CHAPTER 1

EMPRESS RUBY A short tempered woman cursing and wailing at her husband for stealing her last pennies and used them all up on gambling. "you gamble your life away for over two decades and have not won a dime! Aren't you ashamed of yourself? Would you continue this way for the rest of your life? Now our only daughter is getting married today to a royalty and you don't know? I am not sure you do, cos if you do, you would be busy preparing your home to receive our royal in-laws". Mr. Antonio was the direct opposite of his wife. Irresponsible, lazy, but quiet. He gently stood up from where he sat, grabbed his mug still filled with beer. "Get rid of this thing!!" Mrs. Doris screamed, waving the mug away from his grip with a slap and there was an uproar among the men he sat with. He was used to his wife embarrassing him in front of his friends, so he just walked past her staggering and stinks of beer. He had, had excess and is now pretty drunk but still able to find his way home. It was past 9 am and the royal guests expected to be present around 12:00 noon. There's still little time to prepare the house. Mrs Doris is already done with cooking and now wants to face her daughter Ruby. She was going to help her do her hair after instructing Antonio to make the decorations. "Do not forget to place the fruit bowl on the dining. I left it in the kitchen!" she wailed from Ruby's room. "Mother, do you really mean that the Emperor coming to marry me today has been king, ruling for years without a wife?" Ruby asked curiously. "Yes Ruby. You see, He is such a responsible man with recommendable character. He is not like most Emperors who keep a flock of women. You would not have to share your husband with any one, as well as a safe home free of nags and quarrels among wives. you are so lucky to have caught the attention of this young Emperor my jewel". Doris said as she knotted the final ribbon around Ruby's hair. "I think they are here", She said after sighting the royal flag of Blue Dragon Empire. "What do i do mom? where do I start from? I have not had lessons on social courtesy meeting Royalties. I do not know how to do the bow and all other royal formalities. Mother I am new to this and I think I am nervous. What do I do mother?" Ruby asked very nervously with a shaky voice as though she wants to cry. "My jewel, you love him don't you?" Her mom asked her, getting up and pulling her up as well. "Yes mother, I do." "Good, you do not need to know all those before meeting the love of your life. Just go out there and say hi to him, with your prettiest smile. He is a gentle man. He would definitely welcome you to a warm embrace while you lead him into our home. Okay?" "Yes mother, she said with a smile and followed her mother to the court yard to welcome her soon husband to be. "Welcome Emperor Arthur, Antonio said as he met the king by the door of the Royal Mc Laren that conveyed him to his humble abode. "Good day your royal highness, your wife is in, waiting for you". "My good countenance fell upon you today father in law. I first saw you beaming with smile and its a rare thing for a man to first hand welcome his daughter's suitor. I would leave my signet with you. Its a mark of royalty." He said, taking off the diamond signet from his middle finger and gave it to Antonio who received it with another wide beam of smile as he stretched out his right arm pointing towards his door as a gesture to mean 'you may now go inside'. The marriage rites were conducted in full with the spice of royalty and Emperor Arthur took his beautiful bride, Ruby home to everlasting comfort. At least the comfort was ought to be everlasting until she got into trouble with the Emperor's mother for not providing an heir for the last 5 years she has been queen. "I am growing old and weary, I might not live another 10 years! I need to be sure this lineage of royalty would continue before I go to rest eternally !!!" Queen Julia II would say. Probably she was right because she departed the following year which was the same year Arthur and Ruby welcomed Emilia. Princess Emilia. It was a year of mixed feelings. There was joy and sadness but the joy over threw the sadness because the deceased was of age and ripe for departure. It was a celebration of life and the welcome ceremony of Emilia was a luxury. "This is a sign that the Universe is with us, they took the grand queen and replaced her with this little goddess of beauty. Such a gift!" There was an uproar of cheers from the subjects present at the welcome ceremony of Princess Emilia. There was an out throw of gifts. Some mothers gave out their daughters as personal maidens to the princess for this was a custom in the Blue Dragon Empire. "The Emperor celebrates his female child so much like it was a male. It shouldn't be! She shouldn't be celebrated at all!!" Commander Charles thundered. "The grand queen was in demand of a male heir before her departure. Now the Emperor celebrates a girl who is in no position to rule at all if something happens and the king is no more! This is foolishness!!" Major Gabrielle added in a roar. The two top officers in the Emperor's army ranted with zero satisfaction to the Emperor's actions towards the new baby's arrival. "But sire, what do you think about the Emperor adopting a male child? It's getting obvious that the kings wife is not as fertile as the women in our land. Instead of getting a son adopted, we should talk the king into taking a second wife from among our women who would give us an heir." That's a good idea Major. Lets hear what he thinks about this. He loves his subjects so much and would not want to leave them without an heir. Besides, it was his mother's dying wish. The rumor of the Emperor getting a second wife began spreading like wild fire. It made young women start making preparations and mothers sending their daughters with gifts to the palace. The unusual troops of young women in and outside the palace with gifts raised suspicion. The king demanded from his special adviser about his recent observation. He was then made to understand that rumor about him wanting to take a second wife from among the maidens in the empire. "My wife, your Empress is enough for this Kingdom and there is no room for a second woman!!! Bring me any maiden you see presenting gifts from now onward. I would trace the root of this rumor and punish the originator mercilessly!!" Emperor Arthur thundered with annoyance and left for his chamber to discuss the recent happening with his wife.