Ambrosia

Confrontation.

The accouncement made by the emperor a few days back has brought into the heart of the people fear and unease, especially when the high priestess has made no efforts to confute whatever has been said so far.

Giving them a solid reason to believe she was in support.

Never in the history of Arthandica has an illegitimate daughter be crowned empress over them...no matter the race and kingdom you hail from. Judges of the competitions make sure no illegitimate child wins a round. Of course, they all know their being cheated but as the elders put it, 'it's tradition.'

To save face, they are made to participate in the sponsa eligens as it's one of the little things that distinquishes them from the servants and commoners.

The privileges of illegitimate children in Arthandica was limited, their power a little above the commoners and servants.

This is so because most of the mistresses are neither royals or hail from a noble bloodline. Most of them were low lives successful in catching the eyes of a noble or royal man to change their circumstance.

An illegitimate daughter does not dare to fantasize about the throne even if she is chosen by the prince himself. She would only end up being a mistress with no value. Being a mistress of the emperor of Arthandica was a punishment enough to make no one desire the position. Having the emperor's intimate favour only is not enough to put an illegitimate daughter or mistress on the throne of empress.

Once one swears to be a dominam nihil pretii of the emperor?

You basically submit yourself to unmitigated gloom. Due to certain reasons known by few, a dominam nihil pretii's womb is removed once all rituals are done successfully. And their justification? 'To prevent uncessary throne battles among the princes if the mistress is to concieve a male child'. Well is not like the people believe that crap anyways. Blueblood supernatural creatures are prideful beings, they'd rather remarry a legitimate daughter to the emperor if the current empress is having problem with bringing forth an heir than crown the son of a mistress.

That's why the illegitimate Noble daughters dare not dream pass the walls of their Chambers, no one wants to live such a life, a life where you can't hold your own child in your arms though you were not born barren.

All in the name of having the intimate favour of a man who would soon get bored with you or can never put you first.

---

Victoria sipped her favorite dandelion tea mixed with rosemary essence, eying her ladies in waiting with narrow eyes as they went on and on about their flower gifts they brought along.

She knows they are just trying to butter her up a bit before dropping the bomb on her. In as much as she would love for them to just grab the bull by it horns and get it over with, she has to play the noble and patient hostess.

Retain her poise as their Queen. Annoying.

"Your highness, we all know how much you love lilies so I thought it wise to come along with this beautiful water lilies." There we go again. Victoria thought bitterly... Her head was already exploding with the hateful thoughts of Ambrosia.

Maybe she won't survive their pretense this time around. May the heavens help her.

She said making gestures with her hands. "As we know your highness, white water lilies are used for medicines though you won't be needing that but they also help with instant hydration of the skin. As vampires, we turn to have naturally pale skin and the extract from these beautiful white water lilies here will help moisturize the skin of her highness and prevent any irritation."

"Thank you Countess Windsor."

Victoria said with a nod of her head, taking a sip form her tea cup. Countess Windsor is the only one from the Windsor bloodline to ever be the lady in waiting of the queen. Ladies in waiting are always chosen from the duchy, so a Countess being the lady in waiting of the almighty queen Victoria Bathory is a big feast.

Emily Windsor brought honour to her family when she was appointed as one of the Queen's ladies in waiting. Despite her arrogant and zestful self? She has brains.

Duchess Nithercott eyed the Countess with pure disdain on her flawless pale oval shaped face doing little to nothing in hiding it. Ever since the appointment of the Countess, her arrogance has catapulted at an alarming rate making her forget her place. She hates her the more.

With a challenging smirk on her lips she turned to present her gift to the queen. "Your highness, I brought with me orange tiger lilies.

These lilies symbolises wealth, extreme pride, confidence and prosperity. They also show mercy and compassion." All these gives a clear picture of who you are your highness, you show compassion and mercy to your subjects, you are so confident that your aura announces your presence before you appear and also prosperity follows wherever you go like your knight in shining armor. Leaving your subjects in awe of your grace.

Your highness I also choose these orange tiger lilies with your head servant in mind. These lilies help with the treatment of heart diseases which are going to help her heal her daughter." Victoria was smiling with grace through the entire presentation of the duchess, loving every bit of it: from the bootlicking to the concern shown to her head servant.

She knew the duchess doesn't really care about the daughter of her head servant, so does she. She was doing it for the sake of formality while Victoria was going to use this to carry more favor before her servants. "Very well Duchess Nithercott, I appreciate your efforts wholely and make sure to never forget this kindness of yours." It was a rear thing to see Victoria appreciating someone's efforts... even if it was fake, she won't give it up that easily.

Rumours have it that, if one wants to get into the good books of the queen, you will have to learn the right words of praise to say, only then would you be able to get into her non-existent heart. Duchess Nithercott could not help but shoot the Countess a victory smirk as if to say 'I've won this round you low life.'

The challenge was not lost Duchess Arlay, but she has no intentions of playing along. Whether the queen likes her present or not would not contribute to what brought her to the palace out of her comfortable abode. She was a strict person, bootlicking wasn't her thing, though she would accord you the much needed respect.

With a little curtsey, she held out her present to the queen. "Your highness, these are glory lilies. They represent fame and are used in treating coughs and infertility." The ever lady of few words said handing the pot of glory lilies to the servant. "Thank you Duchess Arlay. Now, may I know your reasons for gracing me your honorable presence?" The queen inquired with a raised brow. The annoying and unyielding behavior of Duchess Arlay brought her back to her garden.

"Your highness we are here to know if there is any truth to the message delivered by the emperor a few days back." "Yes your highness, our people are demanding we get answers from you." "We don't mean to offend or bring back bad and unpleasant memories to her highness.... but we have a role to play." Victoria stared at them with a straight face, all traces of the earlier smiles which didn't quite reach her eyes gone in a heart's beat. Ambrosia was a sore topic for the queen. But as already expressed by her ladies in waiting, they have a role to play. And so does she. Sore topic or not.

With a heavy sigh, she conveyed her hearings to them. " I'm sorry to say all I also know for now is what we all have heard on the screens, I'm yet to visit the imperial palace. So for now I can't confidently say for sure if it's true or not." The queen said indirectly telling them to leave if that was all. "We understand you your highness....but we would like to know what your plans would be if it turns out to be the truth?" "Pardon me Duchess Arlay but I think I was loud enough." The queen said with finality." Of course they all knew the message was true. The emperor hardly accounces things by himself: that alone was proof enough. But per tradition, the queen is expected to visit the imperial palace to make a proper inquiry.

---

"Be quick with that." The tired head servant whispered to the young servants packing up the Queen's luggage. Elisabeta rushed pell-mell into the Queen's chamber.

"Where is the queen?"

"In the bathroom.... your highness." All the servants answered in unison with their heads lowered to show respect and submission to the princess.

"Why all these bags?" "Your highness, her highness the queen is preparing to leave for the imperial palace with his majesty the king."

"What for?"

"I'm sorry but I have no idea your highness." "Hmmm.....if you're done with the packing leave, I'll wait here for her." Bowing their heads in response they scampered out of the room. Not like they want to be in there with her anyways.

---

Humming a tune known to her alone, she caressed the comforting soft yet firm feathers of her pet. Gazing into it's identical turquoise eyes. "You feel it to right?" The bird pecked the inside of her hand once letting her know he understands.

"something bad is coming, it's very strong." She said as she continued her caressing of Hellada's feathers.