The Emperor and The

Chapter 2

Wait, why was she trying to make sense of this?

Maybe it's best to try and figure out everything.

Ok, Ok, Eden--Khadija's got a plan, sort of--as the maids pamper her pudgy body.

So, as Khadija's already on Colette's bad side, that's evident that her whole family is as well. As she listened to the maids' ramble, Khadija sank herself deeper into the bath. It felt nice against her skin--she thought 'god even if I was destined to die here, being pampered like this felt wonderful.' she was fortunate enough to have come into this story as a noble, albeit as a nouveau noble.

Even if she'll still die, at the very least in a bit of comfort beforehand. Dying poor was one of her worst fears. There is a bit of silence but her mind shifts back.

Now, back to the plan.

To be honest, there's not much of one.

When the time is right, she planned to take as much jewelry she can to sell for gold and take her newly acquired mother and sister far away from the male and female lead. The best place would be for the trio to relocate to a small village and build a new life there. Out of mind, out sight, away from a bloodthirsty (and horny) male lead and a revenge-hungry female lead who wants those who 'wronged' her to die.

Not a full-proof, but's a plan nonetheless.

After being scrubbed head to toe, she was ushered off to fit a stay over her undergarments she was slipped into by a random maid. When confronted with additional layers, Amelia shook her head saying, "The Young Miss gets hot in too many layers." the younger maid she had been scolding had looked at her flustered, putting down the layering fabrics.

"But, if our Miss doesn't dress properly, won't she be seen as improper?"

Improper dress? She was already wearing three layers as it is...

"Nonsense. Young Miss a beautiful, proper lady. Wearing that is too childish for her, to add." Then, Khadija was fitted into a baby pink chemise gown, one that flowed past her ankles. It had intricate lace, hugging her chest adoringly. It was pretty, perhaps too much for the subject that was wearing it.

She was led to a mirrored vanity, and it was only they were done that she gets a look at 'Khadija's' face. This was the face that was mentioned to be ugly several times? While it's true she was very plain, it seems like a bit of an exaggeration.

Maybe that, compared to her mother and sisters, she wasn't much to look at.

But she wasn't too bad looking, her baby-faced features gave her her own charms.

She was just a young twenty-year-old girl.

A young, disadvantaged girl who was dragged to her death.

It's a very pitiful thought.

Khadija poked at her chubby cheek. It was clear her mother spoiled her and took care of her nicely. While she was fat, I didn't have any desire to lose weight. Even if their society treated Khadija better after, it wouldn't feel right in such a shallow society. This body was developed from her mother's love, and she'll keep it that way.

Ada smiles while she combs the long, tightly curled hair on the girl's head. Goodness, her hair reached her ankles! How does she not trip with all of this hair?

"This is an important ball, furthermore, it's Miss' first time going out to an event. She has to look her best.

"Miss is still young, so she'd look pretty with less makeup and her hair down, right?" one of the maids bantered while the others followed. While they spoke, she spotted a golden butterfly hairpin in her heap of accessories. Tugging Ada's sleeves, Khadija pointed to it with a small smile.

"Ah, would Miss like that in her hair?"

The young girl nods.

The maid grins, using the hairpin to pin half of her hair up, leaving a few ringlets down. Just then, there was a soft knock on the bedroom door.

"My dear daughter, are you ready? We have to depart soon." Her mother's voice came from the other side. A maid smiles at her words, replying "Miss Khadija is ready, Madame."

Hearing this, her mother opens the door, her eyes widening at her child sitting at her vanity.

"Oh my goodness, you look so cute! You'll be the prettiest girl at the ball."

'I think Colette will win that' The young woman thought, opting to just give her a look of appreciation.

Soon, the four women were in a carriage, off to the ball. The ride was uneventful since Colette was the type to speak her frustrations with her 'family'. Khadija, ignoring, for the most part, had chosen to spend the ride resting her head on her sister's much taller sister's shoulders. Once the family arrived at the ball, Khadija could already see the hustle and bustle of things. Were they a tad bit late? It seems to be already dimming from the night sky.

As they began to make their way to their carriages, all showing their invitations accordingly. After, they began to descend the stairs to scrutinizing their eyes.

What was the term? Fashionably late?

Could that describe Khadija's current predicament?

"Coming so late..."

"If it wasn't apparent that...woman and her children were married into nobility, it is now. Besides that, doesn't Duke Taylor's daughter look particularly beautiful?"

"Very beautiful, like a princess..."

Khadija could already feel a headache marrying her temples.

Anika, not wanting to worry her daughter too much about interacting with other nobles.

She finds herself clutching a flute of champagne and wanders until she finds herself alone on a balcony.

Not once did she see the male lead.

Maybe she didn't want to come out for the ball--although the plot says otherwise. Not even that, she had to hear her family get ridiculed all night.

"...still to arrive late like this. Does that woman think she was the empress?

? She's just the second wife of a low-rank noble.

"The Madam of Taylor house, a servant woman. Ha! It's quite laughable, isn't it?"

"She had the nerve to show up to an important event like this with her bastard children."

"The oldest is quite pretty, though so even if she's a commoner, she'd be able to at least be a mistress. But the youngest daughter? A mute girl with those looks? She might as well be fend to the dragons to keep them at bay."

All these people care about is power and looks. If they didn't have their title, would they still be speaking like this?

Khadija furrows her brows softly before downing the flute of alcohol in her hand.

Maybe she should've just played sick and stayed home"

"Have you become tired of the festivities as well?" A man's voice comes from the shadows, she hadn't been able to see his face but he didn't seem too dangerous she decided to entertain him.

Khadija took a moment to think--the girl seemed to be able to sign.

The young woman lazily guided her small, meaty hands and told the voice.

'I didn't see the person I wanted to see tonight, so things got boring.'

Reference Notes

(Nouveau Noble: A New Noble, or one whose family isn't one that's been around for generations. Think New Money)

('Stays, was the term used for the fully boned laces bodices worn under clothes from the late 16th or early 17th century, until the end of the 18th century. Before this boned garments were called (in English at least) a 'pair of bodies' – for each side of the stays.' Similar to a corset but not exactly the same. Read more here: https://thedreamstress.com/2013/08/terminology-whats-the-difference-between-stays-jumps-a-corsets/)