...33...
I AM NOT A NOBODY
When she went back into the library, hurriedly, both of them turned to look at each other and squealed in delight.
Was that their mistress?
Oh no!
They didn't think that she was -but she was.
Xiera dragged Vura to the couch outside the library that they had been lounging on before their lady had come out.
She sat and made Xiera to also do so.
Then, she looked towards the library, as if to make sure that her lady wasn't there, before she turned back to Vura and began to speak again.
'I think our Lady has fallen for the Emperor Vura,' she said candidly in a low whisper.
Her eyes glistened with uninhibited satisfaction.
'What do you mean by that? She has always loved the Emperor!' she refuted her claim loudly.
Xiera's hands flew quickly to cover her extra loud mouth.
'Can't you be any quieter?' she snapped in anger.
She rolled her eyes at her.
'We are gossiping you know?' she told her. 'Talk in whispers, undecipherable whispers,' she advised her.
Vura's brows raised high in her forehead in answer.
'Will you?' she asked.
Vura nodded her a yes as she took her palms off her mouth.
'My Lady has always loved the Emperor Xiera, always. Their love is so warm and wonderful,' she said in a dreamy voice with equally dreamy eyes.
Xiera shook her head while staring at Vura with concern.
Was she alright?
'Oh how I wish that I could experience such.'
'You mean that you love the Emperor also?'
Vura was eyeing her with pure disgust on her face.
'Do you mean that you would most likely come between them when you want to do that?'
Her voice was rising now.
'No Xiera, I don't—"
'Do you even believe so? That's deranged!' Xiera interuppted her in a really loud voice.
Vura's eyes widened as she glanced around in panic.
'Would you be any quieter? We are gossiping you know?' she mimed Xiera's panicky voice from earlier.
Xiera seemed to notice that she was talking too loudly.
'Now look who is shouting,' she said with a sneer.
Vura folded her arms in anger as she eyed Xiera who looked quite remorseful for her actions.
'Oh I didn't mean to, you just took me by surprise,' she apologized.
'Well, of course I love the Emperor. He is a good and lovable man. But not in the way you think I do. He is not the man for me.'
Both of Xiera's nostril was quick to flare at the description.
'I am wishing to experience the type of their love with the right man for me,' Vura continued to elaborate on the subject.
Xiere shook her head slightly for Vura in total disbelief.
'Oh, I see.'
She rolled her eyes and scoffed and Vura sneered at her.
'Sometimes you are just so dumb and frustrating Xiera.'
'And sometimes you are just so loud and annoying,' Xiera retorted instantly.
'Oh whatever,' was Vura's mocking reply to her.
Xiera huffed at the playful gesture.
They began to laugh once again when the noise from below came to them once again, disturbing them.
'You do not think that she will be Empress right? She will never be Empress,' Vura said with so much venom in her voice.
'I wish so too, but the Emperor has yet to reject her and their formal engagement. So tell me, how is that not going to be possible?' she grumbled in reply.
'Oh, I just know that she will never be Empress,' Vura said with so much confidence and conviction.
It was so high that for a moment she thought that Mayhap Vura was planning on getting rid of the supercilious Princess.
She stared at her pointedly.
'How sure are you about this information Vura?' she said.
'Well, I am as sure as you looking just like this after even after a second passes by,' she boasted.
Now that was some assurance.
'Why on earth are you so sure?' she demanded again.
'That is not something for you to know,' she teased. 'It is a top class elite secret,' she added with a mischievous glint in her eyes.
Xiera blinked slowly at her teasing words.
'Seriously? You are not going to tell me? Even after I tattled on our Lady to you?'
Her brows rose high.
'Come on, I told you every single thing she had done from the day she awoke,' she whined to Vura who only shrugged.
'I still won't say what is it, even if you held your sword to my neck.'
Vura looked so determined.
Xiera gave up then.
'Anyways, if she won't be Empress, then, who will?' she asked Vura with spite in her voice.
'You will know that when the time comes,' Vura said.
Xiera turned slowly towards the library door and then turned back to her with a known question in her curious eyes.
