9

My arrival at the Gribe empire is peaceful, but the archduke of Gribe doesn't like to see me, when Emperor Blake is guiding me to my room, after the two days of traveling, they find it weird, the emperor is acting weird.

I don't know if this is a curse or a power, maybe it's a curse to people who are affected and a power to me. But I am afraid, it's normal that I will feel afraid after what I saw. Because what if I said that he should kill himself, he will kill himself, because he is under my curse.

I even asked for magic books from the library, because I want to know, I want to study about this curse. Hoping that there is a way to stop the curse after being under my command.

If my father will discover this, he will surely do everything that he can, and use me in all ways he can, and I don't want to do something on his behalf of him. If my father wants something else from people, he should do it on his own, and stop using people.

"Princess Delaney, may I come in? The Lord of Honisty is here to pay a visit." I looked at the door and closed the book that I am reading.

"You may come in." I open the other book, for the history of the Gribe empire and the Lord of Honisty kneels, together with the woman beside him.

"Greetings to her royal highness of Drivike." He said and I instructed him to stand up, and the woman beside him is looking at me, she is examining my who body, or judging me rather.

"Her highness, I am Lord Izelle, and this is my daughter, Lady Critesa." I smile at them and close the book that I pretend to read.

"Have a seat, let's have tea while it's hot." The maid prepared some tea and desserts, and lady Critesa looks terrified, every time I move around.

I think they already hear the news, about my curse and what is my status at Drivike, but as long as they didn't cross the line, I will play along.

I already knew that the nobility will take advantage of me, they are aware that I didn't attend a proper education when I am at Drivike, but I didn't use that as a disadvantage.

Even if I am alone, I learn on my own, it sounds impossible, but nothing is impossible for me, I want to learn the basics, and now, I am still learning.

"I already asked his majesty, about my daughter to become your lady in waiting, and the emperor said that it's your decision, her royal highness, my daughter can teach you while the wedding is ongoing, because we, the nobility of Gribe, want the best for the future empress of Gribe." He bowed to me, together with his daughter.

I know many of the reasons why my father sends me here, instead of Hannah. I am weak, he knows that if the empress is weak, it will affect everything, from the image of the emperor and the diplomatic relations with another empire.

The emperor Blake is mad, because my father lied to him, from the power that I have at Drivike, my education, and my etiquette. If Emperor Blake didn't see my eyes, maybe he will kill me instantly and found another woman that is suitable for being an empress of Gribe.

It's easy to start a war, but my father didn't like the idea of war. He moves in the dark and shows the neighborhood empire that bloodshed isn't for Drivike Empire, but in reality, my father is far worse than that.

"Aren't you feel ashamed of me, do you think that a woman like me deserves to become an empress of Gribe, isn't it a disadvantage for the image of the future empire?" I take a sip from the tea and watch every reaction that they made.

For the many years that I have been through, I can tell if people are faking it, showing pity on me, or true to me.

And only Sir William is the example of true to me over the past years and Prince Kier. But now, I can see in their eyes that their intention is not what I am expecting, but I need to stay vigilant at all times.

"Her royal highness, there is always a disadvantage to every people around the empire, and please don't think that you are not capable of being an empress of Gribe, we all learn, and still learning over the years that we've been through," he said truthfully and place his hand on his chest.

"I am one of the supporters of Prince Kier, and when his royal highness supports you, his supporters will do the same." I get it, they show support for me because of Prince Kier, not just because I am princess Delaney.

I expected that too.

"I'm not confident from the beginning, and I am aware that I will be the weakness of his majesty." I smile weakly and take a sip of tea.

"Please, your royal highness, believe in your capability, Gribe is different from Drivike, I know that other nobles didn't like you, but we are here, to support you and help you, to build your name and power, before the wedding." He showed me some boxes of jewelry and bow his head for the second time.

"I know your royal highness, that you didn't believe my words now, but please consider that we just want to help you, so they cannot find something on you that they will give a chance to criticize you, because no matter what happened, you're the princess of Drivike." Lord Izelle stand up and kneel in front of me, and kissed my hand.

"We will leave now, wishing for your answer soon." He bid his goodbye after he said that. I am alone in my room again.

I feel unusual when people didn't look at my disadvantages because the curse that I have is a big disadvantage for me, he is right. I need to establish my name while I am staying here, and I cannot stay in my room.

