who needs it.
"I just wanted her to feel loved." Fedyor grunts. "Which is something you shall never accomplish."
Harlow swipes his sword down Fedyors shoulder and Fedyor howls in agony as blood pours from the fresh wound.
I need to stop watching.
"Enough!" I yell, causing Harlow to jump and turn to me.
"My love." He says, striding to me. "What are you doing out of bed?"
I glare at him.
"I had to come to the rescue when a maid woke me and proclaimed you and the Northern Ambassador were fighting."
I looked past my husband just in time to see Fedyor fall over.
"Fedyor!" I cried. I stumbled towards him and fell, proceeding to crawl towards my friend.
I cradled his head as sweat appeared on his brow. His bright blue eyes were dimmed and he squinted at me.
"R-Ren?"
I smiled and wiped away his tears.
"Indeed, my friend. Stay awake for me."
I looked up at Harlow who seemed to finally realise what he'd done, and was staring at Fedyor's body in horror.
"Fetch the doctor." I said. He remained frozen.
"NOW!"
The doors were slammed closed as Harlow sprinted out of the grand ballroom on my order.
Fedyor raised a bloodied hand to my face and cupped my cheek with a smile.
"I'm sorry."
I was bewildered.
"My lovable Fedyor, what could you possibly be sorry for?"
Fedyor closed his eyes and sighed.
"For lying to you."
Lying to me?
Why would he need to lie to me?
I brush a white hair from his face and smile.
"Forget your faults, my friend and focus on the future."
Fedyor breathes heavily and blinks slowly.
"This is my time."
My vision starts to blur and I shake my head.
"No, it is not. Stop talking like that."
Fedyor simply chuckles, and with a final smile to me, he goes still.
"Fedyor?" I pat his cheek a few times. His skin is cold.
"Fedyor!?"
I shake his shoulders, ignoring the blood drenching my dress.
"FEDYOR?!"
I lean over his cold, lifeless body and sob.
My friend.
My confidante.
My loyal Northern Ambassador.
I throw my head back and scream, which turns to sobs over Fedyor's body.
My tears fall onto his face, so I press my lips on the places they fell, and clear them away.
"Fedyor." I cry quietly.