Twisted Empire - Episode 51&52

  

TWISTED EMPIRE

Twisted Empire - Episode 51&52

(Her Blade, His Neck )

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No part of this publication may be reproduced, copied, or reposted in any form, or by any means without a written permission from the author.

Copyright © 2025 

by Naomi Cindy B.

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Silence.

Dead silence filled the church, and Teal's bargain dangled in the air as she kept the knife to her throat. Her blood stained the sharp blade.

The priest took another step away, and in the process, he stepped on the shards of tray glasses on the ground.

General Pedro's right hand went in his pocket, and his confusion got replaced with satisfaction.

"Not everyone will bend to you and your son, Yulia." He spoke.

"Oh darling, we're not mad. We just know what we want, and we go for it even if it hurts people." Yulia replied straight beside him.

"That's the actual definition of madness! Listen to yourself, Yulia!" General Pedro snarled.

"Are you flirting with me?" Yulia muttered, and Pedro felt like exploding immediately.

The Uncles kept up their silence, awaiting the next scene of this madness film, and it came shortly.

Four suddenly chuckled, the sound haunting and ghostly. The chuckle graduated into a low grin, so disturbingly grim.

The hand he pointed forward for the knife went down, and Teal swallowed as her blood began lining down her neck in multiple rivulets.

"You think I care about your life enough to use it as a bargain?" His words came, greased with enough sadism to make her gulp again as his chuckle disappeared, leaving nothing but darkness on his face.

"You're not very smart, are you?" He thinned his eyes, sighing out. "Kill yourself."

Teal's hand paused on the knife.

She didn't lower it, but she reduced the tightness on her skin. Her breaths warmed up, and that sweat from her forehead fell on her cleavage.

"Slit your neck, and I'll watch your blood flood this church as a red sacrifice, what do you think?" He continued his words of insanity, and Teal went rigid.

"Your son is deranged." General Pedro muttered in shock as he witnessed the profanity.

"Our son." Lady Yulia corrected.

Suddenly, Four left the alter and began walking to the uncles with mechanically fast, heavy steps.

"Stop!!" Teal yelled from the alter, taking the knife away from her neck.

He didn't stop. 

She even doubts if he actually heard her cos his steps turned faster.

"Stop! Eros!!" She yelled, louder.

He didn't. He continued. Faster.

But it's obvious his target is Uncle Paul—the one who shot at him at the taverna.

Paul stood there, awaiting his fate, but a step before Four could get to him, Teal threw her knife at his back.

Four's sharp instincts alerted him, and he moved out of the way before the knife could stab his back. 

The knife rammed into Uncle Paul's chest instead, and Teal gasped from where she stood, eyes nearly falling off.

"Uncle P!!"

"Four! It's hightime you put an end to this, or I'll order a prison arrest! Stop it!!" General Pedro yelled.

"I didn't throw the knife," Four faced the man. "She did."

"And I'm somehow at fault too? Do I have to shoot him in the skull so the fault can balance completely on me?" 

He grabbed Uncle Paul by the hair, bringing his head down to the row table and smashing it heartlessly to the oak wook.

Blood broke, showering Uncle Paul's face, down to his chest which is still stuck with the knife.

"What do you think you're doing!!" Uncle Dave quickly stepped in, holding Paul who's about to pass out.

Teal finally arrived, covering the two uncles from Four.

"I won't marry you, unless you kill me and marry my dead body." She said, and his chuckle returned with a smirk to crown it.

"Sounds great, at least you'd be pliant and mute if you're dead. I told you you look better when mute."

"W-hat!" Teal's throat clogged as his crazed words came out so easily.

She knows he's crazy, but it's the first time she's witnessing this level from him, and she'd have been scared if there aren't people inside this church with her.

She noticed the veins on his neck are popping again, and they're all faintly black.

"It's time to stop, Giant spider." Yulia said.

"You joined the opposition today?" Four faced her.

"I had to, you're on the brim already, and if you lose it totally, it's not a good sign." 

