Daughter and Adopted Brother

''Nicholas.'' Rose watched as the grand duke acknowledged the new person with familiarity. He didn't seem taken back like herself at the sight of the red hair.

Was there something that she missed? The empress's memories had no one with the name Nicholas and even another with red hair apart from the Grand duke.

Hold on…

Nicholas?

'That name feels familiar…' Without the empress's memories, Rose felt the name was a bit familiar to herself. Perhaps in her life as the empress of the entertainment industry? Was it in the novel?

Right. Now that she thought about it, there was another person introduced as one of the characters with red hair apart from the empress and the grand duke.

Was this Nicholas the one?

Probably sensing her curious gaze, the mysterious nobleman turned to face her gaze for a fleeting moment. His light green eyes met hers before acknowledging her in the manner of etiquettes.

''Blessings to the imperial family, Greetings Your majesty the Empress.''

Wordlessly, Rose nodded, not trusting herself to keep mute about her curiosity. Either way, the man would surely be introduced since she ranked a higher position.

''He's a distant relative of the family.'' The grand duke decided to speak, probably sensing her confusion. He put a hand on Nicholas's shoulder and introduced him. ''He's also an adopted son of the House Cortez.''

''Ah…'' Amethyst eyes trembled unknowingly. At the same time, a low exclamation escaped her lips, now understanding the reason for Nicholas's red hair.

''….It seems we have a lot to talk about, Father.'' Rather than acknowledging her newfound brother, rose pointedly looked at the grand duke.

Seriously, this man chose the worst timing to drop the news on her. If it was the empress in her stead, the latter might have cried on the spot and hated Nicholas right away. That was the reason why she found it hard to look at Nicholas now that she knew his identity.

He was her…or rather, the empress's newfound brother.

Her brother that was also one of the supporting male leads in the novel.

No wonder she found the name and Nicholas himself familiar in the novel.

He was among the supporting male leads that also had little to no existence in the novel, just like the empress.

''….As your majesty wishes.'' Following a pause, the grand duke accepted with no argument. He understood that he made a mistake of introducing Nicholas in the presence of many eyes.

'You gave me no choice when you won't even see me.' He sighed inwardly, recalling how his daughter had told him never to send letters or even visit her.

If it wasn't that way, he would have come to see her when he heard about her lake incident at House Vernier.

''But your majesty should understand that my faithfulness lies only in your mother.'' He declared with utmost serious, his ruby eyes brimming with sincerity.

''…I know, father.'' In response to the grand duke's meaningful words, Rose's lips curled up into a sad smile. No…she wasn't the owner of those words. It was the empress, just like the time she instantly called out to the grand duke before recognizing him as the empress's father.

The empress of all people knew and understood the grand duke's faithfulness to the late grand duchess.

''Father and Nicholas should stop by the empress's palace. This empress will like to know what kind of person that brother is.'' Unlike her moment with the grand duke, Rose referred herself to as 'this empress,' and the tone of her voice was a bit cold.

''As your majesty wishes.''

''Then have a good evening, father.'' Rose flashed a smile to the grand duke before leaving the red-haired pair for the throne. She had spent quite some time with them, and she needed to rest her feet from the dancing and standing.

Unfortunately, her destination to the throne was not as easy as she thought.

''Blessings to the imperial family, greetings your majesty the empress.''

''…Basil.'' Eyeing the tall yet built man, Rose found it hard to smile at the golden eyes that met hers. Basil, the chieftain's first son and heir from the southern beast tribe. Didn't this man see that she was advancing towards the throne and be a spectator like the emperor?

''It is an honor and fortunate that your majesty remembers my name.''

''Names are meant to be remembered, are they not? Why would this empress forget your name?'' Seeing no way of leaving this man, Rose knew that she had to swallow her displeasure and entertain him since he was a guest in the empire.

''Your majesty is quite different from the other humans.'' The smile on Basil's face went wider at her words. His canines revealed themselves quite visibly.

