บท 32: Death threat to royalty
Victoria clenched her gloved fists at her sides as she watched the Empress conspiratorially arranging the engagement of her son with the First Princess. The duchess had been kept in the dark about this decision, and her fury was mounting with every passing moment. She didn't know that Florence made her decision in the heat of the moment, so she thought the Empress was trying to plot something against her family.
In a voice that quivered with anger, Victoria hissed to herself, "That woman is crossing her line, Oliver. She dares to meddle in our family's affairs without a single word of consultation!"
Oliver, a tall and composed boy with raven-black hair, gently placed a reassuring hand on his mother's shoulder, trying to quell the tempest within her. "Mother, please, let us not cause a scene. There must be some reason for the Empress's decision."
Victoria turned her piercing gaze to her son, her anger still smouldering beneath the surface. "Reason or not, Oliver, she should have consulted us, her most loyal supporters. This is a matter that affects our family deeply."
As the Empress and the First Princess continued their conversation, Victoria's anger threatened to explode like a volcano. She knew she needed to make her stance clear, to protect her family's honour and her son's happiness.
Finally, unable to contain herself any longer, she stepped forward, her crimson heels clicking against the marble floor. Her presence alone commanded attention, and as all eyes turned toward her, she addressed the Empress with a fiery determination.
"Empress Florence," she declared, her voice sharp and commanding, "Can I have a word with you?"
Florence felt her whole body screaming in fear seeing her best friend's eyes, but she had to remain confident and brave in front of others, so she smiled at Victoria and both of them entered the private chambers to discuss things with their children.
The whole room fell into a hushed silence as the empress and the duchess locked eyes in a battle of wills. The tension in the room was palpable, and it seemed as though the very air held its breath.
But just as Victoria's anger was about to reach its boiling point, Oliver, ever the voice of reason, stepped in once more. "First princess and Empress Florence, greetings from the first son of Bloodborne family, Oliver Bloodborne."
Both Florence and Lilith quickly replied to him by returning the greeting while Victoria just clicked her tongue showing she can't beat her son when it comes to acting level-headed.
"So what is this? Why are you doing this? Plotting against my family?" Victoria questioned showing her dissatisfaction. "Just so you know, I don't care what you have in your mind, but if you're trying to harm my son, then our friendship and my loyalty will disappear in the blink of an eye."
Lilith looked happy to see her idol in front of her, but seeing her angry face and threats she felt worried.
"That's not my intention. Victoria, think about this, who else is better than my own daughter for your son? I took this decision because I can easily see how handsome and well behaved your son is," Florence tried to convince Victoria.
Lilith was too engrossed with Victoria, that she didn't even bother to look at Oliver, but when she saw the boy in front of her, she felt so attracted to him. His deep, expressive eyes and the hint of a smile on his lips had her heart racing. She quickly averted her gaze, feeling a flush of embarrassment wash over her.
'I should act more feminine, so he won't be disappointed with me'
She thought an tried to act upon it.
Oliver, on the other hand, had been observing the tense exchange between his mother and Florence, and he couldn't help but be intrigued by Lilith's presence. Her admiration for his mother, mixed with the obvious attraction she felt toward him, left him feeling flattered and curious.
"Mother, I will do this engagment. Besides, sooner or later, I will have to marry someone from the royal family right?"
"Oliver!" Victoria looked conflicted, but decided to go along with this whole engagment since, she knew Oliver won't be weak enough to let these people plot against him.
"Fine, but I have condition." Victoria looked at the girl and pointed her finger at her. "If Oliver is dissatisfied with first princess, we are not going to do this, Final decision of this marriage belongs to Oliver,"
Looking back at the paintings on the wall while thinking about the past, Empress looked at her head maid, who was waiting near the door looking at her patiently.
"Ariel, did you really throw all of his clothes that he left here?" Empress asked while looking at her head maid, who reacted to her words with a sigh.
