Cravings... Could she satisfy his?
-I think I can definitely stand firmly beside you and be the woman of your life. I just need time to get there. I think right now we need to see each other as comrades and allies and start from there-
He sipped his beverage and gave thought to her words. She did not hide her intentions from him which was refreshing for a change since he had had to deal with scheming people his whole life.
-Now back to the matter at hand. What ceremonies are we having and what should I do to get through the day?
Aridel knew she could not ask anyone else about these things without exposing herself. Without delay, he briefed her on the most important parts such as the rite of the unveiling and the exchange of vows they would do when the Emperors arrived. He had informed their families that things would be kept to the minimum because she was still recovering from the attack the night before.
-Should I kneel or something in front of the Emperors? Is your mother the Empress? How should I address them correctly?-
-Both of us will receive them at the main gate of our Estate and upon seeing them, we both should only bend our waists in deference-he said- I will address them as Father Emperor and Mother Empress and so should you after I do. My birth mother was not the Empress, she was called Consort Kiyan and while beloved by my father, she was also in good terms with the Empress. She died about 12 years ago and since then, the Empress has kept me well out of the Palace squabbles as a gesture of good will to my late mother-
-How many women live in the Palace? Do you have many sibblings?-
-Father Emperor suffered much due to Palace schemes when he was younger and the previous Emperor had about 200 women in the Harem, so he decided to wed only 3 women apart from the Empress. I have 4 brothers and 2 sisters, but none of them were born from Consort Kiyan-
-Are the other Consorts coming?
-Not this time, neither the Crown Prince or any of my siblings. While I am the Marshall and my military power is great, my importance in the political game is not because I have pledged my service to my father and our country. My other brothers do scheme to try and take away his position but they have learned to leave me out of it-
-Then who was behind yesterdays episode?-
-A daring new power cuddling up to the Lan family that wants me gone and to take you as their trophy and plaything-he said- No doubt one of my brothers has a hand on the affair too, but for the most part, its the Lan family.
She guessed as much.
-Who will come from that family?- she was at a disadvantage on that regard because she had no access to Lady Meis memories and thus, she knew nothing about those people.