I Hate Being Used

"My Empress!" Gavryll greeted as he forced a facade of happiness from his discomfort upon seeing her.

"Greetings, my Emperor…" she smiled.

The search was halted as soon as Hera revealed herself in the Imperial Palace. But this time, their meeting from the short while was a one-sided sentiment no more. Hera now was also falsifying herself before them. Just like they always did, Hera made a facade and concealed her heart with a hardbound.

"My, it's been a while…" she smiled.

"Indeed, it was."

Whilst they stall with their insufficient chat, Odette stepped forward.

"My, Empress Hera…You have no shame, do you?"

Hera looked to where Odette stood. It was hilarious to her sight how Odette came with such motives only to find her wearing the Empress's clothes.

"I can say the same thing to you, Noble Consort Odette…" she gave a warm smile though her eyes never reciprocated the warmth her lips gave.

Her hand slowly pointed to the dress Odette wore, clenched fists, Odette creased her furrow.

"How illiberal of you, Empress to be staving off the issue I surged."

"Apologies, Odette…" she curtsied but deep within her apertures was the flaming desire to hurt Odette as she pleased, after all, she was the cause of all this. "Do speak what you have in mind."

"As I was saying…" she continued where she left off. "Do you know no shame? For an Empress such as you to act recklessly despite your need to perform your duties…"

The ministers who heard what was spoken started to interfere and number more criticism toward Hera.

"What the noble consort spake was indeed true. My Empress, do forgive me if I harshly speak the truth to you but your absence for two months was indeed irresponsible and reckless."

"What selfishness and avarice could have risen in you to walk off the throne and return?"

"If you were gone for much longer, we would have apologized if we crowned the consort as the Empress by then…"

"Most of us supposed the narrow prospect of you returning, that is why the noble consort became prepared to shoulder your duties…"

"You should have thanked each and everyone for enabling us to continue fulfilling your duties despite the absence of our Empress."

'These people had the sudden urge to speak with the thought of manipulating me. I hate being used, I already vowed not to be…' she thought.

"How funny…" her voice echoed and came across the ears of the living life that was present during the moment. Everyone looked at her with despise, everyone except for Amraphel who silently stood beside her.

"You all thought I would be dethroned that instant because of my absence, did you? What scornful derision. I am the primary means of the throne, how foolish of you to be fretting for my dethronement that will never transpire in the first place…"

"What could you be speaking of, Empress? It was clear in the Imperial Articles that if a ruler relinquish the throne and her duties, they will be dethroned if the certainty of them not returning is at utmost likelihood." The Minister spoke.

"How esthetic of you, minister Helix." she snickered. "That article was created for those who came not from the Imperial family, that does not pertain to me…"

"Don't dare jest and make a new article ordinance of your own, Empress!" Odette said as she grit her teeth, infuriated.

"Oh, but I can." she smiled.

Amraphel stepped forward, he held a scroll that stated the Imperial ordinance Hera spoke of.

"Greetings, Your Highness…" he bowed.

Gavryll's eyes glared at him immensely with such tension. His hand held his cheek whilst his elbow stood, resting on the arm of his throne.

"Tell me, are you taking part in the Empress's act of treason, the act of impetuous behavior, the act of slander to the throne, and the making of fibs upon the Imperial ordinance? You sure do know that fraudulent fibs can cost you your head, do you not?"

Hera looked at him with a menacing glare, her heart still felt shattered whilst her watches gazed at him but she can't bear to justify them with their deception.

"What you're doing right now is a high act of treason that is punishable with tormenting death, Gavryll…" Amraphel boldly pronounced.

"Empress, what are you talking about?"

"Have you gone insane with the number of days outside the Imperial Palace?" Odette mocked.

"Noble Consort Odette, where has your respect for the Empress gone? Was it blown by the wind the moment you stepped out of your commoner life?" Amraphel glared, he couldn't stand how Odette gradually mocked and made fun of Hera for long.

"My, where have my manners run to?" She taunted. "Do you know which position you stood, Amraphel?"

Amraphel snickered as he looked at Odette with a malicious grimace, "Do you know which position was given to you, lowly commoner?"

Odette was awestricken. He did accomplish to pull a nerve or two, she could not find the means to pick up the jaw she dropped the moment Amraphel hurled an offense toward her.

Hera chuckled, "It seemed like the commoner's mouth was now shut…" she glimmered.

"Shall we talk over tea?"

The servants had started to offer tea just as Hera ordered, everyone sat still with their eyes focused on Amraphel and Hera.

"My, what is this that I see…?" Odette then started to talk once more, inciting both to be provoked. "Amraphel, you were strangely absent during the Empress's absence. Why was it? Is it because you were protecting her? Do you harbor such feelings for her to protect her and not turn her over to the Imperial throne?"

Amraphel did not bother to respond, instead, Hera raised her hand which motioned Sheraphel, a soldier to come close to her.

"Sheraphel…" she seductively spoke in reason to manipulate.

"Here am I, my Empress…" he responded.

"Have your sword with you…"

"What scheme can you be doing with Sheraphel, Hera? Are you baiting him to take you away as well?" Odette snickered.

Hera could not be bothered at all, she ignored Odette that highly made the consort infuriated.

"Sheraphel, to whoever speaks other than I and Amraphel, you are free and I order you to cut their fingers off for every word they spake. If the number of their fingers on their hands peril no longer, you may cut off their toes."

It felt as if everyone died as they all paled hearing what Hera spoke. She was serious, it was a stringent atmosphere, Hera's eyes narrowed to look at every eye of the lives that were present with an evil menace.

"The silence had been liberated forthwith. Let us discuss, shall we?"