The fireworks eventually faded, and silence was restored to Moonveil Palace.The baby finally calmed down with the help of the royal physician, who gave a calming tonic that would stabilize her. Ursa helped her back into the bed. "Your ladyship you scared me, I'm glad you're finally better." Ursa said as she had a concerned look on her face.
Lorelei knew why she felt concerned, after all she was carrying the emperor's child and also from a powerful family. Any mistake can result in death. "I will be fine Ursa, the baby is just eager to come to the world."
Lorelei comforted Ursa. In her time of arrival, Ursa has been the only person who has looked at her with compassion, and has treated her right.
Lorelei too felt scared because she has never been pregnant before in her previous life, yet she is already 9 months, and the baby might come anytime.
"Let me leave you to rest my ladyship, we all have to prepare for tomorrow". Ursa spoke to Lorelei as she pulled the bed cover to cover her body. "Goodnight, Ursa.". Lorelei tried to sleep, but she could still feel the baby moving, though gently this time. Her big belly also made it impossible for her to sleep properly.
As she closed her eyes, Lorelei tried to think about something else, but her mind was also getting overwhelmed with memories.
The celebration of the Empress coronation is still ringing in her mind. Yet another memory began to surface, memories of a boy named Kaelion. A memory from the past surfaced. Emily saw a young Lorelei and a boy named Kaelion as children.
They were in a place that looked like a garden, there was a quiet lake in the garden. The Lorelei she saw was very different from the one in her previous memories.
Young Lorelei had this innocence in her eyes. She had a very beautiful smile. She played with the boy in her memories. They both chase a butterfly and laugh without a care. The memory shifted to another scene where she saw a much older Kaelion, he looked between ten to twelve. He didn't have the smile he had as a child.
Then Emily found out Kaelion was the emperor, no in this memory he was just a young crown prince. Kaelion in her memory even at his age still looked less cold, he was very curious even as a child, he has not had his aura yet. He still looked sweet and nervous. She saw a young Lorelei sneak watch him as he practiced his sword training.
In her memories, Lorelei teased him for always having a serious face, yet he looked so cute. Kaelion, in her memories, rejected touch from others, but secretly enjoyed it when Lorelei's attention was on him, and treated him like a normal boy.
Kaelion was always himself with Lorelei. He didn't pretend in front of her. Young Lorelei admired Kaelion so much, she was not close to him just because her father said she must, she was close to him because what she felt for him was deeper.
Young Lorelei followed Kaelion everywhere whenever she came to the palace with her father. Emily saw them together in the library, training grounds, she even sneaked him sweets and novels to read.
Young Lorelei always defended Kaelion from other nobles when they mocked him for being too quiet. She was his little protector. Another memory surfaced: they were now adults, and Lorelei was already Kaelion's lover.
Kaelion returned from a political meeting with advisors, he looked angry and frustrated, Lorelei in her memory tried to find out what happened when kaelion told her something important.
Emily could not hear what was said, but she knew it was important enough to make Lorelei angry.
Another memory surfaced: Kaelion will soon be crowned emperor, and in the memory Kaelion told Lorelei, "My tutors say that when I become Emperor, I belong to the empire." Lorelei asked him what he meant with a puzzled look, Kaelion replied to her, "It means I will never be allowed to live for myself".
Kaelion held Lorelei's hands and explained further, "They told me the Emperor cannot marry for love, and the Empress must stabilize the Empire." Lorelei didn't understand those words fully but those words stayed with her.
Lorelei tried to comfort him, "You can always marry me, my family is the most powerful noble family, and you love me". Lorelei said with a smile, but Kaelion laughed and shaked his head.
"You don't fully understand my sweet Lorelei, soon you will."
The memories ended abruptly, Emily jolted awake from her bed, she was covered with sweets. The reality hit her that the boy she loved became the Emperor. He had already given her a hint. He had a reason for not marrying her. Lorelei now understands something, the Emperor's marriage to the Empress is just a political one.
It is not love marriage at all. Marriage is about the stability of the empire. They won't allow someone like her to be made empress because of the power backing her. They will look for an empress that is easy to control.
This realization makes all her previous actions look pathetic, they had already decided she was not to be empress, because of her family's power. The Original Lorelei probably believed she would be the empress because of the emperor's love.
She was so wrong. Lorelei called out to any maid servant. Two maid servants came rushing in, "Your ladyship, how may we be of service" both servants asked as they bowed before her, "I need to get up and pee" Lorelei replied to them.
They both rushed to help her get up from the bed and helped her to the restroom. After she was done, they both helped her back into the bed. Just as she was about to sleep, a servant rushed in.
"My Ladyship, are you still awake.? "The servant seemed nervous as she stood before her.
Lorelei had a puzzled look on her face as she looked at the servant, "What happened?"The maid hesitated before she spoke, Lorelei immediately sensed something was wrong. The servant knelt before her to deliver the message.
"Your Ladyship, the Emperor has issued an order." "What is the order about, Lorelei asked looking worried. The servant lowered her head and said quietly,"Until further notice, your ladyship is not permitted to leave Moonveil Palace."
Lorelei felt her heart break, the lingering feelings of the original owner towards the emperor are still there. Lorelei knew this was imperial confinement. The emperor has officially abandoned her. Emily felt sorry for the original owner. The man she loved has broken his promise to her. It means now that he has actively placed her under restriction.
The baby in her tummy kicked as I was feeling his mother's distress. This brought Emily back to her senses as she could not but fear for the life of her child. Moonveil palace is now officially a prison, No! her prison.