Chapter 2: The Empress is Here!

"Greetings to Your Majesty"

"Marquess Caster, you left the banquet without telling me why." the Empress said looking at him. She has black hair and blue eyes. Her eyes looks sharp. You can see that she is little bit old but her beauty is still there. Sophie was stunned for a moment because of her gorgeous dress.

Gideon bowed and said. "Pardon me Your Majesty for my impoliteness but when I heard about my daughter's situation, I can't help but rush out without telling. I hope you could forgive me, Your Majesty." he calmly explained. The Empress looked at Sophie. When she saw her dress and hair she can't help but feel dissatisfied. If she is not her distant relative she won't bat an eye.

Sophie can feel her dissapointment towards her. It can't be help this previous owner is a brat. By looking at their stares you can see how many haters she has.

"Could you explain what's happening here?" the Empress is still looking at Sophie. Sophie feel tense and she subconciously held the coat tighter. "My son?" the Empress turn her gaze at her son and looked at the lady whose close to him, Lady Jenna Norsz. She once warned this woman because it might affect her plan for her son's future. She knows how her son valued him in his heart. That's why she doesn't take any scheme against her but only warn her to know her place. She requested to cruelly rejected him and leave him but what she witness now made her more furious. She is clearly dissatisfied at Lady Caster because of her spoiled personality that she patiently endured but this woman came in her son's life and make things more worse. Though the Empress has hatred but she did not show it. She kept her stern and indifferent face.

The prince stepped forward and bowed—covering Lady Jenna to his mother's observing eyes. He looked straight at his mother and said. "Empress mother, I cancelled our engagement between me and Lady Caster——"

"Is it because of this woman?" the Empress interrupted him and looked behind her son, Lady Jenna. Though this lady is being covered but her stare is really piercing. Lady Jenna feel terrified. She was once warned by Her Majesty to leave her son, she tried but the prince is still not letting her go. But this happened and it's very frustrating to her. She is stuck in a situation that is not in her control.

"Empress mother——"

"Enough!" Empress said in a loud voice enough to hear by bystanders. She looked at everyone one by one letting them know her authority. Her eyes fell on Lady Jenna whose head facing at the ground then at Marquess Caster. "I apologized for my son's recklessness. I will make sure Lady Caster won't suffer." she took a short glance at Sophie.

Sophie was amazed yet terrified at her. The Empress is so cool in her opinion. She has an aura of a queen. Her speech and presence made everyone think highly of her.

"I thank Your Majesty's kindness but the His Highness affected my daughter's izzat and witnessed by the esteem nobles here. He might be well respected but His Highness' faults can't be ignored. I believe I'm not asking too much? Right, Your Majesty?" Mr. Caster said. The Empress face turn gloomy.

Sophie is in awe knowing his braveness. He refuted the Empress' words publicly.

The silence creep out the crowd. It's very obvious that Her Majesty is protecting the prince. Lady's izzat is very important in social circle. Her fianceé is shamelessly announcing their engagement being called off without legal process or a definite reason but because of a woman, she was replaced by the other. That would be a new topic and could attract many people. Lady Viviana—or Sophie will be affected by it. Knowing she was cast aside and she is even depicted as a villain by everyone's eyes her reputation is clearly will turn into ruin. Mr. Caster won't let this go smoothly, both sides should suffer a loss even though him and the Empress are relatives.

"I understand your concern Marquess Caster." she noticed that Mr. Caster is very determined in order to save both images and to be a role model, she finally decided and said. "Well then, I forbid Prince Gerald for going out in the palace for one month. I will cover the other necessary damages that my son cause." she firmly said. Prince Gerald is very upset not because he is now grounded, but because his words are seen now as useless.

Mr. Caster only bowed and walked out without looking at the Empress. He pulled Sophie with him. She was startled and hurriedly followed him. She even forgot to bow. Empress was offended because of disrespect towards her, a ruler. She let them be because it's her son's fault and as a parent she needs to cover it atleast. As it's her only son, and the possible successor for the throne. She must protect it.

Everyone is silent and their heads are facing at the ground excluded the prince. The Empress starts to walk out the scene and go back to her own palace. After coming here she lost interest going back to the banquet.

She stopped and said not looking back. "Everybody should enjoy yourself at the banquet." after that she starts to walk.

"Farewell to Your Majesty" everybody said in unison. Because of this unexpected incident not one of the nobles have any interest to go back at the banquet. It's very awkward they witness something that they shouldn't. Though Her Majesty doesn't warn them but because of the conversation between the Marquess and the Empress...

The other young nobles starts to go back at the banquet and act as if nothing happen. Some of them starts to depart respectively.

"Jenna... Are you fine? You must feeling cold." Angelina said and looked concern. Jenna smiled not saying anything. This cold is nothing to her but the thing she is bothered because of the Empress' stare at her. Her heart starts to beat faster.

"We should go home now." Angelina saw her face looks very terrified. She knows about the Empress' warning.

Jenna nodded, afterall she can't be ill as there are matters she needs to handle as she is from a merchant family, and currently she is the one whose handling the family's business. "Then I'll trouble you." she held Angelina's hand and let her to support her.

"What happened between you and Lady Caster? Why your clothes are wet and you fell unconcious when we arrived here." Angelina wondered.