She leaned into his ear to whisper. "Your neck, the black veins." 

Four sighed softly, and without giving anyone another glance, he began walking out of the church.

Yulia looked at Teal, smiling slightly.

"Take care of your uncles, I'll send you a car to take you back to the base whenever you're ready."

"No. I'll come by myself." Teal said.

"Then you have to return tomorrow morning, unfailingly." Lady Yulia enforced before following her son.

"I'm so sorry, Private Teal." General Pedro spoke.

"Your son should have remained in his room, sir. His coming out was a mistake." Teal replied angrily.

Using her knife, she tore away the crawling part of the wedding dress to free her legs, then she flung the heels away from her feet.

She hung Uncle Paul's arm on her neck, and Uncle Dave supported her from the other side.

They jointly took him out of the church, leaving General Pedro in the church with just the priest who's still standing on the alter.

The church currently looks like a preluding war rendezvous with faint splashes of blood on the alter pewline. Shredded wedding dress and broken tray shards with ring boxes here and there.

Pedro looked at the priest, took a slight bow to the alter before leaving the church too.

--

[Local Healthcare]

Teal insisted on treating Uncle Paul by herself, so the doctors gave her a kit when they arrived at the ward, and she got to work immediately.

Luckily, she always has her knife antidote everywhere she goes—a small bottle of gunpowder, crushed with black healing candy.

She applied it on the wound and added medical ointments too before starting to wrap it.

"Why didn't you dodge it?" She asked, "You could have dodged my knife." 

"I had to take the knife so he'd think i feel guilty about the assassination attempt." Uncle Paul replied.

"So you don't?" Teal pulled back a little to view his face.

"The only guilt I feel right now is sending you to that base." He said.

"You were only following my late parents orders." She replied, returning to the wrapping.

"Are you really gonna go back to the base tomorrow?" Uncle Dave asked behind her.

She finished wrapping the bandage before looking at him.

"Of course, if I'm gonna investigate Four, then I have to. Also, I wanna be a part of people who'd end Usman." 

"That's true—the investigation part. But be careful, he looks insane." Uncle Paul asserted.

"I'm not scared, you know I rarely feel that." Teal replied, and someone entered the ward.

A short man in suit with well-styled hair. He took a respectful bow.

"From the president." He said.

"Oh..." Uncle Paul sounded as the man pointed an invite forward.

"The president invites Miss Teal to the mansion tonight, for dinner."

"Another dinner?" Teal scoffed, taking the invite.

"Please, honour the invitation." The man took another bow and left.

"How did he even know we're in this healthcare?" Uncle Dave said.

"He's the President, of course he has eyes everywhere." Uncle Paul replied, laying back on the bed with bandaged head and chest.

"Are you gonna go?" Uncle Dave asked, and Teal opened the invite.

"You said he knows something, so I gotta go."

"Meaning you'll return to Athens today, I'll book you a flight." Uncle Dave took his phone.

"I better get a dress." She said.

--

[Therapeia Mental Institute]

Empress is in her office, just getting back after doing her ward rounds.

She took off her coat, hung it and was about to sit down when Axel came in, knocking excluded.

"You're a persistent one." Empress said, taking her seat as he walked in fully with a smile larger than yesterday's.

"You're cool, i bet that's why father was drawn to you. Honestly, I wish you gave birth to me instead of Yulia. Yulia is a pain." He sat in front of her.

"Did Yulia send you here?" Empress reclined, giving him a keen look.

"Yulia and I aren't friends. She's my mother, but it ends there, you know what I'm saying? She's only a mother and a friend to Four." He explained.

"And you're here to complain to me?" 

"Nah, I'm here to make a friend. Geez, don't be a bore." Axel frowned.

"And what can you do for me In return?" Empress asked.

"F+ck you and impregnate you, make you birth a baby sis for Sierra? You're not too old to enter the OB-GYN ward, are you?" He reclined too.

"You're just as vain as your mother." Empress said with no expression.

"And I'm a good f+ck too, just like her." He grinned.

