THIRD PERSON POV
"Care to have some refreshment, my lady?" Kathryn shakes her head no at the woman who releases her bound when she woke up earlier.
"Are you sure? You haven't had any drinks or food since you came here. We don't want to be a bad host," the woman smiled.
"It's okay. Besides I don't want to be poison," the woman or Rebecca tried to hide her anger from showing but she didn't manage to control her body from expressing it. Kathryn notices how her hands literally trying to break the glasses.
"Nicholas, it's futile. Let's just kill the woman and let the emperor suffer for this," Kathryn's eyes widen.
"No. We can't kill our esteem guest of honour. I'm sorry, my lady. My fiancée can be really rude to my guests. I'm sure you met me before," Kathryn nods her head.
"Sir Nicholas. I believe you're one of the ministers and used to be a member of the council," Nicholas's expression changes.
"Yes ... I used to be one of He elite in the eyes of the emperor but now I have nothing. No title to flaunt, no dignity. But that is not the reason why I asked Eleonora to bring you here," Nicholas stands up and went to Kathryn's back.
"You ... have the power to rule alongside the emperor now. Because this ring that you're wearing, it means more than a simple symbol of unity. It has been passed down from generations after generations of rulers of Gralia. The last wearer was an amazing empress, that's for sure," Kathryn grimaces when Nicholas touches her ring.
"Sign this form and I'll let you live. As much as I want the emperor himself to sign this, I can't do. I lost countless men just trying to get close to him. That Freida woman is one formidable foe. I can say the same with Genevieve but it seems last night she was busy smooching with the emperor instead of looking after you," Nicholas present the forms in front of the future empress.
When Kathryn tries to read the agreement, Nicholas simply places her hand on the writing to prevent her from reading the content.
"Now, would you please sign this form and we will go our merry way,"
"I was taught by her majesty herself. And the first thing she said to me never signed any kind of documents without the emperor's approval. No, I won't sign your document. Even if it means I have to die, so be it! I won't let the people of Gralia suffer just because I'm scared!" Nicholas sighs heavily.
"So young and naive. As much as I respect the last empress for moulding you to be the next ruler, I don't appreciate the way she made you think. The most important thing in life is saving yourself first before saving others. And as rulers, you need to be the first to be rescued because if you're dead, your people wouldn't have any rulers to look up to," Kathryn scoffs at his ideology.
"You willing to let your people defend themselves while you abandoned them? Is that how you show the newer generation? Is that how you want to see? As the coward who runs first when things get wary?" Nicholas shrugs his shoulder.
"I have my own vision as a ruler and you have your own. For me, the ruler stands above all while the people should protect those who ruled over them. Isn't that what they're doing for Alvia? That brat is doing the same since he rules the throne. He is nothing but a coward who sits on top of the throne worrying what kind of food should he eat next," Nicholas scoffs.
"Only idols would believe such a thing. You don't even know what he's been up to. You weren't there when he fell ill because of lack of sleep. You weren't there when he literally stay up all night thinking of a way to make Gralia a better place for his people. Everything that he's been doing all this time, was to clean up your mess!" Nicholas didn't realise that his hands literally made a mark on Kathryn's cheek.
"Hit me all you want! It doesn't change the fact that you're a worthless leader!" Kathryn hid the fact that her cheek is burning.
"I'm ... sorry, my lady. I didn't mean to ... hurt you. Please forgive me. Please don't take my action into account. I promise I'm not really a bad person," Kathryn ignored the fact that he's in denial of his own action.
"Sir Nicholas. I'm sorry but I will not sign that form. Even if you torture me, I won't. And I know if you forced to take my thumbprint, it won't do you any good as well," Nicholas click his tongue in annoyance.
"Well, curse that man for ruining everything. But don't worry, my lady. I know you won't do anything that I ask you to do by force. But ... remember this, my lady. I know where your family is. I know that your sister is currently out and about with her friends. I know that your grandparents are all here in Gralia. They're so excited about your wedding too. I just hope I won't have to ... let say ... kill them because of you," At that moment, Kathryn knows that she's in trouble.
But even though she's worried about them, she believes that Alvia will do whatever it takes to take care of her family.
"I'm sure the emperor has them protected," Nicholas chuckle.
"You really think he has that leisure to think about others while his fiancée is currently in captive? Make the right choice, my lady. Or you won't be seeing your family ever again," Nicholas takes back the form that was in front of Kathryn with him.
"So, what should we do about her?" Rebecca raised a question when Nicholas walks out of the room.
