This love is like a curse (14)
Ayla frowned, annoyed that someone was intruding on their privacy.
As soon as she turned her head, she saw a man in a guard uniform hurrying through the backyard. It was a knight named Rowan who was to accompany her father while Longboat led the journey.
Bowing before them, the knight briefly greeted Ayla, and then, turning to his superior, hastily said:
“His Majesty ordered the commander to be brought in immediately.”
Ayla immediately realized that Senevier was behind Longboat’s challenge. It was clear from the gloomy expression on the knight’s face that something bad had happened.
She bit her lip. This pilgrimage was approved by the Council, and her marriage to Longkas is a long-standing initiative of conservative nobles who support the Crown Prince. No matter what that woman plans, she will no longer be able to destroy everything.
And yet the anxiety did not go away. Senevier has long used every possible trick to sow discord between Gareth and Longboat.
She even managed to ensure that Longboat, who had just become a knight, spent seven whole years next to Thalia, despite the fierce resistance of Duke Siekana. And now, undoubtedly, she is again trying to manipulate the emperor and thwart their plans.
Ayla, fully aware that she was violating etiquette, nevertheless stepped forward and intervened:
- I'll go with you.
“But His Majesty...” the knight began.
“I am the princess of this empire.” I have the right to appear to my father whenever I wish. And now I decided to visit him with my fiancé.
The knight was taken aback by her decisive tone. He glanced quickly at Longkas, as if awaiting confirmation. This gesture, which showed that his decision was more important than her will, stung Ayla unpleasantly, but she knew how revered Longboat was among the knights - and did not show her irritation.
Finally he nodded:
- As Your Highness wishes.
Having received his consent, the knight stood to Ayla’s left, as if guarding her. The girl, straightening her back, left the garden and headed towards the main palace.
Walking through the entrance to the Great Hall, she saw the interior filled with dazzling summer light. She walked through the gleaming white marble hall and up the burgundy-carpeted stairs.
The massive doors leading to the throne room were carved with images of the first Emperor Darian and his knights.
Running her gaze over the statues that were familiar to the smallest detail, she entered a hall decorated with carpets with ornate patterns. At the back of the hall stood a golden throne.
Ayla raised her head and straightened up, looking at the man who held all the power of the world in his hands, and at the woman standing next to him. As always, my father was strict and inscrutable. And Senevier...
The thought suddenly stopped. The moment Ayla saw the empress shrouded in golden light, she was overcome with an almost desperate feeling of powerlessness. Every year Senevier only became more beautiful. It was scary.
"Golden Demon..."
In her presence, Ayla always remembered the fairy tale she read as a child.
There lived in a village two brothers who loved each other more than anything in the world. But the demon, who hated everything good, decided to quarrel between them and threw a large gold bar in their path. Blinded by the glitter, the brothers quarreled over wealth and ended up hurting each other.
When she first saw Senevier, it seemed to her that the gold prepared by the demon had taken on a human form.
The radiance of this woman blinded the once noble sovereign, discolored the fate of one woman and turned two people close to her into prisoners of pain and humiliation.
But this was not enough for the demon - she gave birth to a son for the emperor, who was already threatening Gareth’s position.
Ayla looked down at the boy standing next to the empress. The second prince, Astros Roem Girtha, looked up at them with green eyes full of curiosity.
Every time, looking into his intelligent eyes, Ayla felt growing anxiety. It was difficult for her to understand why Gareth, instead of being wary of his younger brother - the rightful heir, was losing control because of the useless Thalia.
Remembering the humiliation that her mother was forced to endure because of the birth of this child, Ayla felt rage boiling inside. But Thalia herself was such an insignificant being that she could not have any influence on them. All this stupid girl did was mock the servants and become the heroine of the next scandal, causing only an irritated tsk from everyone. What threat could come from such a dummy?
To Ayla, Thalia was simply an unpleasant, even a little pathetic creature. An echo of a painful past that just had to be endured. Therefore, she generously forgave her all her evil ways.
But the Astros were completely different. Ayla knew very well that many in the palace had sympathy for the boy with innocent eyes. And those who feared Gareth’s hot temper began to place secret hopes on the young prince...
“Why haven’t you bowed yet?”
A deep, commanding voice brought Ayla out of her thoughts. The Emperor looked at her in bewilderment.
She approached her groom and bowed slightly.
“I followed Sir Siekan, because with all my heart I wanted to see the face of my parent-sovereign. Please forgive my unexpected visit.
- Raise your head. You can come to me whenever you want.
The soft voice of the Emperor, Virus Roem Girt, sounded near her ear. He was always gentle with her. Perhaps every time he looked at her, he remembered his wife, whom he betrayed, and felt guilty.
Ayla held back a grin and bowed her head respectfully.
- Thank you for your generosity.
- This is even for the better. Anyway, the first princess would have found out sooner or later. You can take a moment and explain yourself to everyone.
Seneviere, stroking her son's red hair, leaned towards the emperor and whispered something. The Astros watched the adults with curiosity, as if their conversation was incredibly interesting.
Ayla cast a wary glance at her half-brother, then turned sharply to the empress:
—What exactly are you going to report?
“His Majesty will tell you the details.”
Senevier responded in a quiet whisper and gently stroked the back of the emperor's hand. Ayla tried her best to pretend not to notice.
There was an awkward silence. And only after some time, as if searching for words, her father finally spoke:
“Today I called you to inform you about changes in the upcoming pilgrimage.
- Speak. I'm listening.
Despite the unexpected announcement, Barkas did not show the slightest excitement. Apparently this irritated the emperor, because he winced a little, and then continued in a sharp tone:
- Thalia will go with you. Provide additional security for her and prepare everything necessary.
Ayla was petrified by the unexpected order.