Okay, let's treat this like a surprise audit visit," Evie said, using a handkerchief to wipe her sweaty palms as she exited the doors of her bedchambers. She could see the frenzy of everyone running around: maids, guards, the butler, and chefs with white caps. And all of a sudden, it dawned on her how real what was happening to her was, as everything had been hazy the previous days; the gravity of her situation hit her.
She sat at the edge of her seat, looking at the door, and then a loud sound boomed outside. "The Sun of the Empire, His Royal Highness the Emperor, is here!" a loud voice announced, echoing through the hall of Moon Pavilion, and then everything went quiet. Evie slid off the seat and kneeled, looking down, just like everyone present. Then she heard poised footsteps walking across the hall and climbing the steps. Then she saw red shoes with very lifelike embroidery walk towards her and come to a stand right before her.
"Rise, everyone," a voice commanded, and Evie's ears started to ring. "Make it fifty, we don't have all day," was all she could hear, her eyes getting blurry for a second, but she shook the thought away and stood up. "Greetings, Your Royal Highness. Welcome to Moonlight Pavilion. Thank you for visiting this humble one," Evie said with a bow.
"Raise your head and look at me," he commanded. As Evie slowly lifted her eyes from the ground, standing from his legs, he was well-built, muscular for a man who was indoors reading scrolls every day. And then the moment her eyes caught his face, she drew in a sharp breath as the air in her lungs constricted. He had grey eyes that drew her in, his silver hair shimmering from the candles, his nose placed nicely at the centre of his face. He looked like he walked out of a magazine ad, but what shocked her the most was not how handsome he looked, but rather who he looked like.
James Hayden, the young CEO of Hayden Corporation and her arch-nemesis, the man who stole all her employees in her previous life and almost bankrupted her former company with a massive class-action lawsuit filed against them for workplace harassment and a toxic work environment. And as the Human Resources Officer, she had to bear the brunt of the accusations. Every time she took the stand, she would find him in the first seat of the audience section, smirking at her with the same grey eyes. But instead of finding the same taunting look in his eyes as per usual, the grey eyes that were looking at her right now had a look of unadulterated hatred and fury instead.
"If you have had enough to look, let's have a seat," he said, and Evie could hear the sneer in his voice. Well, you are the ever-unpleasant asshole, she thought, but outwardly gave him a sweet smile, saying, "Yes, Your Royal Highness." He scoffed, moving past her and taking a seat at his throne, and Evie sat in her seat.
The hall fell into an awkward silence. Evie shifted in her seat as she could feel his eyes on her back, drilling a non-existent hole in her back. Should I start a conversation? Evie asked herself mentally. No, she said, shaking her head. "Do you like your pavilion?" she heard. Oh, here starts the interview, she said, clearing her throat. "Yes, Your Highness. Thank you for the honour and your recognition. I don't deserve such an honour." "You are right, you don't," his voice cut her off, and she rolled her eyes mentally. Okay, let's play the game you want, she thought, standing from her seat abruptly, kneeling down, and prostrating. "I know I don't deserve the honour of being part of the royal family, Your Highness," she said, lifting her head and returning it to the ground. "I am nothing but a maid. Please send me to the church; let me become a nun."
And everything became quiet, and Evie stayed in her position. And then suddenly, she heard a laugh which gave her goosebumps. "The only way to leave the palace is by coffin, Lady Elara," he said, as Evie almost collapsed. "And if you want to leave, we can make that happen," he said, and she heard him shift, and then his footsteps. "Let me know when you want to. Now stand up, and let's go eat," he said, leaving her prostrating there.
She stood up, her skin riddled with goosebumps, and followed him. "Why do they always threaten people's lives over something small?" she wondered, following him. "It's no wonder I hated him; he is such a nuisance in every lifetime," she said in her mind as she sat at the table, further away from where he sat. The chefs poured in and started serving, and Evie's eyes grew wider and wider as the table was set with a variety of food, and she looked eagerly at the emperor so that he could start eating. But he took his time, delaying, and when he finally took a bite, Evie averted her eyes and started eating, trying everything. She sighed with satisfaction after each bite.
Clank. She heard a sound from the emperor, and she looked up. "You look happier than you did all evening," Reign said. As Evie took the napkin to wipe the corners of her mouth, she said, "I am happy because of your presence, Your Royal Highness." "Is that so?" Reign replied his lip hooking up in a smirk, and Evie shook her head. "Yes." She said, 'Oh, there is the damn smirk.' This is not good, she thought, and what he said next made her feel helpless "Okay, then. We are done eating. Let's go," he said, and Evie's face fell. He was punishing her. She didn't know why, but he would rather whip her than deny her the table full of food. She sighed deeply and stood up.
"Lead the way," he said, and Evie looked at him, confused. "To where, Your Highness?" she asked. "To your bedchambers," he replied, and boom—Evie's mind exploded as she stood there, transfixed. "My bedchamber...?" she asked, stuttering.