Chapter 45: First Mission
1144 Words
“Your Majesty! Please I–”
Ivanna was trying hard to ask for the emperor’s forgiveness. He was displeased, so he constantly ignored her.
Derethus stuck his tongue out at her, following behind the emperor as they went inside his study. Leaving Ivanna behind.
She rolled her eyes at him, mouthing, ‘you’re annoying.’
A smirk spread across his face before he shut the door on her face.
Ivanna forced a smile,” what should I do? I anger the emperor!” She lifted her hands in the air and heaved a deep sigh.
It was her fault though.
Since she became Meredith, Ivanna hadn’t gotten a good rest. Unlike in the past, as a princess, she could rest anytime she desires.
But being Meredith was much more tiring. She was surprised and astonished at how commoners live a more physically exhausting life than nobles. If she hadn’t scammed the empress dowager to send servants to the emperor’s place, perhaps she was dead already. There are endless streams of chores inside the palace. And she wouldn’t be able to handle them singlehandedly.
And expecting friendly help from Derethus was a bad idea. They would both earn more bruises than getting a chore done. It would only lead to fistfights and swearing at each other.
Their meeting would always end up in a disaster.
That’s why after waking up from unconsciousness for two days. She used the opportunity to rest and get lazy around – a life she was sometimes missing. Although her wound healed completely and her body didn’t get any serious injuries.
It was indeed her fault. However, she didn’t know that the emperor was deeply worried about her.
‘Why? I’m a mere maid. It’s not like I didn’t care for my servants back then as a princess,’ she pondered. Since she was not welcome to enter the emperor’s study, she retreated instead and looked around for something to do.
She planned to stroll around the palace’s garden but a little girl suddenly blocked her way.
“What do you want?” She arched her brows at the girl, yet she was ignored. The girl merely made gestures to her.
“You need to whisper something important?” She motioned a gesture as well, asking.
The girl nodded. Ivanna crouched to level herself with the little girl.
“Master wants to see you,” she whispered, then she tucked a daisy into her ear.
Ivanna instantly felt cold. Her stoic face hardened. ‘I’m doomed. Did I break her glassy trust?’
The girl led Ivanna to a secret path. She brought her to an old kitchen and pushed the wood shelf of cooking essentials. Behind the shelf, slowly a path leading down somewhere dark appeared.
The little girl gestured to follow her down with her. She silently did and was quite anxious. It was dark and unknown, like how unknown the empress dowager’s treatment towards her was. ‘Did she trust me or not?’
They walked aimlessly at those dark secret pathways for about half an hour. At the end of it was a light and the girl vanished instantly.
Ivanna’s eyes went round. ‘Where is the girl?’
“I sent her back to her playmates,” a female voice spoke within the blinding light, she couldn’t help but cover her eyes, blinking to cope with the shining light.
“Come,” the woman in the light spoke again, her voice was gentle and…familiar. She extended her arm to Ivanna. “Meredith, I’ve been waiting for you.”
She went closer to the woman, and as she did it became clearer who she was.
She accepted her hand and was pulled into the light. She blinked a lot as she adjusted her vision. It was blinding when you were from the darkness and then instantly pulled to the bright light.
As her eyes adapted to the light, the place where the girl led her gradually revealed to her.
A garden filled with blue roses, a large man-made pond with swans swimming around. She could hear a stream of water nearby, perhaps, a small fall.
And once her eyes swept around, they landed on a beautiful woman in a white robe who sat at a marble table placed in the middle of the garden. The table was filled with various sweet delicacies and a teapot.
She was beautiful, as always. Her soft-green hair and pair of hazel eyes make Ivanna stare at her in awe.
‘Just how old is she, really?’
“Are you gonna stare at me all day?” The woman snickered.
“No. I apologize, Your Majesty,” Ivanna curtsied before waltzing to the table.
“It’s fine. I’m used to it,” she chuckled. Then she beckoned Ivanna to sit across her.
A maid appeared and poured their cup some tea. Ivanna praised how trained and graceful the maid was.
‘How arrogant,’ Ivanna thought.
Externally, she flashed the empress dowager a profound smile.
“It’s been a long time, right?” Alora glanced at her before she took a sip of her tea.
“It’s not, Your Majesty. I had seen you a few days ago.” Ivanna copied the empress dowager, she sipped her tea as well in a delicate manner. “In the throne room.”
Alora raised her brow at her sudden display of fine etiquette. She had a demeanour of a noble princess in just one moment!
“Your Majesty, what do call me here for?” Ivanna continued.
“Oh. How blunt you are!” She let out a laughed.
Ivanna pursed her lips. “I just don’t want to waste the precious time of Your Majesty.”
“How thoughtful you are!”
Ivanna merely sipped her tea in silence.
“Fine,” Alora curved her lips upward. “I want you to have a look on a certain young lady.”
Ivanna lifted her eyes and looked at her, “My first job?”
“Indeed.” This time Alora ate a slice of cake, taking a slight portion in a strawberry flavor one.“And it’s a good opportunity to prove yourself to me, Miss Verona.”
“Who?” Ivanna impatiently asked. She could only pray it’s not about killing someone or she would instead slice her pale throat right this time.
“The prime minister’s daughter. The one who has a Mavis name.” She could hear the displease in the empress dowager’s tone.
“What do you want from her?”
“Simple.” She put down her fork, brushed off the cake icing on her lips with a napkin, and then stood from her seat. “Everything about her. Her strength and her weakness.”
The empress dowager then left her alone at the garden.
Ivanna didn’t have a good feeling about this.
- Writer
