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-(Angelica's Dress, Hairstyle and Accessories)-
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'In Rashta's room'
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-Third Person's POV-
As Navier walked to the room where Rashta was resting the captain of the royal guard opened the door for her 'I don't want to involve myself any further, but Angelica is there and I must speak to her.' Navier thought as she walked inside the room. Rashta lay on the bed with a cold wet cloth on her forehead as Sovieshu sat on the bed and Angelica was next to him rubbing his back in comfort, Sovieshu then noticed Navier walking in, as did Angelica. "Her Majesty is here to see you. I'll take my leave." The captain said walking out of the room only silence filled the room "Do you have nothing to say to me?" Soveishu asked Navier as Angelica turned to him with an annoyed look at his tone to Navier.
"Why did you ask to see me?" Navier asked him as he spoke up.
"I see you're not concerned by recent events." He said as Navier looked at him 'Is that how it looks to him? I must keep my emotions in check.' Navier thought "I heard what happened to Rashta. I understand Your Majesty is upset, but there is no reason to take it out on me" Navier said. "You were born as the daughter of a high-ranking noble family. You have wealth, power, wit, and beauty. And now you are Empress. In comparison, Rashta started with nothing. She is clever and beautiful, but she never had the opportunity to benefit from her gifts. She's finally starting to dream of things she could never have before meeting me" Sovishu said. Navier gripped her dress hearing him list off things 'And she's also taken my sister's lover.' Navier thought as her gaze went onto Angelica who held anger in her eyes, Navier took a breath and fixed her gaze back onto Sovieshu "Rashta is your Mistress, so you are responsible for her. She's outside of my responsibility." Navier said.
"I don't expect you to be responsible for her, but can't you leave her be? Yesterday, you insulted her in front of Prince Heinrey on purpose." Sovieshu exclaimed to Navier "I was simply stating what I knew, as I was aware of the truth" Navier said back to him "Are you saying Rashta lied?" He asked her "You are the one who believes her innocence, not me." Navier told him. "And today, you invited Viscount Lotteshu because you wanted to prove she was a runaway slave!" He angrily told Navier "I'm afraid I have no idea what you mean." Navier said, "You were in charge of inviting the guests to the New Year's Ceremony!"He said Navier looked at him with a stern gaze "The invitations were issued several weeks before Rashta arrived at the palace." Navier told him. "You should have been considerate and canceled the invitation." He said while he clenched his fist and Navier looked back at him keeping her stern face "You should have done that yourself" She said Sovieshu shook his head.
"You truly are cold-hearted." He said to Navier.
Soon both Sovieshu and Navier heard small sobs come from Angelica.
Angelica had her head in her hands as tears fell down her cheeks "I...Can't believe you would say that to her." Angelica said looking up at him "Sister Navier didn't know that Viscount Lotteshu was Lady Rashta's owner when she was a slave! And you blame her for something out of her control! You are heartless, Your Majesty!" Angelica said. Navier looked surprised and smiled that Angelica defended her Sovieshu looked shocked to see these outbursts then rethought the situation and sighed turning back towards Navier. "Navier...I'm sorry. I realized that you wouldn't have any idea who Rashta's owner would be from her slave days, and you are right the invitations were issued several weeks before Rashta arrived. I shouldn't have blamed you so easily when you didn't know" Sovieshu said sincerely. Navier smiled a little "It is alright. You had a right to be angry, but I'm glad you saw your mistake and fixed it" She said Sovieshu smiled at her and walked over to Angelica wiping her tears away and calming her down before Navier left the room she turned her gaze to Angelica who was being hugged by Sovieshu, but what she was was Angelica's eyes were red as her face held no emotion.
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'In The Hallway'
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-Third Person's POV-
Navier was walking in the hallway to her room thinking about what just happened 'I remember when we were kids, Angelica would always cry when I was being mistreated or scolded and it would make whoever feel bad and apologize to me.' Navier thought as she smiled thinking of the memories. "My Queen" Heinrey's voice called out to her making Navier turn around and put her gaze onto him "Prince Heinrey. Are you taking a walk?" She asked him as he walked over to her smiling "Mhm. Should I send Queen over to you?" He asked.