"Kill your mother, then I can consider being your friend." Empress said suddenly, and he leaned his elbows on the desk, frowning again.

"I'm sorry, what?"

"If you kill Yulia, I'll be a mother and a friend to you, and maybe you can bed me." Empress replied as blankly as the first time.

"You're a bî+ch." Axel fingered his hair.

"Chief doctor?" Someone called from the door.

Empress went there to open up.

It's one of the assistants, and she's holding a white invite card.

'Hera's Returning Soiree' was written in gold in front of the card.

"Hera? The Marquis daughter?" Empress said as she took the card.

"Yes, I managed to get you the invite." The assistant replied, and Empress went back inside, dropping the card on the table in front of Axel.

"Give it to Sierra, she's free to go. I have no plans to attend public gatherings anytime soon." She said.

Axel picked the card, and an interested shine covered his eyes as he read it.

"Hera? You mean Four's childhood girlfriend? She promised she'd come back to Greece only if Four came out of his room, and now she's returning to the country? Well, things just got a lot more interesting." He laughed.

Empress's eyes rolled, obviously not comfortable with this news.

--

[Military Base, Male Barracks]

"MAELSTROM SQUAD MEMBERS! ASSEMBLE AT THE TRAINING GROUND FOR CONTINUAL TRAININGS TOMORROW MORNING AS EARLY AS 6, UNDER MASTER SERGEANT'S SUPERVISION!"

As the announcement blared throughout the barracks, Brent went down on his knees in the middle of his room, arms curled.

"No!! No! Not Snowman! Can't Sergeant Kash handle all the trainings? Last time with Snowman, he set the building on fire when we were inside just for escapism trainings!!" He yelled, falling to the bare ground and rolling around, not minding the stares from other guys.

Rook laughed from his bunk, dropping the uncapped bottle of water with him.

"You didn't even enter the building back then you racoon." He said.

"Of course I didn't, but you and Teal entered and I was having hypertension when I was waiting outside!!" Brent yelled again.

Rook's laughter continued. "Please just shut up"

Theo entered the room, and Rook immediately got down from his bunk.

"I'll be back shortly." He said.

"But the dinner bell will soon come." Brent replied from the ground.

"I'll be back before it comes." Theo assured, leaving the room.

He left the barracks completely, going to the training ground which is emptily silent.

He faced the range and unlocked one of the training rifles. He unlocked clay pigeons too, and immediately they flew out, he shot, blasting away all five moulds.

He hasn't lowered his arm when calm arms wrapped on him from behind, and he paused.

His eyes shifted slightly cos he recognized that feel.

He loaded his rifle again, ignoring the arms. He released clay pigeons and shot down another five...

"I'm sorry." The gentle voice came as the arms around him tightened so fuckin much.

"I'm very sorry, Rook."

Rook dropped the rifle, unbuckled the arms from his chest before facing him.

Theo's eyes are teary, but the tears aren't falling. They just gathered below his eyeballs.

"I'm not used to getting attention, and it's  is maiming me. I can't control my push-off appetite after that trauma." He said hopelessly.

"What trauma?" Rook asked, squeezing his brows.

"Can we not talk about it right now? Please." Theo shook his head.

"No we should. You can't keep pushing me away and leave me in the dark about what actually causes it every darn time." Rook's voice rose.

Theo threw his arms on him, hugging him tight as his tears finally fell, rolling down his cheeks.

"Please don't make me talk about it, yet. And next time if I try the pushing away stuff, you can just give me a knock in the head to remind me I'm an idiot." He said, and Rook couldn't help his bright smile after those words.

"A knock on the head? No, I'd love to knock your arse instead." He said, hugging him too tight then darting his lips to his neck to kiss it.

"I care about you, so try not to do the pushing." He said.

"I won't" Theo nodded, smiling as his tears dampened Rook's shirt.

Rook kissed his neck, again.

--

[Field]

"Are we really gonna do this?" April said, arms crossed as she stood in front of Skye who also looks perturbed.

