My Wonderful Second Life

Chapter 66- Hate that runs deep

The Empress stood proudly, anchored on each side by two ladies-in-waiting, who paled compared to her beauty and stature. She wore her hair free, the only constraint, her silver crown, which resembled vines with full blooms. On her shoulders, falling to the ground, was a golden cape, fluffy and way too big for an outing to the garden. Beneath it, she wore a simple gown, very much a thicker version of a sheer silver nightgown.

Now I knew who inspired princess Odette for her style.

The Empress raised her hand, showing off a silver ring made of sun rays, and waited. Francis approached her, took her hand and kissed her on the ring while bowing his head. His mother showed a little smile as her eyes, golden as his, watched him retreat.

Then her gaze fell on prince Cedric. Her smile lit up and her hand moved in his direction. I saw Cedric's shoulders straighten and his back became tense. Still, he went to her side, and like Francis, kissed her hand.

When that ended, he walked away and settled behind Francis. Her smile was warm to them, her eyes gentle. And then she turned to me.

And there was only rage and disgust.

"Mother, what a pleasant surprise." intervened Francis, with a weak smile, putting himself between her and me.

When she did not respond to his politeness, he pressured. "What brings you here?"

Her eyes travelled to him, warmed a little before becoming steel. "And what are you doing, my son?"

The question caught Francis by surprise, and he jerked back. "I am enjoying a stroll with my friends, Prince Cedric and Lady Lucreatia Mountnero."

At the mention of my name, she sneered. I wanted to laugh at such ridiculous hate, and I would if I did not think it would be more dangerous than worth it. The woman was crazy. BATSHIT Cray cray and it was best to watch from afar.

And already my stare was pissing her off.

"Mother..." tried Francis, forceful. A warning without speaking.

Which obviously flew off her head as if it was nothing but a small breeze on a hot summer day.

The Empress began to pace, dragging her cape around. Her two ladies-in-waiting, who faded into the background, tried to smooth the edges of the golden velvet cloak, but to me it seemed almost a fruitless task as the empress wronged steps were too erratic for any help.

"Your duty is to be with your sister. To support her. Instead..." her voice, like her pace, was a frenzy. "Instead, you walk with a girl beneath you."

Francis, who had his hands on his back, pressed one of his wrists so hard his crushed fingers were becoming white. "Mother, she is a lady of society,.."

The Empress stopped walking and turned her head to him, a brief gap between her lips as if she need more intake of air to breathe.

Francis took a fearful step in her direction, almost like the grass was not made of greenery but of glass.

The rest of her body moved to meet her head. Her shoulders went high and her chin sharpened. "Your sister has been smeared by her and you protect her?!"

The force on his wrist tightened, though his shoulders, contrary to his mother's, deflected. "Sister made her own bed when she tried to sabotage others using a magic firestone just to protect the priests who have been robbing our people."

She laughed, dry and loud. I looked at Cedric, to find him twitching, teeth securing his lower lip so he could keep his tongue at bay.

"Your beautiful sister... Spitting image of our goddess and her truest daughter was performing her duty. Protecting those who speak the word of our goddess." She said, serious. Then her gaze met mine, and her brows knitted and her eyes lost a little of gold to become silver as a radiant moon. "Her will is our goddess will. And our goddess will is our people's will."