Navier perked up hearing about Queen "That would be lovely. Where is he?" Navier asked looking at Heinrey "I will return to my room and send him to you" Heinrey said as Navier shook her head smiling at him a little"Then shall we go together? I'd like to ask you some questions about him" Navier asked him making Heinrey flinch at the sudden question "W-What?" He mumbled.
Heinrey started to sweat a little making Navier confused about why he was nervouse and sweating over a simple question "Uh, Queen's a bit busy-- No, I mean, he's very shy. He'll be, um, embarrassed if we go and see him together." Heinrey said as he studdered and rambled on. 'Queen embarrassed? I suppose it would be inappropriate for me to enter his room or spend time alone with him in the garden at night' Navier thought as she looked back up at Heinrey "I realize now that I was making an unreasonable request" She said. "No, not at all... But what is it about that you wanted to ask about Queen?" Heinrey said, "What does Queen like--?" She was cut off by Heinrey answering the question quickly "Your Majesty." Navier looked at him confused "... I beg your pardon?" She asked and Heinrey looked away blushing as he spoke again "Queen likes Your Majesty" He said.
Navier thought for a minute before her eyes widened 'He must be embarrassed about describing a bird as if it were a human' Then she gave Heinrey a smile "Please tell him I appreciate it. But that wasn't what I was planning to ask. I wanted to know what Queen likes to eat" Navier said. Heinrey coughed nervously and looked at her "Oh I see, you wanted to know what he likes to eat. Queen is a good boy, so he will like whatever Your Majesty gives him." Heinrey said as Navier stuck her hand out to him giving him memories of when she would rub his chin when he was Queen.
"What? But..." Navier stopped talking as Heinrey said he must send Queen off and walked away.
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'In Navier's Room'/ 'Outside'
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-Navier's POV-
I was looking at the insects in the pigeon feeder on my desk as I crossed my arms together and looked at it more nervously "Hmm..." I hummed, and soon I heard flapping coming toward me I turned and smiled seeing Queen fly up to me "Queen!" He landed on my lap surprising me for a while. Queen started at me with his sparkling magenta eyes 'Well, I can put up with a few bugs if it's a lovely bird like him.' I thought and smiled at him "I have a gift for you." I said as Queen looked excited for the gift I had for him.
I got up placed Queen on my bed and walked over to my desk picking up the bow of insects "Your master told me you'll eat anything, but I think he was lying. So I brought you something that large, magnificent birds like you generally like to eat. Look, I brought insects." I said walking back over to Queen, who looked shocked to see the bow of insects. Queen started to shake as I picked one up and brought it close to him for him to eat "Here you go, Queen. Open wide!" I said as the insect slipped out of my hand and touched Queen on his head freaking him out "What's wrong, Queen?" I asked concerned and he flew away.
"Could it be... That he doesn't like insects?' I thought to myself.
Later in the day, I decided to take a walk outside, as I was walking I spotted Prince Heinrey "Prince Heinrey." I called out to him making him turn to me and walk over "I didn't give you a proper answer last time. Queen never eats anything alive." He said to me "The, should I have the insects cooked--" Heinrey cut me off with a nervous laugh "No. He doesn't eat insects at all" He said.
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'In Rashta's room'
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-Rashta's POV-
I laid in bed holding a teddy bear close to me 'Although I was happy that, His Majesty stood up for me... People had finally started seeing me in a good light, but now this has happened... No. Even though I was a slave once, I'm the Emperor's Mistress now. My position is secure.' I thought to myself as I started fiddling with the ring on my middle finger Viscountess Verdi walked over to me "Lady Rashta. Viscount Lotteshu is here to see you. What would you like to do?" She asked me.
