CHAPTER 31- IMPERIAL CALL (2)

I stood before the grand mirror, my emerald-green eyes tracing the reflection of a girl who carried the weight of wealth and status like a crown of thorns.

My silver hair was swept into an intricate braided updo, delicate strands curling to frame my face. A golden tiara studded with tiny sapphires rested atop my head, securing the lace-trimmed bonnet that screamed propriety.

My gown was a masterpiece, a navy-blue bodice embroidered with golden vines The high, ruffled collar accentuated my neck, while the full, sweeping skirt cascaded in layers of silver-white fabric, embroidered with gold filigree that danced with every step. My gloved hands rested gracefully, a picture of control. But control was an illusion.

When I left the Court of Ignis, I never imagined I'd return to the Imperial Palace or wear these suffocating clothes again.

But here I was, draped in opulence, my anger simmering beneath the surface. The Emperor's dirty tricks were no secret. His hunger for ultimate power was insatiable. I still didn't know how things would've turned out if I hadn't poisoned him to death. Maybe I'd have fought on the battlefield until my last breath.

I glanced at Rina, her face pale with worry. "Are you nervous?" I asked, my voice calm but edged with steel. She nodded. "This is the first time you'll meet the Emperor as the Heiress of Nyxveil. I don't trust his sudden summons."

I chuckled darkly, my fingers brushing the hilt of *Slayer* tucked beneath my skirt. "His Majesty must be curious. After all, I'll soon lead House Nyxveil." My reflection stared back at me, a mask of poise over a storm of defiance.

Rina's voice trembled. "Be careful, My Lady. You know what he's capable of." I did. The memory of my 12th birthday clawed at my mind.

The Emperor's mana choking me, his cold eyes devoid of mercy. If not for Father's intervention, I'd have been a lifeless husk. That day marked the beginning of my terror—and my resolve.

"Don't worry, Rina," I said, my voice steady. "I'm not that helpless girl anymore. The Emperor can't touch me now." I turned and descended the stairs, my gown whispering against the marble. At the entrance, Father stood.

Draped in a sapphire-blue robe and a silver-white mantle, he looked every bit the regal patriarch. Golden armor adorned his shoulders, intricate carvings and sapphires glinting with every movement. 

"You look beautiful," he said, his voice calm but laced with something I couldn't place. I blinked, caught off guard.

Compliments from him were rare, almost unsettling. I nodded, masking my discomfort. As his successor, I had to play my part, even if it meant standing beside the man I planned to destroy.

We stepped outside, the Imperial Carriage waiting like a shadowy beast. Its black lacquered frame, intricate filigree swirling like creeping vines. The black horse, its coat absorbing the light, stood unnaturally still. The driver, cloaked in darkness, seemed more specter than man.

Only the Imperial Family dared to use such a carriage, their obsession with black a symbol of their power—or their arrogance.

I climbed inside, sitting opposite Father as the carriage lurched forward.

The journey to the Imperial Palace was a two-hour ride, the city of Pyrexia unfolding outside the window. The mountains loomed in the distance, their peaks lost in clouds. Waterfalls cascaded from the cliffs, their silver torrents veiling parts of the city in mist. The architecture was breathtaking—a blend of pale stone and terracotta, golden domes and spires glinting in the sunlight. But beauty couldn't mask the tension coiling in my chest.

"Why do you think His Majesty summoned us?" I asked, breaking the silence.

Father's gaze met mine, his expression unreadable. "I don't know," he admitted. His calmnessirked me. I clenched my fists, my mind racing. The Emperor's sudden interest in me was dangerous. My power revealed at the banquet had made me a target.

"Are you scared?" Father's voice cut through my thoughts. Scared? No. I was angry, anxious, but not scared.

"What's the range of your authority, Your Grace?" I asked, my tone sharp.

He raised an eyebrow. "It depends on the situation," he replied. Vague, as always.

But his words sparked an idea. This meeting could be my opportunity to solidify my standing and show the Emperor I wasn't a pawn to be manipulated.

"What are you planning?" Father asked, his voice tinged with curiosity. I looked out the window, the city's golden spires glinting in the distance. "Something that might be recorded in history," I said, my voice calm but laced with determination. "I hope you'll be my shield today, Your Grace."

His eyes widened, a flicker of anticipation—or was it excitement?) crossing his face.

I might despise him, but I couldn't deny how much I resembled him. In the face of uncertainty, the best course of action was to be unpredictable. After all, I had nothing left to lose.