The Emperor's Unfavored Empress

Chapter 5 Cassiopeia: The Emperor's Request

The night is dark and deep. I can hear the deafening sound of silence and my heartbeat. My body is tired, but I can't sleep. Through the open window, I stare at the stars and wonder if someone has been looking for me in my real world. I remember the fun memories I had. In my world, I was alone but not lonely. Now, I am not alone, but I am lonely. I am a stranger to this world, and nobody knows that. The sound of laughter echoes through my mind as it fades away. My eyes opened slowly to see the moon and nothing else. There is no music playing or laughing voices cheering for me.

I got up from my bed to see if Lin and Hera are still awake. Just as the entire kingdom was tranquil, Lin and Hera were fast asleep. I peeked through the window and saw the night guards roving around the empire. I grabbed my coat and slipped off my back. I knew I would be in big trouble if they saw me, so I took the deserted road on the east side of the palace. I was rooted to the ground when I saw arrays of mansions lined next to each other.

"Who lives in those houses? Officials?" I asked myself. It's like there's a small community within the empire. It was obvious to me that I had stumbled onto an elite neighborhood. I had been so enthralled by the sights that I hadn't realized I had come to the hidden lake.

"How pretty!" I exclaimed. From where I was standing, I could hear the sound of flowing water. I took a deep breath as I stepped onto a rock and dipped my feet into the cold water. Going down to the deep part of the lake was a strange comfort. It was an odd feeling- a sense of peace that is difficult to describe. Suddenly, the part I stepped in deepened, and I could not back out. I sank, I tried to swim towards the surface and a man stood before me when I came out. I swam my way out of the lake, and so did he.

"What are you doing here?" His voice echoed all around the place. I could sense the annoyance in his tone. Why is the fourth prince here?

"Wait! Calm down. I just stumbled here. I didn't mean to be here!" I exclaimed. "You, why are you here," I cried.

“This is my empire, Princess. I can be where I want to be.” I was surprised to see him at a closer look. He wasn't wearing his mask. Everything seemed to be in slow motion, including the dripping of water from his wet hair down to the delicate outline of his jaw. The rumor was a lie. The fourth prince is handsome!

"What? Did you swallow your tongue and can't speak?" The sound of his voice startled me back into my senses. Only then did I realize that our faces were only inches apart.

"I was taking a stroll through the neighborhood when I came across a few beautiful manors. It was hard not to be in awe of their beauty, but I found myself here." I said, then looked away. He took his robe and then wrapped it around his body.

"You shouldn't be strolling around the empire, Princess. Especially at night."

"I have to get used to this place since I will be living here," I said and looked at him. The lamp's light shone again, hitting his icy eyes and sending shivers through my entire body. I was glad he couldn't see the cold sweat forming on my face.

"You don't belong here." His tone wasn't as cold as before, but I could feel the annoyance in his voice. I knew that the Prince was still mad at me.

He did not respond. Instead, he walked past me and ultimately left me. I was left dumbfounded as my hands were shaking. Cassiopeia is in love with him, and I cannot control her emotions! I felt my heart beat faster as I locked eyes with him, and there were flashes of memory in the forest— Cassiopeia had saved the fourth Prince, and she fell in love with him!

“Princess!” I immediately turned around upon hearing Hera's voice.

"What are you doing here, and why are you drenched?" Lin exclaimed. They led me away from the lake. While walking, my mind was still wondering about what had happened earlier. I couldn't get Magnus’ face out of my mind.

"Why did you say he has the face of a monster?" I asked Lin. She and Hera stood in silence, with their jaws open as they stared at each other.

“Who? The fourth prince?” Lin asked.

“Yes.”

"He is, and the whole land knows that because of the hideous scar on his face," Lin replied seriously.

"Well, you're wrong," they frowned,

"How?" Hera asked.

"I saw the face of the fourth prince at the lake, and he has no scar," I explained.

"How is that possible?" Lin and Hera said at the same time. Lin's eyes widened in disbelief while Hera's mouth dropped slightly in shock.

"Is he good-looking?" Hera asked with a smile. I was caught off guard but nodded anyway.

The ringing bell of the Aurelian Empire awakened me. "Good thing you’re awake. Your breakfast is ready, Princess," said Hera as she placed the food on the edge of my bed.

I hurriedly got dressed and was summoned by the Emperor after breakfast. I headed to his palace in a hurry. As I was on my way to the palace, I met up with several groups of girls.

They stopped walking when they saw me, and since I was in a hurry, I didn’t have time to slow down. One pulled me by the arm and forced me to face them.

"Yes?" I ask.

“You saw Princess Natalia," she started, “why didn't you stop and pay your respects?" one of his cohorts asked me.