'Ah…' Realization dawned on Rose as she understood the meaning behind Basil's words. 'Because of their origins.' She threw glances around herself and noticed how the nobles and other envoys stared at Basil and the people of the Southern Beast tribe.

The disgust and sneers were apparent on their faces.

'it must have been the same for him.' Rose couldn't help but turn her gaze to the emperor, only to meet his fervent gaze. Rose was quite startled to see that he was staring at her, and took her gaze back as fast as lightning.

Since when has that emperor been staring at her?

''If your majesty ever needs help from the Southern beast tribe, please do not hesitate to reach out.''

'Is it because of Basil?' Rose wondered and lifted her gaze to meet the golden eyes once more. ''Why the sudden support, Basil?''

''Take it as a token for remembering my name, your majesty.''

''Really?'' Rose stared on, not believing that remembering one's name would bring her to have a personal connection with the southern beast tribe.

''Of course, your majesty. Now, would your majesty fulfil my wish of dancing with a noble lady from the Landian empire?'' Still with a smile on his lips, Basil stretched forth his hands in the manner of a typical nobleman requesting for a dance from Rose.

As though the music was in line with basil's request, it started once more, and nobles began to dance among themselves.

''A wish? This empress didn't know that you are one with that kind of wish.'' Knowing that she couldn't just refuse, Rose accepted the fingers bigger than hers, and together, they ventured to where other nobles were dancing with their themselves.

''You dance well.'' Rose remarked, noticing how Basil had not made any mistake in his steps yet. It was also surprising that he understood how to dance as someone from the southern beast tribe.

From the empress's memories, the last time the southern beast tribe came to the empire was during the late emperor's reign.

''Your majesty guides well.'' Basil twirled them around with the long sleeves of the white gown trailing after them. The long chains across her gowns clinked at the same time.

''True.'' Rose agreed, not being so humble about it. The empress had learned how to dance from one of the best tutors as a growing noble lady.

Rose was just allowing the body to perform what it had been trained to do.

''Your majesty is really different.'' She noticed Basil chuckling to himself.

''How so?'' She probed, her line of sight being drawn to the loop earrings on both of this man's ears. Now that she saw these earrings, the emperor seemed to be wearing an earring too.

She noticed it when he had carried her from the garden at the empress palace. It was also the same as when he came to the empress's palace for the second time, and when she met him and the queen a few moments ago.

''The matter of the beast, your majesty seemed to have taken a liking, and you knew the right gender.''

''Is that so?'' Rose shifted her gaze back to the golden eyes of Basil, that seemed more intense than before. They were different from the calm golden eyes that faced her moments ago and in the throne room.

Almost like she was facing the emperor at the moment.

''And that Beast too, she's quite a feral one. However, she was very docile in the palm of your majesty, like a pet, as humans called them.''

''...''

 ''If your majesty has no intention of taking her fur, does your majesty intend to take her as a pet?''

''Of course.''

''Has your majesty given her a name?''

''You seemed to be investigating this empress, Basil.'' Rose narrowed her eyes dangerously at the brown-skinned man that had not yet dropped his smile. Why was this man asking several questions all of a sudden? If she wasn't sharp enough, she wouldn't have noticed how he had taken control of the conversation right from the beginning of their meeting.

''This is called curiosity and not investigation, your majesty.'' Basil stated, still smiling at the sight of Rose's suspicious eyes.

''Your majesty seemed to have so many secrets.''

The music stopped, and the nobles curtsied to end the dance, the same for herself and Basil, meaning that she could separate from this man that was similar to a snake in her eyes. The further away she was from him, the better for herself at the moment.

''Like the fact that your majesty has no scent…'' Just as she let go of her gown and stood upright, Basil suddenly closed the distance between them and lowered his head close to the nape of her neck.

''…unlike the other humans.'' The airs of her neck stood up at his lips, breathing down her skin.