The Empty Ones (Fantasy Romance)

24. About changing the world

It's again a sea of curious, scrutinizing eyes peering at me but this time I try my best to not look at my feet but at all of them.

If this is my wedding banquet and this is the wedding of the Emperor, then many important persons from all over the continent will be here.

I don't expect it but while my eyes sweep over the sea of unknown people, each dressed more opulent than the other, I encounter one familiar person.

Her face is a bit fuller than last time I saw her, her golden hair longer, bejeweled and combed into a sophysticated bun and her clothes are now fine silk not rough spun.

Salma. She is alive and the wife of someone important enough to be at the royal banquet. I need to talk to her but she doesn't see me. Her gaze is lost among the crowd.

I have to talk to her! The thought that someone that I actually know and care about is here gives me more hope and energy. Together we can find Chioma and help the other girls at the priory.

The Emperor's hand touches mine and I startle and flinch. Gods, that was so dumb of me. I hope he is not offended. He doesn't talk, just leads me to the golden alcove in the middle of the room. It's beautiful, carved in wood and adorned with metal en ember, extending in organic limbs from floor to ceiling and displaying several seating places around a heavily adorned low table, brimming with food.

It is beautiful and strange to stand there, like on a pedestal looking down at the other guests.

My goodness, it's been forever since I had least eaten honey cakes and raspberry tarts. The food in the priority was modest, made by girls who learned just then how to cook; not bad, but not exquisite as it was in my father's palace either.

I am guided to sit on the cushions. They are pleasantly cool and smooth. The alcove is big and profusely oppulent. Too big for only two people but when the women who were dressed in white at the ceremony step forward together with the Empress, I understand that it is not meant for only the two of us.

The Empress bows slightly, but not all the way down as per costume to the... other... wife of the emperor?

The situation is so confusing and by the way she looks at me, sternly and sad, she clearly doesn't like me or the situation one bit. Why on earth should she? I am by any means, someone who she needs to share her husband with when she probably didn't think she will ever have to. Sure, there are royal concubines but they aren't in any way her equals; their children are not eligible for the throne, while I feel, judging by the ceremony, mine will be. I am officially challenging her position without wanting to. Her face is still beautiful, showing only few age lines and her hair still full and dark.

She takes a seat on the left of his Highness, while I am on the right.

Then there are the other two girls. Are they royal concubines? But then where is Jaira? She had always been his favorite, people told. I remember her striking beauty, the big lush eyes, with unusually ample irises and small pupils, the slender figure and raven black hair. The girl in front of me is just as striking, voluptuous but just the right amount and so beautifully colored with her purple eyes and pale blond hair.

The midrib girl is also beautiful but not as eye-catching as the other. They both bow deeply but look at the Emperor, not at me. Fair enough. I am not important; I am only decoration.

"We are welcoming you in our mids, Zaretha," says the Empress. Her voice is as stern as her face. "My given name is Vamelia, but at court I am Empress Vamelia Alara em Aleh eigth of her name of the house Kadeth."

"It, it is an honor." I stand up and bow. It's the least I can do.

"Stand." It's the voice of the Emperor, that is addressing me for the first time.