The Emperor's Killer Bride

10.

The carriage swirls from side to side as it rode down the busy, bustling street. Although she hadn't checked, Regina was sure it was more packed now because of the hunt tomorrow.

The evening sun cast long shadows on the ground. The slanting rays of the setting sun gave a warm orange tinge to the sky. Yet, somehow, that didn't stop the bubbles from outside. She had had a long, wild day filled with so many unforseen circumstances that she hadn't expected. One, she hadn't expected to meet a lowly guard who had tried to grope her a.ss, nor had she thought she'd meet Lord Ashton, who seem to be an over pampered, proud man, like most noble men she had met. Just like the man who had refused to help them when they needed him the most. She wouldn't hesitate plunging a dagger in his heart, or better yet, poisoning his food if she gets the chance. That should make him pay for subjecting her and Valeria to this mess. She also hadn't expected to meet the naive woman who called herself the Lady of the house. 

Although Regina had thoroughly enjoyed her time with her, it was easy to notice that the girl was naive. Undoubtedly, she looked to be thesame age as Regina. Twenty three years isn't that bad. But no one needed to tell her that Lucinda was a naive little one.

She had been avoiding Jade's gaze ever since she had stepped into the carriage and saw her in it. Although she wanted nothing more than to ask her what she had wanted to tell her few days ago, she now found it utterly uncomfortable to be sitting this close to her. There was something odd about Jade.

"How long are you planning to keep ignoring me and looking outside?" Jade asked, keeping her gaze fixed intently on Regina.

"I wasn't avoiding you," Regina turned to stare at her, blinking innocently.

"It took great effort to get Madam Gisella to allow me come here to escort you back. Weren't you surprised I came to escort you back instead of her lady guards?"

Now that she asked, it suddenly clicked in for Regina. Why was she here?

"It is no surprise to see you here. Everyone knows you're Madam Gisella's favorite despite killing a person."

Jade sucked in a deep breath, then feeling Regina's heated gaze on her, turned away.

"I suppose it can't be helped. But like I said, I needed to do that for her. It was the only way to keep her and myself safe. I've always been rough and strong, but never the type to just kill for something so trivial."

"Keep her safe? By killing her in cold blood?" Regina scoffed, her eyes blazing with anger. "Definitely a dramatic kind of saving right there."

"Regina, listen," she turned to face her. "Nothing on the outside always seem to be the right thing. You never know what one hides deep within them. I might not show it, but I'm not as evil as you think I am."

"That's great for you, Jade. I suppose that should make me feel better and look at you in a different light, right?"

Jade sighed, then her lips curl up to a slow smile which quickly vanished. "You're one stubborn woman, Regina. Which makes me believe you're in the best position to do this."

"I've been told worse. Being stubborn is the least of my problems, right?"

"Look, I need your help," she frantically looked around, then grabbed Regina's hands in hers. "Fiona isn't dead. Right now, you're the only one I can trust. I need you to help me ge..."

The sudden stop of the carriage and the sudden jerk made them both almost fall from their seats. It was a close call, one that would've created a huge accident in the process.

"What...what was that?" Regina asked, her heart still pounding from the impact. But before Jade could reply, the door was pulled open and Madam Gisella stood there smiling.

"I suppose you had a great time back there, Regina?" Her voice was soft, yet clipped in a way that sounded like a warning to Regina. What bothered her even more was how Jade recoiled as soon as she had seen Madam Gisella.

"Yes, I did, Madam Gisella." Regina replied coyly, not wanting to give out anything that showed her suspicion.

"Then lets get you all back home so you can have your well deserved rest and look forward to the big day tomorrow."

Somehow, Regina noticed a tinge of promise in Madam Gisella's voice as she said that. The ride turned out to be an uncomfortable one, despite the fact that two more ladies were with them, no conversation was stricken.

Jade particularly, seemed to be too quite. Not as lively as before and definitely not as eager to speak anymore like she had started. But what had she meant by saying Fiona was still alive? It made no sense to Regina, not even a bit, and she wasn't about letting thoughts like that cloud her mind.

The carriage stopped as soon as they got to the door of house Farlan. The two girls were the first to step out, then Regina followed suit. She was eager to get Jade in a corner and ask what she had meant, but Madam Gisella had other plans for her.

"See me for a moment, Jade."

There goes her chance to see Jade. She had this feeling that if she didn't  see Jade and ask all the questions in her mind, she might end up making a huge mistake.