"I can't risk you getting ratted out to Lady Yulia. That woman is evil and I don't wanna imagine what she's gonna do to you." Skye replied.

"So we're gonna ruin the upcoming just like that? For self gain? That's selfish." April shook her head.

They haven't been able to sleep since Allegra and Axel threatened them with the video. Their days and nights has turned acidic.

"April." Skye held her face, and she shook her head.

"Snowman has always treated me well, treated us well. You'd have died in the pavilion if he didn't save you!" She broke free.

"But our lives are on the line here!" Skye snapped.

"Lady Yulia wouldn't kill me for abortion, she wouldn't kill you for abetting it too. Worse she can do is take us to the level 2 prison or level 3." April said, and Skye became wide-eyed.

"Are you serious? Level 2 prison is hell! We were both guards over there before becoming Specialists. Level 3 prison is death!" He said, holding her arms.

April sat on the bare ground, and Skye sat with her.

"Think about it, April." He persuaded.

From a distant hallway, Paine watched the two blankly, enjoying their dilemma.

"Cassie's next, I need to gather more evidence for that though." He nodded, going down the hall.

On that same hall, Morgan and Stormy walked past each other, ignoring each other's existence completely.

Stormy looks bitter, and Morgan looks mad, but Morgan stopped at a point and looked back.

Stormy was already gone, so she hissed.

"Is she expecting me to beg first or what?"

She brought a two-way pager out of her pocket, checking for any voice message from Quentin, but there's none.

"Why isn't he texting?" She muttered, pressing the record button.

"Hey babe! How're you doing? Text back as soon as you listen to this." She said and pressed 'send' as she left the hall.

--

[Sergeant Kash's Suite]

Shannon is in.

She's eating at the dinning, and Cassie sat in front of her, watching her with a large beam of smile.

"You look different." Shannon commented.

"Of course." Cassie smiled wider.

"Are you indulging in something I dunno about?" Shannon dropped her fork curiously.

"Dad is gonna wake up soon, the doctors confirmed it." Cassie broke the news, and Shannon gasped, standing.

"Wait...what! OMG!" She covered her mouth.

Cassie grinned happily.

"I dunno how else to thank Sergeant Kash, he's the reason dad stayed alive till now." Shannon gushed.

'It's not him, dummy' Cassie said inwardly but smiled outside.

Her phone rang on the table. 

Shannon saw 'Axel' on the caller ID before Cassie took the phone.

"Sergeant Axel? When did he start calling you?" Shannon frowned.

"It's not Sergeant Axel, It's a doctor from the hospital." Cassie lied, entering the bedroom with her phone.

Shannon resumed eating.

"A doctor named Axel?" She wondered aloud.

--

[Allegra's Unit]

"Snowman has a childhood girlfriend?" Allegra said surprisingly, blinking as she talked.

She's sitting in bed, and Sierra is standing in front of her, holding the invite she got from Axel.

"They started dating when they turned 10" Sierra replied, fanning herself with the card.

"Wait... they're still together?" Allegra came down from the bed.

"They never ended it, they were pretty much into each other and maybe still they are." Sierra replied.

"Then why is he so pinned with that bî+ch Teal?" Allegra asked.

"His father got two wives, what were you expecting?" Sierra rolled eyes.

"To my best of knowledge, General Pedro didn't marry your mum, he only impregnated her so we can't totally call her a ex-wife. The only person he took to the alter and married is Lady Yulia." Allegra replied.

The look she received from Sierra afterwards was destructive.

"Are you trying to mock me?" Sierra sneered.

Allegra climbed the bed back, folding her pierced lips into her mouth.

"So are you going to the Soiree?" She asked.

"Of course I am, I'd love to see how Hera turned out within the several years she spent outside this country. I'll ruin her if she's still into him." Sierra smirked.

"But she's the Marquis daughter, be careful." Allegra repair.

"I've never cared about statuses." Sierra shrugged, and Allegra sighed, picking her phone when it buzzed.

