Chapter 10: A talk with Empress Emily (1)
Chapter 10: A Talk with Empress Emily (1)
Inside a moving carriage, two strikingly beautiful women sat facing each other. One, a mature woman with molten red hair cascading down her back and emerald green eyes that held the wisdom of an Empress. The other, younger—barely twelve—but already carrying an air of arrogance, with the same scarlet hair yet eyes of deep crimson, like a pool of fresh blood.
The Empress of Castria, Emily Castria.
Her youngest daughter, Princess Sophie Castria.
Emily's gaze lingered on her daughter. "Are you ready for this, Sophie?"
Sophie's expression remained indifferent—borderline dismissive. "I know what I'm doing, Mother. I want this farce to end more than anyone." She scoffed, eyes narrowing. "To begin with, I don't know who thought it was a good idea to engage me to some—"
Crackle—!
Before she could finish, lightning flickered in the air. The carriage interior hummed with static as Emily's aura erupted—an oppressive weight pressing down.
Sophie's eyes widened in shock. She wasn't expecting her mother to use her aura.
Emily's gaze sharpened. "Speak with respect. I am your mother, not your friend." Her voice turned dangerously soft. "Continue with this tone, and I will use my intent. Perhaps it will give you some insight—who knows?"
Sophie's heart pounded against her ribs, but she refused to let it show. She gritted her teeth, suppressing the unease crawling up her spine.