Herself

The servants were ogling at her once she had left her mattress, and those attendees saw numerous marks on her skin that made them believe that they did consummate. Her hands, her collars, and her chest were marked with the ecstasy of his kisses, her garment which she frayed, and those marks were enough evidence to make them believe that their falsehoods were the truth.

"We might have a prince before this month ends…"

"The Emperor might have liked her too much…"

"Oh, how to be the Empress Selestia..."

They squealed by the corner whilst they fidget with excitement, Selestia, on the other hand, stood up and wore her clothing. She has something that was yet to be delivered to Celeste, she has an agenda to accomplish, and listening to their chatters of the supposed night that never happened was not one of them.

"Y-Your Majesty, why are you in such haste?"

Selestia grimaced at the servant, her brows wrinkled, "I believe that the agenda of the Empress does not necessarily involve you three."

"We…were purely pondering, what if the Emperor looked for you only to find out that we knew not where you would be? He might throw us to work in the mines…" the servant gulped.

Selestia sighed, "If ever the Emperor looked for me, tell him that I have gone to Cesarius to meet a companion of mine."

"But Your Majesty…!" She attempted to stop her from ever going out of her chambers, but it was far too useless, she had gone away and there was always no way of stopping her nonetheless.

Selestia could only listen to herself, her jurisdictions, and solely to Fritz, her brother. Other than him, no one was able to make her heed them, and do as they told her to. For Selestia, she had a mind of her own, a body of her own, and a life she lived on her own, it would be unnecessary to need others to ordain her what to do.

She was the only person who can control and help herself, for Selestia, the life she lived was only filled with herself, and everything she does was solely subject to herself.

That was why Selestia was blessed with such joy for her independence, she was great at keeping herself intact though at the same time, they grew solemn upon knowing that she could only rely on herself even if she had the royal family to help her.

To them, she looked so lonely having to be the only one to back herself up. All the time, she looked torn from having been so distant from her family, it was the sole period that torn beam of light in her eyes was relinquished — that was when Fritz was around. Because even if she grew distant from her parents, she never grew far from the embrace of her loving brother.

Though when Fritz turned eighteen, the King would send him to numerous battles, committees, and such outside of Celeste. It was five years that she endured, with only her brother returning after many months.

It was three days before yesterday when Selestia received a letter from Grandel. He explained through his letter that he was to arrive to Thuhelda and tell her something he believed was crucial to be told.

Selestia rode her carriage with an austere expression manifested on her complexion. Her mind sketched the scene to when Grandel dropped anchor once again to Celeste after his errand on Thuhelda.

Indeed, after Duke Barlock had left that instant, Selestia and Grandel discussed and spoke of another like-mindedness.

"You supposed that there was a purpose why such matter was hidden from me by my father?" Selestia asked.

She was perplexed, the information he had given we're what she needed yet Grandel returned with another amusing data.

"Speak and tell me, Grandel. What did you surmise might be the purpose of such insolence my father held against me?"

Grandel nodded, "I am afraid that just as you would not let me come with you to Thuhelda's empire, I will give the same answer as you did."

Selestia's brows met with an aggravation that delineated on every hairsbreadth of her facade. She hated such suspense anyhow.

"Why would you dare taunt me, Grandell? Where has your faith in me had gone to?"

Grandell footed close to her, his eyes met hers for they only were of the same height. He gazed in the depths of her eyes, and his sights were flowering with an untold emotion.

"I always have faith in you, Selestia. Always and forever I would be placing my trust in you, but I also want you to trust me."

"What are you implying?" Selestia asked, her eyes were of an austere manner as she spoke.

Grandell footed back, he remained his distance from her, and hid his fidgeting hands behind him. Grandell knew he was about to do something daring earlier, he could only gulp as soon as he realized what he was trying to do.

"Allow me to come with you to Thuhelda, princess. That I may let you in on the details."

"My, you have gotten bold, Grandell that you even dared to bargain with me." she grinned.

"Won't you agree? We both will benefit from this…"

"What will coming with me to Thuhelda bring good for you?" Selestia inquired with the yearning to know what his answer would be.

Grandel looked at her, his eyes glistened with a tinge of an unspoken heart that wished to be declared. Grandell feigned a cough, he could not possibly tell her.

It was not the time yet.

"I will tell you in the near future, princess. But if you hear me on this, would this be good for you? You knew not of Thuhelda and the Thuheldians..."

"What are you implying? Are you meaning to speak an insult?" Selestia raised her brows.

"Never, princess. But what I vie to let you comprehend was that you are certainly unfamiliar with Thuhelda and as if I who stayed quite a while there had rather mapped it on my fingers. Would it not be good for you if I would be there to be an ally of yours?"

Selestia bit her lip in anticipation. 'Indeed, as I start to be an Empress, certainly I will scarcely gain their favor not unless I prove myself to them.'

Selestia looked at him with a scowl.

"Then, how do you suppose you state yourself in Thuhelda? For certain you will have to relinquish your Noble title, in Thuhelda, you will be nothing more than a commoner. I'm afraid that even if I have the power to appoint you as the empress minister of the Imperial court, the Emperor might not agree since he seemed not to trust you."

Grandell stood firmly, he clenched his fists, and boldness arose from the countenance of her apertures.

"Then I will live as a commoner, I will build my business, and be a merchant. As long as this deal is accomplished, I fear not what people would see me as, what status I held, or whatever I will be treated, as long as I am with you…"

His eyes lit sincerely. Selestia nodded, she needed not a minute to think. In that prompt minute, Selestia offered her hand and there was built an agreement.