Chapter 1 - Runaway Wives!

"Lady Alexandra!"

Such a shrill, grating voice. It was a wonder I managed to withhold the urge to slit that woman's throat. If not for a last desperate attempt for Emperor's favor, then to never have to hear it again. The inevitable execution afterwards would spare me of any chance she survived.

But then again, it would mean abandoning Claudia, and that was the last thing I ever wanted to do.

"Empress, move. Or you'll lose your head just as she will."

A voice devoid of any warmth or courtesy he may have given us in the past. The woman in front of me was tall, the shadow of her long gorgeous black hair practically engulfing me. It hid all of her expression, but I could make a vague guess of how she felt if her trembling was anything to go by.

"You Majesty, please of mercy. Take my life and spare hers! It was all of my doing, she was only a puppet."

The Empress' voice was soothing, but it shook with the instinctual fear humans were cursed and bless with.

As my gaze slowly took in the sights around me, I saw the white lotus who stood so carefully by the Emperors side. She was taller than I, reaching his Majesty's shoulders, but not matching the Empress' height, who was known to be the only woman who could look that monster in the eye.

That didn't seem to be true anymore, as the moment that cruel man raised his sword, she fell to her knees with a shriek. It wouldn't have surprised me if she abandoned me now, as we had no relation besides the mysterious attraction that bound us together as sworn sisters, an attraction that even though we had both yearned for the favor of the same man, had never shaken. But at the face of death? If she didn't move, then I'd move her myself. It wasn't like I could escape this pitiful ending.

I knew that wasn't true though. It had, of course, began like that. But as time went on, the closer we grew. We spent almost every waking moment together, helping each other with paperwork and events.

I would give up everything for Claudia.

"Your Majesty, I'm sorry. But my love for Lex has long since surpassed the love I've harbored for you, especially when you let that woman into your harem to only cause such pain and tragedy."

"How dare you! Empress Claudia, it was the fault of you and your two faced sister who brought pain and tragedy to my Lucie!"

"And what had she done to offend us, I wonder!!" I spat, reaching my arms out to hold the loyal woman before me, whose eyes grew misty with our husbands' screams. Noble Consort Lucielle frantically tugged on Emperor Patel's sleeves in a show of pitiful begging.

"Please, your majesty! It's all my fault, I shouldn't have tried to befriend them when there was clearly a line to not be crossed!"

"Do you take me as a fool, Lucie?" He almost sounded hurt, looking at the fragile blonde beside him. Her curls were braided out of her face, leaving her bangs to frame her round, pink cheeks and large chocolate puppy-dog eyes.

When he had turned, the Emperors right hand, Sir Troy raised his head swiftly. The room only had a handful of guards and nobles, who all stood by and pretended not to watch the commotion. This had long since been seen coming, and yet the couldn't help but feel sympathy for the two women who trembled on the ground.

That bought of sympathy, it seemed, was enough for them to stay silent as Sir Troy pointed at a nearby window, motioning for the women to hurry away in hopes of escape.

Alexandra saw this, and dragged Empress Claudia to her feet. Making a mad dash for the window, she practically flew out of it, glass shattering around the ladies.

It was, in fact, the second floor they had jumped from. But as previously stated, this scenario was long since apparent. Sir Troy had arranged for a carriage full of cushions and blankets to 'conveniently' stop by, before resuming its travel through the castle grounds. They would most likely suffer a couple bruises still, but it'd be a thousand times better than being put to bed 6ft under, if they were even given the honor of being buried.

Many servants saw this, but would stay silent even after questioning. They had stood silent when the Empress and Lady Alexandra were framed, and would continue to stay silent even through the torturous investigation. It was better to take no sides then to take the losing one. No matter how well the Empress and Consort treated them, this is all they would do.

"Lex!" Cried Claudia, practically clinging to me like a child. I was barely reached her chest, but had a strong figure from training with the guards in order to protect the Empress better. She was her sworn sister after-all, and what kind of sister wouldn't do whatever it took to protect their sister?

