13: HIS AND ONLY HIS

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...13...

HIS AND ONLY HIS💓

When she roused on the morrow after the opening of the Empress Contest Festival in the bedroom, it was to an empty bed. She sat up in bed and yawned softly before slowly studying her surroundings, quite muddle headed from sleep. She noted that the blinds were partly closed. She came down from the bed and tried to guess the time as she walked out of the bedroom in search of her personal aide, Xiera. She found the warrior just outside the door of the bedroom.

'Bright Morning to you My Lady,' Xiera greeted her with a sword bow -both hands on each end of the sword and performing a deep bow by bending the waist forward.

'Bright Morning to you to Xiera,' she replied the lady. 'If I may ask, what time may it be Xiera?' she asked still trying to guess by looking around.

'It is somewhere in the hour of the post dawn My Lady,' Xiera answered her with a smile.

'Oh! I see.'

'I will get Hyeera to prepare a bath for you My Lady,' she said. She began to turn away to go do as she had just suggested but then turned back to the Lady. 'Is it alright if I do that?' she asked her Lady with a careful look in her pretty bright eyes.

'It is alright. You can do that.' Xiera nodded and began to leave to do so. 'Thank you,' she told the warrior and headed back in to the bedroom. Where was the beast? She had slept off angry at him yesterday, for flirting with the ladies that were brought afore him in his throne room. She had no idea when he had come to bed or when he had risen. She also didn't know where he was, did not care but also cared at the same time. How confusing was her heart?! She wondered whether the beast had something to do so early in the morning for she was planning on accompanying him today. Mayhap he might had gone to settle matters of the empire? She could not tell at all. Anyways, he had promised her a tour of his throne room and that tour he would give to her wether he was busy or not busy. She smiled to herself, remembering vividly the kiss he had given her the day before in the presence of the maids. Her cheeks grew a faint scarlet, tell tale signs of an uncontrollable blush. She fell atop the huge round bed, tittering gladly, inaudibly. A knock on the door of the bedroom interrupted her absolute childishness. She turned to the door of the bedroom just knowing that it was Hyeera who was there.

'Come in Hyeera,' she allowed. The door opened and someone came in. It was really her, Hyeera, just as she had predicted. It was just nice to guess something correctly.

'A bright morrow to thee My Lady,' Hyeera greeted her.

'Thank you Hyeera,' she said to her, sitting up in bed.

'And how was your night My Lady?' she asked her with a smile.

'It was cozy and refreshing,' she replied squeezing a pillow.

'That is especially good to hear My Lady. I will prepare your bath now my Lady.'

'Oh do not My Lady me Hyeera,' she protested with a grunt.

Hyeera laughed warmly. 'I will not do that anymore,' she assured her lady with twinkling eyes.

'That is so much better.'

'Then how would you prefer your bath My Lady? Shall it be hot or near cold My Lady?' she asked falling back into the pattern that she had just promised to discard.

'Any temperature apart from too hot and too cold would do Hyeera,' the Lady replied her failing to notice Hyeera's mistake.

'I shall see to it then My Lady,' she said to her with a bow before leaving to get it done.

Quickly fast forward to some minutes later. It met her on the round bed fantasizing about none but the Emperor and his alighting kisses as she waited for her bath to be ready. She giggled inaudibly occasionally to each of her romantic fantasies. She had been jealous of those ladies the day before, especially the red haired one. But, she wasn't because she realized that she had more claim on him than them. He desired her, not them. Even if his emotions were to be classified as obsession, it was still her that he was obsessed over. And, for some reason, the idea made her feel indescribably happy like some sort of stupid lovesick fool.

It was her that he had chosen. It was her that he kept in his bedroom. It was she that he chose to keep, to want, to desire, to touch, to kiss and it pleased her. She thought of him a lot, meaning that she liked him. She could not keep running away could she? Mayhap she should try to have him, win him over, impress him. She should be doing just that. She finally got out of bed -convinced- to select something pretty to wear. She remembered yet again the tour he had proposed. She was going to take him up on it and see that he followed through, anything to keep him away from those pretty bitches that were now residing in the other side of his large manor. She could see their quarters from her bedroom balcony. It was not far away, just behind the stables. She searched through her wardrobe for a very stylish design. She finally settled on a wonderful white sequenced gown. She was just only seeing the dress for the first time. It must have been part of the new batch of dresses that he had ordered the royal seamstresses to make for her. It was another one of his thoughtful gesture that warmed her little accommodating heart.

She took the dress to the huge mirror in the dressing room and placed it on her body to admire it. She smiled triumphantly at what it shew her. It was long and pretty, only slightly hugging her superb body, absolutely designed to tease a man's carnal senses. It was beautiful. It made her feel like a bride, given to him, the beast; owned by him. She was his and only his. Now why did that thought give her so much joy? She wouldn't know or would choose not to know lest she wake up to reality. He would love the dress, just as she did, unable to resist her, surely incapable, just like the day before. She was still at it when Hyeera reappeared, startling her completely.

'I'm done My Lady.'

'God! You startled me!' she said after whipping around, the dress in hand and blushing crazily like she had been caught in the middle of something quite embarrassing.

'I am sorry My Lady,' Hyeera apologized quickly. 'I didn't mean to startle you My Lady.'

'Of course I know that.' She went back to looking at her pretty white dress in the mirror with a smile glued to her face. Hyeera studied her and the white dress thoroughly.

'Oh! A nice dress you have there My Lady. Is that your choice of clothing for today?' she asked her.

'Oh yes it is Hyeera,' she said excitedly. Hyeera swallowed, alarmed for her Lady.

