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49: A PREY TO CAPTURE😋

This is the last chapter of The Emperor's Bride: Volume One.

Please enjoy!

...49...

A PREY TO CAPTURE😋

When she was done with eating her fruit meal, she rose to her feet and sat on the big round bed in hopes of allowing her food to settle in her stomach.

She rested for a little while before deciding to go on and have a slow ride on her horse.

She needed it, the ride, on this cool evening, to feel and enjoy the atmosphere well enough.

She walked to the bedroom door and opened it, peering outside.

She found both of her escorts there, playing cards.

'Hey,' she said softly to draw their attention to her. They both turned to her and rose to their feet.

'My Lady,' both paid obeisance to her. She nodded in acknowledgement.

'Are you done with your meal My Lady?' Vura asked her. She nodded at the warrior.

'I will like to go and have a ride in the riding arena. Shall you get Peter to prepare my horse for me?' she asked them. Xiera nodded.

'I shall have that done. But My Lady, you are not appropriately dressed for equitation,' she pointed out. 'I shall send Hyeera to you.'

'Thank you,' she said and watched as the warrior turned away, to leave and go do as she had said.

Xiera walked out of the emperor's quarters after having not found Peter in it. She had nonetheless found Hyeera and sent her to the mistress. She then descended the stairs to go look for him and found him in the receiving area directing some maids on how to arrange the new pots of flowers that he had brought for the manor. She walked up to him who was yet to notice her presence and watched him give orders, unwilling to disturb him. It was until he took notice of her did she greet him and tell him her Lady's message.

'I shall have a horse prepared for her swiftly,' he assured Xiera who nodded her thanks. Then, he turned to one of the maids and gave her quick orders before dispatching her to the stables. The maid nodded and did as she had been instructed, running out if the house and towards the royal manor's stable. In her hurry, she did not look properly and nearly bumped into someone. She immediately began to apologize the moment she looked up and into the face of her near victim. It was Princess Zoë Xing.

'I am so sorry your highness,' she began. 'I am sorry.'

'You little pixie!' Jessica snapped at her. 'Will you not watch where you are going?! You would have run into my lady had I not stopped you!' she continued with a sneer.

'I am sorry your highness. In my hurry, I didn't see you.'

'Wench! Is my lady so small that you can not see her?!' she demanded in anger. The maid shook.

'Why are you in a hurry?' Princess Zoë Xing of the Xing Kingdom asked her, noticing she was from the royal manor by her maids uniform. 'Is the royal manor in fire?'

'No your highness. It is not.'

'Then, what is it that has you running helter skelter like a kangaroo whose child has been stolen?'

'It is that the Emperor's woman wants to go riding in a heartbeat. A horse needs to be prepared for her and I need to take the message to the stables,' she explained.

'The Emperor's woman? That concubine right?' she asked her. The maid only nodded at her. 'Well then, hurry and go do as you have told me,' she urged the maid with a sly smile on her face. The maid nodded.