Henry's Arrival

"I heard Henry is coming today," Vanessa, the eldest daughter of Emperor Francis Williams said to Victoria, The wife of Marcus Williams. The third son of the Emperor and empress Gabriella.

"Yes, I heard so too, and also he'll be bringing his so-called bride," Victoria replied with a frown. Her husband, Marcus is the most unpopular of the three sons. He doesn't involve himself in royal battles, trying to claim or succeed the empire. She wasn't satisfied with his decision, but she had no choice. Maybe it'll bring peace to both of them and their marriage. But deep down, she also wants to become an Empress.

" His bride? Well, who would have thought, he hardly comes here 'The imperial mansion.' So he finally found a bride, Who would have thought the one who rejected many ladies would finally decide to get married all of a sudden." She blurted out. "Do you know the lady, Victoria? Is she from a noble family? Vanessa asked curiously.

"I'm not sure, I guess he has been hiding her and decided to bring her out now. Remember what happened to Ariel even before they got married, she was killed. Maybe he also hides this woman's identity. You know Henry has a lot of enemies." Victoria said, rubbing her hands together.

"Do you think they have been dating for a long time? Do you know how Henry could be? I wonder how she was able to put up with him till now. I'll love to see that woman." Vanessa said and grinned.

"I just wondered why he decided to show up now that he's been forgotten, he's just so hell-bent on becoming a successor to the empire."

"Well, he's no match for my husband". Margret said as she entered the room with her handmaiden behind her. Margret is the wife of Leonard, the second son of the Emperor. Henry's rival in succeeding the empire. They've never gotten along since they were kids and always competes with everything until the emperor had Henry and his mother sent away. And they never saw each other since then, until they grow up and decided to resume their competition.

"How sure are you? Do you know the emperor favors Henry in private?" Victoria asked immediately.

"Margaret, how long have you been eavesdropping on our conversation?" Vannessa asked.

"Well, I heard the last thing you said. I was just passing." She sits near them and they continued their discussion.

"Sophie got me a cup of tea. Less sugar more milk." Margret said to her maid. "Yes, your highness," Sophie answered and left.

"The Emperor doesn't need any bride for his son. But a special kind I don't think Henry found a bride yet, You know he still can't get over the death of his Ariel. He really can't forget her all for his ambition of taking over the empire. You remembered how he isolated himself after her death."Margret said.

"I only heard about it, was he so obsessed with her?" Victoria said. She didn't know what Henry does in his mansion.

since he didn't live in the imperial mansion, he had his mansion since a long time ago when his mother had the virus and they were both sent out of the palace. The emperor had that place for them and since her death, he refused to come back to the imperial mansion.

"Don't you think it's suspicious how the media saw them together, not even once? And now they suddenly want to show up in the palace to get married. You both know Henry hates touching women since then and was rumored to be gay." She said again.

"Well you have a point there.", Vanessa said with a less visible smirk on her face.

"I just think we should..." Victoria's words were cut short by the loud noise from outside the mansion.

"What's that noise?"Victoria said as stood up to check outside through the window. "It's them." She said. She meant Henry and Kimberly had arrived. The emperor had a grand welcome prepared for both of them.

Vanessa and Margret immediately run towards her. "Let's see." They also looked and saw that it was true.

"Huh! He bought his bride with him!" Margret exclaimed, she didn't see Kim. But she had an unpleasant look on her face.

in her mind she cursed. "Damn bitch."

"Welcome my son," Hrh Francis embraced Henry as he bowed before him.

"Welcome Henry, I can see you brought a guest. Do you mind introducing her to us? Empress Gabriella, the mother of Vanessa, Marcus, and Leonard. said and smiled. It was obvious the smile was a fake. She just didn't want to look unhappy in front of the Emperor so she had to pretend. "Damn bastard, indeed got himself a bride. He's determined to compete with my son. Leonard." She said inwardly.

"Good morning Your Highness, her Majesty", Kimberly greeted politely and bowed.

The Emperor doesn't was the happiest on the occasion.

" She is Kimberly George, my future bride," Henry said briefly.

"From which family"? Gabriella asked immediately.

"What does her family background have to do with our marriage?" Henry retorted.

Immediately after Kim heard that question, her heart skipped. If they find out about her past or her family. She and David might be in trouble. It was hard concealing their identities over the years, she hadn't investigated enough if the royal family had a hand in her parent's murder. If they got to find out before her. She would be done for.

"As a future emperor, you need to have a befitting bride" Gabriella faked concern for Henry when she said this.

" And when do you start caring about what befits me"?.

" It's not about you, it's about the empire" Leonard replied as he entered the chamber.

"Oh!! Who do we have here?"Leonard said giving Kim a death stare. "How much did he pay you for this?" Leonard asked immediately.

"I. I don't understand what you mean." Kim stammered. Frightened by their many questions, she started to look uncomfortable. Henry noticed and held her hand tightly.

" Leo that's enough, I won't have you talk to my woman this way.!" Henry yelled out and grabbed Kim. pressing her on his body. They were supposed to look passionate, not distant.

"What's the matter brother? Are you afraid we might find out about your little game?". Leonard said with a smirk.

Leonard had someone follow his brother and he already knew how he bought Kim he wanted to humiliate him in front of his father. Knowing Henry had his ways of handling situations, He didn't want to reveal it just yet, he wants to taunt Henry a bit.

"He didn't pay me anything, we're in love with each other" Kim said proudly.

Margret and Vannessa who just arrived in the chamber heard what she said and immediately, froze.

Everyone stared at her awkwardly, they knew she lied because Henry hasn't been with any woman ever since Ariel died. He had isolated himself for a long time away from everyone, only to show up again with her. Margaret and Vanessa exchanged glances.

Kim was silent and thought for a while.

There's only one way to prove to everyone, she didn't want them to run a background check on her. especially Henry's evil brother who already suspected her.

Kim suddenly grabbed Henry close to her and kissed him. The kiss lasted for a while before Kim pulled out from it, Surprised, Margret looked at Vanessa shamefully, she had claimed they didn't have any intimate relationship. They were forced to believe that Henry and Kim were in love with each other, no woman had ever touched or had the privilege to come close to Henry.

Emperor Francis once set him up by putting aphrodisiac in his tea and locking him up with a woman, he soaked himself in a bathtub filled with cold water till Dawn. Rejecting the woman. Henry had done many things, but touching women weren't part of it.

He had rebuked every one of them, Beautiful ladies from the Noble family had made it a competition to win his heart but to no avail.

Henry, who was a hard nut to crack, got kissed passionately by this woman. in front of everyone.