I Am The Tyrant’s Wife

Nobles had entered the hall where the Banquet was hosted. They all murmured to each other, asking whether they knew what the occasion was about.

Earlier that morning, they had received an invitation from the palace, telling them that it was imperative that they attend tonight's Banquet.

"Is he going to humiliate us once again?" One noble asked, sparking the crowd's dread and anxiety towards the occasion.

"Perhaps he'll strip off our titles, too." They worriedly said.

The murmurs started to get louder, the idea that their titles may disappear like the others shook them to their cores. The day Krillien announced their titles and noble families were to be kicked out of their homes and all their possessions was similar to this day.

With Krillien who had just been coronated, His Majesty hosted a banquet. They thought it was to boast about his new title as the Emperor or tell the tale of how he murdered his family to get the crown, instead, one by one he said the names of noble families and promptly announced that he would be revoking all their titles. Indeed, he did not spare one second as the next day, all of them were moved out of their mansions. And what of the nobles' riches? No one knew what came of it.

The Ryvetskys attended that banquet as well, hoping to cling to the Emperor as they did with his father. Instead, they were met with the shock of their lives.

They hoped the Emperor wasn't about to announce something like that again.

In the Empress's chambers, Meredith took one last look at herself in the mirror. It had been a long time since she dressed up like this. Or even wear makeup. For some reason, she did not miss this life despite cursing the Emperor when she started working household chores, as her hands calloused from the soap, cleaning dishes all day, scars from slicing her palm and fingers, trying to figure out how to work a knife. Perhaps she got used to that life, after all.

"Your Highness," Fiona said, taking Meredith out of her trance. "The Banquet is starting." Fiona stood near the doors, waiting for Meredith.

"Oh, yes." She stepped out of her chambers, following Fiona as she led the way. Meredith hadn't had a chance to roam around the palace and get used to its intricate floor plan. Right now, the palace seemed like a labyrinth. She hoped to know it by heart someday if time would allow her. Despite their upcoming marriage and a title as his fiancée, it didn't lower the chances of her head being sliced by the blade Krillien carries with him.

Was this really the right choice she made?

Her heels clicked, abruptly stopping when Fiona did. She looked at her, her eyebrows raised wondering why they had stopped in the middle of the halls.

"Your Majesty," Fiona bowed to Krillien, his dark and menacing aura enveloping him. Krillien was tall, overlooking the two women in front of him, his dark hair a contrast to his bright red eyes.

Instantly, Meredith bowed as well. "Your Majesty." She greeted.

Krillien eyed them both, particularly at Meredith. Eyeing her up and down before he began walking, the two women following behind him; Fiona now following behind Meredith as there was no need for her to guide the way.

"Your gown suits you." He said, his eyes straight ahead. Krillien wore the same dark suit, matching hers, jewels and a dark red sash hung on his body.

Meredith was stunned but she composed herself. "Oh, yes. Thank you for choosing the gown, Your Majesty. It is beautiful."

Krillien did not reply. They stayed silent the whole time as they walked to the entrance of the hall where the banquet was being held. Meredith couldn't help but feel suffocated and awkward in this atmosphere.

She glanced at Fiona, wondering if she felt the same way. She frowned seeing Fiona's head down as she walked. The three of them continued to walk in the silence apart from their heels hitting the carpeted floors.

The trumpets sounded making everyone look towards the balcony overlooking the hall. Krillien entered first, his ruby eyes glinting from the light. Everyone stayed silent, tension filling the air. Everyone seemed to have held their breaths, watching every step the Emperor took.

Some were gulping the lumps in their throats, or wiping the sweat off their faces, trying to act without fear. Oh, how they wished this wasn't some kind of banquet to display his power once again.

"His Majesty, Emperor Krillien Lorenz von Hachler." The man announced, his voice echoing throughout the hall. A few slow claps began and quickly more people started clapping, forgetting to properly greet the Emperor.

"Good evening," Krillien began. "I will be announcing something."

The nobles nervously glanced at each other. Fists were clenching. This was the same as two years ago, line by line. They were shivering and shaking from the nervousness they were feeling.

"I will be getting married."

A wave of relief flashed through the nobles, happy that it wasn't their titles being massacred this time. But then, they began to wonder, to whom will this savage Emperor be married to? Who was the lady that would be subjected to a lifetime of cruelty? Their relief quickly turned to concern, murmuring with each other once again to whom the Emperor might get married to. Perhaps it was one of the Grand Duke's daughters?

Then, Meredith took her steps to stand beside Krillien. The nobles gasped, realizing who the familiar face was.

It was Lady Meredith Ryvetsky.

Some nobles looked around, looking for her father and mother, or any sign of their other children, yet they weren't there. Where could they have been?

How could this have happened?

Was this some sort of plan? If Lady Meredith marries the Emperor, they'd have their title back? They all wondered, keeping their thoughts to themselves in case Krillien would go berserk once again. To insult a man's wife-to-be would be a grave mistake, a mistake that would reward in death. And seeing Krillien's personality, it may seem so.

The murmurs began to get louder, their theories getting thrown around the crowd, distaste about their upcoming marriage in a subtle manner, a mismatched couple, and other disapproving lines. They tried to keep their voices low in order for the guards and any palace worker to not hear them.

Krillien was starting to get irritated by their noise. "Our wedding will be in three days' time. That is all. Enjoy the banquet." He turned around to exit.

Everyone's eyes widened including Meredith's.

Oh, how quickly did His Majesty work.