It's a text, and as she read the text, she smiled.

"Who have you been texting?" Sierra asked curiously.

"Just some guy." Allegra replied, waving her off.

--

[Base HackLord Matrix]

The HackLord—Fez, is a middle-aged man who was bought for millions by Lady Yulia from a tech auction in the underworld.

He was brought to this base and stationed here to work and hide from his enemies at the same time.

He's mad good, and there's no existing unhackable location for him, but the only obstacle he has ever met in his hacking journey is this damn Usman. It's the same thing he's tackling right now.

Four and Sergeant Kash are behind him in front of over thirty systems, and as his fingers danced on the keys, their eyes roamed the screens.

They're trying to find Usman's next target location, but this has to be the hardest task ever, cos it's not even on the map of Greece, but it's surely inside Greece.

It's gotta be one of the jungles or sylvan depths of the country.

"We barely have three days left, are you sure we're gonna find the town at this rate?" Sergeant Kash said suddenly. He sounds greatly disturbed.

"Keep quiet, Graham." Four replied, tracing the screens with his  sharp eyes without missing a line.

"You defeated him in the last mission, so you should have known this one would be twisted and mad hard. Usman hates defeat." The HackLord replied, pressing five keys with his five fingers at a time, but ERROR appeared on the screens, ringing repeatedly around the Matrix.

"Shit." Four muttered, and his earbud came on in his ears suddenly.

The voice of his biker spoke...

"She went to the healthcare with her uncles, received a dinner invite from the president. She left Symi and flew back to Athens. She's currently on her way to the president's mansion for dinner. Should I follow her up?"

Four stayed still.

Shadows fell across his eyes as his lids drooped. 

He then picked his phone and connected to the voice sieve.

"Let her be, it's over." he muttered, returning the phone.

The phone's shrill ring pierced the silence Instantly, and he pulled it out again with a dissatisfied groan. 

It's Hera calling, he understood what it means.

"Time for the Soiree, will be back at 9." He told Kash.

"I'll handle things here." Kash assured, and with a single nod, Four left the Crypt.

Kash's phone rang almost immediately too, and he stepped back from the HackLord to pick.

It's a doctor from the hospital.

"Hello?" 

"Mr. Graham? Your wife's father might be waking up soon. His heart rate and pulse improved during the past few days." The doctor reported, and Kash smiled brightly.

"For real?"

"Thanks to the raise in your bills, we sped up the treatments. Keep it up, Mr. Graham." The doctor hung up.

Kash's smile dropped, and he kept staring at the phone screen.

"Raise in my bills?" He muttered, getting greatly confused.

--

[International Airport]

Four's earbuds stayed in his ears even when he's not listening to music—he's not a fan of music, but at least the soundless buds helps block out some of the noise.

Airports can be annoying with the buzzers and stuff.

He wore black shades too, and his cashmere cost is tied at the back, his steps are light and at ease as he strolled towards one of the entrances.

He halted when someone came out, and he smiled lightly, his eyes thinning.

It's a beautiful tall lady, her curly hair is caramel brown, and her lips are temptingly full. She's curvy, too.

Hera Lazarou, the Marquis daughter.

"Eros!!" She screamed, leaving her bag behind as she broke into a mad run immediately.

She jumped into his arms, squealing as she poured affectionate kisses on his face like a kid.

Four held her thighs so she won't fall, and her arms went around his neck to wrap.

"Gawd...I can't believe I saw you outside again, and I didn't regret falling in love with your tallness. I missed it, and you..." She gushed, throwing her legs.

"You're still so kiddy." He replied softly, his eyes showing how delighted he is to see her.

"And you're still measuring your words, silent devil." She replied, her heels poking his back.

Four dropped her, but she took his hand immediately.

The maids from her father's mansion came from the waiting car, getting her bags as she made her way to the exit with Four.

"I miss Greece, geez! Especially the food, the crab soaked in lemon!" she flipped her hair.

"It's the main food at your Welcoming Soiree. The Marquis made sure of it." Four replied, and she jumped happily on a feet.

