The Empress Is Searching

What do you want?

"Kleila." She called once again, her voice steamed and gentle at the same time but they scared Kleila and this made her begin to cry, thinking that she's angry at her for always following her.

"I'm sorry." She said softly before removing her face from her hold and hiding it on her own hands.

"Are you really?' She asked. "If you don't tell me your reason for always following me when you think I'm not aware then I will like you to get up from here and never show yourself to me again, unaware or aware.

As she says this, Kleila began to cry more profusely although soundlessly, and when she finished, Kleila got up and began to leave but the Empress pulled her back to her.

Kleila looks at her, startled. She tried getting up again but her hold around her waist was firm, she began to cry all over again as she said in a pleading and tiny voice.

"It wasn't my intention to make the Empress angry, please forgive me. I.. I just kept following you because, because.. I.. I, please forgive me, I promise I won't do it again."

But before she could finish her last stuttering statement, the Empress pulled her to her and hugged her while telling her to stop crying.

At first she was so shocked that she stayed immobile for a while but when the Empress began to wipe off the tears in her eyes, she hugged her back.

"I saw you Kleila, I did but you were so young and I couldn't do anything ..you still are though." She says as she seats her on her lap. "What do you really want?.' She asked while looking at her in the eyes.

"I'm scared to say it." Kleila said softly and placed her head on the Empress shoulder, hiding her face in the process.

"Don't be, you can tell me anything." The Empress urged.

"I want to be with you." Kleila whispered shyly but when the Empress didn't say anything, she began to panic while saying incoherent things.

"I didn't.. I know mother said Prince Wuji is to be your husband and the Emperor of this Kingdom but.. but I.. I saw when you were telling him that you don't want to ever see him and so I thought, I'm sorry Your Highness, I just, I'm sorry.." Kleila kept apologizing and then she began to stand up out of nervousness but the Empress didn't let go.