The Empress

It was the first time that the prince was to stand in front of the emperor and empress after he was said to have caught the circulating flu.

Prince Aiden trudged down the seemingly endless hall leading to the throne room with Eunuch Klyle at his side and a train of eunuchs and maidservants behind them. The ridiculously large party that accompanied him as well as the hefty layers of clothing and jewelry that he wore made the prince despise this long walk and it showed on his face.

Understandably so, that was the first thing that the emperor took notice of. Emperor Arkhan was an intimidatingly hideous man whom you wouldn't believe fathered a delicate beauty such as Prince Aiden which was probably why he placed so much emphasis on having a relaxed and diplomatic expression.

"Is that the face you should be wearing in the presence of your ruler?" The emperor's booming voice echoed against the walls, making the reprimand all the more humiliating. "If only you weren't the prince, you would be punished for such impertinence."

But if there was a trait that the prince most certainly inherited from his father, it was his towering pride and stubbornness. After an extended period has gone by without the prince uttering an apology, his trustee eunuch came to his defense albeit apprehensively.

"Y-your majesty, please do understand. The prince still feels unwell due to the heavy medication that he's been advised to take." Eunuch Klyle reasoned which was something of an exaggerated truth. The prince indeed had to take heavy medication to clear his body of all traces of the drug that he directly inhaled.

The emperor smirked, resting his bearded chin on his jeweled knuckles. "Let us say that is the truth. But do tell, does the medication make the prince unable to speak for himself as well?" The father mocked, earning a vicious glare from his son.

"Anyone who could glare like that must be in prime health." Emperor Arkhan remarked before taking a sip of his fine wine in a self satisfied manner.

Thank the heavens for the empress for graciously intervening. "My emperor, let us not patronize him when the prince had just returned from his long absence." The beautiful lady to whom prince Aiden owed his golden locks and hazel eyes said demurely with a soft smile on her red lips.

The emperor visibly snarled, if only for a brief moment. Then he turned his head away, responding with a mere grumble. It has long been rumored that the emperor bore feelings of jealousy and hatred towards his own son from the day he was born. For not only did he become the empress' apple of the eye but as well as possessed beauty that made the emperor appear all the more repulsive when placed next to each other.

Of course, the feeling was mutual. As the prince never received his father's love, he never gave his in return. This was often where the empress came into the picture. She somehow managed to keep her husband at bay by playing an affectionate and flawless trophy wife but in the process, she had left her son to grow up in the care of eunuchs and maidservants.

"My prince, I was terribly worried when I heard you fell ill." She said, her tone smooth like the silk sash draped around her arms.

But her maternal love didn't seem to get across. Prince Aiden lowered his gaze, slightly bowing his head and uttered, "I apologize for worrying you, your grace." His tone was cold and distant and wouldn't even spare her a glance.

A flicker of sadness crossed the empress' beautiful round eyes but only for a fleeting moment and she recomposed herself like a true royal. "Prince Aiden, now that you are well, I believe it's time we arrange for you and your betrothed to be presented once again." She stated, changing the subject.

"But isn't it a little too soon for that?" The prince reacted impulsively, surprising both of his parents. The lines on eunuch Klyle's face seemed to multiply by the tens as he gave his prince a meaningful shake of his head.

"Too soon?" The emperor roared. "Have you forgotten that we had to rudely postpone the ceremony due to your irresponsible neglect of your health?! Or has your medications stripped you of your common sense as well?"

"But we barely know each other! Why must I wed someone I've never met?" Prince Aiden argued uncharacteristically.

His mother became speechless, unsure of who exactly was standing in front of them because even though Prince Aiden was undoubtedly unhappy with his life in the palace, he never once expressed it as strongly as he was doing now.

The emperor was in the process of rising from his throne to personally castigate his son when the empress held him down with a single light touch of her hand. She then attempted to reason with the infuriated prince. "Aiden, my child, you must understand that this is the way it has always been, as it should be. You must trust that your father and I will choose only the most ideal bride for you, our beloved son. It isn't a matter of whether you know or love the person that is chosen for you, it is a matter of duty."

The usually mild mannered empress spoke with such conviction that no one dared to object her, including her husband who felt a pang in his chest upon hearing the last part of her argument. For it was never a secret that they did not join lives in the name of love but just as she said, in the name of duty.

The disheartened prince clenched his hands into fists but was unable to fight back. His mother's calm and truthful argument felt even more cruel as it coerced him into keeping his mouth shut. Eventually, all the prince could do was walk away but he was far from defeated because if anything, the empress' words only lit a flame from within him— an ache to change what has always been and what should be.

The evening sky befell the palace and prince Aiden was taking his regular stroll at the garden in the east wing where his quarters were. He stopped at the bridge where the moonlight glistened on the surface of the river below and allowed his thoughts to run deep.

But a familiar yet foreign voice broke through his concentration. "My prince?"

The young prince turned his head to find the empress standing behind him. She let out a soft laugh at his utterly bewildered face and moved to his side. "Are you that surprised?"

Her son finally regained his composure. Feeling a little embarrassed, he averted his eyes to the river once more. "What do I owe this pleasure?" He asked, sounding just as withdrawn as earlier if not more.

"I'm sorry." The empress uttered regretfully. The prince's interest was once again piqued as he shifted his gaze back to his mother. "I'm sorry that I hardly ever come here that it startles you when I do. And I'm sorry if I never sat you down and properly prepared you for the life you are about to lead."

She raised her smooth and long fingers to caress her son's cheek but despite his effort not to flinch at the unfamiliar touch, the empress felt his discomfort and retracted her hand. "My prince, please bear in mind that what I say, I say with your best interest." Her majesty said, her face becoming hard and cold. "The unknown can sometimes entice us, making us yearn for a world we haven't seen but believe me when I say that the world outside can be very deceiving and the quickest way to a ruler's downfall is through his heart."

Prince Aiden's puzzled gaze travelled from his mother to eunuch Klyle who appeared uneasy and smothered by guilt. "Forgive me, your highness." The royal servant cried out.

"I am better off knowing than your father." Empress Lhiz told the prince. "Aiden, life in the palace can be stagnant, suffocating even. But there are people who would kill to be in your shoes. Your father and I kept you safe within these walls to ensure that you will someday be a rightful emperor. Do not let the shallow temptation of a woman to blind you into throwing it all away."

The empress knew that the innocent prince would visibly express his pain whilst retreating into the solitude of silence. She knew him at least that much but what she wasn't anticipating was the fact that the prince's heart had been solidified by his silent sufferings.

Prince Aiden snickered and said, "You're right."

He leisurely turned to face his mother who didn't know what to make of his quick surrender. But the sadistic glint in his eyes slowly morphed into that of pure hurt and there was a tremble in his voice as he spoke. "But do you know what's really disappointing? For once, I thought you came here as my mother. But now, I see that you will always only be the empress."

"My prince, please—" Empress Lhiz begged to disagree but she was no longer granted the chance to redeem herself as the prince resigned for the night but she may have just lost her son for good.