2 The Emperor is seeking me

Living my life as though am a shadow in the palace I grow up and turned 18 and had my coming age of ceremony with my half-sister. Even though my party was delayed so we can enter society together as adults the main character was without a doubt her.

I lived my days in anticipation. Any moment now a marriage proposal will be sent and I will be wedded. I was just waiting for the signal.

Just when I was having such thoughts a maid knocked on my door before entering and said that his Majesty has requested that I am to be escorted to his office because of a matter that he needs to discuss with me.

A matter to discuss with me huh? It was almost laughable but nonetheless, his Majesty the Emperor was seeking me.

I knocked on the door to announce my presence and once in I was allowed to enter I bowed while greeting him

"Greetings to His Majesty light of the Empire"

"You may rest" he responded with a cold voice I didn't expect much anyway.

"You called for me your Majesty "

"Yes sit down. A marriage proposal came from our neighboring kingdom the kingdom of Freed. They asked for one of the princesses and I chose you."

I knew it. Should I respond now or wait for him to talk some more?

"You will be marrying crown prince Issac so you should be thankful for such an opportunity"

Crown Prince if such a person was proposing then why choose me instead of Adele? There must be something wrong with him because the Freed Kingdom and our Empire have a long history and a peace treaty and a chance to combine both the royal families would have gone to her not me.

"Yes your Majesty thank you very much," I said while bowing my head.

Those eyes of hers even though they are the same as mine are so cold and indifferent. And she is so expressionless and short with her answers talking to her is stifling but I can not afford to send my precious Adele there.

"The envoys will be here in a month we will hold a banquet to welcome them and you are to go with them for bridal training and in a year your marriage will be held there. Whether you want to return here for visits or not that is something you should discuss with your fiance"

"Yes, your Majesty. May I ask you something, your Majesty?"

"What is it?"

"For how long will the envoys stay here"

"2 weeks is there anything else "

"No, thank you, your Majesty"

"If you have nothing else to say you may leave"

"Then I will be on my way" I bowed and walked out of his office. Once I stepped outside I took a deep breath and then released it. So first I need information I will ask someone to investigate the crown prince from the Freed kingdom for me and collect rumors. While I was thinking of that a voice interrupted me.

."What are you doing in front of Father's office," said the deep masculine voice with chilly anger. That is the difference between us. I was not in a place where I could ever call him father.

" Greetings to his highness the crown prince" I greeted him as he was bluntly rude by not greeting me but I couldn't point that out.

" I did not ask you a question just to receive a greeting answer me" he responded as though he was running out of patience.

" Am afraid you will have to ask his majesty because I don't know if this is something I should answer " I said calmly "Now if you will excuse me I will get going". I said then left without heading much to whatever he had to say.

I am now unofficially engaged so they can't recklessly punish me I am no longer their exclusive asset I now belong to someone else. Someone they can't ignore or give their precious princess to. As sad as it is this was something to be happy about.

But no matter how I looked at it he looks so much like His Majesty it is almost terrifying. He had deep blue hair and silver eyes that belonged to the royal family just like his Majesty. He was like a miniature copy of him.

While I had the silver eyes which belong to the royal family I had red hair which is a distinct feature of the family of Pante. Just like my mother. on the other hand, my half-sister had deep blue hair and amber eyes just like her mother.

My father hated my hair color. Which added to the reasons he hated the very sight of me for. Not that I sought him out.

While Adele was at the center of the social circle I only participated when necessary. And she was adored like a fairy praised for her beauty everywhere she went.

But the sole reason why I cared about beauty is that my beauty and appearance will decide at which price I will be sold and to whom.

I went back to my room and rang the bell calling for my maid.

" Judy do you know anything about the crown prince of Freed kingdom" If anyone needed to know anything they should just ask a maid. There is nothing more interesting to them than the life of nobles whom they serve and fiery rumors.

She flinched at my question and quivered "May I know why my lady?" she asked.

"Just because" I answered solemnly " Are you not going to answer? should I ask someone else?"

"No it is not that my Lady forgive me it is just" she hesitated as though looking for the right words before continuing " He... he is a really scary dangerous person my lady. They say that he is a bloodthirsty demon, and a war addict that goes around looking for a new battlefield, and uses the law as an excuse to punish nobles and commoners horridly"

I knew it. So that is what is wrong with him he's basically a barbarian. They can pretend to treasure me and get a lot of dowry and if the prince is not pleased with me and with his rumored tendencies he happens to kill me they can ask for compensation. Because they will never wage war for someone like me.

This is such a good deal that I actually have to praise his majesty for it.

" Is that so? Then I would like you to go to the informants guild and ask for his information. pay whatever price needed and get it to me as soon as possible."

" May I ask why my Lady?"

" I will tell you later but for now can you just get it? If anyone asks you are just looking because you are curious"

" Yes, my lady."