A pin drop

We invited the Countess in and enjoyed a few cups of tea and sweets together. There was much laughter as she told Little Livian and I the story of her romantic engagement with the Count. She talked of her travels to the Southern Isles and how he proposed to her with a thousand roses planted around her feet.

The way she spoke captured your attention like nothing else in this world. She had long brown hair with great waves that swayed like the carefree nature of someone still young enough to rule the world, but her posture and mannerisms spoke of grace and elegance. She was the ideal woman to look up to no doubt, and from the sounds of it, that was our relationship in the past. She reminds me of how I wished to appear to Little Livian.

"My dear enough about me. I have missed you and was thrilled to see you wrote to me so quickly after you awoke," She said. I smiled at her. She seemed friendly, but I still know I have to keep my guard up. I have been taken advantage of twice already, which I know about.

"I appreciate that Countess Carolina. It is my pleasure truly that you are my first acquaintance after I have come to," I said. She smiled with a glint in her amber eyes, she was satisfied with this answer. I felt chills go down my spine. This woman could make or break you in this world and I didn't need to learn the hard way. "Please, accept these gifts from Lady Livian and I," I said as I went to a corner of my room and pulled out two finely decorated gift baskets with Little Livian.

We walked over and presented them to her. She was surprised by the act of goodwill and graciously accepted the gift baskets full of wine and jewelry, delicately wrapped in hand embroidered fine silk throw blankets I made myself.

"You have always been a surprising one," She said to me quietly. I was intrigued, but I didn't want to press on as to why. If it mattered, she would have told me.

As we bid our goodbyes and escorted the Countess out of the palace, we saw the Empress was still waiting there, but this time with Leo. Countess Carolina paid no mind to him, she truly was in love with her Count so as to not look in another's direction, even one as stunning as Leo.

"Countess, do you still have some time?" The Empress rudely asked, without even greeting the Countess. She may be the Empress, but she should still uphold proper manners.

"I am afraid not, I am quite tired and should return these items to my home, good day Your Majesty, Ceara," She was so elegant while denying the Empress even. She even gave us a wink while holding one of her baskets while a servant assisted with the other. She seemed to like them which made my heart skip a beat.

We waved goodbye to the Countess until we saw the carriage was out of sight. We bid everyone a good day and turned around to return to our quarters.

"Stop right there!" The Empress cried out to me. I knew I am not allowed to resist the orders of the Empress, no matter my feelings. I bit my tongue and turned to her, giving a curtsey, trying to hide my true feelings of disgust I felt from looking at her face.

"Who are you, to steal my husband, my friends? You are nothing more than a silly little whore!" She yelled at me. I saw the shocked expressions of those around me and my blood began to boil. I knew better, but my tongue slipped.

"If I am but a little whore who takes from Her Majesty, maybe they were not secure with her in the first place, unfortunately," I said. I felt the regret spread across my body as I knew I just made a grave mistake. I was further reminded of this when I felt a sharp sting of pain across my left cheek.

I lifted my head up at her while I saw her face contorted sharply with rage at me. The atmosphere around the entire palace and garden was so silent a pin could drop. I saw the shocked expressions of all the servants at how little emotional control the Empress contained. Even Leo seemed intimidated by her actions. I smiled back at her and wished her a good day before taking my leave away from her.

I heard her start to scream at a servant behind me as I quickly ran off with Little Livian to my room. I let out the breath I was holding in as we closed the door behind me.

"My goodness are you alright? My Lady?" Little Livian hurried to me with a cold washcloth.

"It is not necessary, it was my fault. I had a slip of tongue, but I know better," I said to her softly. I know better, why am I acting so out of control lately? I rubbed my cheek slightly. It stung but didn't hurt bad enough to cry.

"How dare she run up to you like that? Has she no shame?" Little Livian continued. I could see she was extremely agitated for me at what the Empress has done. I took the cold washcloth from her hands and placed it against my cheek. The coolness helped the sting subside.

"Hush now, that window is not sealed. Don't put yourself at risk," I told her with a seriousness that caught her off guard. She nodded as she sealed her lips. I let out a sigh of relief. I don't want anything to Livian, and I knew the Empress was irrational enough to hit a Mistress, she may target her.

"It was a great visit with Countess Carolina though don't you think?" I asked Livian, desperately trying to change the subject. She nodded and we sat down to talk for a little while about other matters I had to attend to.

Only an hour or so later there was another carrier pigeon at my window. Truthfully, I found it kind of cute this was how he was communicating with me now, but I shoved that thought deep down before I would let myself find him sweet. I took the note attached to its little foot and read it.

"My Lady Viola, I have heard about my Empress's grave error, may I visit you this evening?" I read aloud. I looked to Little Livian for her thoughts.

"It is odd he referred to her as 'my Empress' rather than his wife. But I would accept his invite," she said. She was very logical as usual. It was the Empress's mistake, not his, so I am not sure why he wants to see me. I wrote back a simple 'yes' anyways to see if there was anything more. I guess curiosity is my greatest weakness.

Lady Viola woke up not remembering anything about her life. Only to discover she is actually the Emperor's prized mistress! Something is strange about the whole thing though as Viola tries to recover her lost memories and the truth of how she was injured.