Scum

"Are you blackmailing me now?" The voice was filled with venom as the man stared at the empress with a desire to kill. His sharp eyes were already leaving strong murder intent but the lady was unfazed.

She picked up the cup of tea and enjoyed it while watching the scenery which made the man more irritated.

"Margret!"

"It's your majesty for you, Andrew! Have you forgotten that you are just a marquis while I am the empress?

Even your position of vice chancellor can be taken by me anytime. Don't you dare to question my authority." he was startled to see her dominating aura and cruel words. It was only yesterday when she was behaving like a meek woman while hiding her viciousness.

But after a second of being surprised, a cold smirk formed on his face.

"So you are finally showing your true colors after seven years of staying silent is it? And you think that I would be scared just because you have the authority?

Your authority is only in name! You are nothing but an abandoned empress and if i would ask his majesty that you dismissed me from my position, i am sure that he would ask for an explanation and even scold you for your narrow mindedness.

You were nothing but a pawn in his plans." he gloated as he was sure that she would shriek and shout.

She always created a scene when her relationship with his majesty was questioned.

Her crude behavior and tears only make her disgusted in the eyes of the man who was ruling them. For him, she was a fool that was of no use.

Let her create a scene and burn her house further. He would just sit and warm his hands in the fire.

"Then go and do it! I will wait for the summon later." gulping the bitter liquid down her throat, she passed him a nonchalant look as if he was nothing but a barking dog that did not need her attention.

His cheeks flushed with embarrassment as she dismissed him with the wave of his hands. He had never felt this insulted before since everyone looked up to him for the power he held and the charisma he had. Yet the woman was treating him like he was a servant.

"Dont test my patience, you know that i hold complete power over all the matters of the palace. Not to forget that you are already on pins and needles when it comes to your nephew.

Are you not worried that I would win his heart and show him how black your heart is? Under the pretense of his safety and care, all you want is to wield his power for your personal use.

If you think you can enjoy power just because your cousin was a previous empress, then I have not seen another fool like you.

So, do not waste my time or my son's. I have already sent another teacher for him today.

He would be the one teaching both kids now." her words were like scissors that were cutting his clothes and stripping him bare in front of her.

As if he had nothing left over his body, the humiliation only grew but no matter how much he racked his brain, he did not have any words to refute her.

She was the current empress while he was the cousin of the dead one.

Though he could challenge that his majesty loved his sister while she was just for show. That did not change the fact that she had all the authority of the empress, and if she wanted, she could dismiss him from teaching the prince.

"Wait! What do you mean by both? You might be concerned about your son. But you have no right to dismiss me from teaching my nephew, Mar.. your majesty!" the way she looked at him with a carefree look on her face but beneath that, the viciousness in her eyes can not be ignored.

For a minute he felt threatened! A drop of sweat fell on his neck bringing him out of his thoughts.

"Then go and challenge that too while you are on your way to meet my dear husband. If there is nothing else, leave. Your presence is ruining the taste of my tea." she added again making him baffled.

He could not understand how she became so bold suddenly. She had to be cowered back and then crying in the corner. Or throwing things and making an issue so that he could say she was a crazy woman but nothing was going according to his plan.

"I think the marquis is tired and having a problem in finding his way out, why don't you help him?" she asked in a soft voice that had a smile on her face but it was full of mockery towards him who was still staring at her with confusion.

The knights exchanged glances but nodded their heads and walked closer to the man with an intention to hold him and throw him out of the palace when he finally stood up.

"No! I can walk out by myself.'' The sound came out with so much pressure that Katherine was sure a few of his teeth would break from all this gnashing.

The man had always trampled all over her due to his strong position in the royal court and support of her husband.

She was afraid that if she would not please him, her husband would be angry with her and abandon her sooner.

With that thought, she behaved like a meek woman but now that she was free from those vain shackles and didn't care if the emperor was alive or dead, she found the whole situation funny on how a marquis was able to control the empress to the limit that he beaten her son in front of her and then gloated over it while telling her that he deserved it.

Such scum!