Eyes Of Abyss: Beneath The Royalty.

Episode: 3 Empress' seat.

Riana sat at her mahogany desk, surrounded by a sea of paperwork that seemed to stretch endlessly before her. The soft glow of candlelight danced across the room, casting long shadows on the walls as she meticulously reviewed each document. Among them was a particular parchment that caught her attention—a legal decree concerning the Amber family states.

As her piercing gaze scanned the contents, a furrow formed between her brows. The document detailed the disinheritance of Lord Kosair Amber, stripping him of his familial rights and severing his ties to the prestigious Amber surname. Riana's features contorted into a scowl of disbelief and outrageous

. How dare they take such drastic measures against one of their own?

With a flick of her wrist, she snatched the parchment from the stack, holding it aloft as if it were a damning indictment. Her eyes blazed with fury as she read the words once more, each syllable fueling the fire of her indignation. This was not merely a legal maneuver—it was a calculated strike aimed at weakening her position and undermining her authority.

Clutching the document tightly in her hand, Riana's mind raced with questions and implications. Why would they target Kosair in such a manner? What ulterior motives lay behind this blatant act of betrayal? And most importantly, how would she retaliate against those who dared to challenge her authority?

With a frustrated sigh, she slammed the parchment onto the desk with a resounding thud, the sound echoing through the silent chamber. It was clear that she would need to tread carefully in the days to come, for the game of politics was as treacherous as it was unforgiving. And as the heir to the imperial throne, Riana knew that she could ill afford to show any sign of weakness in the face of adversity.

With a surge of anger, Riana slammed the paper onto the desk, the sound echoing through the room. "So, that's how that old duke is going to play." she muttered under her breath, her voice laced with sarcasm. Her mind raced with calculations and strategies, each move carefully planned to outmaneuver her adversaries.

In that moment, she knew she needed her most trusted advisor by her side.

"Marinette."

She called out, her voice sharp and commanding.

Moments later, Marinette entered the room, her expression a mask of stoicism as she awaited her mistress's orders. Riana regarded her with a cold gaze, her eyes reflecting the intensity of her emotions.

"Marinette, there is another task that requires your attention."

Riana stated, her tone clipped and authoritative. She wasted no time with pleasantries when there were more pressing matters at hand.

Marinette nodded in acknowledgment, her demeanor unwavering despite the tension in the air. But before she could proceed, Riana posed an unexpected question, her voice tinged with an unusual seriousness.

"Are you involved with anyone?"

Riana's inquiry cut through the silence, her eyes boring into Marinette's with a piercing intensity.

"No, your highness."

Marinette replied promptly, her response devoid of hesitation.

"In love?"

Riana pressed further, her tone betraying no hint of emotion.

"No, princess."

Marinette responded, her voice steady and unwavering.

Riana's lips curled into a semblance of a smile, though there was little warmth in the gesture. She had chosen Marinette for her loyalty and dedication, qualities that would prove invaluable in the turbulent days ahead.

"In that case, I have a proposition for you."

Riana said, her voice taking on a more serious tone. She had weighed the risks and benefits carefully, and now it was time to set her plans in motion.

"Would you be willing to become the Empress? To marry my brother and become my sister-in-law?"

Riana's gaze bore into Marinette's, her eyes searching for any sign of hesitation.

Marinette's shock was palpable, her mind racing with a whirlwind of emotions. But she quickly composed herself, her expression one of determination.

"Your highness, what about Charlotte? She loves him."

Marinette hesitated, her concern for her sister evident.

Riana's demeanor hardened at the mention of her sister.

"Do you think your sister, a weak woman, deserves to be Empress? I understand you love her, and she is someone I hold dear to, but you can't let emotions dictate everything. I never hinted at any romantic interest in her, and I trust she knows her own limitations. Do you truly believe that I, Riana Lay, who has spent nineteen years immersed in the politics of the empire, would grant the seat of Empress to a weak, emotional, and soft-hearted woman?"

Riana declared, her voice unwavering.

"But why me?"

Marinette questioned, her confusion evident.

"Because you possess the strength and resilience needed for the position and also you need to take over your family as well."

Riana explained calmly.

"You will be under my guidance, and together, we will ensure our family's future."

She nodded but couldn't utter a word. There was a law in the empire that stated, "The legitimate princess, the sister of the crown prince, and the Empress, the mother of the crown prince are entitled to choose the Empress as per their wish." Riana was more cautious than anyone; she couldn't allow her mother to choose the Empress because she might select someone who would align with her own interests.

She left lost in a labyrinth of thoughts. Riana leaned back in her chair, closing her eyes and recalling her late father's words.

"My dear, there are two types of human beings: those who are kind and greedy, and those who are cruel but honest. It's up to you which type of being you want to be."

She remembered her father as the kind one. However, when he didn't receive love from the woman he adored, her mother, she noticed a glint of greediness in his eyes. That greediness ultimately led to his demise. So, she made the choice to embrace cruelty and honesty.

