“Your highnesses, the emperor and his wife!”
“Long live the emperor!”
Hundreds of people greeted us in unison.
When we entered, inside the hall was a long red carpet that led to the thrones. It was a path usually only for the emperor.
It was called the royal road.
Everyone else including any other royal members had to follow the emperor from behind.
However, instead of following this rule, I was walking alongside Lucretius.
I was so nervous I was trembling. I felt like my brain was melting.
He whispered to me, “Now, lean on me. I think you must be very nervous.”
“Al, alright.”
His hands felt big and steady as I hung onto him. He was the only one who could help me.
He was the only one I could lean on in this entire world.
He steadied me as we walked together. If it wasn’t for him, I would have fallen on my face.
Lucretius supported me like a giant tree. His shining crown and the bright red cloak looked pale compared to his splendid presence.
He looked so strong.
I felt even more terrified. He was right beside me, but he felt too distant and intimidating.
It would have been easier to follow him from behind. To walk beside him was painful.
The pressure I felt was overwhelming. My anxiety reached its peak when I walked up to my throne.
I had been here before. It was the first day I arrived here.
I had no idea how my life would turn out that day. All I could think of at the time was to run away.
I remembered kneeling to the royal family members at the time.
Today was different. I was the one sitting on one of the thrones.
I breathed deeply.
The empress’ throne was always placed at the same level as the emperor’s. Today, because I wasn’t an empress, the architect had to change the setting. Since it was not possible to lower the existing empress’s throne, they ended up putting an extra step and place the emperor’s throne on it to make it higher than my throne.
I wondered why they didn’t just let me sit somewhere else. It would have been simpler.
Lucretius helped me climb the stairs. When I reached my throne, I turned around to get ready to take a seat. Just then, what I saw in front was overwhelming.
The grand hall was filled with hundreds of the most powerful people of this world.
All the eyes looking at me felt like knives stabbing my body.
‘T, too much!’
Lucretius raised his hand and announced.
“I happily welcome everyone to my very first ball as the emperor of Cransia.”
His voice was booming. It echoed throughout the room.
Everyone applauded and at Lucretius’s signal, I sat down as he did.
***
The servant continued to announce each guest. This had been going on for a while now.
Individuals walked up to the stairs closer to our thrones to be introduced to Lucretius and me.
“Genoa’s second prince his highness Coronel and the second princess her highness Ludia.”
Being from the southern nation, they had darker skins. They approached us and bowed deeply. Lucretius nodded slightly to them while I bowed a little deeper than him.
Genoa. This was the land where the “Blue tear of the Goddess” resided. It was the biggest kingdom in the southern continent and, therefore, very powerful.
Prince Coronel greeted cheerfully.
“Long live the emperor. I am very impressed, your highness. What an event you created.”
Lucretius had a blank face as he replied, “Now that I think about it, this is your first Cransian event of the year.”
“Yes. Until last year, only my father, who was a prince at the time, attended. I couldn’t accompany him as we were going through the succession war. I had to protect my family.”
“I heard Rumel the Fourth was able to kill the last of his brothers six months ago. Congratulations.”
“Thank you. I’m sure my father will be happy to hear your words.”
It was such a chilling story that I couldn’t say a word.
“…”
I remembered hearing about Genoa. It was a country of knights and to become the king, you had to prove yourself as the strongest fighter.
The princes fought each other in battles and the one who remained became the king.
About a year ago, after the long bloody battles, Rumel the fourth became the king of Genoa.
The fact that Prince Coronel attended this ball meant he probably was the most powerful among all of Rumel’s sons.
Coronel chatted for another few minutes before he finally revealed his true intention.
“Oh, I forgot to introduce you to my sister. Please bow to the emperor of Cransia, Ludia. Your highness, she is called the pearl of Genoa.”
Princess Ludia bowed politely to Lucretius. As her brother explained, she was a voluptuous beauty.
It was clear I was not to be part of this interaction. This must have been why Prince Coronel acted as if I didn’t exist.
He continued to compliment his sister.
I understood why. Lucretius was the most eligible bachelor of this world. He was young, childless, and had only one wife. He also had no empress.
I felt uncomfortable.
Lucretius turned to Princess Ludia and greeted her respectfully, “Nice to meet you, Princess Ludia. Last year, your father Rumel the fourth couldn’t stop talking about his second daughter’s beauty. Now I see why.”
Ludia blushed. “Thank you.”
Coronel seemed proud. He was determined to see his sister at Lucretius’ side.
He asked, “Your highness, perhaps you could have your first dance with Ludia…”
Just then, Lucretius grabbed my hand and pulled me towards him. I ended up standing awkwardly in front of the prince and the princess.
W, what was he doing?
When I looked up at him in shock, Lucretius gave me an annoyingly devoted look.
He announced, “Now that I think about it, I haven’t introduced my wife to you yet. Please show your respect to my only wife. She is considered the most precious jewel of this kingdom.”
He hugged my shoulder.
W, what was he talking about?!
***
More guests approached us to be introduced. It was tiring, especially because apparently, my husband was the most popular guy in the world.
Majority of the guests brought high-ranking ladies with them. This wasn’t a competition to find the emperor’s next wife, but it sure felt like it. Every powerful family was looking to have their sisters or daughters become the next empress of Cransia.
Four positions remained. The empress and three official wives. Every unmarried woman here was after one of these spots.
However, every time a woman was introduced, Lucretius had me stand and show off.
I felt like a human shield!
This made me the most hated woman at the ball. People openly glared at me. All I did was stand and smile, but being hated was mentally tiring.
Gosh, I wanted to leave and go to sleep.
I didn’t want to become the empress. I didn’t even want the position of the emperor’s first wife.
I wanted to scream my thoughts, but of course, I couldn’t. I wanted to run away, and this feeling continued to grow strong.
Just when I couldn’t take it anymore, it was finally over. Lucretius took my hand and escorted me to the center of the dance floor.
