Chapter 47 I could be Queen without Daevir.
Amarien’s POV
“What are you slubs doing seated! The imperial banquets await us! Hurry up!” Corvin screeched at the maiden in my room.
Everyone was busy with one thing or the other, but their pacing didn't seem to satisfy Corvin, who was pacing the room like he was nervous out of his mind.
The emperor seemed to have gained some life, and the doctors say he will be back on his feet in a few weeks. However, he won't be at this banquet, though he expects all his concubines to attend.
It's the Imperial banquet to commemorate Prince Daevir’s defeat of the werewolves. Prince Daevir will be at the centre of everything. I could tell he would be pretty nervous.
“Hold still, Concubine Amarien,” one of the maids asked as she dabbed powder on my face.
I wonder why Corvin is still holding on to the hope that I'll somehow fulfill his ambition of being queen in this palace. The emperor is literally on the brink of death.
I'd be in the nunnery in no time, and he will be demoted to a position that serves in the powers courts. That's if he can win Princess Catherine's favour and swindle his way back in.
From the looks of it, Corvin is determined to stick with me to the very end, and it made me really emotional.
“We will make you the prettiest concubine at the party.” He assured and resumed pacing frantically.
I wonder what Daevir will think when he sees me. Will you leave the crowd and offer to dance with me? Will he hold me close to his heart as he did with Catherine? Will he kiss me tenderly as he did in the Apothecary?
I shook myself off those silly thoughts. I should be more concerned for Daevir.
It saddens me that Daevir's still running from his identity. He should be the saviour of the human race. The Alpha who unites the human race with the Werewolves.
I could tell that was Grandma ChiChi and Alpha Logan’s intentions, the reason they died keeping this damned secret.
How Daevir is just going to throw it all away because he is ashamed of his true self.
It is to think that he'd be emperor over the human race soon, and the prospect of imperfection might be damning. Nobody here is forgiving towards a werewolf, nor are they forgiving towards any werewolf allies.
Imagine the shock on everyone’s mind if they found out their worst enemy now rules over them as emperor.
The thought of this scared me. No one must know of Daevir's secret. I must carry it with me like Chichi carried Alpha Logan's letters to the grave.
I must protect him at all costs.
I must stand by his side…
“Have you imagined what it's like to be queen, Concubine Amarien?” one of the maidens said as she gazed at my reflection in the mirror. “It will soothe you well. You are so pretty.”
Everyone in the room nodded.
“But there is a queen already.” I spat.
Corvin whipped around to me, “You mean there have been queens before you. The position of queen is not a permanent one. The emperor can pick and unpick who would and wouldn't be his queen. He already gave you a promise, Amarien.”
Wait! If I become Queen before the emperor dies, that means I would get to skip the nunnery. Only concubines will be lowered to that position. That means I could still stay in the palace!
Oh, mine, Corvin is so brilliant! Why didn't I think of that!
The queen, upon the death of the emperor, will serve in the court as the Royal Queen Mother. I will be in an even higher rank than Catherine, so she won't even be able to touch me.
I'll skip the nunnery!!!
“You mean, if I could work my way to the Emperor's heart, I could make him dethrone Queen Zadfina and have me there.”
Everyone in the room nodded.
“It will be an honour to work in your royal courts, Concubine Amarien.” The maiden who made my hair said. “You have your own wings in the palace, way better than the outer courts.”
“You'll have guards flank you left and right,” Corvin continued. “You’d given the finest silk and jewelry.”
“You'd even have your garden where you can plant whatever herbs you want.”
My head lit up with imagination! I don't just get the ease to practise what I've always wanted, I get ease, security, comfort and worship.
What could possibly be wrong with that?!
But then it struck me.
None of the queen mothers, past or present, is allowed to remarry, no matter how young they are. They will die celibate. Because it's traditional that since they have married the highest man in the realm, no other person must take his palace, even in death.
That only means one thing. I'll never get to be with Daevir.
“Concubine Amarien!” The maiden's voice jolts me back in the room. She was busy tightening my silk dress. I must have zoned out for a long time; the room was empty, save for this maiden who handled my dress.
“Yes…” I muttered.
“You've gotten quite a bit bigger since the last time you had this dress on.” She said, weighing the dress over me.
I chuckled, “The emperor really had showered me with a lot of love this past few days.”
The maiden shook her head. “This seems to be more than happy weights, concubine Amarien. I mean, look at yourself,” she gestures to the mirror.
I stood there looking at my naked form. I can be frail, skinny and small. It's two years now, and I've really grown. I could imagine how proud Grandma Chichi will be…
“Look at them! They are massive!” The maiden cut off my thoughts, grabbing my breast.
I fought my embarrassment, cupping my breast in my palm.
“And your nipples are dark.” The maiden smiled at me happily, like there was something I was missing. “Can't you see, Concubine Amarien, the gods have heard your prayers. You're pregnant!”
I froze.