Just why? Why in the world did the system ask me if I wanted to meet the Emperor if we were going to meet anyway?
Oh, yes! It was because that was a voluntary choice, and this was forced by a certain redhead who wanted me dead at the hands of the Emperor. Because her plan didn't do the job a few days ago. Great!
I didn't even do anything. And suddenly I am called upon to the center of the ball room to make the First Greetings of the evening. Why? Because redhead snitched on me. No, she pulled a prank on me. She convinced me to join the banquet because I didn't know anything. The memory loss was working in her favor. And not to mention the fact that I am actually a foreigner, she wanted me to get embarrassed from all sides. All because I didn't quietly die like she wanted.
I could almost imagine her sugary sweet voice mumbling the words.
Oh, my dear Emperor! I cannot contain my joy of you being elevated to an Emperor. However, I am torn apart between the emotions if pride and sorrow. A noble consort 'died' three days ago. I was so grief stricken that I couldn't bear to let her go. I even stopped her coffin from getting buried. I prayed day and night for the God to bring her back. But now I believe that miracles happen. The very moment you set your foot in the city; she rose from the dead. She must have been blessed by the Gods. If you receive First Greetings from her, I am sure more glorious moments would come.
And so, the Emperor, oh dear Emperor, he was swept by her words and summoned the most neglected wife, the hundredth consort Regina Patrissia to pay the First Greetings.
To my utter amusement, no one even realized that it was me. Because Regina was not beautiful. No, she couldn't be beautiful under any circumstances.
If I had to use a modern word to bestow upon this ancient people I would have shouted 'With all due respect, intercourse with yourself' at the top of my lungs. I would have cursed successfully and respectfully. The F word wouldn't suit here anyway.
Now, even the Queen Dowager was glaring at anyone who was about to enter the central area of the ball room. The General had taken his seat too. I ignored his gaze. The commotion in the hall died when I stepped forward. I took a deep breath in.
You know what, Redhead? I spoke with my eyes to the woman who was looking down at me. I couldn't help but smirk slightly when I saw how surprised all of them were. Regina would have died of happiness if she had seen this look in their eyes. But now she was gone. It felt almost ironic how I remembered that a person is most remembered after their death. Technically, 'Regina' wasn't dead, because I was in her body. But her awareness, her emotions, her personality had died with her. Now everything that was planned for Regina, was planned for me. And everything that they were going to experience would be a plot of mine.
The memories wouldn't have helped me now. Because no consort except the Chief Consort knew how to give First Greetings. The only people who were supposed to know the correct method were the Chief Consort, the Queen Dowager, the General, the Emperor, the court ministers, the Earl and maybe a few high-ranking nobles who had attended the Royal banquets involving foreign delegates.
So, I was literally standing in a battlefield without any weapons. Moreover, I was already a star today because of my appearance. If anything went wrong with my etiquette, everything would be going down the drain.
At least that's what everyone believed.
I remembered perfectly the most romantic moment in the novel. The moment that was not many days far now. The moment when the 'Saintess' would arrive. The female lead who was going to be the Empress. I remembered how she was welcomed.
The Emperor who had always loved his throne descended down to the lady in white. The Emperor, personally led the lovely lady who had pink hair and rose like curls to the throne. Her blue eyes sparkled with the divinity that had changed the Emperor. Everyone in the hall was astounded.
The Emperor placed his crown on her head and walked down again. He knelt on his left knee, and he supported his weight through the toes of his right leg whose knee protruded forward. His spine was straight. With perfect fluid motion of his hands, he placed both of them on his right knee in a certain manner. His index fingers were slightly crossed with each other and the rest of the right-hand fingers were over the left-hand fingers. The thumbs only touched each other. The head wasn't bowed in humbleness, neither was it straight with arrogance. It was slightly inclined towards the ground to the level where he could maintain his eye contact with the Empress.
"To the Moon of the Empire, the Mother of my nation, the Empress, your rules shall always be abided by each and every living being in this Empire and your laws shall bind even the Emperor of the Land. The God's messenger, this divine lady, will from now forth be the Empress that this Empire has waited for several decades. The reign of virtues like equality, honesty and kindness shall commence from this moment. I, the Emperor, place absolute authority in the hands of my Empress who shall change the Empire as she deems it necessary." The hall was silent, anticipating the words that were about to be uttered. And suddenly the hall bursted into a thunderous applause when the Emperor had declared his oath.
"Long live the Empress!" And then his head bowed.
I switched back to the present time where everyone was watching me. They were all waiting for me to make mistakes. Mistakes that were never going to happen. This was no time to be emotional at the scene I remembered from the novel. It was time for me to break the prejudice held against Regina.
