*The Next Day*
Avaenará POV:
This morning I was having breakfast with Sovieshu, Navier, and Rashta. Unfortunately Heinrey couldn't join us much to Navier's displeasure.
I was eating my pancakes while having a quiet talk with Navier on some potential trades with the empires. Out of the corner of my eye I can see Sovieshu and Rashta looking at us.
"Shouldn't you be discussing these matters with me imperial empress?" Sovieshu says making me look at him. "Last I heard the empress was handling the trade with Grand Duke Kaufman. I trust her enough to handle any trades between our empires. Beside the emperor has to many things to handle himself."
"But has been neglecting it for your dog." I muttered under my breath. Luckily Sovieshu couldn't hear it. "Imperial empress I ask you to please not jump to any conclusions." I give out a chuckle. "I could ask the same. Please don't jump to any conclusion about the empress or I not being nice to Rashta. How hypocritical of you emperor."
By this point Rashta was sobbing. She was about to open her mouth to say something but I quickly stopped her. "I do not want the rest of my day to be ruined by your nonsense mistress." I quickly stood up. "If you all excuse me I have a ball to oversee."
Before I left the dining hall I turned to Rashta. "Oh and Rashta." She looks at me. "Y-Yes your imperial majesty?" "Don't wear blue tonight." I smirk.
"It's my color."
I was walking through the garden with Suga as he had more news to tell me that he needed to tell me in person.
"The mistress has been conversing with Viscount Lotteshu a lot lately. I have also found out from one of my spies that the mistress has been giving gifts to Viscount Lotteshu." I was intrigued by this news.
"What kind of gifts?" I ask. "Gifts such as jewelry..." Suga paused. "Jewelry emperor Sovieshu has gifted her."
I look at Suga. "Why would Rashta gift Viscount Lotteshu jewelry that Sovieshu gifted her?"
"To keep her secret." My eyebrows rose. "Secret? What is the secret?" Suga hesitated. He looked around to make sure they were alone. He leaned close to my ear and whispered.
"The mistress has a child."
I stepped away with shock. "What?"
Suga nodded. "She had a child with the viscount's son. She believed the viscount killed her baby so she ran away and then the emperor found her in the forest."
"And the baby?" "Viscount Lotteshu didn't kill it, saying it was still his grandson. Although the viscount allowed her to meet her son she refused. She says she's starting a new life with the emperor."
"I see." I paused. "So the little innocent mistress is not so innocent at all. Abandoning her son. Her own flesh and blood. At least the son still has his father." I say. "This is good news. Have your spies to keep on listening to their meetings. I have a feeling this won't be the only meeting."
"Let's head back. We must get ready for the winter ball."
"As you wish your imperial majesty." Suga bowed his head. We head back inside the palace and went our separate ways.
I made it back to my chambers and shared the news with Mira and Darla. "I'm appalled your imperial majesty. The mistress has stooped low now, has she?" I nodded to Darla's question. "We must keep an eye on her now. Who knows what she could be doing while she's here."
After getting dressed I was ready for the winter ball. I was wearing a long layered light blue dress decorated in designs of silver dragons and adorned with silver charms. It wrapped around my chest before being tied at the waist with a dark blue belt. On my shoulders were two silver platforms attached to a sheered black and blue cape that went down my back. Holding on my arms and draping down my sides and back was a long light blue scarf. My hair in a simple half up-half down with a silver crown adorned on my head.
Like last night my sister stopped by my chambers. She was in a a slightly more fitted white and dark blue gown and wrapped at the waist with a dark blue belt. She wore a long beaded necklace and a transparent robe over her dress. Her hair was put into a bun with a silver crown.
"Sister you look very regal." Seraphina complimented. "Thank you Sera. You look beautiful as well." I complimented her back. "Shall we?" I held my hand out to her. She accepted and we walked to the ball room.
When we arrived I looked around to see Sovieshu, Navier, and Rashta. Luckily Rashta took my advice and don't wear blue. Instead she was wearing a dark green dress. Honestly it didn't look really good on her. Navier was wearing her signature color red dress I had gifted her last Christmas.
"Welcome everyone to the annual Winter Ball. As you know this ball is to commemorate one of the Norther Empire's legends. The Snow Queen." I announce.
"Thanks to her reign not once has the empire had any raging storms thanks to our Snow Queen. With her powers she kept the empire safe and every year honor her with this Winter Ball. Let us honor our greatest ruler and enjoy ourselves this wonderful night." Everyone rejoiced before going back to their own activities.
I was dancing with Seraphina in the center of the dance floor. After our dance out of the corner of my eyes I saw Sovieshu coming towards us.
"Imperial empress, may I have this dance?" I stared at him for a while before heading him my hand. "You may."
The two of us danced in silence. Until Sovieshu broke it. "May I ask for advice imperial empress?" I sigh and roll my eyes. "Why should I give you advice if you didn't listen to it the last time?" "I promise to listen to it this time. Please imperial empress I beg for your help." He begged.
I stared at him before nodding. "What is it then?"
"It's about Navier and Rashta. How do I get Navier to like Rashta as I do." I gave a soft giggle. I covered my mouth while Sovieshu looked confused. "What's so funny imperial empress?"
"You want Navier to like Rashta?" "Yes."
I slow down my giggle. "That won't be possible Sovieshu." I told him. I then remembered Rashta's little secret. Of course I wasn't going to tell Sovieshu. When the time comes he'll face the severe consequences.
"Navier has every right not to like Rashta. As do I. Rashta slithered into everyone's life like a venomous little snake. She bit you with her venom and now you are completely entranced by her. You completely side with her and think every time she cries it's Navier's fault. Rashta constantly disobeys anything anyone says, even if it's for her own good and yet we are to blame."
I lean closer to Sovieshu's ear. "My advice to you. Get rid of Rashta while you still can. Or else the venom in your veins will eventually kill you and the little snake wins." From that point I walk away, leaving Sovieshu scared. As he should be.
After dancing and chatting with a few more nobles I retired to my chambers.
"I notice you talked with the emperor of the eastern empire. May I ask what it was about imperial empress?" Darla asked as she brushed my hair. "I simply told him to get rid of the snakes in the palace. They're venomous and need to be gone for good." I smirked. Darla knew what I was talking about and nodded.
"That they do imperial empress. That they do."