TFM 15

Chapter 15

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Ayla grimaced at the interruption.

She turned her head to find a man in the uniform of the Imperial Guard hurrying across the courtyard. It was a knight named Lowen, who had been assigned to escort her father, Emperor Bilus, in place of Varkas, who had taken charge of the entire trip.

Bowing before them, the knight gave Ayla a slight bow of respect before turning to his superior and speaking urgently.

“His Majesty has ordered that the Commander be brought in immediately.

Ayla knew instinctively that it was Senevere who had summoned Varkas. The dark look on the knight's face was enough to tell her that something bad was about to happen.

She bit her lip; this pilgrimage had been authorized by the Council. Her marriage to Varkas had long been pushed for by the conservative nobles who supported the Crown Crince. Whatever Senevere might do now would be irreversible.

Still, Ayla had an ominous premonition: that woman had long been trying to drive a wedge between Gareth and Varkas.

She'd even overcome the fierce opposition of Grand Duke Sykan to keep the freshly-crowned Varkas chained to Talia's side for seven years. This time, that woman would not be afraid to roast the Emperor and sabotage her plans.

Ayla knew it was against protocol, but she stepped between them.

"I'll come with you."

"But, His Majesty..............."

"I am the princess of this empire, and I have the right to be in the presence of the emperor whenever I wish, and I have decided that I will see my father now, with my fiancé."

The knight glanced at Varkas, puzzled by Ayla’s firm stance.

Ayla was slightly annoyed by the Knight’s attitude that Varkas’s decision was more important than hers, but she was well aware of the knights' near-worship of Varkas, so she didn't let it show.

Varkas finally nodded.

"Do as the Princess wishes."

With his permission, the knight fell in step to his left, like an escort.

Ayla kept her back straight as she made her way through the gardens and into the main palace.

The interior of the building bathed in intense summer sunlight as she passed through the entrance to the Great Hall. She crossed the gleaming marble hall and ascended the maroon carpeted staircase.

The massive doors leading to the Emperor's audience room were carved with images of the first Emperor, Darien, the founder of the Roem Empire, and the knights who followed him.

After passing through the grand entrance, glancing nonchalantly at the familiar statues of heroes, she found herself in a vast hall with ornately patterned carpets and a golden throne at the far end.

Ayla stiffened her spine as she looked up at the man who held all the power in the world and the woman who stood at his side. Her father was as solemn as ever, and Senevere was.......

Suddenly, her train of thought was cut off. The sight of the Empress, surrounded by a halo of gold, had struck her with a sense of helplessness.

Somehow, Senevere had grown more beautiful with age. It was almost horrifying.

'The Golden Demon..................’

Every time she looked at her, Ayla remembered a fable she'd read as a child.

In a village, there lived two brothers who were the best of friends and cared for each other more than anyone else. But the demon, who hated all that was good in the world, decided to drive a wedge between them, and dropped a large nugget of gold in their path. Blinded by its brilliance, the brothers fought over it and ended up hurting each other.

When Ayla first saw Senevere, she thought she was gold in human form, prepared by the devil to destroy them.

Her brilliance blinded the eyes and heart of a once-honored monarch, tainted a woman's life with bitterness, and condemned  the siblings to live in abject sorrow and humiliation.

As if that weren't enough, the demon had also managed to give birth to the Emperor's son, threatening Gareth's position.

Ayla's gaze naturally fell to the small boy at the Empress's side. The second prince, Asros Roem Guirta, looked down at Varkas and her with curious green eyes.

Every time Ayla looked at the young boy with his intelligent eyes, she felt an intense sense of crisis. She couldn't understand why Gareth would make such a big deal out of Talia, who was nothing more than a scandal than her younger brother, the next in line to the throne.

Ayla's anger rose when she thought of the years of humiliation her mother had endured because of Talia. But Talia was too insignificant to have any effect on them.

All the girl had done since entering the palace was to harass innocent servants and create scandalous stories that made everyone's tongues curl. What threat could such a foolish rascal pose?

To Ayla, Talia was merely an unpleasant, even pathetic, presence. A bitter remnant of the past that must be endured in silence. That was all. That was why she could tolerate the wicked pranks the insignificant girl played on her.

But Asros was different. She was well aware that many in the palace harbored a fondness for the innocent-eyed boy, and that those who found Gareth's wild temper unsettling had begun to harbor secret hopes for the young prince....................

"What are you doing without courtesy?"

Ayla was jolted out of her thoughts by the gravelly voice. The Emperor was casting a questioning glance in her direction.

Ayla stepped to her fiancé's side and bowed lightly.

"I have followed Lord Shiokan in the hope of seeing my father's face, and I hope you will forgive me for coming unannounced."

"Raise your head, you may come to see me whenever you wish."

The soft voice of the Emperor of the Empire, Bilus Roem Guirta, echoed from the throne. Every time he looked at her, he seemed to feel guilty, like he was reminded of the wife he'd betrayed.

Ayla swallowed her sarcasm and bowed politely.

"Thank you for your generous words."

"It's just as well, since the First Princess will know anyway, and I can use this opportunity to explain it to everyone."

Senevere, who had been stroking her son's auburn coriander hair, leaned toward the Emperor and whispered something in his ear.

Asros watched them curiously, trying to gauge the interest of the conversation between the adults, and Ayla, who had been watching her half-brother warily, cast a sharp glance at the Empress.

"What are you explaining?"

"I'll leave the details to His Majesty."

Senevere replied in a leisurely whisper, then gently touched the back of the Emperor's hand. Ayla tried to pretend she didn't see it.

After an awkward silence that seemed to last forever, as if he were choosing his words, her father spoke.

"I have called you here today to inform you that there has been a change in your pilgrimage."

"Please speak and I’ll follow your orders.”

Varkas showed no sign of agitation at the abrupt change of the journey, and after a moment of discomfort at his subject’s attitude, the Emperor spoke bluntly.

"Talia will be going with you on this pilgrimage, and I want you to provide her with additional guards and the necessary traveling gear."

Ayla froze at the unexpected order.

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