This is a great opportunity for me to fight back, but how can I trust people around me, I cannot stop myself from overthinking the situation I am in now.

I went to my table and write a letter, having a proper education is not that bad, I need to decide now. If I cannot avoid being the target of other nobles, then I need to find a way to protect myself.

"Julie, come inside." The maid came inside and bow her head.

"Give this letter to Lord Izelle's resident, and can you tell me what is my schedule before the day will end?" I asked her and she keeps her head down.

"Her royal highness, your schedule this evening is to have a dinner with his majesty." I nod when I heard it and the other maid went inside to help me prepare for dinner with the emperor.

...

The maid prepared the most expensive dress in my closet, I am on my way to the dining hall, and three maids follow me and two knights. The corridor's architecture is really good, as what the history book of the empire Gribe, this establishment was built by the 7th emperor of Gribe, and Emperor Blake is the 9th emperor, and each emperor must build some establishment as a sign of their pride and excellency.

Prince Kier saw me and approached me, kneel in front of me, and kissed the back of my hand.

"It's nice to see you, her royal highness of Drivike." I smile at Prince Kier and he looks surprised at my smile.

"My brother is waiting in the dining room, I want us to have a meeting, is it possible tomorrow?" he asked me and I nod in the modest way that I know.

"Sure, and I am expecting lady Critesa tomorrow, looking forward to her hard work at teaching me." Prince Kier looks surprised for the second time, but I can see he is happy with the news he heard from me.

"That's good news, Princess Delaney, hoping to see your progress." I bowed at Prince Kier when he left and the door of the dining room opened.

The Emperor is sitting there, sipping the wine and waiting for me. He looks tired, and his expression is still the same as the day he saw my eyes.

Every time that I am with him, I am afraid, because once the curse breaks, he will behead me instantly. And I know that I am not safe when I am with him.

The servants place the food and leave us alone, no one except me and Emperor Blake. He eats normally, and I can see that he looks tired.

I am watching every move of the emperor, and he looks sloppy at every move. Even if I cannot eat properly, what if they will summon a mage to check him up, I can see, it's alarming.

"Your majesty, can you act naturally?" I asked and he stopped eating.

"I am okay." He said mindlessly, I massage my forehead and took a deep breath.

"Who am I?"

"Princess Delaney, my master." I got horrified when he said it, I was suddenly nervous and look around the dining room.

"You can't say that to other people, I am just Princess Delaney, your fiance," I whispered he nod, continue to eat and I lean back on the fancy chair.

"Just act normally, like what the emperor does every day." He stood up quickly when I said it, throw the food that he is eating and ring the bell.

I went pale when a servant came quickly. "This food is not according to my taste, where is the chef!" He draw his sword and pointed the tip to the servant who delivered the food.

The chef is being called and thrown in front of Emperor Blake.

"You know my food preferences, and you give me this?" He picks up the knife and stabs the hand of the chef.

I can't even move an inch while watching how Emperor Blake become violent. My muscles can't even move an inch while witnessing this scene.

"Your majesty—"

"I am just tired from my journey, and you prepare this, do you know that the princess didn't even taste the food because it's awful?" He stabs the other hand of the chef, and his scream is all over the dining room.

There's a lot of blood, I feel that I am about to vomit, too much blood makes me feel sick.

The chef is about to talk, and emperor Blake didn't hesitate to cut the head of the chef and the knight beside him gets the sword that is full of blood.

I went pale when the emperor is in front of me now, offering his hand and showing the gesture to walk with him.

My hands are trembling while accepting his hand. "I lost my appetite, cook something different, and deliver it to my room, same as princess Delaney." I slowly placed my hand on his arms, and walk beside him as if nothing happened in the dining area.

He is a tyrant, kills anyone he wants, and how about me, he can kill me once the curse is gone.

I don't want to die tragically. "Princess Delaney, you should take a rest." I looked at the door, it was my room and I step back.

He kneel in front of me and kissed the back of my hand, I withdraw it instantly after he kissed my hand.

I bowed and didn't say a word to him, my mind is still occupied by the idea of me,y painful death.

Arguing with the idea of escaping this empire or staying here, and waiting for the day that the emperor will kill me.

"Good night." I covered my mouth and twitched when he kissed my head, but when my eyes met him, he is glaring at me, and I can see the bloodlust in his eyes.

Is there a possibility that he is aware that he is cursed but cannot act on what he wants, because he can't?