7 The Emperor's Condition

Marie has been walking back and forth as soon as she got back inside Titania's room. When she noticed that the young miss was missing, she panicked and told the head butler Florian about the situation. Before the Archduke left for the war, he gave them a stern command not to let Titania wander off of the Archduchy.

Knowing that she's responsible for the young lady, Marie has been biting her nails as she keeps thinking, where could Titania be. She didn't see her leaving her room nor leaving the manor. The sixteen-year-old maid is having a nervous breakdown, and there's still no trace of her lady.

"Marie!"

Marie immediately turned her head around towards the walk-in closet, and there she saw Titania and Astra coming out while wearing black cloaks. Tears suddenly formed in her eyes as she tried her best not to fall on the ground. "M-Milady."

Marie couldn't stop her tears from falling out of her eyes as she ran towards the young miss and hugged her tightly. "I've been searching for you!"

The sudden situation left Titania dumbfounded as she pats Marie's back to comfort her and to make her stop crying. She totally forgot about Marie and left just like that. She knows that what she did was quite harsh on Marie, who's been a worrywart when it comes to her.

Titania continues to pat Marie's back. "We just went out for a bit. I'm sorry for worrying you." Marie nodded as she let go of the hug and wiped the tears from her eyes. "I was so scared and asked Florian if he knew where you are."

"Wait… What did you say?"

Marie was frozen still after realizing what she had just said. She slowly looked at Titania's face while feeling nervous, and her hands began trembling. "I-I asked Florian if he knew where you were."

As if in coincidence, the loud sound of the opening of the gates caught their attention. Titania and Astra looked at each other's eyes, thinking about the same thing. 

"The Archduke." They both said in unison as they ran towards the first floor to find Florian.

They ran frantically as if their lives were on the line. Titania silently cursed inside her mind as she kept on panting just to reach Florian, who was going to greet the Archduke as soon as he got inside the manor.

When she realized that she wouldn't reach him in time, she has decided to call for his name. "Florian!" But it was too late, when they arrived on the first floor, they saw the Archduke and Florian talking about something they couldn't hear.

When Sylvester's cold and unfriendly eyes reached them, they both flinched as they averted their gaze. Astra was even trying to sneak out but was quickly stopped by Blaze, who also arrived with the Archduke.

"I think you have an explaining to do." Sylvester's cold tone made the two shiver in fear. "The two of you." 

Titania looked at Astra, telling him to explain everything, but Astra just looked back at her and kept pushing her towards the Archduke. As if they were children that got caught by their Dad making trouble.

Sylvester gave Florian his coat and walked towards the two who were standing still on the staircase. "To my office." They felt how stern Sylvester's voice was, so they were forced to go to the office without making a fuss. Astra kept glaring at Titania as they were walking behind the Archduke.

"This is all your fault," Astra whispered to Titania, who was walking beside him. "I'll tell him the truth that you forced me." He added, which made Titania looked at him in disbelief. She knew that this man could not be trusted, but she never expected him to betray her this early.

Blaze opens the door for them. As they walked inside the room, they felt the freezing atmosphere because of the presence of the Archduke.

They know there's something wrong with him as soon as he gets inside the manor. Of course, he did warn Titania not to go out of the manor to keep her safe, but she still went to the capital and had fun with Astra.

"Sit."

Titania's body instantly sat on the soft and comfy sofa as if on instinct after hearing Sylvester's voice. 'That made me look like a dog,' is what she thought after realizing what she just did.

The Archduke sat on his chair and looked at Astra, standing beside the sofa where Titania was sitting. "Astra, I need you to work on something for me." Astra, who didn't know what the Archduke was talking about, was forced to go with Blaze outside. 

Before he could go, he smiled at Titania while mouthing 'good luck.' This made Titania feel worse. She didn't expect to feel fear once again because of the Archduke.

"I… I'm sorry!" Titania shut her eyes and tightened the grip on her dress as she waited for the Archduke's response. How did she end up feeling scared like this again? That is because of her bridal lessons, which include history.

The history lessons contain the lives of the Imperial Family, which involves the Archduke directly. It was said in the book that before Sylvester could even reach 17, he killed many innocent people that stood in his way and pissed him off.

He is known as a cruel and brute man that wouldn't back away in a fight. Titania wouldn't feel surprised if he decided to kill her on the spot after affecting his plans like that.

"Why are you sorry? Did you do something that wouldn't please me?" She flinched as she felt sweat running down from her temple.

Titania opened her eyes but avoided eye contact at all cost and thought that the Archduke must be testing her. 

If she's going to be honest with him or not. But there's no choice for her anyway. If she doesn't tell the truth, Sylvester will probably end her right at this moment.