It was time for me to avenge her by shining in a place she never belonged.
Gracefully, spreading out my ball gown with two fingers, I knelt on my left knee. I maintained the balance with a straight spine. I wasn't flustered at all. I was confident in my conduct. Swiftly placing my hands in the respective position. My fingers moved in a fluid movement as I placed them in a correct posture. And now was the most important part.
Eye contact.
I raised my head. They were already surprised with my elegant movements but there was also a different emotion attached to everyone along with surprise. I could name jealousy, superiority complex and an awe but I couldn't name the second emotion I saw in the Emperor. I maintained my gaze with his silver eyes. Ignoring his expression, I slightly bent my neck, all the while maintaining my eye contact with him. I cleared my throat softly. I was sure no one could've heard that.
"To the Sun of the Empire, the one who shines under the glorious light, may your reign extend to all over the world, may you become the ruler of all the Empires. May your bravery and courage inspire the upcoming generations, and may they be feared by our enemies, may your sword bring justice to us all. May your crown be the light of us all. May your supreme intelligence assist you in prospering our land and may the God's blessing be with His Highness." I said without stuttering. I mentally went over the whole speech, making sure I hadn't left any aspect.
"Long live the Emperor!" I said as a conclusion when I found out the speech had been flawless and bowed my head. The hall was silent for a few seconds, surprised because of me but they quickly recovered and chanted the same. I didn't get up from my position.
Rule number one whenever you are facing the Emperor: Don't do anything without his permission.
The Emperor didn't say anything for a long time. The uproar too died down. Now the atmosphere was tense. Everyone was anxious. Even I felt myself on an edge.
Was the Emperor going to blame me for my flawlessness?
"I heard..." everyone stopped breathing when he said that.
I waited patiently.
"I heard that you were sick for three days. And I got informed that you haven't attended any of the social events in the past two years. It's almost miraculous to how you have perfected the First Greetings." He spoke.
Translation: Who in this world is so good of a teacher who could make an idiotic socialite like me elegant in a such short amount of time?
I couldn't help but chuckle. He admitted everything so easily.
So, he knew I didn't know yet he called me to do so in front of the whole noble class. He knew I was sick, yet he was still enjoying a banquet.
I couldn't tell if he was being utterly shameless or absolutely ignorant. Or maybe he was so bored with his glorious life that he wanted to enjoy the ugly harem a bit.
"By the grace of Your Highness, I have been able to recover my health. As for the compliments, I sincerely thank the Emperor for bestowing upon me such an honor." I won't justify my perfection. Let him do the thinking. He hadn't even told me to rise yet.
There was a deafening silence for a few more moments before he told me to rise up. I quickly stood up, swiftly arranging my gown and turned to leave when he called me again.
"Consort Regina. I grant you a wish as a reward for your elegance and as a gift for your recovery. Ask for anything you want."
Behead yourself. I took special care not to speak that aloud. All those good looks were wasted on him. I turned and bowed again. I was unsure of my real status so I wouldn't be able to make a wish that would be advantageous. I couldn't let go of the opportunity either. It was an insult to the Imperial family as well. There was only one option.
"I thank His Majesty for his generosity. However, at the moment I have nothing to request for. I wish to save my wish for a later date." I bowed. Again, with the silence. Was he processing my words like a bot or something? I could almost imagine the ridiculous circular buffering thing on his head.
"So shall it be. All the subjects here shall bear as a witness of my word." He nodded gently.
"I thank His Majesty for his kindness. This subject would like to excuse herself." I bowed again and left the central position before he could say anything else. I won't be listening anymore. The whole speech thing had drained my energy. I heard the music starting behind me as the people started dancing. There would be no more useful gossip I could listen to anymore. My work here was done.
I quickly made my way to one of the exits as I bumped against someone. It was too dark but the light from the hall helped me in recognizing the walking-vacuum-machine-cum-red-flag. I detected the stench of alcohol and saw his red face. His clothes and hair were a mess. I excused myself as I tried to pass him. But he was quick to catch my arm.
"Hey, Beauty," he sang in a shrilly voice, his hand clutching my arms tighter.
"Care to accompany me in this lovely night~?" His words were getting harder to catch. But I didn't care.
"Please let me go, Mister. I am not feeling well, nor do I have the intention to-" I grunted when his hands snaked around me waist. Before I could use the dagger on me, suddenly his hands were replaced by stronger arms, securely around me. I heard a low thump and saw a dark shadow crouching some feet away from me. I looked up. I caught a hint of blonde hair strands. Though I couldn't see his eyes, I confirmed his identity when he spoke up.
"Hands off the Imperial consort, Baron Ludwick." The General's voice warned in a growl.
Word count: 2171