Death-Bound

Liar

Chapter Eighteen

I can’t even imagine how the Emperor will react once again when he would see the two of us together. But we are friends, and our friendship is deeper than the thing between the Emperor and me. I sighed as I took a bite of the cake Solom ordered for the both of us. he was happy to treat me in such manner. I would just comply, simply because he is a friend of mine—a dear friend of mine, who would put his life in the stake for me. he was after all one of my saviors. He smiled at me and handed me something.

“What is this?” I asked, it was wrapped in a manila paper which made it impossible to guess.

“Just open it.” He said and took a bit of his cake. “I was intrigued on how you looked at it at the bookshop so, I bought it for you. I guess you are not still satisfied with the study provided in the library of that cottage of yours.” Musingly he looked adorable like a child. He took a sip of his coffee. I eventually opened it. It was a new arrival from an author whom I completely adored. To my surprise my mouth agape. And I looked at him with wide eyes. “You don’t like it.” He said sighing.

“No! of course I do…but, the Emperor usually handed me books from this author even before they were released.” I said. “I just realized it now that he haven’t given me a copy of this yet. And…”

“And what?” he asked. The stabbing pain of what this event had proven to me that I am the least important person for the Emperor now. I looked at him with rather a pitiful expression that his face started worrying. “Hey, maybe he just forgot.”

“Or may be…he really doesn’t love me anymore.” The words came cold from me, as if I was speaking of a dead thing. I do not want to mess up our little plan so I smiled lightly to ease Solom. “That’s a good thing…” I took a sip of my coffee pretending that I was not affected. Solom just nodded, but I know he is worried about my decisions right this moment.

After we finished our coffees we started on heading to my cottage. He was a great company for I did not realize that we were moving until we were at the cottage’s entrance. He freely invited himself in, and followed his nose to the kitchen where we found three handmaidens cooking and two more setting the table for four. Margaritta predicted that I was going to invite someone else over rather the two we planned to invite.

“I just know you would be coming King Solom.” Margaritta bowed as she said those words. It is almost a quarter before nine o’clock. “I have sent a carriage to pick up the Emperor and the Princess.”

“They’ll be riding together?” Solom asked.

“No!” I said answering him.

“On the contrary they would.” She said. “It so happened that we could only hire one.” She plastered on a grin knowing how I would react. I was trying to suppress my annoyance—I succeeded.

“Okay, what time would they arrive here” I asked now worrying if I am ready to face them both.

“About half an hour from now.” She answered. Then I pulled her to my room and told her to dress me with the one she just bought. She gladly complied to my request.

After about half an hour I emerged from my room complete with my face painted to enhance my appearance—I’m not saying I do not look good without it. Solom looked at me with awe. And Margaritta’s grin even got wider when he assisted me walking towards the door’s receiving area. The carriage was about to arrive with our guest together. I wonder what they are doing inside of it. I bit my lower lip when I heard the carriage stopped on the cottage’s entrance. Solom opened the door and assisted me like a gentleman as we welcomed our guests for tonight. It didn’t occurred to me that he was wearing a different attire himself.

The carriage’s door opened the Emperor was the first one to come out, then the next thing that happened felt like a slap on my face, he assisted the princess coming from it. Solom and I bowed to the Emperor and regarded the Princess.

“It is a pleasure of having you for dinner your highness.” I said.

“Pleasure’s all mine, Lady Jem.” Ha said plainly. I could see his eyes weren’t as calm as they would seem. He followed us to the kitchen where dinner was already prepared.

Margaritta was serving us with all the foods the castle would give except it was greener and healthier for we grow our own vegetables in the garden, which reminds me about the after-dinner tea she also prepared. Our garden had many adjusted much after we first arrived. It has a fountain now and many fancy things I enjoyed looking at.

“Please do have your seats.” I said. The Emperor even pulling the Princess’ seat. Likewise, Solom did to me as well. He looked at Solom with his dark eyes which made me even more confuse.

After all of us were seated, the handmaidens started pouring us with all the foods they prepared. All of us ate silently until Solom uttered his words. “You haven’t told me this Geoff?” he was regarding the Princess. The Emperor raised an eyebrow, the Princess paused from a bite she was about to eat, and I suddenly lost my appetite.

“What are you saying cousin?” he asked voice deep and full of assumptions.

“I am saying that you could have a very good taste on women.” He said smiling.

The Emperor gave out a chuckle as he was wiping his mouth with the table napkin. “I do, haven’t you observed the castle?”

“Yes, you even invited my sister.” He said swinging his hand, “and Jem as well.”

“She is still single, Solom.” Ha retorted. He looked at me full of lust them smiled. “Tell me Lady Jem, would you have him rather than me?”

I smiled, Solom’s right hand was on the table which was easy for me to hold—which I did. “Actually my Lord, I would.” His smile faded and his dark expression returned once again. “Margaritta, do fill the Emperor’s flute with red wine.”

“Call me Geoff, you always did when we were still little.” He said in a sigh. I smiled a slightly nodded.

The poor Princess didn’t know what was going on so Solom decided to fill in the detail for her. “The three of us were childhood friends, for we studied at the same school.”

“Aren’t girls supposed to study on different schools? I mean, I had to stay in an all girl institution as well.” She asked.

I smiled and answered her thought, “My father wanted me to know knowledge that would only hinder me when I enter that said institution of yours.” Yes, we were great liars. “Isn’t that right my Lord?” I asked the Emperor who just nodded. The connivance of the three of us not was a definite proof of the serious thing that’ll happen if the princess would know that I am the Emperor’s death-bound.

We then continued with our meal. The dessert came last. I was creamed fruits with flan. It was cool in our mouth and the flan complimented every fruit with such delicateness. The Princess couldn’t help herself from uttering a compliment. Margaritta smile and gave her thanks.