"So Husband is bringing us a maid as his third wife," The white-haired beauty mumbled with a smile as her voice was filled with amusement.
"Don't tease me, Lia...I'm never going to like him. Marrying him is a far-fetched thing." Helia sounded like a bullied girl, as she didn't like that annoying fellow.
Although she liked the red dress he picked for her but marrying him was not okay for her. The foundation of their bonding was a sour past so there was no hope for her to ever think of him as her man.
The white-haired beauty scrunched her eyebrows, hearing her sister's statement, and said, "It seems like there is something that happened between you and him. I am not aware of what is it but I understand you both very well and two of you are my irreplaceable treasure.
My heart says you would end up falling for Husband. Rio is just too kind that he will be able to conquer your iron fortress-like heart."
'How do I convince her that love isn't possible between us?'
Helia didn't talk back as she knew she couldn't tell her the full truth. She kept the red dress in her cupboard before leaving the room with her sweet sister.
In the evening, Helia was standing in Nyla's bedroom as Rio and his new beautiful wife were sitting on the couch, waiting for her to start the show.
Lia wasn't present as she had gone to meet the Emperor and discuss about Nyla's presence at the castle. He was informed about the new black-haired beauty by others as she was accompanying both sisters and Rio to the Jaded Bird cloth shop.
"As you know from today I'm going to guide you on the basic etiquette of a noble family that you need to use when you attend the special banquet and gathering with us.
First, Do not speak to the Emperor or Empress unless spoken to first. Use formal titles and forms of address, such as "Your Royal Highness" and "His Majesty.
Second, Bowing or curtsy is required when you meet someone from great clans, sects, or royal families and if they are higher position than you.
Third, You need to keep in mind to address them correctly using their proper titles. Do not use anyone's first name unless you are a close friend of theirs. You can not touch or shake hands with an elder unless they initiate it.
.
.
.
57th, When they are talking do not turn your back or walk away.
58th, Near the royal vehicles or any carriages, do not touch or lean on them." She kept going for a long time as the duo listened carefully with dreary eyes.
The magenta-haired beauty wanted to speak a few times but she didn't get a chance as Helia was continuously kept going from one point to another.
"These are some important things you need to remember and also you have to fix your body language and gestures while you walk, talk or listen.
Additionally, you need to learn how to eat properly like a noble lady...if you eat in his monkey style then at least pretend we don't know each other at the banquet as this will save me from embarrassing myself." Helia gave the last explanation, her voice was filled with amusement as she made fun of Rio.
"That's not monkey style. It's how you eat when you're hungry." Rio retaliated as Helia was taking revenge for their previous childish fight.
"But I love his monkey style..." Nyla said, her voice sounding as if the young maiden was madly in love with him.
Rio glared at the magenta-haired beauty as she was also agreeing with the lioness.
The magenta-haired beauty moved her hand to her lips before directing it to her husband, saying, "Muah!"
Helia watched their cute interaction as she found Nyla adorable and liked how she was teasing Rio.
The magenta-haired beauty turned to the lioness and asked in puzzlement, "By the way, sister Helia, it's so much trouble to follow all these rules. How am I supposed to remember them all? It feels like someone tied me with rope..."
Her voice sounded as if she was going through a painful training where she didn't want to continue any further. The workload of this royal etiquette was very high and hard to follow.
"I can understand you, Nyla, as I feel the same but after you do this over and over again you will get used to it.
Lia knows how to act like a noble lady filled with elegance and grace even at normal places but I don't care about such things unless I'm at special gatherings" The blonde-haired beauty said, she was also bothered by the etiquette they had to follow.
"How long is this class going to take?" Nyla asked with a puzzled voice.
"You two need practice under my supervision for at least a month before we can take you out with us." The lioness responded.
As they were talking, Nyla finds out about the missions Helia and Rio go on around the corrupted land to take over shelters.
"Sister Helia, since Rio helps with conquering shelters I also wanna join in your adventures. It seems fun to me than staying at human shelters. will you bring me with you, please?" Nyla asked in a requesting tone.
"It's risky..." Rio showed his disapproval instantly as he was worried about his second wife who was too careless.
"It's okay you can join me...I will not let you get harmed." Helia agreed as she saw Nyla's lively face had become downcast when her husband showed disagreement.
"She is also a human like me but you favor her a lot," Rio said, his eyes having a mysterious glint.
"Because she isn't annoying like you..." Helia berated him without caring about his feelings.
'I'm glad you like her even if you're sour towards me.'
Rio wasn't upset that Nyla was getting better treatment than him but he was delighted with her happiness.
"let's continue our etiquette lessons for now. I will bring you on a joint adventure to corrupted lands when you fully recover." Helia told her as she decided to continue their classes.
***
Lia was standing in the emperor Dylan's study chamber who was sitting behind the desk with a pile of documents.
"What do you mean you let her marry Rio?" Dylan was dumbfounded hearing his daughter's statement.
"She sacrificed herself to save him so it wasn't right to slave her using blood contract. I also don't want Rio to develop a demon in his heart because of mistreating her as it could burden him to advance to a higher stage in the future.
So the best decision was to let them marry and this way I will get her loyalty without hurting her." Lia explained in a composed manner as she had come to tell her father about the new development in her life and to ask a demand from him.
"This isn't right Lia...why did you do that..." Emperor couldn't understand her as he discovered her daughter let Rio bring another woman as his wife. The worst part was that it was a human girl.
"It's not like Husband won't be marrying another woman beside me. In the future, Helia would also become his wife. And I know Nyla isn't a bad girl." Lia said in a calm voice that was assuring her father to believe in her.
"Since you have already taken the decision and made that human girl his wife what can I say? Tell me, what do you want from me" Emperor asked, he knew his daughter had other requests she wanted him to fulfill.
"Adopt Nyla as your child so she can get an identity in the Shamor Empire," Lia said in a calm voice.
Her words caused a rumbling sound in her father's ears as he stood up from his seat and looked at his daughter in astonishment.
"This can not happen. I won't agree to this..." Dylan responded, his voice was filled with disagreement.
"Rio was also human and become your son-in-law as he is taking down shelters for you. Nyla is willing to stand by our side against our enemies so what else do you worry about?" Lia asked in a stiff voice, she wasn't going to back down.
"Ah...Lia...she is a human...why don't you understand" Emperor tried to convince her as he sounded helpless.
"I don't wanna hear any disapproval regarding this. you were already so unfair towards Helia and me in the past...you only cared about the empire and other people. why can't you once think about your children." Lia asked, her voice was filled with coldness.
Emperor sat down on his chair as he was reminded how he was a bad father. This caused an old wound to open up in his heart.
"Okay, I'll not think about Empire for this time and adopt her." His voice was flickering with sorrow as If remembering the past.
"I'll wait for the news," Lia spoke as she felt her father wasn't acting normal but she knew he wouldn't tell her about it.
The white-haired beauty turned around and left the emperor's study chamber.
A tear streaked down the emperor's face as he was crying like a baby.
Who said man don't cry? They also break down when they are alone. They just pretend they are strong but deep down they also shed tears from time to time.
"Heaven is punishing me for abandoning you my daughter because you didn't born with red eyes like an asura. I'm sorry my child. Father was wrong to let you and your mother leave that day. I only cared about Empire and its people." He mumbled in a sorrowful voice.
The emperor of the Asura race was crying for his other daughter whom he had abandoned when she was born.
***
Please vote with power stones and Golden tickets to support this book. The more, the better.
I'll add the important character images on:
Like it? Add to the library!
Edited By: TheWhiteSnow