"Brother!"

Jonathan turned around, his greenish-blue eyes lighting up with a smile. Riana dashed towards him, giggling, and leaped into his arms. Jonathan returned her smile warmly and planted a gentle kiss on her forehead, while the nobles in the hall watched silently, witnessing the fleeting affection between the siblings.

"Brother! Brother! Look what Cara gave me!"

She held out her hand, displaying a delicate bracelet adorned with an emerald bead and a golden hue. Jonathan tenderly took her hand and kissed the bracelet.

"It looks beautiful on you, little one."

She pouted in response, nodding as her tiny hand wrapped around his neck and her legs hugged him tightly. He held her protectively, chuckling at her cute groan.

"What's wrong?"

"I'm hungry, brother."

Jonathan nodded and embraced her, lifting her up.

"Brother, where's my gift?"

"It's a secret," he whispered.

However, the secret gift turned out to be the worst she ever received. The grand arrangements for her 9th birthday, after her father's death, became the worst birthday of her life. Riana fell asleep in his arms as he carried her out of the hall, leaving behind his mother and the nobles.

"Brother, I love you," she murmured sleepily.

"I love my little sister too," he replied with a smile.

She raised both arms and wrapped them around his neck. He laid her gently on her bed, covering her with a warm blanket.

"You lied, you always lied. Jonathan Lay, you were the last person to give me pain that I never wished for."

Riana opened her eyes and glanced at the photo of them together, her hugging him with his hand on her head and a warm smile on his face. She clenched her jaw and turned her attention to the documents.

"Brother is no help. I have to survive in order to live."

It was a game of the imperialoyal family. There was a rule: "If you chase power, you abandon love, and if you chase love, you have to leave everything you have." Smiles could be deceptive, especially in the game of chess that was imperial politics. Kindness often led to cruelty, and in the world of imperialism, it was either be the king or queen, or be nothing but a pawn to be used.

To live, one had to make choices and act upon them. Kindness could be fatal, a wrong move could lead to disaster, and a misstep could result in ruin. Riana, well aware of these realities, navigated her life with vigilance and intelligence. Without her astuteness, the greed of others would have consumed her long ago.

"Dad!"

Farinda's voice echoed off the marble walls of the grand hall, causing the delicate chandelier lights to sway gently. Benjamin De Claire Cheer, with his distinguished grayish hair and weary countenance, observed his daughter's outburst with a mixture of concern and resignation. Farinda's eyes met her father's.

"Fari, don't be like this," Benjamin's voice, soft as a gentle breeze, attempted to soothe his daughter's turbulent emotions.

"AM I NOT PERFECT, DAD?!?!"

Farinda's frustration erupted like a sudden storm, her hands clutching at her hair in a frenzy of anger. Benjamin could only watch with a heavy heart as his daughter grappled with her inner turmoil, his own weariness mirrored in the lines etched upon his aging face.

"THAT b***h! SHE IS NOTHING BUT A COLD ASS ROCK. JUST WHAT DID HE SEE IN HER?"

Farinda's words reverberated through the hall, drawing curious glances from the attending maids. The air crackled with tension as Farinda's anger filled the space.

"GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE!"

Farinda's command sent the maids scurrying for cover, their whispers fading into the distance.

Into this charged atmosphere, a figure appeared at the entrance of the hall. Leo, tall and imposing, exuded an aura of quiet authority. His jet-black hair cascaded over his pale skin like a silken curtain, framing his sharp features with an air of mystery. The sword at his side and the long black coat billowing behind him lent an air of danger to his presence.

"L-leo."

Benjamin's voice wavered slightly as he addressed his son, unable to meet the intensity of Leo's gaze.

"Why were you shouting?"

Leo's voice, devoid of emotion, cut through the tension like a knife, his cold eyes fixed upon Farinda with unwavering focus.

"Brother, you are thinking wrong. Actually, one of the maids collided with me, and so I got angry."

Farinda replied, her voice trembling despite her attempt at composure.

"I hope you are telling the truth," Leo remarked, his tone indifferent as he scrutinized her.

As Leo drew closer, his chilling words whispered into her ear sent a shiver down her spine.

"I hope you maintain that little mouth of yours while I'm here. Until I'm here, live as if you are dead. I really don't want to be irritated while I'm here."

Tears welled up in Farinda's eyes at her brother's cruel admonition, but she dared not defy him. With a silent nod, she acquiesced to his command, her fear of him outweighing any sense of rebellion.

Meanwhile, Benjamin could only watch in silent anguish as his family dynamic played out before him, his heart heavy with the weight of their collective pain. Leo, understanding the gravity of the situation, offered a respectful gesture to his father before retreating to the sanctuary of his room. Farinda, obedient to her brother's decree, slipped away into the shadows, her heart heavy with the knowledge that she now feared her own brother more than anyone else.