'Might you not chose another My Lady? Maybe another one of different colour?' she requested.

'No,' she said sternly. 'I want this one and it I shall wear.'

'But My Lady-' she began to protest but was cut off crudely.

'Is my bath ready?' she asked her placing the white dress on the dressing table. Hyeera sighed before she replied her Lady.

'Yes it is My Lady. May I assist you?' she asked.

'I don't think so Hyeera.'

'The Great Emperor isn't here My Lady and he will not be barging in on us. He is extremely busy at the moment with matters concerning the Empress Contest Festival,' she assured her Lady.

'No, do not do so. He might hear of it later and I don't think it will go down well with him. I don't want you getting on his bad side. However, you can wait and assist me with the application of my cosmetics.'

'I shall do so My Lady.'

'Or better still,' she said to her on an after thought. 'You may leave and return to see to other matters. I shall call on you when I be done with it all,' she told her.

'I shall do that if it so pleases you My Lady,' she said with a bow. She waved her off and walked towards the bathroom which was situated at the end of the dressing room. She went into the bathroom where she took off her clothes and immersed herself in the bath of warm rose scented water. It was to her taste, just as she liked it. Hyeera always served her well. She was the best! It was no wonder to her for Gideon had chosen the maid for her. He had keen eye.

When she was done bathing, she proceeded to towel herself dry and left the bathroom. She stepped into the dressing room. She applied her skin oils and other creams and lotions to her body before she slipped into the white dress. She dabbed on some sweet smelling rose perfume on the dress and behind her ears. She smiled at her reflection in the mirror. It was left for Hyeera to arrange her hair and do her makeup. She stepped out of the dressing room and into her bedroom and met Hyeera patiently waiting there for her.

'You didn't leave,' she accused her blatantly as the maid guided her to her bedroom dresser and helped her into a seat.

'I did My Lady. I only returned moments ago because I was done with my other duties. By the way, breakfast is being prepared for you My Lady.'

'I didn't hear you leave neither did I hear you return.'

'It is because you were singing so happily My Lady,' Hyeera told her with a broad smile. She stared at the maid quizzically.

'Was I?' she inquired. She couldn't even recall singing. Had she done so in the bath while unconsciously fantasizing? Oh she had no way to tell did she? Her mind has been consumed by her happiness.

'You were My Lady. Xiera can attest to that fact.'

'Was I that loud?' Hyeera hesitated for a moment.

'Your voice is too melodious to be referred to as loud, trust me.' she complimented. 'Besides, you were singing so beautifully about love.'

'Did I?' She sighed.

'Yes you were My Lady. I think My Lady is in a very happy mood today,' she said pinning up her long oxblood hair. 'You are never always like this, full of happiness, to the brim and pouring, an overflow.' There was silence between the two for a moment.

'Yes I am,' she finally replied breaking the silence. Soon, she was set.

'You look absolutely stunning My Lady,' she said admiring her handiwork.

'Thank you Hyeera.'

'You are welcome My Lady. Let me go and check if your breakfast is ready My Lady.'

'Alright.' She smiled as Hyeera left her bedroom to do so. She stared at her reflection in the mirror, pleased with her transformation. She went to the bed, sat and waited for her breakfast while reading a book she had taken from the beast's library.

Hyeera soon returned with several maids bearing a feast. They all paid obeisance to her before the table was laid for her. As they made to leave, she spoke.

'Who amongst you knows where the Emperor currently is?' she inquired from them. 'Is he not going to have breakfast with me?'

'I think he is in the receiving area My Lady. He is attending to his guests,' one of the maids answered her.

'He will have breakfast after he is done My Lady. You see to yours so he doesn't get angry.' Another maid suggested to her with a smile. She mulled over the suggestion.

'Okay. I will have breakfast then go to meet him,' she said going to the table to sit. She had never been a large eater. She was done quicker than normal anyways. After she was done, she hurriedly stood.

'Where do you wish to go My Lady?' Hyeera asked as she headed for the bedroom door.

'I am going to the Emperor.'

'My Lady, please wait.' She turned to Hyeera.

'Is anything the problem?'

'Why don't you change clothes My Lady? This one is quite rumpled,' she told her.

'It isn't,' she said. 'Why do you keep persuading me out of this dress?' she demanded staring at Hyeera questioningly.

'I am not doing so my Lady.'

'Fine! Then let me be,' she said to her with a hump.

'Xiera is outside My Lady. She will escort you. Good Day My Lady.'

'Alright Hyeera,' she said leaving the bedroom. She met Xiera standing just outside the bedroom door as Hyeera had told her.

'My Lady,' Xiera greeted her with a bow. She nodded in at her in acknowledgement.

'Where is the Emperor?' she asked her.

'He is in the receiving area My Lady,' she replied.

'Is he done with his guests?' she asked Xiera who nodded.

'Yes My Lady. The cabinet members who came to visit him left just after you began taking breakfast,' she informed her Lady.

'Take me to the Emperor,' she demanded.

'Yes My Lady.' She began to lead the way to the receiving area when her Lady ran past her. She smiled at her. What impatience! 'My Lady! My Lady!' she called out to her, running after her. 'My Lady! You are not allowed to run My Lady!' She had fun, running down the long corridors to the stairs which led to the living room with Xiera running behind her, almost breathless. She stopped short the moment she turned into the living room. She had been expecting him to be alone, but he wasn't.

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...OmaPhinaPhire🔥

GLOSSARY:

* THE HOUR OF THE POST DAWN: THIS IS THE HOUR BETWEEN SEVEN AND EIGHT O'CLOCK.