Vura held back her smile.
'You will know when the time comes,' she repeated mischievously. 'Now stop making wild guesses warrior.'
'Stop giving me vague answers you this little bat,' she yelled frustratedly at her.
Vura laughed hard and long.
'You are steaming like a kettle of boiling water. Oh I got you so good,' she said proudly.
'I would still prefer the Lady to that haughty buffalo,' Xiera sneered, transferring her aggression to the Princess.
'Xiera!' Vura said in a warning tone, her voice low.
She was looking at her with unbelievable eyes.
'What?'
'Buffalo?' she asked her with an extremely hard face.
'Of course!' Xiera snapped at her.
'Wow! Is that all you can come up with? A buffalo?' Xiera stared at her quizzically.
She had thought that the lady was scolding her, but not anymore.
'I personally think that a hedgehog would be more suitable for a disdainful, contemptuous and arrogant Lady!' she said, finishing with a pant.
They had a long stare down and then burst into hearty laughter.
'On my word, that was quite heavy,' she said when she could.
'It suits her more, doesn't it?'
'Oh I can't think of any better names, I really can't,' she said still laughing, filled with so much mirth.
'Oh I can! I can!' Vura announced.
'And what will that be?' Xiera asked her curiously, drawing closer.
'Peacock!' Vura said.
Xiera's eyes instantly widened in mock surprise.
And then another round of laughter simply ensued between the both of them.
'Oh stop being so hilarious, you are killing me!' she groused happily as the hiccups got to her.
Vura reached out and then patted her back gently.
'Well, I am sorry if I am doing that. But it is a fact,' she smirked.
'Oh bother.'
Then, they laughed again, happily, enjoying it all.
About thirty minutes to the lunch hour, Xiera went in to check on their lady and also to remind her that lunch was going to be served soon.
She found her lady sprawled across one of the desk in the library.
She ran to her with her heart slamming against her ribcage.
But it was useless.
She found out that her Lady had only fallen asleep peacefully on the royal volume that she had been reading.
She sighed in relief and gently nudged her awake.
Her lady sat up slowly, stretching her body and looked up at her with sleepy eyes.
'My Lady,' she paid homage with a small bow as usual.
'Xiera,' she said.
'My lady?' she answered her. 'It is almost the lunch hour,' she continued when her lady said nothing else.
'Is that so?" Rose whined softly as she yawned after.
'Please come have lunch and then you can nap in your bed. I am sure that here isn't by any means really comfy for you.'
'Now that you have woken me up, I do not think that I can go back to sleep,' she said stifling a yawn against her palm.
Xiera watched as her lady's hair pooled all around her.
'I would prefer to have lunch and then go out for a horse ride.'
'Alright My Lady.' She offered her hand to her lady who took it.
She reached out to help her lady to stand to her feet, then they walked out of the library.
She stopped at once when they were outside.
'Where is Vura?' she asked turning to her.
Xiera smiled.
She had come to realized that their mistress seemed to really care about them as much as she did the emperor.
'She has gone to tell Hyeera to have the lunch table going My Lady. We shall meet her in your bedroom,' she informed her.
'Oh I see. Let's hurry along then. I am quite hungry even when I stuffed myself very full at the hour to noon.'
She yawned again.
'I had even had a late breakfast because I slept in,' she voiced out.
'Yes My Lady.'
They arrived at the emperor's bedroom in no time.
True to Xiera's words, Vura was standing outside the bedroom with a small smile on her face.
She was quick to bow slightly to her mistress with that smile.
'My Lady.'
'Vura,' she acknowledged her.
She walked past her and went into the bedroom alone.
There she met just Hyeera, standing by the lunch table, apparently waiting for her.
'My Lady,' she also greeted her with a small bow.
She nodded in acknowledgement, waving her off.
She was too hungry to speak at the moment, moreso especially at the sight of fine food.
She bent and washed her hands in the bowl of water that Huerta as holding out to her.
It must have been heated because the water was tepid.
It felt good on her skin.
'Nice going Hyeera,' she told her before slowly sitting at the lunch table and digging into the food.