"I… I didn't listen to you and still gone to the capital." She confessed as she forced a smile and slowly looked at the Archduke's face with anxiety eating her alive.

The usual cold expression of the Archduke went freezing and made Titania stopped from doing unnecessary movements on her seat. 'W-Wait, is he not talking about that?' is what she thought as she panicked and couldn't say anything.

"And here I was expecting that the news I brought is bad." Titania swallowed a lump on her throat. "But it seems like you have even more bad news for me." Titania felt her heart beating faster and louder because of nervousness. 

It didn't help her that this body of Titania is instinctively scared of the Archduke.

"W-What's the news then?"

The cold-hearted Archduke stared at Titania before he scoffs. "Who cares about the news. Did you have fun in the capital?" Titania faked a smile and thought, 'I care!' After the Archduke disregarded the news, he had for the fairy.

The Archduke touched his chin as he continuously observed the fairy with curious eyes. "You looked like you've had fun with Astra. Why wouldn't you answer?" Titania tried her best to maintain her fake smile and not to react abruptly with the blatant taunting of the Archduke.

Titania wanted to avoid talking about it and decided to pick up the cup of tea on the table with her trembling hands trying to soak her dry throat.

"You look like you won't answer, so I'll tell the news that I have." The Archduke sat on his chair. "I told the Emperor about our engagement." Titania's head quickly turned to the Archduke with her eyes wide open.

Titania couldn't construct a proper sentence to say to the Archduke because of how shock she was.

She let go of the cup of tea that almost spilt and covered her face with both of her hands due to frustration, she wanted to scream, but that would make the Archduke unhappy. 'How could he put my life in the line?!' she thought as she kept punching the Archduke inside her mind while still crouching, hiding her face from Sylvester.

"He wants to meet you tomorrow."

Titania stood up as she looked at the Archduke in disbelief. "HUH?!"

"You stupid Archduke!!!"

That is what she wanted to say, but she couldn't when the Archduke stared at her with no interest, as if he's not concerned with the topic. While Titania was struggling to even say anything that wouldn't piss the Archduke but at the same time can express what she truly feels right now.

"I… I don't think it's right for me to meet the Emperor." She avoided eye contact. She wanted to curse out loud because of this sudden situation. Her first plan to lay low and avoid the Emperor's attention failed before it could even start!

The Archduke began drinking his favourite chamomile tea while having this unbothered tone. "If you don't, then he won't agree with the engagement."

'Why does he act like this doesn't concern him?!'

Titania bit her lip as she prevented herself from shouting at the Archduke. She faked a smile while thinking about other solutions to this current problem.

"No matter how long you think, there's no solution. You have to meet the Emperor." Titania's eye twitches with anger as she looks at the Archduke, who's already working on the papers placed on his desk.

As if her soul left her body, Titania fell on the sofa. Like a leaf that fell from a tree. She wanted to make a scene and piss the Archduke so bad that she couldn't control her facial expressions anymore.

She slowly got back up and stared at Sylvester, who was already busy moving his hand.

"Do you want me to die this early?" Titania smiled with her eyes, but everyone could tell how sarcastic it was.

"No. I'm helping you." The Archduke looked at Titania with a confused expression. 'Is he playing dumb?' is what she thought as they kept on having this staring contest that's a total waste of time.

"Helping my ass!"

And because of what she said to the Archduke, she was forced to meet the Emperor whether she liked it or not.

"I didn't sign up for this." She mumbled as she looked outside of the carriage. Seeing the vast palace gate makes her want to puke due to nervousness and anxiety. 

The last time she felt like this was in 11th grade. She was supposed to report in front of the school principal without her groupmates because they ditched her.

Riding the Archduke's carriage is like announcing that the Archduke is going to the palace to the whole Tharain. Since the carriage of the Archduke is much bigger than any ordinary wagon. He purposely used his most enormous carriage to make it seems like he's deeply in love with the young miss.

When the carriage started moving again, Titania looked at the window and saw the magnificent view. The sides of the path are filled with flowers and plants that are too pretty to look at.

Titania couldn't believe how long the path was. The view outside couldn't quench the anxiety she was feeling. 'How long until my death?' is what she thought as she looked at the Archduke, who's currently sleeping peacefully.

"Should I punch him just once?" She asked herself as she stood up and was about to punch the Archduke in the face, but the carriage stopped, which made her fall into the Archduke in an awkward position.

"We're here, your grace." The coachman outside said.

"What are you doing?" Titania wanted to die at that moment when she heard the voice of the Archduke. 'Of course, he'll wake up!' she thought as she tried to get up, but her dress was in the way and made her trip again. She falls back into the Archduke's arm.

"Are you seducing me?"