I turned to her quickly "Lord Lotteshu is here?!" I yelled out and gasped clutching my hands over my mouth 'Ah, I accidentally called him the way I used to... I'm sure Viscountess Verdi must think I'm pathetic. She knows how I am connected to the Viscount. She shouldn't even mention his name to me! Why didn't she tell him to leave? Would she have the same thing to the Empress? Why didn't the Emperor have him killed or put in prison?' I thought to myself as I looked at the ground and then gritted my teeth "Tell him to leave" I said to Viscountess Verdi. I started to tremble as she looked at me nervouse and said "I'm afraid he said that if you didn't agree to meet him, you may regret it" She told me and made me turn to her a little angry "Then tell him to come in! Let me see that shameless face of his!" I exclaimed in anger.
Viscountess Verdi opened the door and let him in closing the door and leaving us to talk.
Viscount Lotteshu looked around my room "Ooh, It's nice here. Very nice" He said then turned his gaze back to me "Why are you here?" I asked him "You look like a noblewoman now, Rashta." He said to me I clenched my fist and spoke up "It's Lady Rashta to you! You can't talk down to me the way you used to!" I yelled at him. I saw him glance at the bracelet around my wrist "Sure, that's true for a short while." He said confusing me and I hid my hands behind me "What do you mean?" I asked him "Don't be so hostile to me, Rashta. The Emperor ordered me to correct what I said about you being a runaway slave. Now people are going to think that I'm an imbecile who can't even recognize people's faces. Whether your secret stays a secret or not is up to me." He said making me angry at him even more "Then you shouldn't have yelled it out like that in the first place! You're only keeping my secret because the Emperor ordered you to!" I yelled at him.
I saw him grin making me confused about why "Still... At least I'm keeping the baby you left behind a secret, aren't I?" He asked.
My face turned pale at his words as my heartbeat increased 'What a bald-faced lie' I thought as tears filled my eyes "YOU HAD MY BABY KILLED!" I shouted at him, he gave me a smirk "Killed? What are you talking about, Rashta? He's still my grandson even if the blood of a slave taints his blood. I would never have killed him." He said to me. I backed away from him clutching my hand together "You're lying... I saw his dead body with my own eyes. You definitely...!" I said to myself as he moved forward to me "Rashta, you stupid little girl. You should stop seeing me as your enemy and reconsider my role in my life. Why can't you see that I can act as your eyes and ears." He said as he reached his hand to me.
I slapped his hand away "I don't need an ally like you!" I yelled at him.
He looked at his hand then at me making a tch noise "Even if you wear fine jewelry and imitate the nobles, you're not a noblewoman. Besides, everyone seems to like, His Majesty's second Mistress, Lady Angelica better than you. How long do you think you'll stay in the Emperor's favor?" He asked me. "His Majesty told me that I'm the only one he loves!" I shouted at him "Why did he bring a second Mistress if he loves only you, and said Mistress is his and the Empress's childhood friend." He told me shaking his head I clenched my fist together hearing him talk about Angelica.
"The more you win the Emperor's favor, you are setting a precedent for Lady Angelica. Beautiful girls like her in desperate circumstances will want to win over the Emperor, just like you did. Now that people know the Emperor can take on a Mistress, let alone two... Those with political ambition will send him educated women of high station. You're not the Empress, Rashta. As soon as the Emperor stops loving you for Lady Angelica, you'll become a slave again." He said.
I wrapped my arms around myself and I shook a little at what he was saying 'I'll become a slave... Again?' I thought "However" He spoke up making me look up at him with a little interest in what he had to say next. "I can prevent other potential Mistresses from approaching him. And make him lose favor with Lady Angelica to stop her from being his Mistress." He said as he walked next to me "How?" I asked him feeling his hand on my shoulder "Well, you'll have to help me first, Rashta. Think it over thoroughly" He said to me.
'If I wanna get rid of Angelica, I need his help.' I thought.
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