The carriage slowed to a final stop, the coachman's voice called out "your Imperial majesties... we have arrived" me and Sofia looked at each other nervously, after a while the carriage door opened and we stepped out of the carriage, for a moment the cold air felt like a warning,
the Blackwood estate loomed over us with dark stone walls illuminated by flickering lanterns unlike the Royal Palace, which felt like a monument to history this place felt like a fortress built for a predator, standing at the entrance was a woman with sharp, disciplined features and Iron-grey hair pulled back Into a tight bun.
[Name - Martha
Age - 40
Hair – Grey
Husband – None
Title – Head Maid of House Blackwood]
Usually, when the emperor and empress arrive the estate soldiers and maids line up In a perfect row to welcome them but here the vast courtyard was empty, Martha stood alone as we approached her then Martha did a curtsy and said "welcome your Imperial majesties.....the duke and duchess have been expecting you...follow me" as we followed Martha through the corridors, the click of her heels on the cold stone floor was the only sound, after a while Martha stopped before a pair of towering doors, then she pushed the heavy doors open and stepped aside, the room was a vast dimly lit dining hall, and In the centre of the room was a dining table with Liam and Scarlett sitting, then Martha announced "the guests have arrived your grace" Liam looked at us and said "welcome your Imperial majesties I hope your Journey was pleasant" I looked at Liam, who was sitting completely relaxed, while Scarlett sat to his right, her sharp eyes tracing every move we made I nodded and said "the Journey was... adequate Duke Blackwood" Liam gestured to the two chairs placed at the table and said "please sit, you must be hungry" we walked toward the table and I pulled out Sofia's chair for her then I took my own seat after that we started eating and the conversation remained remarkably civil, to any outside observer this would look like merely a diplomatic dinner between a Duke and the emperor.
After dinner we were drinking red wine when Scarlett set her glass down with a delicate click and said "her Imperial majesty....did you do what my husband asked of you?...or did you find It too... beneath your dignity?" I felt the air leave my lungs, beside me I saw Sofia's hand tighten around the glass of wine, she looked at me for a split second, her eyes filled with a mixture of that lingering shame and the dark, secret spark we had shared In the bedroom then she looked at Scarlett and said "I...I am wearing It Duchess" Sofia whispered, her voice barely audible, Scarlett replied tilting her head with a look of feigned Innocence "I am sorry I didn't quite catch that.....you are wearing what exactly?" Sofia's face burned red as she lowered her head and admitted It louder "I am wearing the... the lingerie your husband requested" Scarlett leaned back, swirling the red wine In her glass while smirking as Sofia's pride seemed to physically crumble before her then Scarlett chuckled and said "and tell me your Imperial majesty...did you watch her put It on? Or did you... perhaps... help her?" hearing that question I felt the heat rising In my neck, a burning flush of shame as I replied "I....helped her" Scarlett mocked me "how touching.....a dutiful husband, even In his own humiliation...But tell me your Imperial majesty...did It make you feel like a man to touch the lingerie meant for another's eyes? or did It make you feel...pathetic?" that word echoed In the vast hall, I remembered It was the same word Sofia said while looking down at me "you look so... so pathetic, Alan"...hearing It now from Scarlett made me think...do I really look so pathetic to these women?.....even though I am the emperor?....the most powerful man In the holy empire...then Scarlett said while smirking "I see by your silence...It's the latter" I Just looked down without saying a word then Liam set his glass down with a delicate click and said "dear don't you think words are so easily spoken" then Scarlett looked at me and replied "you're right.....words are cheap anyone can claim they've followed an order, but seeing Is believing" there was a pause In the room because everyone understood what's going to happen then Scarlett said looking at Sofia "her Imperial majesty.....go and stand In front of my husband" Sofia's breath hitched yet she didn't look at me with a plea for help, we both knew there was no help to be had so Sofia rose from her seat and walked around the table to stand directly In front of Liam then Scarlett's eyes locked onto mine, her smirk widening as she said "now, her Imperial majesty....lift your gown" Sofia with a shaky ragged breath, she reached down and gripped the fine silk of her skirt then slowly, Inch by Inch, she began to lift the gown her ankles, then her calves and finally the pale skin of her thighs were revealed, seeing my wife's skin revealed Inch by Inch, It was a slow motion torture that I found myself craving more.