Chapter 17
The next day, Michelle woke up very early and the maids helped her prepare to go to the Imperial Palace. She wore a long dark purple dress which was the same color as her eyes. On her hands were thin silver gloves made out of silk, which perfectly covered up the bandage from the cut Michelle made over the back of her hand when she tested the sweet smell of her blood.
Shortly after dawn, Michelle got into the carriage and set off to have breakfast with the Imperial Family as the Emperor wished. What he didn't know just yet was that he was playing perfectly into Michelle's cards.
After the carriage stopped in front of the Imperial Palace, Michelle felt like rolling her eyes, but she held back the urge and got off with the smile. "Greetings, Your Highness, Crown Prince!" Michelle bowed her head in front of the Crown Prince, who was clearly reluctant to see her, but was obviously forced by the Emperor to come receive her.
"No need for formalities..." the Crown Prince said through gritted teeth. He hated being in Michelle's presence, but after what happened during the banquet, the Emperor forbade him from trying any further to break off the engagement with Michelle, or he would strip him of his title as the Crown Prince and make his younger brother the Crown Prince.
"Let us head into the dining room..." the Crown Prince offered his hand to Michelle as he gestured towards the door.
Michelle was disgusted by the mere thought of touching the Crown Prince, but as it was not the time yet, she hid all her feelings and took the Crown Prince's hand with a polite smile and let him lead her into the dining room.
In the dining room, the Emperor was sitting at a huge table filled with all kinds of delicacies, but in the eyes of a person from the 21st century, it looked like a table full of tasteless food. But Michelle still kept a smile on her face and bowed her head in front of the Emperor. "Greetings, Your Majesty, the Empire's Sun."
When the Emperor saw that Michelle was holding the Crown Prince's hand, he felt happy, thinking that she was still blindly in love with the Crown Prince. "Lady Grace, no need for such trifling formalities! Come eat with us!" he spoke with a satisfied laugh, unaware of the cold chill hiding within Michelle's heart and mind as she sat down at the table.