Chapter 5: Truth
"Welcome, your majesty."
I walked into the Aston Manor with Heather by my side as I was greeted by the workers of the mansion.
"It is an honour to have you here, your majesty!" A loud voice came from the top of the stairs in front of me and I watched as a man who resembled William, walked down before bowing his head in respect.
"You have a very lovely home, Duke Aston." I complimented and he laughed boisterous like that it had my eye twitching slightly.
"Why thank you, your majesty. I am touched by your words!" He exclaimed to the point where my ears were slightly harmed.
"I'm here to see, Sir William," I said in a tone that had him clear his throat and look elsewhere, his smile dropping.
"Right...It's this way."
He gestured to a butler who bowed in my direction before guiding me to the guest room where William awaited my presence.
"Empress Lillian Vanguard has arrived."
William had been a bundle of nerves during the time he waited for my arrival, anxious about how the meeting would be. Just being able to speak to the empress was an honour but to be proposed to...he thought he had gone to heaven.
"Sir William." I smiled while he bowed towards me before offering the vacant seat opposite from him.
Now seated, I gazed at William who seemed more nervous than usual but dismissed it as I spoke up.
"You inviting me here must mean, you are interested to take this marriage to the next level," I mentioned.
William's lips parted to speak but he seemed to hesitate causing a flash of confusion to appear in my eyes before they returned to no emotion.
"Yes." He answered but I maintained my silence, lingering my gaze on his face which held many feelings as his body trembled ever so slightly.
"You do know that I will be marrying more than one man which means I won't be spending time with you always. Plus, I have my duty as the empress to attend to so we would be seeing each other merely an hour or two a day."
Heather blinked over my words, bewildered as to why I was making the proposition so unappealing when yesterday, I was so delighted to be proposing to William.
"T-That is fine, your majesty!"
The door opened and in entered a maid with a tray, carrying a teacup set along with a variety of cakes. She poured the content into each cup and positioned them in front of us to take.
"Please, have a drink, your majesty." He offered and I grasped the teacup, carrying it towards my lips to take a sip, only to hesitate as the smell of it was unusual.
I noticed the butler who was situated behind William had his eyes glued on my teacup making my lips pull down into a frown.
"Could you send your butler out of the room? Heather, you too." I ordered, Heather nodding right away while the butler seem to hesitate.
I narrowed my eyes into a glare and he flinched, scurrying out of the room and leaving us alone.
"William, you can be honest now," I confessed but he averted my warm stare and spoke up.
"I don't understand, your majesty." He mumbled in a soft voice bringing you to shake your head in disappointment.
"This drink has been poisoned," I stated and his head snapped up, his face covered in alarm which was all I required to know that I was correct.
He was on his knees in under a second and he bowed his head, begging me to allow him to explain himself.
I followed him to the floor, slipping my hand under his chin and using it to raise his head up so he couldn't look away.
"Your father forced you to do this, didn't he?" I questioned and he didn't hesitate to reveal the truth by nodding his head.
"Okay then...let's keep the fact that I know, a secret between us."
I could see he was confused by what I said and smiled.
"For now, follow what your father wants and marry me. Once you are by my side, I will protect you from him." I said and William felt tears sting the corner of his eyes.
"T-Thank you so much, your majesty." He sobbed and I leaned forward to place a kiss against his temple, helping him calm down.
MISSION - DRINK THE POISON
REWARD - ANTIDOTE, WILLIAM'S LOVE POINTS +10
FAILURE - DEATH
I stared at the screen, trying not to freak out since William was right in from of me and obviously couldn't see the screen.
It wants me to drink the poison...but, when would I receive the antidote? Would it be too late before I'm able to save myself? It was too risky...
"How long does it take for the poison to affect me?" I asked him and he was surprised by my question.
"Uh...I heard my father say, five hours or so." He told and I nodded, turning away from him to grab the teacup.
"Wait, your majesty." William whispered in panic, trying not to be too loud so anyone outside would not hear.
I forced myself to drink the tea, tilting my head back to finish every single drop before I placed it back onto the table, not letting a single emotion show on my face.
"That was disgusting. Your father really needs to up his game with his poison and make it taste more natural. Anyone could figure this out." I complained, wiping my lip with a tissue.
I turned back to William to see he was gazing at me in horror.
"After I leave, tell your father I drank the tea. That will make him happy for now."
"B-But, aren't you going to die?" He asked in worry but I shook my head.
"I have the best medicine in this kingdom. I won't die from something like this."
I may seem confident but internally, I was very anxious.
"I'll take my leave now. I hope to see you soon, Sir William." I said as we both stood up.
He gazed down at me, still worried but I smiled, easing the tension in his shoulders.
"Don't worry about me."
"That will make me worry more, your majesty."
That elicited laughter to leave my lips and William felt a blush crawl up his face.
"You are too cute, Sir William."
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