"She did appear rather unwell to me. I mean, she couldn't even get out of the bed when I came in the room, and not to mention how exhausted she sounded too."
"...I see." He let out a sigh before clicking his tongue at the news he'd just received. "Very well then. You may go, but keep a close watch on her, especially if she decides to leave her room."
"Of course, Your Majesty."
"... And you." He turned to face another servant standing close by, just as the other one rushed to leave before Lex changed his mind. "Get the maids to clean this place top to bottom. I don't care what happens to the pastries, just make sure it's spotless."
The servant stared at the emperor in disbelief, then glanced at the lavish decorations and pastries, all crafted with extreme care despite the last-minute preparations.
'But we literally just finished with the preparations...' The servant wished to express his frustration, but bit back the urge to voice his complaint for fear of his life. 'Oh, the guys are going to kill me.'
Instead, he gave a quick nod and hurried off to grab the others, leaving the visibly grumpy emperor on his own with his thoughts.
'Is she... ignoring me?' Lex wondered as a frown formed across his face, finding the entire situation simply distasteful. 'But I could've sworn we were on great terms just last night.'
His hand naturally reached into his coat, taking a hold of the plush jewelry box he had kept tucked in his inner coat, as an unusual discomfort tightened across his chest.
Lex's scarred fingers carefully traced the intricate patterns etched into the box, pausing over the place where her name was carved by his own hand, as he hoped that would make the gift even more meaningful.
He had planned to gift it to her today and formally ask her to the customary dance at the final celebration tomorrow, one that marked the end of the spring festivals, making it one of Stygia's most revered nights.
"What horrible luck." He muttered under his breath, feeling annoyed by everything he had been left to deal with.
Scarlett's appearance last night was truly unexpected, and although he could very easily have her dealt with by his men, the real issue lied with the man that currently has her back, the headmaster.
'Who knew that old geezer would have a Roseabelle as a goddaughter?' He scoffed in utter disbelief. 'And of all things, she just had to be obsessed with you, the good-for-nothing Stygian prince.'
He waited for a response, but there was nothing, almost as if Kaiden had never existed in the first place. Lex rolled his eyes in resignation before heading back to his study, where he could enjoy a bit of privacy. He had to plan a way to deal with Scarlett quietly, without having his secret revealed to everyone, especially Kaari.
However, as if things weren't already bad enough, he noticed two tall figures lingering by the door to his study, likely carrying news that could only mean even more work for him, given that he was the emperor of a thriving nation.
Without saying a word, he hurried inside and slammed the doors shut with a loud bang, before it quietly locked itself behind him.
The two High Roses exchanged surprised glances, shifting their gaze from each other to the door and back again.
"So... " Rowen finally spoke up. "Is it just me or does the air around His Majesty feel tenser than usual?"
"... You don't say, Rowen." Amrit replied with a sarcastic eye roll, still amazed by his friend's immense lack of social awareness despite having known him for so long. "I wonder what tipped you off to finally notice."
"He looked like he was ready to put us six feet under..." Rowen said with a nervous laugh that did little to calm his own nerves. "Ugh, just what could be bothering him this time... and why is he so terrible at keeping his emotions in check?!"
"... Someone's coming." Amrit said as he hit Rowen on the arm, getting him to straighten up.
"Ah, just the people I was hoping to find." Her sultry voice echoed through the spacious hall, enough to make Rowen shift uneasily. "You wouldn't happen to know His Majesty's whereabouts at the moment, would you?"
"Your guess would be as good as ours, Lady Scarlett." Amrit immediately took the lead and replied politely, offering a slight bow in apology. "In fact, we're here hoping to catch him on his way to his study."
"...Is that so?" She studied Amrit carefully, but his poker face made it impossible for the noblewoman to read him correctly. "Very well then but do let me know if you happen to see him, gentlemen. There are some very important matters to discuss between us, you see."
"... Of course, My Lady. We will be on the lookout." Amrit replied with a faint smile, his eyes following her until she was completely out of sight.
"I have a bad feeling about this, Amrit. I don't know what exactly, but I can just feel it." Rowen echoed Amrit's unspoken thoughts, and for once, Amrit couldn't have agreed with his friend more.
