“Hey, Shanara.”
“Huh?” I look at His Majesty. “Your Majesty.”
How long have I been staring at the ceiling? Those memories...
"Are you okay?" I look at the emperor and nod. I massage my forehead and neck.
"It's just, a scene started to flash in my mind. It looks like my memories are starting to go back."
"Then it's a good news."
"Yeah I think, Ahh are you done talking to the lady?" I asked him and he nodded and avert his eyes.
"Yeah, she already goes back."
"Ahh."
"You won't ask what we do talk about?" He look at me and smiled.
"No, it's a conversation between you and the lady so I won't ask but if it does concern about me then, maybe you can tell me."
"She was just shocked when she heard the news about me wanting to marry you, she kinda wanted to confirm if it is true." I nod and sat on the couch.
“Your Majesty, I think we should postpone the engagement ceremony.”
“Why?”
“I still don't want to be seen in public. I may be scared...” he then caress my face and smiled at me.
“Sure we'll postpone it, so can you wear this?” it was a ring! I look at him with bright eyes. “I plan to give it to you at the banquet, but I will be more pleased if I saw you wearing this ring right now.”
“Yes, Your Majesty. I would be delighted.” and I extended my hand, he put the ring on my finger and grab my waist as we shared on a sweet kiss.
The kiss take longer and I smiled when he hugged me. Then I look at the big diamond on the ring. It was a Three-stone Diamond ring.
"I love it, thank you."
“Your eyes, it's more lovely.” I avert my eyes and he laughs. "Your face is beat red." He pinches it.
“Thank you, if we won the hunt let's continue the engagement.”
"No lies."
"Yes."
"Don't take it back, or I'll get mad."
"No, I won't."
“I wish the hunt to be started already.” I nod at him and he holds my hand. "Let's work now."
“Yes, Your Majesty.” We continue work and we go to the training grounds in the afternoon.
The Emperor also joined our training, I did fight with him and he always won. Days pass the hunt was about to begin and we were now heading to Malde.
The barbaric nation, Malde is now preparing for the Hunt. A big light blue screen where people could watch what happened inside the hunting grounds is already set in every part of the empire.
The annual hunt was now about to start...
“Are you nervous?”
“Yeah, but this will eventually fade. When the hunt starts.”
How could I not be, when it was broadcasted and nobles and the Imperial family are watching the hunt.
“Rest for now.” I nod and tried to sleep.
“Ah yes.” I'm not really into long trips, gosh I want to vomit.
“Are you okay?”
“Yes.” No, please I am not fine!
“Let's stop for a minute.”
“No it's okay, I'm fine.” he wrapped his arms around my waist and I closed my eyes. I fell asleep and woke up when the carriage started to shake because of the rocks.
“Ehh, do we need to take this way?” I hold on tight and almost bumped my head on my left side but the emperor immediately touch my head.
“Yes, can you still bear it?”
“I think.” we stop as soon as we reach the flat area, at last, the fresh air.
I feel refreshed when we traveled again. Because the roads are flats no rocks, no no upset tummy. We head straight to the GrimRock Forest, the biggest forest in Malde where the hunt will hold.
“The Emperor of Orion Empire has arrived!” they announced our arrival and after that, someone lead us to the tents.
“This is where you are going to stay, while the Lady will stay over there.” I look at the Crest of the Imperial family.
“Let's go.”
His Majesty escorts me to my tent and tells to me that he will greet the Emperor of Malde. He appoint one knight and told me that if I plan to go out, don't go too far because I might get lost.
I fixed my dress first and go outside, there is a group of noble ladies that are having a Tea Party in the next tent while others are busy showing their gifts.
“Hello.”
“Hi.” the Lady who approached me smiled at me and offer her hand and I accept it.
“Your Lady Shanara right? I'm Ellaine if you do remember me.” I nod.
“If I'm not mistaken the sister of Duke Falco?”
“Yes, Yes. I'm happy you do remember me!” she suddenly shakes my hand and jump. "You are still beautiful as the last time."
“Thank you...”
“I'm sorry, I got excited! But the way your dress's beautiful.”
“Thank you, yours too and you look lovely.” she smiled cutely and let go of my hand.
“Thank you! Let's have some tea in our tent.”
“I'm afraid that I will decline your offer, I'm still not used to crowds.”
“Oh, I'm sorry.”
“It's okay, let's just have some tea in my tent,” I said and she nodded.
“How lovely!” she followed me and watch me as I brew tea and gave her cookies.
“These are the only sweets I have, I'm sorry.”
“It's okay, this is fine.”
“So your Husband will join the hunt?” I asked and so on my tea.
“Yes. Lady Shanara.”
“You can call me Shanara.”
“Really? then call me Ellaine. It was a pleasure to be with you. Shanara can I ask, I hope I am not being rude but are you already engaged?” she pointed my finger, I nod and smiled at her. “Oh my! To the Emperor?”
“Yes.” my face heated and she shrieked.
“Woah, congratulations! I knew it the way that the emperor look at you.”
"I'm not getting shy."
"How lovely."
“Can you keep it, we still haven't announced it.”
“Yes!”
“The Lady is so cute and really lovely, your husband is lucky.”
“He said that too, but I'm luckier to have a husband like him. Lady Shanara let's be friends.”
“Sure, it's a pleasure Lady Ellaine.” we talked for hours, then His Majesty go to my tent. The ceremony will now start.
“Ladies and Gentlemen we all gathered here for our yearly Hunting Competition. Eranoa, Aserte, Cicia, Siro, Erden, and Orion let's all have some fun. Three people from each Nation will enter the GrimRock forest and the nation that had the most caught animals will be the winner. Everyone will see what will happen inside the forest. Let the Hunt now begin!”
Three from each empire are the only ones who can enter the forest. If we already kill an animal it will disappear and showed outside the forest beside the flag of each empire.
They blew the horns and we all clapped. The Emperor and Sir William are now riding on their horse. I also ride my horse and smiled at the Emperor.
“Woah!” I pat my horse and it calms down. "Let's separate, I will go there."
“No, there are a lot of wild animals there.”
“Don't you worry Your Majesty, I did train so hard.” he chuckled and nod, he held my hand and caress the ring on my finger.
“If you need help just shout okay and they will do something.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.” I saw Ellaine wave at me I wave back and then we all now entered the forest. I blink many times and face His Majesty.
I do feel something strange happened.
“I will go there, be safe Your Majesty.” I was about to leave when he stop me and look straight into my eyes.
“Shanara, What happened to your eyes?”
“Why?” I touch my eyes and blink. "Is there something wrong, a while ago I feel something strange?"
“Your Brown eyes they're now red.” Red?
“Eh?” I pull out my sword and place it in front of my eyes. His Majesty is right my eyes are now red.
“It means your eyes were red and not brown? Woah, it's more beautiful.”
“Someone might cast a spell on me to hide the real color of my real eyes, and it has already worn off. But why?”
“Don't think of it anymore, you're more beautiful with those red eyes.”
“Thank you.”
“Let's meet here later after three hours okay?”
“Hmm, be careful.”
“You too.” I let go of his hand and wave my hands. We parted ways, my heart is beating so fast because of excitement. The hunt that I've been preparing for months, it's now starting.
（*＾3＾）/～♡
—IAmRoseee