But fate seems to be playing a huge trick on her, as she wasn't able to meet up with Jade that night. Regina knew instantly that her instinct were right.

Something was definitely wrong!

****

The pale crescent moon shone like a silvery claw in the night sky. Although he wouldn't have wanted anything more than to go ride his horse, Eduardo knew it was impossible with all the pending preparations at hand and his grandmother's watch. So, instead, he had opted to the come out of his wing and stare at the moon absentmindedly.

Arman stood beside him, both had their hands clasped behind thier backs while staring at the moon.

"You're still thinking about tomorrow? Don't worry, everything will be fine."

"I know, Arman. I'm just not happy with how things are. I'm also not particularly happy that I'm stooping this low just to make things better. It makes me think, is the sacrifice I'm about to make necessary?"

"In every race, there must be a winner, most importantly, there must be lots of sacrifices. I believe a single sacrifice that would save the empire isn't so bad."

Eduardo didn't reply, instead, he let his gaze sweep across the large landscape before him. When it seemed as though he wasn't going to say anything more, he finally replied. "Have his arrows been changed?"

"Everything has been taken care of, Baal. Don't worry."

"Will you all be alright without me at tomorrow's raid?"

"This is the second time you're asking this question, Baal."

"I can't help it," he chuckled, then turned to look at his friend. "May fate be on our side tomorrow."

Arman nodded. "I'll go see to the last minute preparations."

"Of course. I'll wait out here for a while." Eduardo replied and turned his gaze back to the moon.

Arman left, leaving behind three other guards with Eduardo, some hiding in the darkness that cloud the eastern part of where he stood. As he stood alone thinking about the possibilities of all his plans failing, Eduardo heard movement behind him.

"I see you're here. For a moment I had assumed you had gone for your so called constant ride," the Queen Dowager's voice filled the air and Eduardo sucked in a deep breath before turning to look at her with a smile.

"Grandmother. I've missed your company these days."

She smiled back, her eyes warm and kind. Somehow, it made Eduardo doubt if she was the same woman capable of doing anything to stay in power. Looks, they say, can be very deceiving.

"I missed you too, Baal." She ran her hand through his curly hair, then the smile vanished. "But I wasn't happy with what you did this afternoon, really."

"What did I do?" Eduardo planned to play the game she wants. She wanted a game, then she's going to get a lot more than she had bargained for. "I didn't do anything to make you angry, did I?"

"No, of course not," she turned to look away, staring directly at the large building ahead of them. "You just didn't listen when I was giving advice."

"Grandmother," he grabbed her hands and turned her to face him. "do you enjoy making me look like a puppet? Because that is exactly what you're doing by acting as though you're the supreme ruler. I am the King, remember?"

"A King is like a Prince in the empire, and until you've been crowned an Emperor during the coronation of your Empress, then I still hold enough power over you."

His smile was tight, practiced, just like he had learned to do over the few years he had been crowned. "I understand Grandmother. However, I'd very much appreciate if you'd let me handle all court issues from now on without interfering. I am the King, the Emperor, whatever you or anyone chooses to call it, and I demand that respect."

Elizabeth flinched at his harsh words, but managed to compose herself and not show anything. After all, she was a master at pretending.

"Of course, Baal. I'm so sorry I made you feel that way. Forgive me. You know," she placed her hands on his cheeks, staring into his wild, deep brown eyes. Something in them scared her. "They say old age makes us nervous. I was only trying to help, thinking that this is all going to be too hard for you to manage."

"It is fine, Grandmother. One day you won't be here to help me. I'd rather get used to the idea of ruling alone." He smiled, trying to look as innocent as possible.

"You're right," she pulled back, snapped her fingers and her maid appeared quickly. "I seem to have spent lots of time out here. It is getting too cold for my old bones. Mind if I retire to bed now, Baal?"

"Please, Grandmother. I'll see you at the arena."

"Have a goodnights rest, My Love." But her heart was beating wildly at her chest. She wasn't going to just sit back and watch him take her throne. It was hers, and he didn't know what she had to to get where she was.

He had know idea what she had done to get this far. There were lot of things she had done and wasn't proud of, but those decisions are what have kept her in power. Those decisions got her this far. She wasn't about to loose it to anyone, including her grandson. Power should never leave the southern faction.

As they rounded the corner, she turned to her maid and spoke. "Send someone to my nephew now. We need to act fast and hard. Whatever it was he planned for tomorrow, he should make it even worse. The boy needs to be put in the right place."