=================
"Are you sure you'll be alright tonight, princess?" Gabriel's worried words brought Kaari back from her daydreaming, and she quickly nodded, smiling at the concerned nobleman. "I heard you weren't feeling too great for most of the day."
"I'll be alright, Gabriel." She replied, lightly patting his hand as reassurance, grateful for the young man's concerns. "I made sure to rest as much as I could beforehand, so worry not."
At first, she had planned to stay in from tonight's grand celebration to take care of herself, but after having the mysterious soup brought in by her maids, she was surprised at how much better she felt shortly after.
"It's a well-known remedy for Roseabelles when they are sick." She recalled one of the maids explaining to her as they expectantly watched Kaari take a bite. "And don't worry about what's in it Your Highness. We made yours human friendly."
'I can only imagine what is inside the original recipe.' She thought, feeling queasy just thinking about it.
Luckily, before her thoughts could drift away again, they arrived at their destination and were met by a thrilled Nox.
"Why, hello there." Kaari gave the creature an affectionate rub on the head as a greeting, while Gabriel maintained a respectful distance from it. "Have we kept you waiting long?"
The gathering was much smaller than yesterday's, limited to invited guests only, and this time, it was reserved for those closely connected to the royal family of Stygia and Exousia.
Kaari and Gabriel quickly settled into the lively scene, Kaari listening intently as Gabriel shared the details of his day while they waited for the festivities to officially start.
Meanwhile, Nox settled in a dark, comfortable corner nearby, occasionally glancing around to keep an eye on the surroundings.
Before long however, their conversation was quickly cut short by the booming brass of an ancient instrument, announcing the emperor's grand arrival.
The entire hall burst into a loud applause as he walked in, and while Kaari and Gabriel stood at the sidelines to greet him with the rest of the guests, a beautiful woman, likely a High Roseabelle, stood confidently at his side.
Their arms were closely linked as they made their way through the crowd, Lex wore his usual intimidating look, and the woman beside him offered warm smiles to everyone, posing a striking contrast to his stern demeanor.
"I guess all those rumors about His Majesty searching for an empress was true after all." Gabriel spoke offhandedly, unknowingly making the knot in Kaari's stomach to tighten. "This must be their first public appearance together."
"... What rumors are you talking about?" The princess asked hesitantly, as this was the first time she had ever heard of this.
"Apparently, his royal council had been urging him to take an empress ever since he was crowned ruler years ago, but with no success, well, until now of course." He took a small sip of his drink before he continued. "If I'm not mistaken, that's Scarlett White, the head dean of The Academy and goddaughter of the headmaster."
'I... I never knew he was in search of an empress.' The princess was starting to regret her choice to attend the celebration, but it was far too late to turn back now, especially with the emperor's eyes fixed on her from across the room.
Their eyes met for just a fleeting moment, and she could have sworn his gaze softened, as though he was relieved to spot her among the crowd of strangers.
Kaari broke contact first, stepping back to the side and attempting to hide as he approached, hoping he would just walk past, but it was of no use.
Lex was already making his way towards Kaari, leaving Scarlett to tend to the nosy nobles crowding around her.
'W-why is he coming over here?' She panicked, and just as she was about to walk away, he called out to her, making it impossible for her to ignore him any longer.
"Kaari." His deep voice echoed loud and clear, and for a moment, everyone around them paused to watch their exchange, Scarlett included.
He knew he shouldn't have been interacting with Kaari in such a large crowd, but the sight of her with that worthless human was his last straw.
"... Your Majesty." Kaari finally turned towards Lex and bowed, her heartbeat quickened from the sound of him saying her name.
"May I have a word with you?" His tone was somber yet gentle, as it always was when he spoke to her. "There are a few things I'd like to talk over with you."
"Privately, that is." He clarified, casting Gabriel a warning glare, while the human glanced at Lex in confusion, wondering what he had done to deserve that look.
For a moment, she stood there in silence, avoiding his gaze the way she once used to meet it.
"...Of course." Kaari finally replied, though it was obvious she had no real choice but to agree, and it bothered Lex more than he cared to admit.
Without warning, Lex instinctively reached for Kaari's arm, and together they walked away hand in hand, leaving the crowd hanging high in suspense.