"Seriously? And oh I miss your zither playing skills too." She held his arm with her second hand.

"Will be playing tonight." He replied, and she smiled prettily.

The waiting guards opened the car door for them, letting them in.

Minutes later, the car ate into the tar.

--

[President's Mansion]

Teal didn't wanna come empty-handed, so she bought pecan pie, and though her dress is a bit too tight on the hips, and she's feeling greatly uncomfortable, she still managed.

President Spyros took the pecan pie delightfully.

He handed it to the maids immediately Teal was ushered into the mansion by the guards.

He looks like he's going somewhere cos he's dressed in a fresh suit, and  it's already past 6pm.

"After I sent you the dinner invite earlier, another invite came for me from the Marquis, and I can't turn it down. Her daughter is back, and I must honour her Welcoming Soiree." He explained.

He's walking to the lounge with Teal already.

"The Marquis? The oldest retired man in this city? The first army to be employed." Teal replied.

"Yes he is, and I won't be a president today if not for his support." President Spyros nodded.

"So...the dinner is cancelled sir?" Teal blinked.

"Not entirely, you'll be going with I and Xanthe to the Soiree. Hera likes art, so I was thinking you could draw her." President Spyros said.

"Me? To the Marquis mansion?" Teal said surprisingly.

"I'll go tell Xanthe to get fast with his dress up. Please feel at home." The man smiled, going inside and leaving her at the lounge.

Teal's need to pee beat her need to sit, and there's no butler around to ask the way to the nearest restroom, so she helped herself.

She went down the opposite lane and bypassed the staircase.

She went up a fight of stairs at a point, coming out to another staircase which led down.

The need to pee grew higher, and her bladder began screaming, so she rushed down that staircase and opened the first door she saw, hoping it'd be a restroom, but she was so shocked at what she met that her pee diffused.

Inside the room, there are several framed picture of Rue on the wall.

Rue—her late mum.

The four walls of the room are filled with her pictures, and there's no single space left out.

"Mum?" She muttered, feeling chills at the back of her neck and at the core of her mind and even her feet.

She felt trapped in a cage immediately, and the sudden slamming of her chest worsened things as she stood in the middle of the room and turned around.

The pictures seemed like they're smiling at her, waving at her, motioning at her, and she could imagine the pictures speaking.

"You grew so well...my baby. Why not come join me up here where I can take care of you more."

Immediately she imagined that, she screamed out, and the pictures seemed to be reaching for her now.

She walked backwards with rough steps. Her ankle sprained in the process, but before she could hit the wall, she was pulled out of the room, and she gasped.

The door of the room closed, and she gasped again when she saw Xanthe. He's the one who pulled her out.

"Teal!" He said loudly.

"What was that room? Why is my late mum's pictures in it from the beginning to the end?" She asked.

"Rue Ambrose was a famous painter with her husband." President Spyros replied, coming down the stairs.

Teal faced the man whose eyes held nothing but unfathomable intents.

"She was my muse before her death, and I even bought one of her paintings at the phantom museum last month. I adore her, so I made that room to worship her soul after her death." He explained.

"You were a fan of my mother?" Teal frowned, and the man smiled.

"Of course."

"But still... That room is..." Teal said suspiciously.

"It's nothing, young lady. Die-hard fans like me are dedicated." President Spyros smiled again.

By now, Teal has calmed.

"We should go now." President Spyros concluded, leading the way upstairs.

Xanthe pulled Teal back.

"You're going with us to the Soiree? Why are you even here in the first place? You shouldn't be!" He said.

"Your father is being strange and acting like he knows things...

"Things like Four might be involved in your parents death?" Xanthe cut her off, and she paused.

"You knew?"

"I was secretly listening when dad was discussing with your uncles at the circus. I like you a lot, and when my dad uses dubious means to try and get something, I'm against it especially if it's you. Dad is gonna tell any lie to get you for me, I don't understand his obsession with getting us married." Xanthe explained.

