Building an Empire [M/M]

Chapter Thirteen

Alright, I did not proof read this AT ALL. (I'm too tired.) 

I hope you'll enjoy it in spite of the assault of typos. 

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Alexander

"For the ball I have prepared a purple gown and for the challenge today a more practical green one," the attendant informed me with badly concealed excitement. Everybody was looking forward to the ball. The servants and attendants would be ready to do their best and tomorrow they would have their own party for a job well done. I knew this because all the attendants here seemed unable to shut up about it. The attendant laid out the green dress she had mentioned and motioned for me to come forward. "Call when you are ready for me to enter, my Lady," she said and left my room with a spring in her step.

By now I had gotten quite a bit of practise at getting these impractical dresses on so it didn't take me long before I could call her back. As she entered I caught a glimpse of the hallway and the sour-puss of a guard Kivar. Siobhan had never returned yesterday. Lying bastard. My stomach clenched uncomfortably. Would anyone have hurt him to take out the competition for today? But Siobhan himself had told me that commoners were never made General even if they won. So what would the point of that be?

"Would you like to sit down while I do your hair, my Lady?" I looked down into the attendant's begging eyes and grinned. This was as close as she would get to ordering me about. Due to her short stature she had no chance of doing my hair if I didn't sit down. She was probably one of the most shy attendants here.

"Yes, that would be lovely."

The rest of the morning was spent prepping me for the challenge. This challenge was probably going to be more... exciting to watch than the previous. With all the anticipation in the air people were hoping for a grand show. The Emperor would be wise to deliver.

"Do you require anything else, my Lady?"

"No that will be all, thank you," I said and watched her make a little bow before leaving. Before the door closed behind her Kivar stopped it and knocked lightly. He didn't wait for me to reply but simply walked in and got right in my face. Or at least closer than was polite considering I was supposedly a lady of high standing.

"My my, guardsman Kivar, getting a little close there," I teased lightly and stepped even closer to him. The move seemed to throw him for a moment and the expression of constipation that seemed stuck on his face disappeared for a brief moment, but returned with a vengeance within a few seconds.

"Do you intend to dance with Siobhan at the ball?" he asked tersely. I raised an eyebrow at the harshness of his tone. Oh bitch, you don't. A bigger person would've sensed that Kivar was obviously hurt or upset about something and helped him. I was not that person.

"I'll dance with whomever I see fit," I replied flippantly. Kivar grit his teeth and seemed to struggle with his temper for a moment. "You have someone as kind and gentle as Mercus vying for your affection and his father's approval of the joining. Something that most could never even dream or hope for. You do not deserve that position, but since you have it, you should at least strive to live up to your privilege!" Kivar stared at me with thunder and storms in his eyes, seemingly wanting to say more, before storming out of the room. Well that was... unexpected. Of course, I'd noticed how devoted a soldier and guard Kivar was, but never had I thought that it was this extreme. Nothing to be done about it, though. I was not going to marry or in any way court Mercus. That would only lead to disaster. On the other hand I'd be making an enemy out of his father, Marcus. He'd already warned me about what he thought. My position here at court needed to be more secure before I took him on directly.