"I..." she doesn't know how to explain.

She really feel weak because of what happened earlier before she lost conciousness. She was called out by Lady Caster to go in the garden outside, she's not stupid or anything but she only want to severe the ties between them and the prince. She wants to explain but before she could she was confronted by Lady Caster. She can't refute at that time and only received her harsh statements and insults towards her. She has the right to do so as she is the prince's fiancé and she(JN) is nobody but an outsider who meddles on their relationship.

She was warned by her that she will destroy her family's business and her being a nouveau riche has no rights to meddle with vieux riche's affairs. She is nothing but lowly. She ignored her insulting statements but only focus about their family's business. She is from a merchant family and their business is the only source for them to survive. She tried to plead but she was shove because they are near at the pond she tumbled and subconciously pulled Lady Caster with her, resulting both of them fell.

She knows how to swim but the only problem was the dress she wear was too heavy. If she move she only dragged down herself. She saw Lady Caster is drowning she swam to save her. Even they are enemies she's still a noble and her identity being the prince's fiancé is a great burden to her if something happens at Lady Caster, considering how Marquess and his wife valued her she can't escape their hatred. Lady Caster become riotous that's why she was knocked by her roughly. She luckily pulled her up but she(VC) was unconcious. Then she(JN) fell senseless because of exhaustement.

She recalled what had happened but the only thing she wants now is to avoid the prince. She is getting in more unecessary troubles because of him. Her life will only turn into miserable if she keeps getting in touch with him.

Angelina noticed her silence and she did not dare to open the topic again. She only support her quietly into the carriage. Angelina notice someone is going in their direction she turned around and bowed not looking who it was because she already know who. "Greetings to Your Highness. Is there anything could I help you with?" she raised her head looking straight at the prince.

"How is she?" he ignored her indifference towards him and asked her directly. Lady Jenna is his concern. He tried to peek at the carriage but Angelina only stepped forward to blocked his view. The prince saw her movements and looked at her.

"She is fine for now but if His Highness keeps hindering us, I'm afraid her treatment will be delayed and she might get ill." Angelina said indifferently. "Then if you may excuse us." she bowed and get stepped into the carriage.

Prince Gerald could only watched the carriage passed by until it can't be seen. It's his fault making the situation more worse. It might affect their relationship because of his reckless behavior.

One of the Empress' servant came out and walked at the prince's direction. He bowed and said. "Greetings to Your Highness. Her Majesty ordered to summon you to go to her palace now."

"Now..?" he scanned the servant infront of him. Now the banquet is ruined because of this incident lots of nobles left earlier than expected. Those who tried to stay felt there is no fun and was affected of the majority's mood so they left too. What happened earlier surely will spread in nobility and common folks. They will become the number one topic tomorrow.

"Yes, Your Highness. Her Majesty said if you don't go now she might do something unexpected to that lady."

The prince face turned cold. He nodded and the servant ushered him to the Empress' palace. The servant knocked twice at the door. The door was opened by a maid. There are several servants inside and they get out and closed the door leaving the Empress and the prince behind. The Empress is sitting on the sofa while elegantly drinking the tea. The prince walked where the sofa is. He stood there watching his mother drinking tea. After drinking the tea she putted it down not looking at her son.

"What nonsense did you said earlier?" she said while looking at the tea on the table. "Are you being reckless because of a mere woman?" she said looking at him fiercely.

"Mother, she is not a 'mere woman'. Lady Caster caused too much trouble, and she is not fit to be in that position." he indifferently said.

"Then do you think that nouveau riche is more fit?" she said with sarcasm. "Do you think love is more important? You are deluded by her."

"Mother, I'm not. I'm the prince and only the Emperor's son. Whom I marry is not the problem here. Whatever her status in social circle might be is of no concern." he expalined seriously. His eyes very determined and made the Empress more annoyed by his uncontrollable behavior.

The Empress slammed the table causing the teacups shattered on the floor. The servant heard it and knocked at the door asking if the Empress is fine.

"You must remember that His Majesty—the Emperor is still not giving you a title of a crown prince." she wiped her hands by the handkerchief. "You must reconcile with Lady Caster and to curry favor with Marquess Caster after the punishment. Lady Caster is inlove with you so asking for forgiveness will be easy."

"Mother, you know that I don't want to——"

"This is an order." the Empress said coldly. "Now go, reflect yourself for a month."

Prince Gerald find himself helpless. He feel useless because he is still under his mother's control. He clenched his fists tightly and bowed unwillingly. "Then, farewell." he strode away not looking back. If he only has enough authority—no if he only has his own power he would not suffering now. He is like a puppet being controlled. But the fact that he is not crowned as a crown prince made him think he is impotent. He even wondered though he is the Emperor's only son he did not seem to be favored.

The Empress watched the receding figure of her son. The servants came in and cleaned the floor. She picked up the letter that she wrote earliervand look at it for a while then she gave it to her personal maid. "Send this letter without anyone noticing." the servant nodded and grabbed the letter.

"I warned her but she never learn her lesson. Let's see, if she tried once again meddle to my son's affairs... I'm afraid what will I do to her." she smiled evily. She can only let the matter go once but if it repeatedly happened, she has no patience for it. Afterall her concern is her son's succession. She will get rid who goes on her way. Even it means to kill who he cherish.

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