Teal was wordless at the end, just staring at him.

"Young Master, time to depart." A butler announced on the staircase.

"Let's go." Xanthe motioned at the stairs, and with a long breath, Teal led the way up, her palms watering in her white gloves.

--

[Marquis Mansion]

The mansion sat in the middle of rocks like a hideaway, and the landscape is surprisingly smooth.

The old Marquis loves his personal solitude space, reason for this choice of location.

Maple trees surrounds the inner mansion, and birds choose the trees as their habitats, so the only melody is the song of the birds and the light whistles from the wave of the trees.

The mansion is alive, but the noise is minimal despite the guests inside.

The healing sound of a playing zither soaked into the night air, and it's so good that it was the first thing that caught Teal's attention when she entered the compound with Xanthe.

President Spyros had to go meet the Marquis first, so it's just him and her, and she noticed he's trying so hard to keep a space between them as they walked.

They both picked glasses of wine from a tray, clinked before sipping at the same time.

"Who's playing that zither? It's so good." She said, trying to make out where the sound is coming from, but it sounds distant.

"It's coming from the middle of the compound, and I have to admit it's good too." Xanthe nodded.

"I know, right?" Teal supported, and Xanthe smiled.

"You're always not shy to appreciate what you like. You were ogling at the orchids too when you came to my birthday." He said.

"I just love art, don't judge me." She replied, and they laughed.

But then Teal blinked when she saw General Pedro and Lady Yulia entering through the west door.

"Don't be shocked, The old Marquis is respected by everyone so they must be here." Xanthe said, dropping his cup of wine.

"I'm visiting the washroom, my palms feels sticky." He said.

"Don't take long." She replied.

He nodded as he left through the west door.

Instantly, Teal saw Sierra coming in with a goth-looking woman, and if the rumour she has been hearing is true, then the woman is Empress, Sierra's mum.

Sierra and her mum are here too?

This old Marquis of a man might even be really mighty  cos she's also seeing Commissioners, The Earl, The Count and so many royals.

Teal shook her head and turned around to another angle, but a kid ran into her.

She steadied herself very fast, but the kid couldn't do the same as she received a bigger force from Teal's body. 

Teal caught her quickly before she could fall, and in the process, she lost her footings.

She held the kid to herself, and they both fell on the ground at the end, the wine in her glass showered the two of them.

Teal's chest got saturated with the red wine, and her yellow dress got greatly stained plus her face.

But the real problem is her butt. Looks like her tight dress material ripped over there, and if she stands, she'd be standing to disgrace cos her undies would show.

The kid looks guilty as she stared up at Teal with her doe eyes.

They're both still sitting on the ground, and then Teal noticed the silence surrounding them. Even the zither has stopped playing now.

She looked around and regretted it immediately.

All eyes are on her like she's a party pooper, and Sierra is chuckling mockingly beside her mother.

"She's so razz, I wonder who invited her here." She muttered with hate.

"The betrothed?" Empress asked, sipping slowly from her wine.

"Obviously." Sierra sighed.

The dominating click of heels on the marble floor made the silence even thicker, and Teal didn't understand the meaning till the owner of the heels appeared.

A beautiful lady who looks sophisticated, and she's not even wearing makeup but she's attractive with her blue eyes and round cheeks.

Hera.

She's hanging her arms on the arms of none other than Four.

Four???

Sierra dropped her cup. Her mouth hung open as she definitely got awestruck with Hera's beauty.

Teal couldn't blink.

Four looks like a husband beside Hera, and their heights even match cos of her heels, their aesthetics, too...

He wore all-black to match with Hera's black dress, and even from that distance, she could smell his scent.

She looked at their interlocked arms, then back to Four's face. 

He looks neutral.

"Why is she looking at you? Do you know her?" Hera asked him.

"No." He flatly replied without missing a beat, and Hera smiled.

"Let's go, father is waiting." She said, rubbing his bulging bicep with her thumb before they proceeded inside, walking past Teal on the GROUND.

TBC.

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