14 Learning About the Emperor

His face was the first thing I saw. He didn't look very old, he had a white beard, but his face looked lively. He had green eyes and white hair, he was wearing purple robes, the colour of the nation. For some reason he seemed familiar to me.

'Welcome Castelle family. This is the first time I'm meeting your family Marquess Vince.' He looked at Elaine's father's direction and had a wrinkly but gentle smile on his face.

'Yes your majesty. It is our honor to be welcomed by you,' Elaine's father said and bowed a little again.

The emperor then looked at Elaine's mother then at me. He had a little twinkle in his eyes that seems to say he knew a lot more than he let on.

I thought it was always weird how characters in a book can have a look in someone's eye that tells us something but here it was staring me in the face. He was also smiling at me weirdly.

Was I supposed to bow again?

'Why don't we take this to a less formal place? I just wanted a small talk with you,' he then got up from his seat and went down the carpeted stairs. He then directed us to the garden where his glasses-wearing assistant took off his robe on the way.

We arrived at the garden and it was much more beautiful than the one we have at home. There were flowers everywhere, roses, tulips and more types of flowers that I don't know the name of. The leaves were so green and the colors of the flowers further brightens the already lively area. There was even an archway made of vines, this was the first time I've seen something up close.

I walk under the archway and we head to a table on the left side of the garden. The white decorated table was fanciest looking I've seen with loops and golden flower decorations. On it was a tea kettle and some empty cups along with some tea snacks like small cakes and cookies.

We sat down on the four seats surrounding the table and the king's servant who was standing beside him stood over the table to pour us the tea. I picked up my small glass cup and took a sip, it was hot chamomile tea that lessened my nerves.

The king also took a sip of his tea and sighed.

'How do you like the tea?', he said still looking into his cup. Elaine's parents were calm and nodded at him. The king smiled at them, but not really looking at them and turned his head my way.

'What about you Elaine? How are you holding up?', he seemed concerned for me, but why would he? Isn't it a good thing that I've been engaged with Alex?

'What do you mean, your majesty?' I awkwardly smiled his way and furrowed my eyebrows to show my confusion.

'Well I heard you fell off your balcony and didn't wake up for quite some time,' he put down his tea and all his attention was on me now. Oh that's right. Sarah pushed me off the balcony, can't believe I forgot about that. But in actuality Elaine was the one who fell off, not me.

'Oh that's right, I'm fine thank you for your concern.' I let out a small laugh.

He was still looking my way and gave a little hum in response.

From what I remember from the book "The Lost Princess", the king was a lonely figure who lost his wife at an early age and never remarried. Since he doesn't have a child that made Alex the next in line for the throne. Not much else was said about the king. In the book he was mostly a silent character except for at the end when he agreed with Alex to chop Elaine's head off.

'Your majesty, might I ask why you've invited us to the palace today?', Elaine's father asked. That's what I'd like to know too.

'I wanted to discuss the engagement of Alex and Elaine here. And if you don't mind I'd like to talk to her alone.' Alone? I don't want to be alone with this guy, what if I do something wrong and he gets angry and punishes me?

But maybe I shouldn't jump ahead and think of the worst possibilities. After all he just wants to talk right? And if he wanted to kill Elaine then Elaine wouldn't have made it so far until the end of the book before she died.

'A-alone? Your majesty?', Elaine's mother stuttered out. It seems I wasn't the only one worried about a private conversation between me and the king.

'Yes. Is that a problem?', the tone he used said all that needed to be said. If she dared to question him, perhaps she was prepared for the punishment that comes along with it.

The air around us seems to drop ten degrees and the sunlight that was once shining on us seemed to have suddenly dimmed.

'No, no problem.' Elaine's mother squeaked out.

The servant standing next to the king then ushered Elaine's parents away from the table and left us alone, just me and the king.

There was something about him. I felt like I've met him before, but I can't quite put my finger on it. After we were alone, he smiled at me knowingly like he knew all my secrets, but said nothing for a while there.

I decided to be the one who breaks the silence, 'Umm, what do you want to talk about?'

'Elaine. What do you think of Alex?' I never read in the book that the king talks to me about Alex before. I don't really know what to say, I've only met the guy once.

'He seems..... nice.' He didn't really, he seemed cold and calculating to me.

'We both know that's not true,' he let out a little laugh. Oh so we're telling the truth now? I laughed a little too when he said that.

'But that's not the topic I wanted to discuss today. I just wanted to tell you how important this engagement is and while he might not be loving now, you never know what might happen in the future,' once again he took a sip of his tea.

But the problem is I do know what is going to happen in the future, he's going to fall in love with Anastasia and who knows what's going to happen to me. Though I can't say any of that to the king.

'Thank you for your concern, your majesty,' was all I could say.

'Though I must say you're adapting quite well. You did die after all.'

What did he just say?