Twisted Fate of the Knight

The Invitation

"Then, why are you okay with sleeping with me?" He said curiously as he looked at me.

"Because I don't really mind those since I grew up being a man so I really don't mind as long as you don't touch me," I said to him casually since I don't care because I'm acted like a man and I don't really study about etiquettes relating on how to be a proper noble lady since I am not a noble so it doesn't matter to me.

"What if I do something to you?" He said as he looked at me. 

"It's alright. I can protect myself, and I can just break a bone or two if you attack me," I said as I smiled at him with a darkened aura. He looked away with an awkward expression as if he didn't expect me to say that.

"Of course, I will not do that to my master," He said as he laughed a little so I looked at him as I laughed at his reaction because he seemed scared of what I said.

"I know. It almost 3 years that I have been with you so I trusted you," I said since if he really does something to me why hasn't he done it before if he really want to harm me

"Thank you for trusting me," He said but what you see on his face is inexplicable because I can't say he's happy or not. He looks neutral when he told me that.

"Of course since you once save my life, Ash. I am very thankful for that since I didn't think I can survive if it weren't for you," I said to him as I smiled genuinely, and he looked at me with a surprised look as if he didn't expect me to thank him.

"Let's go inside before we catch a cold even though you can't catch a cold but it is better to change our clothes, " I told him since we are also close to the house. Some maids brought us towels when they spotted us were drenched so as soon as we arrived they handed us the towels. Ian was also there when he should leave but he was holding a letter. 

"Ian, are you not leaving?" I asked him so he looked at me and his expression is unreadable after reading the letter.

"I will but later since this letter is for you. I'm sorry, I opened it and I didn't think that you will receive it so soon," He said as he handed me the letter and I can recognize the emblem of the letter.

"Wha--"

~~~

Empress's State...

"If this a dream then don't wake me up! I didn't expect that I will live here like a princess here," She said as she lay down on her bed.

"Miss, please refrain from shouting and prepare for your lessons," Her maid said while standing beside her bed.

"Okay, okay," She said as she stands up then her maid assisted her to change her clothes.

"Miss Sheenova, the Empress told me to tell you that you will be joining the Empress with her tea time this afternoon after your lessons," She said to her as she finishes tying her hair with a jewel that was given by her from Her majesty as a gift.

"Oh sure, let's go so that I can have a rest before I meet Her Majesty," She answered as she stands up and went out of her room. Her maid was just following her that the Empress was assigned to her.

"You are remarkable, Miss Sheenova," Her tutor complimenting her since she already finishes her lessons not too long when she started. All her teachers admire her because she understands easily her lessons, and everything she was being asked to her to do is beyond their expectations so all her aptitude is high. She doesn't lack in any way so as her magic since she was already accustomed to her new environment. In short, she is a princess material, and she was spoiled by Her Majesty for excellence in all of her lessons and training.

"Oh no, you are flattering me, Madam," She said humbly to her tutor after she was praised. 

"I'm telling you the truth," Her tutor said to her as she smiles at her.

"Because you are teaching me well," She said with grace so her teacher was really happy after hearing that from her.

"It is much better if you were the Cr---"

"Madam, you're carriage is here," Sheenova's maid interrupts what her teacher was about to say to her.

"Oh my, I have to go Sheenova," She said as she stands and goes out of the study room while her maid escorted her teacher outside the room.

" Take care," She said.

"What was she trying to say?" She said while wondering what it could be. She ignored it since she had to rest for later. After resting, she changes clothes again since she was meeting the Empress. Her maid leads her where Her Majesty's favorite spot for her tea time, and she someone other than the Empress.

"Greetings, Your Majesty the Empress," She greeted as soon as she is near to them. 

"Oh, Sheenova. Come here and be seated," The Empress said as she smiles at her so she came over and sat in the empty seat as she looks at the young Lady beside her. 

"By the way, she is Ryah the Crown Princess. I forgot to tell you that she was here," She said casually as she introduced them to each other while Ryah clenched her fists under the table. 

"Oh my, I didn't know. Pardon me, your highness," Sheenova said as she stands up and greeted Ryah. Ryah just smiled as she told her that 'it's okay' even though she was furious inside because the Empress shows that she intentionally didn't tell her that she will be meeting the girl in the prophecy. She controlled her anger towards the Empress since she owes her for making her the Crown Princess even though she was being used.

"Since she was done all her lessons. She will have her debutant and I want you to guide her, Ryah," The Empress said to Ryah as she smiled sweetly.

"Of course, your majesty. It's my pleasure to help her," She said as she looks at Sheenova who is smiling at her as if she was grateful for helping her. 

"I'll be in your care, your Highness," Sheenova said.

"Don't mention it since her Majesty will be your relative soon," Ryah said while smiling at Sheenova as she holds her hands to reassure her.

"Then, I'll leave it to you Ryah. Take care of Sheenova for me," The Empress said as she sips her tea.

"I'll take care of her well, your Majesty," She answered the Empress.

"That's great. So, let's talk about why I invited both of you here," She said with a serious face so they both looked at each other seriously since the atmosphere becomes intense.

"Ryah, invite all the people who visited the Crown Prince that day for the banquet you are holding," She said seriously as she looks at her. 

"Why?" She curiously asks her.

"Just do what I say and make sure that they will attend no matter what," She said as she looked at Ryah with a darkened expression so she nodded in response since it seems that the Empress telling her not to ask for more.

"As for you, Sheenova. You will attend as her attendant since you need to experience how the social gathering with other nobles is before your debut," She said to Sheenova while smiling at her so Ryah was even more annoyed but she can't show how pissed she is.

"I agree. I will guide you properly so stay close to me," Ryah said while smiling so the Empress looked at her and smiled at her.

"And, there. You will meet the Crown Prince, the Commander of the imperial knights, the cousin of the Crown Prince, the daughter of Duke Collins, and my son Prince Hanz. Enjoy the banquet while you're at it, okay?" She said to Sheenova.

"Woah, I can't believe I can meet a real Prince," She said while looking at the Empress with excitement as if her eyes have a star on them while her majesty laughed at her reactions. 

"If you want we can invite the Crown Prince, and if you want if to be your escort," She said happily to Sheenova.

"Oh no, I am already happy that I can see a real Prince my self so I can't have him as my escort, and I aware that her Highness is engaged with him," She said as she refuses humbly with the suggestion of the Empress while Ryah feels relieved by Sheenova's response. 

"Okay, but if you change your mind, don't hesitate to tell me," She said as she spoils Sheenova while Ryah feels jealousy since the Empress was like that to her but now she was being ignored by her. 

"I'll take that in mind, Your Majesty," She answered.

"Oh, before I forgot," The empress said as she calls her maid carrying a box as she opens it, and they saw two necklaces. She gave one to Sheenova the blue one with a shape of a rose while she gave Ryah a red color in the shape of a drop of water.

"It's so beautiful," Sheenova said as she stared at the necklace while Ryah remains silent as she examines the necklace.

"Did you not like it, Ryah?" The Empress asks her since she didn't utter a word after receiving the necklace.

"I like it. I can't just find the right word after seeing this necklace," She said as she looked at the Empress while smiling.

"I am glad that you like it very much," She said.

"Of course since you gave it to me," She answered.

"Thank you very much, your Majesty," They both said so they both looked at each other because they did not expect the two of them to thank the Empress at the same time.

"Don't mention it," The Empress said as she told them to eat, and the tea time is over. Sheenova left earlier since she still has a lesson so they were left alone.

" Ryah, make sure to monitor them well," The Empress said coldly to Ryah as if she was saying that she shouldn't make a mistake so Ryah just bowed as she was left sitting at the table since the Empress leave after she said that. 

"Your Highness, let's go. You have to prepare for the letters," Her attendant said to her that it was assigned by the Empress even though she was aware that her attendant was to monitor her but she can't just show how annoyed she is right now.

"Okay," She said as she stands up and goes back to her residence.

