Marriane pov

"So the rule of the game is simple, you all have to write a few answers to the questions for both yourself and your partner asked in the list and then we will match it with your partner, the one with the most correct answer win a precious gift, which I promise, would be a unique piece which no one had in the empire," I announced as the maid started distributing the parchments.

"Let me remind you, this is the test of how much you care about the small things of your partner, and how well you know each other," I added and they all looked at as if not a game but a war.

It must have sounded unique to them since the game would have started after 5 years, but I wanted to show a few that the love they were so proud of was nothing but fake.

As all of them were given a parchment I announced,

"You all may start writing now."

"Uh, duchess, you forgot to give one parchment to your partner," added Charles and I shook my head.

"Killian and I had planned the game, so it is only right that we did not participate in the game to be fair," I repeated once again and he chuckled.

"But I am sure, because of his busy schedule, Cassius did not know about it," he spoke and I shook my head.

Of course, he didn't know about it, because I never told him, it had nothing to do with whether he was busy or not.

"Good, then give him one parchment, let's see how much he knows about you." I furrowed my brows at his statement, Cassius was not here to do that, I was going to retort when I heard footsteps just behind me.

"Which parchment are they talking about?" asked the man standing in front of me like he owns the party, but he wasn't invited, and he went to the palace. How did he come back this early?

"She is testing our love for our partners, it is only fair that we would test her too, come, Cassius, I was waiting for you for ages," said Charles. Why was everyone around me so nosy?

Cassius instead of replying walked straight to Killian as if he did not hear others, though he was trying to behave calm, I could see the anxiousness in his footsteps and eyes, my eyes narrowed. Did something happen, I was not aware of.

Cassius checked him as if there was something wrong, did someone mixes something in the food, or did Kilian personally face something. It felt like there were needles on the floor, the way he was behaving I needed to know.

Once satisfied, "you are looking good in this suit my son." he complimented and others laughed, but I knew he was not checking the suit.

"Your majesty, may I have a minute with you?" asked Cassius walking towards Charles who stood up and they both walked towards the fountain and before I could control myself, I was already following them.

"How could you do this, that was not at all funny.'' I heard Cassius snapping out, and it was very rare for him to snap out like that in public. Though friends, Charles was still the emperor.

"That's because you have lost the humour and wits too," replied Charles, with a smirk.

"Charles. I am.."

"Marianne, have you already started missing your husband, he is all yours. I am already done." Charles stopped Cassius from completing his words, and my reason to follow them ended right there.

And who the hell was missing the narcissist rude man.

"I came here to check if the dishes were well served or not, your majesty," I said, bending my knees a little.

"If you say so, you are such a hard-working lady, I had never seen a duchess checking the servings personally," this person could not speak a sentence without being sarcastic.

"What can I say, your majesty, I don't like to spend all my time getting my beauty treatment or spa, but how does it matter? After all, we have an empress too for handling the royal duties.

Ah, by the way, I was here to request for permission ``I added and he tilted his head, even Cassius' whole attention was on me.

"What kind of permissions do you need duchess, if it's about business as you've requested before. The matter is still pending in the royal court," he added, without even listening.

"I know your majesty, I wanted to request for a day off of her majesty. I wished to show her the empire," I said and after a long time, I found this witty man surprised.

"I did not know that Katherine has gained a friend, but as you know empress can not roam around freely, so I apologise but I have to deny," he said in a rather unapologetic tone, my hands clenched, I knew the empress could not roam around freely but it did not mean that she would suffocate in the four walls of the palace all her life.

"Your majesty, I am well aware of the rules and I understand you are worried about her security, but we would take knights with us and we will not go to the commoner's area, only to the stores for nobles and the sea area reserved for royal and higher nobles." I requested again, I could see the shine of her eyes was losing, I found my old self in her, I had lost my shine that way too.

"Duchess, I think you should not interfere in this matter because.."

"I am already ready to go with you, and my husband is considerate enough to not oppose my wishes." I had already clenched my fists hard as Charles was going to make another useless excuse but Katherine came and cut him off in the middle. My eyes shone as I saw how she put her point deftly, now if he would still deny, everyone would know that he was trying to press her. Suddenly I felt like a proud mother whose daughter had done wonders.