I Am The Tyrant’s Wife

"Aurelius!" Fiona shouted across the hall and ran up to him, her arms falling to his. He caught her, noticing the panic in her eyes as it quivered and the sweat trickling down her face. "You must help!"

"Help with that? What happened?" He asked, his eyebrows furrowing wondering what made her panic like this. Perhaps something happened to Her Highness?

"Her Highness wishes to postpone the wedding," Fiona said remembering the words Meredith uttered. "She says she demands it, can you tell His Majesty yourself? I have to go find a doctor." She let go of his grip. Aurelius quickly grabbed her arm. 

"Hold on, Fiona. I cannot waltz into his study and say Her Highness demands to postpone the wedding without an explanation. What happened?" He stared into her eyes, his tone firm. 

Fiona gulped. "Her Highness was slapped and was poured hot tea."

Aurelius's eyes widened. "What? How could this have happened?"

"It was by one of her ladies-in-waiting." 

Aurelius pinched the space between his eyebrows and sighed. "Lead the way, I will take care of this myself."

"But you--"

"It doesn't matter, where are they? Let us go before His Majesty handles this himself." 

--------

"Then allow me to introduce myself, my name is Aurelius." He rose, "His Majesty's right hand man." His eyes glared at Lady Carmille yet made sure to smile seeing Meredith's confused face.

Lady Carmille stiffened. Meredith looked at the spectacled man named Aurelius. She had never seen him before. But was it true that he was indeed Krillien's right hand man? Meredith noticed Fiona's timid figure as she stood behind him.

Perhaps he was. Then it would be best to demand it now.

"The wedding is postponed. Tell His Majesty," Meredith said. The ladies moved a bit to give her space as she spoke. The other two sat on the ground, soaking up the tea from her dress. Meredith hissed as Lady Sabine pressed onto her dress. 

"Are you hurt?" She asked worriedly and slowly lifted the skirt of her dress. Her eyes widened seeing the red marks on her thighs. Everyone's eyes widened. Lady Carmille had poured very hot tea on her dress. "Your Highness--"

"His Majesty shall be hearing of this." He glanced at Lady Carmille. "I will have the doctor be sent to your chambers, You Highness. Ladies, do assist Her Highness." He walked up to Lady Carmille who slowly backed away. Quickly, he grabbed her arm and turned her around, using his handkerchief to tie her wrists. 

"Hey!" She shouted as she struggled to let go of her grip. "That hurts!" 

"Oh, this will hurt far less than the punishment His Majesty will have for you." Lady Carmille shivered as if his cold tone coursed through her body. Punishment.

"Are you serious?" She hissed. "Meredith was the one who—"

"Her Highness," he corrected. "Lest you forget that she is to be married to His Majesty and yet you disrespect her like that? As if she is still the daughter of a count? As if you are still the daughter of a Duke? May I remind you that His Majesty took away your titles, too."

Lady Carmille gritted her teeth.

The other ladies escorted Meredith back to her chambers. With one last narrowed eyes and furrowed eyebrows, Lady Carmille and Meredith had never seen each other again.

Back at the Empress's chambers, they laid her down as the doctor came by, putting ointment on her face and her thighs where the tea had burned through her dress.

"It may take a few days for the injuries to heal..."

Meredith sighed. If only she hadn't pushed it too far. If only Lady Carmille knew her place. She still thinks her status was still as high as the pedestal she thinks she stands on. 

"I will come by once in a while to check up on Your Highness."

"Mn, thank you. Meredith uttered, placing a hand on the blanket that barely covered her due to the burns on her thighs. The doctor left her chambers, leaving the bottle of ointment on her table. 

"Y-Your Majesty," the doctor's voice was heard. Everyone inside Meredith's chambers perked up, straightening their posture and held their breaths. 

The Emperor's here?!

The door swung open, revealing Krillien and Theodore who was behind him. 

"Out," Krillien said as he stepped towards Meredith's bed. The ladies-in-waiting scurried away and left the chambers, Theodore closing the door as the ladies left. 

"Your Majesty..." Meredith forced a smile. "What are you doing here?" 

He sat down on the chair next to her bed, where the doctor had sat earlier. "I was told of what happened." He sighed and held out his hand to her face, reaching out. "May I see?" 

Meredith blinked. 

"Where that nuisance slapped you." He said, his tone becoming impatient. Meredith glanced at Theodore who looked as if he was feeling as awkward as Meredith is. Reluctantly, she turned her left cheek to him. Krillien held her chin as he looked at the red scratches on her face. 

He continued to examine her face, his eyebrows furrowing. Meredith couldn't help but remember the last time he held her like this. It seems to be something he'll do to her no matter what happens. 

"Tell me what happened," he let go of her and crossed his arms over his chest. "Slowly and properly this time." He said, sounding annoyed. He remembered the rambling Fiona spouted when she was questioned of what happened. Krillien could only catch that his soon-to-be wife was slapped and poured tea by her lady-in-waiting. 

Meredith breathed and began telling him of what happened earlier. She noticed the blank expression on his face as he listened. 

"Theodore asked you if your ladies were to your liking. Why did you allow such a thing to happen?" His eyes slit. 

Meredith shrugged and smiled. Wouldn't it be funny to say to a tyrant that she wanted revenge over petty reasons? "You heard how she acted even with my title. Imagine how beastly she was when I was still the daughter of a count." 

"Then you should have informed me." He said firmly. "It is quite easy to deal with trash like that."

"Like how you dealt with our families?" She snapped. Krillien's eyes widened, taken aback by her. He knew how fierce Meredith could be, but he didn't think she would be able to talk to him like this after lowering her head so often with him. 

"Apologies," she quickly said, dawning on her how bad it was to be so rude with Krillien of all people. 

"I will deal with her myself."

He turned his head towards Theodore and asked him to come closer, muttering something in his ear. Meredith only caught a few of his words. 

"...cut her hands..."

Meredith gulped.