"Please stop talking." As soon as she regained her balance, she opened the door. 

Titania went out without any help from the coachmen nor the Archduke. Her face is heating up due to embarrassment. That's why she doesn't want to face the Duke thinking that it would create misunderstanding.

"If you keep acting like that, you'll make it obvious that we're just pretending." She heard the Archduke whispered into her ear, making her face turn into a cherry red colour. The deep and husky voice of Sylvester didn't help at all to ease her humiliation.

Without even waiting for Titania to calm down, Sylvester held out his hand. "Shall we go now?" His voice was the same as usual, cold and distant.

Titania fixed her posture and accepted the Archduke's hand. They began walking on the stairs towards the massive door that would lead them inside the Imperial Palace where the Emperor resides. Titania can feel the sweat on her hand, making her feel guilty since the Archduke is holding her sweaty hand.

"My, My."

The Archduke stopped from walking when a woman obstructed them on the way. 'Whoa,' is what Titania thought after seeing another pretty girl.

She has magenta-coloured curly long hair and a pair of pea-green eyes. The woman is wearing an elegant off-shoulder pink dress with flowery decorations. 'She looks like she's gonna attend a party,' Titania thought.

A smile formed on that woman's face. "It's rare for you to come to the Imperial Palace, Sylvester." Titania raised an eyebrow after hearing that woman mentioning the Archduke's name like it was a piece of cake. 

Titania's gaze shifted at the Archduke and saw his unchanging expression. 'What a cold man,'

"We have an appointment with the Emperor. Move." The Archduke said that as he was about to start walking, the woman stopped him by grabbing his arm.

"How cold." She giggled. "Are you going to treat your fiancée like that forever?" Titania winced after hearing that. 

'How many fiancées does this man have?' she rolled her eyes inside her mind and was dissing the Archduke vigorously.

"Oh? Who's this?"

Titania faked a smile after realizing that this woman had noticed her just now. 'How could she? Titania's much prettier than her,' is what she thought, but she shook her head and wanted to push those judgemental thoughts away.

"My name is Vivica. Vivica Embeth Byron." Vivica wanted to shake hands with Titania. "Wait! You're Titania." Before she could even shake Vivica's hand, the woman spouted with amusement.

"Why are you together?" The tone of Vivica's voice changed, and the expression on her face turned sour.

When Titania realized who Vivica was, her eyes widened in shock, and she almost covered her mouth. 'She's that bully!' she screamed inside her mind. 

Titania wanted to avoid this bully because she knew she'd never let her go after knowing that she would get engaged to the Archduke. Vivica was about to reach out for Titania's head, but the Archduke pulled her closer to him.

"None of your business." He pushed Vivica away and advanced to the staircase leading to the throne room where the Emperor was waiting. 

Titania looked back at Vivica to make sure that she was okay, but she regretted it after seeing angst on her face and how she glared at her like she would kill her.

"Now I gained another person that wants to kill me." She whispered to herself.

"The Archduke and the Fairy Queen has arrived." The Knight guarding the door to the throne room announced as they opened it.

Sky-high ceiling, massive chandeliers, and a vast space greeted the two of them. 

Titania couldn't hide how amazed she was by the room. She was staggering while walking beside the Archduke; she almost forgot that the Emperor was in front of them.

"Blessings and Glory upon the Emperor of the Great Alynthian Empire." The Archduke said as he kneeled on the floor while Titania lowered her head and bowed to the Emperor. She is still scared of what's going to happen, but she might at least look elegant.

"My Queen."

Titania flinched after hearing the Emperor's voice. 'Don't tell me this body is also scared of the Emperor?' She looked up and saw the face of the said Emperor. She blinked thousands of times to make sure what she saw right now was real.

'He's my type!' Nina squealed inside her head.

Just like the ray of sun, the Emperor's visuals were blinding. Nina thought that the person in front of her was much more appealing than the man beside her.

Emperor Lennox has silver-white hair paired with honey yellow eyes that makes him look soft and sweet. Titania wasn't expecting to see a cute person sitting on that throne. That bloody throne.

Lennox, in the book, is depicted as a selfish man, but he doesn't look like it. Nina didn't want to accept the fact that this man was the cause of Titania's death.

The Emperor looked at Titania with warm eyes. "I've been searching for you." Nina was about to fall deeper for him, but Titania's body began shivering in fear. She couldn't even open her mouth to say anything back.

"I'll do everything, so please choose me."

Titania was struck with reality after hearing that. The Emperor is seriously saying that to Titania in front of his soon-to-be husband?

"I missed you so bad."

Nina couldn't believe that he almost fell for the handsome face of that man when he was trash deep inside. 'Is this the reason why he wants to see me?'

"Come back to me."