The Empress

The Wedding preparations

The Blanksons returned home after the brunch. Nicholas noticed that Liliana has been quiet since they left the palace

Nicholas: Lily dear what is wrong, you have been quiet since we left the palace, tell me what is going on

Liliana replies: We tried to get rid of your daughter, out of desperation we even sold her to strangers. I thought it was going to be her end and her life will be destroyed but look at what happened

your daughter is getting married to an Emperor, a man who might be the most powerful man in the world. look at how rich he is. That cursed daughter of yours is going to be an Empress. Very soon, we have to bow our heads to a girl we once treated as our maid. She is enjoying a life I have always wanted for my daughters. This is not what I expected.

Nicholas: Lily dear, I know this is a shock to you to tell you the truth I am surprise at the outcome of events but we can't do anything and beside I don't think Joy has opened her mouth or else the Emperor and his family wouldn't have been nice to us so this is still to our advantage. The royal family thinks that we are very caring parents to Joy so relax. After saying this, he leaves the room

Liliana still sits there quietly. In her mind, she is thinking that one of her daughters should be in the place of Joy. Liliana goes to her daughters

Lucia: mum what are you doing here?

Liliana: Lucia what do you think of the emperor?

Lucia: I think he is very handsome. I really envy Joy

Liliana: don't you wish for him to be yours?

Lucia: what? mum please I don't think he will even look at me moreover he is getting married to that girl Joy soon

Liliana: Don't worry about that, just answer my question. Do you want the Emperor?

Lucia: yes mum

Liliana: good now you will do exactly what I tell you to do from now onwards

Lucia replies cheerfully: okay mum

Liliana leaves

Lisa queries Lucia: how can you think of this. The Emperor is Joy's soon to be husband. Don't do anything please

Lucia: you and I know that I deserve the Emperor more than Joy does.

Lisa: you are crazy, don't do anything that might cause your life to be miserable

Lucia: what can really make my life miserable? if I get the Emperor, I will enjoy a very good life

Lisa: if you fail, your life will be miserable. she then walks away angrily

In the palace, the wedding preparations are in full swing, each of the Royal family members are busy doing their parts

Joycelyn comes back from school and on her way to her room, a maid informs her that her family is here to meet her. Joycelyn suddenly felt uneasy but she nods her head

After freshening up, Joycelyn goes to meet her family and she is escorted by her maids,as she was getting closer, she realized only Liliana and Lucia were here to meet her.

Liliana greets Joy: hello Joy how are you my daughter?

Lucia: hello Joy

One of the maid cuts in and tells them to address Lady Joycelyn respectfully they should address her with the title Your Excellency. This make Liliana infuriated but comes back to her normal self

Liliana: sorry, how are you doing your Excellency

Joycelyn nods and says: I'm good

she tells them to sit down

Joycelyn asks: if they wanted a drink

and they said no

Joycelyn then asks what brought them here

Liliana: Joy oh sorry I mean your Excellency, I want to apologise to you for everything. I hope you hold no grudge against me because of our past

Lucia: please forgive us

Joycelyn replies: I don't, if you had not given me to the Sir William, I would not be here living happily. I don't have any issue with all of you so don't worry.

Liliana: thank you my dear. you have always had a good heart

Lucia: thank you sister

Joycelyn nods

The maids serves them tea and they enjoyed it

Lucia: sister, I hope I can come and visit you here anytime

Joycelyn: I don't have enough time but I will let you know after checking my schedules

Lucia surprisingly asks: are you always busy?

Joycelyn replies: not always but I have to go to school and the wedding preparations is in full swing now

Just then Lady Gloria arrives and greets

and all response

lady Gloria: your Excellency I was coming to see you.

Joycelyn: alright lady please what can I do for you?

lady Gloria: the designer of your wedding dress is here. please you have to meet her and the Empress Dowager is waiting for you

Joycelyn: alright lady Gloria I will be there

she turns to Lucia and Liliana and says: I'm sorry I have to go. I will see you later.

Joycelyn leaves with lady Gloria and the maids

Liliana: she has become really full of herself

Lucia: mum, it's power. she now thinks she is powerful.

Liliana: we must act fast.

they leave the palace

The royal ladies discuss about the wedding dress while looking through the wedding catalog and some dress designs

The designer asks Joycelyn: please your Excellency, which one of the designs do you prefer? After some minutes she walks to the Empress Dowager

Joycelyn: Grandmother please you said i am your granddaughter am I right?

Grandmother Catherine nods her head and says: yes you are

Lady Mary-Yolanda says jokingly: technically she is your great grandmother I am your immediate grandmother. her comment makes everyone laugh

Joycelyn: alright then since your are all my grandmothers and my mothers, please choose a dress for me.

what Joycelyn said shocked everyone in the room

Lady Melissa: Joycelyn, are you sure you want us to do it?

Joycelyn replies: yes mother

lady Melissa hugs and says thank you for calling me mother

Lady Gloria: alright then we will choose the best wedding dress for you

Joycelyn says emotionally: thank you all so much

Lady Mary-Yolanda: don't get emotional and start crying that is my role. don't steal it from me

Everyone starts laughing again

Almost an hour later, after series of discussions, they chose a wedding dress for Joycelyn

While the ladies were busy with the dress, the men in the royal family were also busy choosing and an outfit for the Emperor

After a while they settled on an outfit too

Liliana and Lucia return home to meet Nicholas furious

Nicholas screams: where have you been?

Liliana: we went to meet Joy

Nicholas: why?

Liliana: what do you mean by why? can't we go and meet her?

Nicholas: I know you very well Liliana, you don't do anything without a reason whatever you are planning, please drop it or else you will make our life miserable

Liliana: why are you exaggerating? don't forget that whatever I do, the whole family benefits from it.

Nicholas: I don't care just stop whatever you have started. Nicholas angrily storms out of the room.

Lucia: what is wrong with father?

Liliana: forget him. listen to me very carefully tomorrow I want you to go to the palace and ask Joy to make you her bridesmaid

Lucia: what if she doesn't accept?

Liliana: you will have to persuade her because if you become her bridesmaid, you will know everything about the wedding this way, we can put our plans in action

Lucia: alright mum

Liliana: good girl