"Don't do anything, yet. Let her think for herself if she wants to care for her people or should she be selfish and save her family. Either way, if she refuses, we can just kill her and send her remains to the emperor," Nicholas giggles.
"Oh ... you are one evil man," Rebeca smirk.
***
"Hmmm..." Kathryn sigh after she had done reading the same book for the 5th time, today. She can't ignore the worries in her mind of her family she only wishes that Alvia would do anything to keep them safe from any types of harm.
"Hello," Kathryn looks up when she heard a voice.
"Hello?" Kathryn replies. She beginning to think that that was just hallucination. She was about to shrugs it off even the same voice is heard again.
"Are you really the future empress of Gralia?" That voice asked.
"I am. If I manage to get myself out of this place. Tell me, mysterious voice, who are you and why are you here conversing with me? Like I told Sir Nicholas, I won't sign the damn form. I will not betray my people's trust," the voice chuckles.
"I'm not directly working for the supreme leader. I am here out of my own curiosity," Kathryn went to the door and knock.
"Are you on the other side of the door?" She asked the mysterious voice.
"Yes, I am. But I can't be here long. I'm not supposed to be here at all. It won't do me any good if the guards found me talking to you. But I took the chance because I need to make sure of something," Kathryn was even more weirded out by the mysterious voice.
"Making sure of what exactly?" She asked.
"My name is Nate. I used to be the people of Gralia but because of my own stupidity and selfishness, I decided to be here instead. I'm sure that you're aware of some of the youth that came to Gralia. I just want to know if he children are happy now that they're not within the supreme leader reach," Kathryn was taken aback.
Is the mysterious voice willing to take the risk just to ask her about this matter?
"They're safe and happy within Duchess Dolores's duchy. Tell me, Nate. Are your children with the youth group that came to Gralia for freedom?" There was a moment of silence.
"Yes, my lady. I'm happy that they're happy there. I am thankful that you took the time to save them from this place. Once my children were born, I know that I don't want them to go through the same life experience as I did," the voice clears his throat.
"My lady, rest assured. We will find a way to save you. Just please act as if this conversation never happens. Once we think of the way, we will help you to escape from this place. It's the least we can do after saving our children," Kathryn's eyes widen.
"But that will mean you have to risk everything! No! I won't let you do that," Nate hushed the duchess when she was being too loud.
"Rest assure, my lady," Nate smile and leaves the door. He makes sure that no one saw him in and out of the building. After making sure that no one is around, he went back to the factory where the others are waiting.
"How was it, Nate? Are they okay? Did they made it?" Nate nods his head. They sigh in relief.
"At least they will have what we can't give them. So it was true then? The future empress of Gralia is in captive? We need to do something if that is true. For our children's future, at least we help the empress," Nate agreed.
But he needs to make sure if everyone is willing to risk everything.
"I hope everyone knows that if we continue with this plan. You guys literally have to risk everything. There's a chance that we could get killed as well. I hope ... everyone agreed to their own terms and not because I asked you guys to help me," they laugh.
"Nate, my wife and I both agreed that we let our kids have the life they should be having. We're grateful that the emperor accepted them and this is his wife we're talking about. We consider it as a way to say our thanks for helping our kids," Nate smile.
"Us too," the other couple nods.
"Here, here," Nate couldn't believe that they all willing to do this together.
"Well, my wife and I both agreed to sacrifice ourself for our children as well. Let's save the empress," Nate brings his hand out.
"Are we really doing this? This is silly," the others chuckle and brings out their hand as well.
"I guess we are doing it," his wife brings her hand out. They all waited for the shy man to join them. He sighs and finally brings his hand out.
"Just so you guys know, I'm only doing this because my wife is doing it as well. It's not like I wanted to do this," his wife rolls her eyes.
"Yes, we know. Quit being such a child. I have no idea how you manage to make me fall in love with you," everyone chuckles at the two couple.
"For our children and for their future," Nate said as low as he can so no one could hear them.
"For our children and for their future," they chant together.
"What are you all doing in here?! Get back to work!" The supervisor yells at them for taking too much time for their break. They quickly scatter away without giving the supervisor any kind of ideas of why they're gathering together.
The supervisor wonders but he didn't give it any more thoughts and went to his merry way. Nate sigh in relief when the supervisor seems dumb enough.
"Let's meet somewhere tonight so we can discuss our plan. Let the others know," Nate has his friend a nod.
"Will do," they exchange looks before went to their own station and act as if nothing ever happen.