~~~

"What on earth is this? Why would the Crown Princess invited me to a high social gathering?" I said after reading the letter as I looked at Ian who is also puzzled since we are expecting that the Empress would be the one inviting us.

"I am also curious why does the Crown Princess invite us when I expect that the Empress would be the one inviting us into a tea party or what," He said, and he holds his chin while thinking why so I also wondered why since if I remember I only saw her once in the past in the palace when she was introduced as the Crown Princess.

"Ian, don't you think it is suspicious?" I said as I looked at him seriously.

"Hm, yes. We are not sure if she is with the Empress but we can't ignore an invitation from the palace," He said to me.

"Ian, I am really curious about this letter especially the letter that was sent to me and it was sent here when I just recently came here," I said so he suddenly looked at me at what I said since they should send it to Collins State.

"Yes, you're right. The letter should be sent to Collins State since you just recently live here. I guess we are being watched," He said.

"I agree. That's why I was wondering why would the letter was sent here especially the letter for me," I said. This is an opportunity to face Ryah and I can't be the same person as in the past, and the reason why I trained so hard for the past years.

"Hm, we really should be careful when we attend the gathering, Avy," He said as he looked at me with a relief look as he doesn't worry too much about me.

"Don't worry about me, Ian. I trained so hard," I said as I giggled while looking at him.

"Of course, then why don't we have a sparring next time," He said as he pats my head while smiling.

"Sure, I will not hold back," I said as I remove his hands off my head since it is wet because I do not want to wet his hand.

"Then, make sure that you will keep it up with me," He said as he smirks at me as if he was saying that 'let's see how strong you are' look.

" Of course, I am not the same Avy," I said while looking at him with confidence so he smiled.

"By the way, Avy did you attend any gathering in the past?" He asks me.

"No, why?" I said while wondering since I only waited for Avy outside the room of the event but I once saw how it looks like such as dancing, eating, or talking about what was the event is. *Facepalm* because of my answer and looked at me incredulously.

"Do you know how to dance?" He asks me.

"No," I plainly answered him and looked at him wondering as to why he was asking me that question since I will just attend and no need to participate in dance or what.

"Do you remember how to ask a woman to dance with you?" he asked again so I frowned at him.

"Why would I ask a woman?" I ask him so he looked at me with an unbelievable look.

"Did you not read the event theme is--"