The Empress

You won't be my bridesmaid

A maid: Your Excellency, please your sister is here to see you

Joycelyn says surprisingly: Lucia is here again, alright let her know that I will be there.

Joycelyn was about to leave when Princess Arabella arrives

Joycelyn: hello Bella how are you?

Princess Arabella replies: I'm good. how is my soon to be sister in law doing?

Joycelyn blushes and reply: I'm good. Anyway why are you here?

Princess Arabella: I'm here to escort you. I heard your sister is here. Father told us to always be with you when you go to meet your family

Joycelyn looks surprise and asks: really? did father say that?

Princess Arabella nods and says let's go

They arrived to meet Lucia who was drinking a glass of wine

She stands up upon the instructions of a maid and bows to greet Joycelyn

Lucia greets: good afternoon Your Excellency and Your highness

Princess Arabella and Lady Joycelyn both response and they sit

Joycelyn: Lucia, How are you?

Lucia smiles: I'm fine

Joycelyn: Alright, what brings you here?

Lucia: errr errrm Joy, (a maid clears her throat to remind Lucia how to call Joycelyn)

Lucia: I'm sorry, your excellency please I came here to ask for a favor

Joycelyn: what is it?

Lucia goes closer to Joycelyn and takes her hand

Lucia: sister please promise you will do it for me

Joycelyn: I won't be able to promise you that so tell me and if it is within my capability, I will do it.

Maid: you are too close to her Excellency

please go back to your seat. Lucia scoffs and return to her seat

Joycelyn: I am listening

Lucia: please can you make me your bridesmaid?

what Lucia said surprised Joycelyn

Joycelyn asks surprisingly: what? why do you want to be my bridesmaid?

Lucia; what do you mean? I am your sister so I have every right to be your bridesmaid

Joycelyn thinks for a while and says: Lucia, I'm sorry you won't be my bridesmaid

Lucia shouts: but why?

Joycelyn replies: I already have a bridesmaid

Lucia: I am your sister so I have that right

Joycelyn: I know that but Princess Arabella and Princess Esther who is the daughter of sir William are going to be my bridesmaids

Lucia: but they are the Emperor's relatives they can't be your bridesmaids

Princess Arabella: she is like a sister to us so we can be her bridesmaids

Lucia angrily throws tantrums: just tell me that you haven't forgiven me for everything...

Joycelyn cuts her off: listen to me Lucia I don't have any problem with you you just can't be my bridesmaid alright I'm sorry for hurting your feelings but I don't want

Joycelyn leaves and she is followed by Princess Arabella and the maids

Lucia angrily goes home

Princess Arabella: why did you deny her the chance of being your bridesmaid?

Lady Joycelyn: Bella, I'm sorry for using you but I didn't know what to say....

Arabella cuts in: please it's alright if you want us to be your bridesmaids we will alright

Lady Joycelyn hugs Arabella and says: thank you Bella

Emperor Michael comes and see his sister and wife to be hugging and he smiles

Emperor Michael: it's nice to see my sister getting along well with my wife to be. They both smile at him. Joycelyn runs and hugs him. surprising everyone

Emperor Michael: hey sweetheart are you okay?

Princess Arabella excuses herself and so did the maids

Emperor Michael sits Joycelyn down on a bench

Emperor Michael: Baby girl what happened?

Joycelyn: I'm sorry for hugging you like that

Michael: please don't worry but tell me what is going on

Joycelyn: my step sister was here, she said she wanted to be my bridesmaid and I refused her

Michael: is that the reason for your tears?

Joycelyn: no, I am crying because I have a bad feeling about her and her mother

Michael hugs and tells her not to worry because he won't allow anyone to hurt her

Joycelyn stayed in the Emperor's arms for a long time before going to her room

A guard: your majesty, one of Lady Joycelyn's maid is here to meet you.

Emperor Michael: send her in

The maid walked and as soon as the Emperor sees her, he hugs and calls her grandmother

Helen says happily: how are you doing my dear?

Emperor Michael: I'm fine. He offers Helen a seat and serves her tea. how are you grandmother?

Helen: I'm fine my dear you always make me forget that I am a maid

Emperor Michael: grandmother, you know you are more than a maid to us by the way why aren't you sleeping at this time?

Helen: I want to talk to you about your future wife

Emperor Michael asks with a worry on his face: is she alright?

Helen: yes she is. Michael please has she ever told you about her being abused

Emperor Michael: grandmother why? what have you found out?

Helen: Ever since she came to live in the palace, she has never allowed any maid to help her bath or get dress. she only allows them to help her apply make up.

I didn't understand so last night I secretly went to her bathroom when she was bathing.... Helen looked sad she was tearing up and this maid Michael worried

Emperor Michael: please grandmother what did you see?

Helen pulls herself together and says : there were bruises all over her body

Emperor Michael shouts: what?

Helen: yes dear, she seems to be a victim of abuse

Emperor Michael sit down without talking for about five minutes then he tells Helen to help him take care of her. he also tells her not to tell anyone. he hugs her and kisses her good night

she leaves

Emperor Michael sat in his room quietly after Helen left

Emperor Michael speaks to himself: I have to protect her from her family. I need to do something

After Lucia returned home her mother asked what happened

Lucia: mum do you know that, that foolish girl called Joy says she won't let me be her bridesmaid, she chose the Emperor's relatives instead of me

Liliana shouts: what? how dare that deny you of your wish

Lucia: the worst is that she walked away while I was still talking

Liliana says angrily: how dare that girl.

don't worry my dear we will think of something

Lucia: mum we must act fast because the wedding is drawing nearer

Liliana says: don't worry I won't let this wedding push through.