'No problem My Lady, only eat well,' she told her.
Rose only nodded at the lady's words because her mouth was already filled with food.
Then, Hyeera smiled and left her to her meal which she enjoyed.
When she was done, she stepped out of the bedroom and found Vura and Xiera who had just also finished having lunch.
Vura was trying to stuff a bunch of grapes into her pocket.
The sight was a funny one that she just could not help laughing.
The two aides turned towards their mistress at her laugh.
An embarrassed smile was quick to frame Xiera's lips.
'Oh Xiera, anytime you want grapes you can have them. Why try to stuff those into your pockets?' she pointed out.
Xiera shook her head shyly.
'No my lady. It is just that I might get hungry later,' she explained.
Rose lifted a brow at her.
'Xiera tells me that you want to go for a ride and riding makes me feel really hungry thereafter.'
'Oh!' she said to her at her explanation. 'Have at it then. I don't want anyone hungry.'
'That means you still wish to go for a ride My Lady?' Xiera said.
'Yes I do.Would you please guide me to my horse, Red Rose?' she asked Xiera who nodded.
'Yes My Lady.'
She turned and began to do so, leaving her Lady and Vura to follow behind her.
Rose had noticed that Xiera always liked to take the lead.
She was the leader type.
And she intrigued her.
She wondered how strong the warrior was.
She also wondered how well she could use the sword which was hanging from her waist.
Mayhap she she find out.
'I would also like a spar with you warrior Xiera,' her lady suddenly said, startling her.
'Me?' she asked halting and turning to her mistress.
Her eyes were wide and her heart was leaping in her chest.
Did her mistress mean that?
'Yes, you, Xiera. I have yet to spar with you great warrior Xiera,' she said to her with a smile.
A blush stained Xiera's cheeks and she felt truly honoured.
'You completely flatter me My Lady,' she said with a slight bow.
'Great?' Vura murmured. 'Great indeed,' she said with jealousy. Xiera pushed her playfully.
'Are you jealous?'
Vura raised a questioning brow at her with a sneer.
'I, jealous? Of what? Of you?' she scoffed. 'Do you actually know how ridiculous that sounds?'
Xiera shook her head slowly as if she had pity for Vura.
'Oh bother!' Xiera said to her and then resumed leading her Lady to the stables.
The walk to the stables was an enjoyable one.
The soft breeze and the fragrance of various fresh flowers in bloom spiced it all up.
They arrived at the stables where the horses were kept in no time.
'Wait here My Lady,' Xiera said, 'I shall get your horse for you.'
'You had better make it real quick!' Vura said after her leaving back. She turned to her.
'I shall soon have your mouth sewn together,' she warned.
Their feminine giggles instantly rented the air.
Their mistress simply watched them, silently enjoying their playful banter.
Xiera finally went into the stables to get them horses, leaving Vura to guard the Lady.
Time passes slowly.
The sound of approaching horses made them look up expectantly.
But, it wasn't Xiera who they had been expecting that arrived.
It was Princess Zoë Xing and her escort, Jessica -on horseback.
She instantly sneered at the sight of Lady Rose.
Rose simply hissed softly under he breath at the sight of her.
She hated to ever cross paths with this mad woman.
'Whore,' Zoë greeted her as usual, dismounting from her horse.
She was ignored, totally.
This causes anger to flare up deep inside of Zoë's chest.
What did this bitch take her for?
How dare she ignore her when she was speaking to her?
She sneered at her.
'Ignoring me will not change the fact that you are still a shameless dirty little white lotus,' she said with an evil chuckle.
Rose glared at her.
'Do not insult My Lady!' Vura snapped at her instantly with so much venom.
Her eyes were wide like saucer plates in hot anger.
Her shoulders were squared and she looked ready for war.
Rose didn't want a fight to happen between them.
She stepped up to pacify Vura when Zoë's maid decided to open her trap and speak.
'Do not address My Lady that way you sleazy low life!' Jessica said in retort. 'Who on earth is your mistress?' she added instantly.
That got to her.
How dare they?!
