Tea With the Emperor

*Illyria’s POV*

After many days of terrible attempts at keeping my mind and body busy, I was finally pulled from the void of my mind by a loud knock on my bedroom door.

I stood frantically, my eyes shifting from the door to Oda. She ushered me to be calm as I fidgeted the ruffles on my deep red dress around between my nervous fingers. She stepped to the door, opening it and bowing gracefully. “Come in!” She smiled, recignizing the man.

“Oda,” A tall man in a tailcoat bowed in response to Oda, and stepped over the doorstep. He looked me up and down, coming to a silent realization.

“Princess,” He spoke softly as he approached me, “I am Baylor, Emperor Basilius’s personal servant. His Majesty sent me to fetch you for tea.” He held his hand out to me, smiling slightly.

Hesitantly I looked at Oda, and back to Baylor. “Will.. my Handmaiden be able to join us?” I asked, squeezing my hands over one another as my heart pounded loudly in my chest.

“Im sorry Milady, but he requested **only you.**” He furrowed his brows lightly, averting his eyes and blushing softly. *’Why does he only want to see me?’* I thought, turning over my shoulder to glance at Oda.

*’Will I be.. **alone** with the Emperor?’* I felt my face flush, the pit of my stomach churning around my breakfast. *’This place is far too comfortable for me. A lady, alone with a grown man? We would never allow it back home…’*

Suddenly, Oda’s voice shocked me back to reality.

“It’s okay.” She blushed, waving it off slightly. “You will be fine, and I will wait here for you. Go on.”

I paused, internally conflicted. Oda rubbed my shoulders gently, then she placed a black silk cover over my shoulders and nodded softly. Something in me felt afraid, but …*I still feel like I can trust her.*

I turned and followed Baylor out of the room. Still weary and unsure, I followed him down the silent halls. The clicking of my heels echoing down dark every hallway, as I attempted to not look around.

The air was cold, and the ceilings were high, which made me feel small.

*’Everything here gives me the chills.’* I thought, cowering and pulling my cover tighter around my shoulders for security. From the corner of my eye, I thought I saw a figure... but when I glanced there was nobody there. *’It’s so dark and… creepy.'*

My footsteps sped up, trying to keep up with Baylor. “B-baylor? Um… can I ask you something?” My hands began to shake, I couldn’t tell if it was from fear… or the excitement of *finally* venturing away from my room.

He looked over his shoulder at me, and smiled softly. “Of course, ask me anything. I will answer to the best of my knowledge, Princess.”

I took a deep breath, *’here goes nothing.’*

“Is the Emperor g-going to… b-bite me again?” I stuttered, nervous to hear his answer. The pit of my chest burned with discomfort, making my heart grow faster than my steps.

He stopped for a moment, turning to me. “I can assure you that from this point forward Princess, you will not be bitten.” He bowed lightly, with a gentle expression.

“That is, unless.. you *want* to be bitten.” He chuckled and continued forwards.

I grew silent and confused at his response, *’What did he mean, unless I **wanted** to?’* I scoffed silently.

I honestly hadn’t thought about it, *Did I… want to be bitten again?*

That question didn’t scare me, which only made my confusion grow. Being bitten obviously caused me pain… *So why did I not mind it happening again?*

In fact, I *thirsted* for it to happen again. Something isn't right.

Thinking of it, made my neck burn... *'I must subside these thoughts for now, until I understand the situation better.'* I shook away the thirst, looking down at my feet to count my steps as a distraction. *'I **will** get answers from the Emperor.'*

Baylor speaks softly, making me jump out of my focus. “We are going to cross the corridor here, Watch your steps.” He pointed to a long staircase just ahead of us, and his feet began to quickly clip down the steps. I grab the hem of my dress carefully, lifting it away from my feet to follow him down the steps.

As I stepped down from the staircase, I lifted my head to a breathtaking sight.

We walked through a detailed garden, many varieties of flowers laid out on the yards of land in front of us. The sparkling stone pathways we carried ourselves down, swirled throughout the fields. Scattered along them were many large oak trees, shedding leaves in the wind and providing shade on the path.

In the very center of the garden was a large glass gazebo shining in the sunlight, its white wood exterior braided intricately by many vines filled with little pink flowers. “Wow…” I whispered in awe.

“It’s beautiful..” I smiled softly, reaching out to touch the dainty flowers. I stood there for a while before I noticed the light tap of a teacup on the table behind me. I had become so drowned in the beauty of the nature around me, that I completely forgot the purpose of this walk.

“Oh!” I wished around, the silk ruffles along my skirt following my body. “Your Majesty.” I bowed quickly, red from embarrassment.

As I returned upward from my bow, the man seated in front of me stood and smiled gently. “Please, Princess. Have a seat.” He stepped around the table and pulled a chair out, insinuating for me to have a seat.

I paused, looking up at the glass above me. The sky was so beautiful at this time of day, a perfect mixture of clouds and blue sky.

As I took my seat, I curiously gazed at him. His Dark curls stained with streaks of white, and his beard neatly brushing against his dress shirt as he moved.

*’This must be the Emperor…but, he doesn't look like a vampire?’* I lightly brushed the now *mostly* healed bite mark on my neck, *’The rumors must not be true, or maybe… this man may not *actually* be the Emperor.’*

“Everything okay, Princess?” The greying man looked up at me over his cup as he sipped, and placed it back on the table with a tap. His eyes glanced over my face expectantly.

“A-ah yes.. I was just lost in thought.” I blushed, and cleared my throat. As I reached for my cup a servant stepped forward quickly to fill it, and began bowing lightly as she backed away.

I took a gentle sip from the frail white glass in my hands, “This garden is magnificent, if I may say. Your Majesty.” I smiled, attempting to break the awkward silence and address him.

“Ah.. yes. It was the late Empress’s Garden.” He sighed lightly, taking another light sip. “I began to come here for tea once she passed, it reminds me of her.”

I looked up at his sad expression, “You must have loved her very much..” I looked at my reflection in the glass in my hands, barely recognizing myself. I had grown skinny over the mere three weeks I had been here. The dark circles of sadness under my eyes were prevalent, and seemed to take over my beauty.

“I… Did. I loved her very much. Though I didn’t tell her enough.” He looked out over the fields, clearing his throat. “I do wish we had spent more of our eternities *together*…”

Another brief silence took over as he trailed off, the surrounding breeze was the only sound tainting our ears.

We shared the silence, watching petals and leaves as they blew through the wind. The trees and flowers surrounding us bent in the wind, and occasionally a butterfly would flutter by looking for nectar.

Each time I caught a brief glimpse of the old Emperor, I could sense a sad and heavy aura around him. Though he seemed to be trying to hide it, something was definatley bothering him.

*’This is not at all what I was expecting..’* I thought, finishing the last sip of tea from my glass. *’I thought he would be more…’* I glanced at him, as he watched the winds whip around fallen flowers. *’petrifying?’*

He looked up, reading my eyes once more, and then taking a momentary breath before speaking.

“You are probably curious as to why you are here, Princess.” He stood suddenly, holding his arm out for mine to link onto.
"Yes your Majesty, I-" I attempted to begin explaining my thoughts, but was quickly interrupted by his eagerness. “Dear child. Come, take a walk with me. We have much to talk about.”