"Why, who is she?" I asked as I looked at whom they called Princess Natalia. I don't know who the girl in front of me is. She wears an exquisite gown, which means she must be a royal. Disbelief was written all over their faces.

"She is the Empress's only niece," said the girl in a blue dress.

"So?" the woman in front of me gasped, then raised her hand.

"Tanara, stop," said Natalia, "the lady looks like she's in a hurry," she continued. She's smiling and saying kind words to make herself look like some saint-- a facade, but when you look closely? She's not.

"You're lucky that Princess Natalia is kind," said the woman in front of me, “I would have killed you,” she gritted her teeth.

"Tanara, I said, let her go!" Natalia snorted, causing the woman to let go of me. I fixed my clothes.

"Ladies, why are you in the hallway?" I turned around when I heard a man speak up suddenly.

"The young lady and I just met halfway and said hello, your highness," Natalia said.

You're highness? Is he one of the princes?

"Is that so?" answered the Prince. Turning to face me, he asked, "How was your first night here in our empire, Princess Cassiopeia?"

"It's fine, your highness." I addressed him how they addressed him. I saw fear in the eyes of the girls in front of me, especially the girl who had pulled me earlier.

"Princess?" Natalia emphasized.

"Yes, she is Princess Cassiopeia of the Cassiana Kingdom and the bride of Magnus." The Prince replied with a smile. Tanara looked away as she got closer to Natalia. She bowed and then went to hide in the back of her. "Just like you, Natalia," said the Prince. "She, too, has just arrived in the empire," he added. This means that Natalia has also arrived at the empire.

"Then, it's bad not to have recognized you, Princess Cassiopeia." Natalia said, emphasizing the word "princess." "Which kingdom are you from again?" I knew what she was trying to convey. She wanted to make it look like I was an unpopular princess from an unknown kingdom.

"It's okay, Natalia. I didn't even know that you were the niece of the empress, and I didn't even know where you came from, so it's fair," I drew a sweet smile. Since she is just the niece of the empress, I never called her Princess. I saw how she clenched her fist and the narrowing of her eyes.

"I'm glad the two of you have already met," said the Prince, stroking our heads.

"I am sorry to interrupt you, your highness.” I bowed, “I have to go. The Emperor is waiting for me." I politely said, and the Prince gestured for me to go ahead. I left them and then quickly headed to the Emperor's palace.

When I arrived, I found the Emperor cutting roses and putting them into a basket. "Your Imperial Majesty, it is I, Cassiopeia. Did you call me?" I humbly introduced myself.

He turned to me and reached out his hand. “Come, Cassiopeia.” I immediately obeyed and came closer. As we faced the vast garden of roses, the emperor asked me which color was best suited to please the empress.

"Her majesty likes red, so how about a bouquet of red roses in the center of white roses?" I suggested.

The emperor looked at me and smiled, “is that possible?” he exclaimed.

“Yes, Your Majesty,” I answered. I turned to face him and bowed, “I could make the bouquet for you, Your Imperial Majesty.”

The emperor laughed and offered me his hand. “That would just be wonderful!” he said.

After gathering the roses, I started removing the thorns, and instead of putting them in a basket, I made a beautiful bouquet.

"How beautiful, Cassiopeia!" exclaimed the emperor, "where did you learn to do this?" he said to her while spinning the bouquet in his hands.

"I'm glad you liked it, Your Majesty," I said. “But may I know why you called for me?” I asked.

"Right, I just want to ask you something," said the emperor, "Are you by any chance acquainted with the fourth prince?" I was taken aback by the question. This isn't the right time to tell anyone that I have saved the fourth prince.

"No, Your Imperial Majesty." I lied. “May I know why you asked?”

"You look familiar. Did we meet in the Aurelian forest amid war?" The emperor said as he lay the bouquet of roses on the table.

“You must have been mistaken. What will I do in the forest on top of that in the midst of war?” I faked a smile. The emperor nodded his head in approval.

"Magnus, the only son close to my heart," he sighed, "I hope you will be his wife in the future," said the emperor. "His impatience and brusqueness worries me. His heart is cold, as they say, but it is pure. When it comes to the point where you have to choose, I hope he is the one you will choose." I frowned. I don't know why he is telling me this now, "but of course, I am well aware that to be able to choose him, you must first fall in love with him. So I hope that behind his —” I cut him off,

“Flaw?” the Emperor nodded slowly. Even the emperor did not know there was no flaw hiding behind his mask. “Your majesty, I am only a humble follower of your order. It's not difficult what you're asking of me, but I can’t force the Prince to like me. How can I help him if he won't open his heart to me, too?” there was silence. "Love can't be forced, I know, but you can count on me being here when he's ready." I know that the real Cassiopeia loves the fourth prince, but the Prince has no feelings for her.