"Empress, I kindly ask you not to take them back. You promised Lady Victoria that you will pretend nothing happened that day." She said. However, her next words were the most devastating for Florence, as they brought shame to her heart. "Having sex with your son-in-law, just because he was drunk is not something, people of this empire expect their Empress to do,"
Upon hearing her head maid's words, her mind instantly transported her back to a particular evening when they had hosted a royal ceremony for the noble families, transforming it into a warm and convivial gathering.
The grand hall was adorned with shimmering tapestries, and the rich scent of exotic dishes filled the air, creating an atmosphere of luxury and festivity. Laughter and cheerful conversation filled the room, and Florence reveled in the harmonious ambiance she had created.
But then, as she was savoring a particularly delectable dessert, she caught sight of her daughter, Princess Lilith, weaving her way through the crowd. Lilith's brows were furrowed, and her eyes darted anxiously from guest to guest. This was unusual; Lilith was known for her grace and poise in social settings.
Empress Florence excused herself from her conversation with a noblewoman and made her way toward her daughter, her elegant gown trailing behind her. She approached Lilith with a gentle smile, her golden eyes filled with curiosity.
"Lilith, my dear," she said in a soft, concerned tone, "what troubles you? You seem a bit preoccupied tonight."
Lilith turned to her mother, her lips trembling slightly. "Mother, have you seen Oliver? I can't find him anywhere. He was here just a moment ago, and now he's gone."
Empress Florence's demeanor shifted from curiosity to reassurance. She placed a hand on Lilith's arm, offering comfort. "Darling, there's no need to worry. Perhaps he's just stepped away for a moment, to freshen up or visit the restroom. These gatherings can be overwhelming, especially for men."
Lilith nodded, though her worry still etched lines on her forehead. "You're right, Mother. I'll wait patiently and hope he returns soon."
Empress Florence patted her daughter's hand before excusing herself. She needed to prepare for her upcoming speech, as it was customary for her to address the guests during such occasions. As she walked away from Lilith, her thoughts swirled with concern for her daughter's happiness.
However, as she walked along the dimly lit corridor leading to her chambers, Empress Florence's keen senses detected something amiss. A faint sound caught her attention, a muffled groan emanating from the shadows. Her curiosity aroused once more, she moved closer to investigate, her steps cautious and measured.
"Empress, you shouldn't go, let's call guards," Ariel muttered worried about the safety of this whole situation, but she was ready to use her extremely powerful resonance, in case someone try to harm her mistress.
"No! let's go and see, I can't just avoid someone on pain and do my own thing," She said and got close to the sound.
There, sprawled on the cold marble floor, lay a figure in a disheveled state. The dim light revealed the face of none other than Oliver, Lilith's fiancé. Shock and alarm washed over Empress Florence as she knelt down beside him and saw the obvious signs of drugging on his pale countenance.
"Empress, it is the erection drug. To have this effect someone must have overdosed him," Ariel muttered seeing his blushed face and the wet pants.
"Damn it! Who would dare to harm him inside my castle," Florence shouted, but she knew it wasn't the right time for her to do the detective works.
Without wasting a moment, she gently cradled his head and whispered, "Oliver, can you hear me?"
His eyes fluttered open, and a weak, dazed expression crossed his face as he struggled to focus.
"Mother!" Suddenly, he shouted and kissed Florence on her lips without showing any resistance and even went as far as to make it a juicy one. "I can't take it anymore. Please, let's do the usual,"
Ariel wanted to stop things, but Florence looked rather conflicted from what happened.
"Empress, we should take him to a doctor quickly, or else his blood vessels will burst because of the pressure," Ariel shouted at the dazed Florence.
"No, let's take him back to my room. I can't let any other woman see my son-in-law like this, I think I can do something," Hearing Florence's words, Ariel knew what she was suggesting, but even she couldn't believe that her empress would propose something so absurd.
"Are...you.. sure? This is not-" Ariel wanted to object, but she knew her own limits so she stopped talking.
"Do it! Lift him, I can't let him suffer anymore, let's take him to my room,"
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