Born to be the Empress

Chapter 14 - An unexpected offer of friendship

The days passed quickly, and I slowly returned to a sense of normalcy. But this time, things were slightly different. Since I wasn't a concubine anymore,  I no longer slept in the shared quarters or followed the schedule, or interacted with the other girls. I had my own room now, a quiet space where I spent my nights. During the days, I was always with Octavius, assisting with potions and remedies, and with the high teachers, learning about various subjects such as philosophy, mathematics, history, and more. In the evenings, I preferred to spend my time in the library. The palace housed a vast library, filled with hundreds of books. I loved reading and it was an activity which really made me happy.

The library was my sanctuary. It was a quiet haven where I could lose myself in the pages of ancient texts, each one offering a piece of the puzzle I sought to understand. The scent of parchment and ink filled the air as I poured over volumes on healing, philosophy, and even alchemy. I couldn't get enough. Each book seemed to open a new door to a world I was only beginning to comprehend.

As the time passed, I found myself growing more confident in my knowledge, my understanding of the world expanding with every lesson. Octavius was patient, guiding me through the complexities of medicine, while the high teachers challenged me to think critically about everything—from the nature of the human body to the deeper questions of existence.

But despite all the learning and growth, I couldn't shake the feeling of being invisible. Although I met with the Empress almost every day, I hadn't seen the Emperor since that moment in the throne room when he had condemned me to death. I knew he wouldn't visit while I was recovering, but I had hoped he would eventually summon me to share his thoughts on the matter. But that anticipation never came to pass. It became clear to me that I was of no significance to him. It seemed that I was merely a favor to his mother—nothing more, nothing less.

One evening, as I sat in the library reading a treatise on ancient healing methods, the soft rustle of footsteps interrupted my concentration. I looked up, expecting to see one of the servants or perhaps the librarian. But to my surprise, it was the King of North Kingdom, Asgam himself.

-"Oh! What a pleasant surprise to find you here," he said, a wide smile spreading across his face as he approached me. His unexpected entrance startled me so much that the book slipped from my hands and fell to the floor.

-"I am terribly sorry, my lady. I didn't mean to frighten you! I came to take a book" he apologized warmly. At the same time, he bent down and picked up the book.

-"Your book," he said, his gaze lingering on me as he handed it back, his eyes searching mine intently.  I took the book from his hands, acutely aware of how close he was—so close I could feel his breath warm against my face.

-"Thank you" I said, trying to steady my voice. "I was so absorbed in the treatise that I didn't notice your presence in the room. Would you like to help you find your book?" I took a step back, subtly creating space between us.

My action didn't go unnoticed, and for a fleeting moment, I thought King Asgar might have been offended. However, he masked it so skillfully that I couldn't be entirely sure.

-"I would love to," he said with a playful grin, gesturing with his hand for me to go first toward the library. We searched for the book in complete silence, the stillness hanging heavily in the air, until Asgar's voice suddenly shattered the monotony.

-"You know, I'm very glad to see you again" he said, his tone brimming with excitement. "The last time I was here, you were imprisoned and accused of treason. It saddened me deeply, but thankfully, everything was resolved, the truth came to light, and here you are now—safe and sound. "You know," he said, gently taking my hands and pressing them to his chest, "I've always believed in your innocence." As he spoke, he stepped closer once again, his proximity crossing the line of what might be considered appropriate.