"Are you okay, your majesty?"

"What would happen to me, Beth. Are all the papers done for today?"

"Yes, your majesty."

"You have sent notice to all the officials that I would like to meet them one by one?"

"Yes, your majesty"

"Have you fixed a meeting with that aristocrat of my empire?"

"Yes, your majesty"

"Good, you have done well, Beth."

"It is my honour to serve you, your majesty."

I just nodded my head.

"Let's retire tonight, we have done a lot for today."

"Yes, your majesty."

I walked out of the office badly tired. It was a long day and I had almost cleaned my whole chamber, got rid of all the pests and moles and checked all the files of the last three months.

And I was sure it would continue for the next few days too.

"Your majesty, your dinner"

"Yes, i would like to have dinner in the garden."

"Yrs, your majesty"

The dinner was served as I just kept looking into the distance. The night was starry with a crescent moon. It was looking very beautiful.

"Taste it."

"Pardon, your majesty"

"Don't look that confused, I want you to taste all the food you serve me." I repeated coldly and she gulped.

Another maid moved and took a fresh cutlery set and served a piece of everything from my plate for the cook and its server.

Only when they tasted everything did I start my dinner.

"Your majesty, his majesty is asking to have dinner with you."

I raised a brow as i heard this queer request, if it had been past, he would have been standing in front of me only then did i know he wanted to meet me. My old staff was more of theirs than mine. But this new one I had appointed knew where their loyalty should lie.

I have to thank Damien and Marianne again to help me so much in just two days.

"Invite him with all due respect" I ordered and only then did I see a guard moving at the side and let him come in.

"Yes, your majesty"

He waltzed in leisurely as if he was not at all affected by the way the guard behaved with him. He sat in front of me as maids served him with meals and wine.

He took the glass of wine and sniffed it. Taking a sip he smiled.

"I heard that you are having dinner in the garden. It had been days since I enjoyed the fresh air. So, I decided to join you."

I only nodded at his long speech as I continued with my meal. This was the lamest excuse i had ever heard that he was having lunch here so that he could have fresh air!

"Katherine"

"Yes, your majesty"

"About three days ago, i wanted to apologise for my sudden departure."

"If I will make a list of the things you need to apologise for, then it would be much more than the incident of three days ago, your majesty. But I want to know how Rosemund entered my chamber at that time?"

"She must have followed me"

I raised a brow and he looked towards the other side.

"She is too sensitive over this matter. But I have explained to her. She would not repeat this again. And due to her my steps had been halted. I apologise for that. And if you want, we can continue from there" he said as his hands moved and touched my hands slowly.

I felt so nauseous that I wanted to throw his hands away and scratch the skin where he had touched to a level that the skin would come out and leave his mark.

I slowly moved my hands away. His brows furrowed as he looked at me tilting his head.

"I am tired tonight, your majesty. And I have to go to town early tomorrow morning. So i would like to sleep on time." i replied as i took the last sip of my wine and stood up without waiting for his reply.

"But, you can go to town any other day" he said confused as he stood up too.

"My words have value, your majesty. I have asked my staff and knight that we will leave in the morning. Cancelling now means they would keep waiting for me in the morning. It would not leave a good impression as a new empress"

"But.."

"It's too late, your majesty. Wish you a peaceful night"

With that I moved from there without even looking back at the man who was still standing there.

Entering into my room the first thing I did was to pour the jar of water over my hand and then rub it with my handkerchief in the hope that his traces would be removed. Yet i knew the moment for which i had rejected him today would turn into reality soon.

I could not reject him forever yet my broken heart was not ready to accept it anyway

I closed my eyes and laid on the bed. Tonight, I will still sleep peacefully and think about it later when the time comes.

***********

"Is the carriage ready?"

"Yes, your majesty."

"Ask the knights to wear the clothes of nouveau riche that are been given to them and change my dress with a simpler one"

"Yes, your majesty"

I looked at myself in the mirror. It's been a long time since the tiara has finally left my head. Its weight was almost crushing me. I was looking like my previous self the way I got dressed up before marriage. No such heavy jewellery and nothing like a married woman. I was looking just like the maiden that I really was.

"Don't call me by your majesty title there."

"But we can not take your name, your majesty. It will be announced as treason"

"Then call me Sylvia there"

They looked at each other reluctantly but nodded.

"Yes, your majesty"

I nodded as we walked into the carriage, it was a long journey so I tried to look out of the window to observe more and more things. I need to do a lot of things in the town. I had to learn the working of town and other important details too.

I was looking around when my eyes fell on Marianne, she was entering a tea house and a smile bloomed on my lips.