Your Betraying Love

DECISIONS 2

While everyone else was pondering over the question that Merlia had asked, the eyes of Rosella and Prince Nicholas met.

It felt like ages since they locked their eyes together like this. It had been four-five years since they last saw each other.

Rosella had the feeling that Nicholas had become colder and frighteningly more handsome than before. Rosella was never immune to looks. 'Ugh! Why is everyone in this imperial family so handsome? Austin, Nicholas and even the late Emperor. No doubt women give in to their charms so easily...' But she could also detect a trace of tiredness in his eyes. After a few seconds, Rosella moved her eyes and settled her gaze on a nearby pillar.

Outer beauty does not matter if the insides are rotten! No one knew this better than Empress Rosella herself, being a prey to two royal princes.

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"Rosella, why did you fight with the Revenue Minister's granddaughter this afternoon? You know, I don't like you arguing with those ladies having pea-sized brains." Prince Nicholas asked Rosella, who cannot leave her room for one month as a punishment.

'Even at a moment like this, he is talking about those fool misses with respect. I would have cursed them right away' Rosella felt irritated.

"Prince, she broke my beautiful Sapphire bracelet that you brought especially for me. How could I let her go without a few slaps? She is openly rude and jealous because you take care of me and not her!" said a smug thirteen-year-old Rosella.

"You could have told me, I would have brought you many more bracelets! There was no need to chop off her braids..." Nicholas spoke while wondering how in the world Rosella managed to chop down the braids of such an important young lady.

"Now you have been confined to your room for one month, how will you attend the Royal Ball?"Nicholas felt concerned for Rosella. How did this little lady manage to cause so much ruckus?

"She needed to be taught a lesson. I don't like others touching or breaking my things. Moreover, I get to laze out for one month. I like the balls held in spring season, it is too cumbersome to dress up for the balls in winter season." pouted Rosella...

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PRESENT

Prince Nicholas lazily said, "Why, my dear concubine Merlia, are not you very anxious regarding Her Highness? You are truly a faithful servant."

Some were amazed after hearing him, but the wise ones knew that these were mocking words. Everyone in the entire capital knew about concubine Merlia's inferiority to the Empress. And still calling Merlia a servant of Rosella? It was too merciless. Though logically thinking, Merlia was indeed required to bow down to the Empress. It was a different matter that both of these prestigious ladies could not stand each other's sight.

A few days before this coup, some people were even betting that the title of the would soon be given to Merlia! And this was something Empress Rosella could not stand. That is why Rosella still persisted in such a cruel environment.

"So, Brother Austin, finally the time has come to take back what has been mine since the beginning." after hearing these words from Nicholas, Austin was in doubt for a few seconds, 'What was his since the beginning? Is this mad Nicholas talking about my throne or my empress?' Meanwhile, Prince Nicholas continued his taunting words, "You were never the heir to this throne, you are not even worthy enough for this!" Prince Nicholas' soldiers also shouted in unison "Yes, not worthy!!"

After all, Nicholas and Austin had the same father. If Austin married Rosella for the throne, then Nicholas was ready to discard her for the throne. It was nothing new that their actions matched.

'So this was about the throne, not Rosella', Austin could not decide whether to sigh in relief or anger. Anger because Nicholas was continuously provoking him and relieved because he was not talking about Rosella. Rosella was not someone he loved, but she was still his wife and they had spent seven years together as husband and wife, though in name only. He never consummated his marriage with Rosella. And Rosella did not even try to curry favor with him. At the starting years of their marriage, Austin's ego was bruised, but over the years he and Rosella developed a tacit understanding and ran the empire together.

Austin also remembered one of his arguments with Rosella and recalled her words, "Your Highness! I will not be silenced today! This is injustice! I do not ask for your love, but what I want is respect. You made me the Empress, yet I am not the Empress in your eyes. I look after the political matters with you, provide you with ideas and suggestions, fulfill all the duties of an Empress, yet you can not fulfill my only wish to keep Merlia away from my issues! You have to restrain her, otherwise your Highness will have to suffer in the future!" that is what Rosella said to him after receiving a slap from him. It was two years ago... 'I should not have slapped her...and that too, for Merlia, maybe that slap completely broke the little trust between us. She closed off completely after that...', but it was too late for Austin to regret it.

Austin realized that maybe his end was near. That is why he had started regretting some of his actions concerning Rosella. Rosella was a good empress. A capable leader to lead alongside an emperor.

"My dear Emperor Brother, you should know one more thing. I am quite disappointed at you. Your choice of women has never been good and, with these passing years, it has gotten worse. Look how your beloved Imperial Consort abandoned you, your harem is a total mess... and your Empress..." Nicholas could not help but rub this harsh truth on Austin's face, while leaving everyone pondering over the words that he was going to say for Rosella.

Rosella's ears picked up. 'Why did not he complete his words? Is he insulting me? I have not abandoned Austin yet. Or is he trying to insinuate that I was his woman once whom Austin picked up! How dare he! If not given the situation, I would have gladly slapped his smug face!' though having such dangerous thoughts, Rosella's face was indifferent. She did not feel that she was curious at all. On the contrary, everyone else held their breaths. It felt like another big family drama was going to happen soon in front of them.

'Should I give these people the satisfaction by asking Nicholas what he was trying to say? Haha, I am not so merciful, I am not interested in digging up my past in front of all these people. But it seems like I will be Nicholas' next target. Will he give me the same choices as he gave to Merlia? I know I should not be concerned by Nicholas' words, but my heart is feeling a little stuffy. I should ask him to let me leave peacefully... I wish he could just complete this last wish..out of respect of our past..'