The Shocking Revelation

(This chapter continues directly after the ending of Chapter 1)

Lady Giselle’s day turned from one extreme to the other. First, when she was teaching peacefully at her academy, she was dragged by the Captain of The Royal Guards, and was imprisoned at the Palace for preparing a rebellion against the Emperor.

Although she never did that, she was prepared to die when the Emperor himself appeared and interrogated her. However, against all logic, the Emperor said he wanted to make her his queen.

"I can't breathe," she confessed.

"Richard, get her some water."

When it arrived, the emperor gave the cup to her.

Her hand shook too much, so he held the cup and helped her drink.

Once she had the water, her mind worked again.

"I am sure I am not made to be a queen."

"On the contrary, I think you are."

"But why???"

"You're very smart. I enjoy listening to you. And I know I will enjoy talking with you too. It's

something I never had with my concubines. Please stay by my side. I will love you, respect you, and

fulfill your wishes."

"........it doesn't make sense, Sire. How can you fall for me after speaking to me once? You know

nothing about me, and I know nothing about you, except the obvious ones."

"Then let's get to know each other from now on."

"Please, I'm at the edge of my sanity. Don't make fun of me. How can your guard seize and imprison

me, and now you want to marry me? I don't get it. This has to be a mistake."

"This is not a mistake, my Lady. This is so right. People marry after one meeting all the time. Please,

take my hand. I'll be good to you."

He was offering his hand, but she just stared at it.

"Please release my maid, Alice."

"Richard, please release her maid."

The Captain left to do it.

"Please let me meet my parents."

"Alright. After you enter my palace."

"Can I not go home, Sire?"

"No. A wife has to stay with her husband. But you can invite your family as often as you please."

"What about my academy?"

"Let your friends continue it. But you can call your friends here and educate them. Teach noble ladies

and the royal court ladies. Start an academy within my palace, Lady. And I'll fund your academy.

Make it as big as Sullivan University. Would you like that?"

"Really, Sire, you'd do that?"

"Of course. I'll do more for you. What else do you want? I'm your emperor. What have you always wanted, but couldn't get? I'll give it to you."

"My brother studied Philosophy at the university. I studied his books as well. But I also want to study the other two majors, Economy and Strategy."

"The lecturers will visit you soon. But study with a partition separating you and them."

"Really? I can do that?"

"Yes. Is there anything else?"

"I want to learn another language."

"Do you mean the northern language?"

“Yes."

"I'll bring a teacher from Engravia to teach you that."

"Really?"

“Yes. Will you be my queen?"

"..........will it be hard, Sire?"

"There will be difficult moments, but you'll be able to handle it. I'm sure of it. I will be a good

husband for you, Lady Giselle, I promise."

He offered his hand again, and she stared at it. Then at his eyes.

She couldn't explain it with words. It was purely instinct. Nothing she learnt all her life had prepared

her for this.

But she believed him. Even though she just met him, she believed his promises. And he asked her

what she needed, instead of only thinking she'd be happy to have him. For the first time in her life,

Lady Giselle met a man who treated her as an equal, not as someone lower.

She thought only her father and brother could treat her that way. Apparently, the emperor could as

well.

So she reached for his hand.

He smiled and helped her stand up.

"I'll take you to my palace, then talk to your father."

"Yes, Sire."

Alice saw her lady's hand was held by a very handsome man, wearing the royal robe.

She knew only one man in the empire could wear that, but she still asked a guard standing nearby,

"Who's that man?"

"That's His Majesty The Emperor."

Alice had to clap her mouth to stop herself from screaming.

When Lady Giselle saw her maid, she let go of the emperor's hand and ran to her.

"Alice, did they hurt you???"

"No, My Lady. I'm fine. Is that the emperor?"

“Yes."

"Is he releasing you?"

“Yes, he is."

"Oh, thank heavens! We can go home!"

"Um.......we're not going home."

"What? Is he exiling us to Jerome Island?"

"No. We're going to his palace."

"Do we have to be the Royal Court Ladies now?"

"No, I'm marrying him."

"WHAT DID YOU SAY???" Alice screamed. "You're what???"

"He asked me to be his queen."

"HE WHAT???"

"The carriage is here, My Lady."

She walked with Alice to the Imperial Prison's Yard, where a royal carriage was ready for her.

The emperor helped her get into the carriage, before he climbed his horse, and they began the journey

to his personal palace.

This was how the extraordinary Lady Giselle met the Emperor and became the queen.

It wasn't a fairy tale. It was a surprisingly unusual story.

They both found their match, and had a very fulfilling marriage that added to their body and soul's

happiness.

This was their beginning.

********************

Her parents, her brother and his wife, together with all her students and ex-students, gathered in front

of Cardell Palae and were begging the emperor to release Lady Giselle.

"Your Majesty, please, let Lady Giselle go. She is innocent! Take everything I have, but return my

only daughter, Your Majesty. Please release Lady Giselle!"

"Please release Lady Giselle!" the crowd begged, on their knees and touching their foreheads on the

hot street.

People who worked for Lord Kirstein also came one after the other, and soon, around five thousand

people were kneeling and begging in front of Cardell Palace.

Such was the immense impact of Lady Giselle and her good family. They feared she was going to be

executed.

From the ladies who learned at her academy and were poor, to the women from rich families. Women

in cotton dresses knelt together beside women in silk dresses. They were crying and hugging each

other.

"Lady Giselle can't die like this. Not after everything she did for us. I can't bear this! This is too

cruel!"

"Let's keep begging. Maybe the emperor will hear us. This is too unfair!!!"

In the midst of their despair, the palace gates opened, revealing Captain Richard, the Captain of The

Royal Guards.

"Is Lady Giselle's family here? His Majesty would like to speak with you."

"Oh no!" a lady squealed in fear. "Is the entire Kirstein family going to be executed?"

The ladies wept harder, while their husbands and fathers spoke all at once.

"There will be no execution!!! Lady Giselle Kirstein will be His Majesty's Queen!"

Everyone became so silent and still after that.

"Is her family here?"

Lord Kirstein stood up.

"I am her father."

"Please follow me. His Majesty would like to speak with you."

Lady Kirstein's family entered the gates, and they closed again.

Once the gates were locked and bolted, the crowd exploded to excitement.

"Did you hear that? His Majesty will make her the queen! Is it true? Can you believe it?"