Well, besides Lucielle. Heaven knows what kind of torture her sister had to suffer for Lucielle's benefit.

It was this heavy and muscular body that had lost her favor with his majesty, and left her among the common consorts when she had used to hold the rank of Noble Consort. He enjoyed their talks, though, and had occasionally stopped by for tea, which was much more than the others of her current rank could boast.

The Empress was different, with a large bust and soft body, although she was slightly chubbier then other women, the Emperor never complained, but instead complimented her softness and adored her greatly.

It was only when that woman, who was thin as a twig and evoked such a strong infatuation that he began to criticize her, refusing to lay his hands on any of the women he claimed to have found beautiful before in favor of that girl who cried victim.

Alexandra thought Claudia was the most gorgeous woman she'd ever laid eyes on, and would adamantly argue with his Majesty when he spoke such harsh words to the Empress. Another thing that seemed to only annoy him after that woman came, was how close Claudia and Alexandra were. He used to find it cute, but suddenly shouted how disgusting it was after Lucielle cried that they had teamed up on her.

Which never happened. In fact, the times Claudia actually interacted with Lucielle face-to-face could be counted on one hand.

"Dia, I'm here. We'll be okay! Sir Troy has set plans for us to move to Vasite! It's on the other side of the continent, by the ocean. You've always wanted to go there, right?" I comforted, cradling Claudia in my arms like the precious sister she was, carefully stroking her silky hair. "We can sell our outfits, rent an inn. I used be a great cook, didn't you know?"

"You were?" Claudia sniffled, arms tightening around my waist. "Was it when you were living in that village?"

"Yes. I can find a job at a restaurant and save up enough for us to buy a house. Then, you can start that flower shop you've always dreamed of! Who needs that old smelly Emperor anyways?" I huffed, slowly rocking side to side.

"Pff." Claudia giggled, slightly muffled in my plain blue and gold dress. "Only men are aloud to work at restaurants in Vasite."

"Then I'll become a man." I stated bluntly, shrugging it off. Claudia froze, looking up at me in shock.

"That wasn't part of the plan."

"It is now. A maid doesn't make enough, especially one without any background who only wants to work for a very brief amount of time. Also, I'm terrible at cleaning."

"You....Then I'll be a man too!" Claudia decided, sat up. "We can be brothers!"

"I don't think that'd work, Dia." I chuckled, pointing at her chest. "No matter how tight we wrap the bandages, I doubt we could hide your feminine charms. Plus, then you'd be obligated to work too, and I want you focusing on learning the customs of commoners. You have to be like a secret spy, alright? Getting the information from the other ladies who won't talk about such matter around a 'man', got it?" I held her hands, which were much thinner and soft compared to my callused skin. "Besides, we're still sworn sisters, right? Even if we can't be brothers, we can still be siblings! If any man bothers you, I'll show him what's what!"

"Hahaha!" Claudia burst into laughter, watching me throw punches at the air. "Alright. But, if you need any help, rely on me! We can trust each other always, right?"

"Of course. Now, let's practice using our new fake names."

"Fake names?"

"We can't very well use the exact names of the missing Empress and Consort, can we? How convenient it would be, for two feminine figures to suddenly appear with their exact titles. A missing consort is one thing, but an Empress? I'm positive all nearby countries will be notified of it."

"Alright..." Claudia tugged a blanket around her, looking like an abandoned puppy. "What names do you have planned?"

"Well, I had chosen the names Miriam and Christopher. Is that alright, Miriam?" My smile widened, reaching out to tug at her hand. She hummed in thought, pretending to think it over.

"I don't know. Did Sir Taylor chose them?"

"He did, in fact."

"Then I guess I have no other choice!" Claudia, or Miriam, huffed. Her cheeks were still wet with tears, and her voice cracked as she spoke. She was trying to stay strong for me, it was clear, but we'd always been terrible at pretending when it came to each other.

"Christopher, may I call you Chris?" Miriam turned back, her free hand coming to rest over mine. Her emerald eyes shimmered in the light of dusk, and my reflection was clear.

"Only if I can call you Miri." I smiled.