'Exactly!' Princess Zoë Xing seconded her aide, causing Vura to grit her teeth in anger.
'Draw your sword and we will find out who my mistress is and also who that sleazy low life is!' Vura retorted with boiling anger.
'You do not stand a chance against me!' Jessica said.
As if she did.
As if she ever would.
She was just seeking death.
'Draw your sword and we will see about that mouthful! Draw it and let us find out you coward!' She insulted her candidly.
Rose saw no use for a sword fight in this situation.
The emperor was away from the palace and this could later shoot her in the foot if it happened.
It was better to avoid it.
'Leave them be Vura,' Lady Rose said to her aide. 'Allow them to keep addressing themselves and their predecessors.'
Zoë gasped at the insult.
That stupid demimonde had just dared to insult her descendants?
'Yes My Lady,' Vura said, backing down reluctantly.
She had been soothed only by the insult her Lady had just thrown at the two miscreants.
But Zoë hated to not have theast say in anything.
She lost it instantly.
'How dare you? How dare you?! Who do you think you are?!' Princess Zoë Xing snapped at her. 'You are a just a nobody you little dirty whore!'
'And tell me, why does that bother you so much?' she retorted.
Before Zoëcould even answer her question she dropped another hit sizzling insult.
"Is it because I am here and I am far better than you? Do you covet this spot that I am in?"
Her casual repartee hit its mark.
Zoë made to speak but couldn't find any words to say.
'If I am a nobody, you are supposed to be unbothered about it Princess,' she mocked her.
She leaned in closer.
'But it is obvious that you are not. And that only means one thing, I am not a nobody."
Silence and tension cackled in the air after her words dropped.
"Now if you will please excuse us, we have to ride now and you are a bother,' she dismissed them.
Vura smiled broadly and proudly behind her lady.
Her lady was now extremely good with words.
She had surpassed her because she had taught her well.
"You are just a pet! The Emperor's pet!" Zoë cried out.
She stomped her foot in anger as she spoke each word.
"You are only her to be fed till you get fat! You have absolutely no future in this empire! Leave now while you still can.'
Rose scuffed in amusement.
She crossed her arms and lifted her brows in question.
'Why should I?' she asked Zoë with a pointed gaze.
Zoë sneered in contempt.
'After the Empress choosing ceremony, a new Empress will be chosen. You will become a royal concubine, pushed into the harem, forgotten,' she warned.
Rose read the silent warning in her opponent's eyes.
Then, she laughed.
'Harem?' she asked.
The words of the lady got to her because it was true.
But she refused to let it show.
She didn't want Zoë to know that it had affected her.
And she definitely didn't want the other woman to find out that she was suddenly jealous.
She hated the fact that the emperor would acquire a harem.
What about her?
That was a question that she should ask him.
It was not a question for Zoë to answer in his place.
Till then...
'It shall come as a surprise to you when that happens despite the fact that you have heard it now.'
'Thank you for the information Princess. I shall continually remember that you told me so,' she said with a mocking bow that had Vura laughing like a maniac.
'My Lady,' Xiera's voice accompanied the sound of horses.
Her aide had returned.
They looked in her direction.
'The horses are ready,' she announced reaching them with the three horses.
'Red Rose!' she squealed going to her horse as if it were more important than the Princess -which it was.
The horse instantly neighed happily at the sight of her.
She caressed it lovingly.
'You smell just like roses Red Rose, don't you?' she cooed.
The horse grunted happily as if it was a response to her question.
She reached for the reins and then proceeded to mount the animal in one sleek move.
Vura and Xiera followed suit with their horses.
'Let's have our ride shall we?'
'Yes My Lady,' the both of them answered her simultaneously.
Princess Zoë Xing fumed angrily at being ignored.
'Princess Hera-Mera shall soon teach you your place Lady Rose,' she warned her.
Rose snorted.
'I will desperately look forward to that Princess Zoë Xing,' she drawled.
Then, she gently urged her horse into a canter.
Her escorts followed suit behind her, all three of them leaving a blown out of proportion Zoë standing there and sufficiently alight with the flames of anger.
...OmaPhinaPhire