Chapter 4: Perhaps...
The Emperor and Empress spent the rest of the evening eating, dancing and entertaining their guests. It didn't matter that said guests were close to wanting his head on a platter just hours prior. The Emperor didn't hold a grudge—and he loved a good party! The Imperial pair did not even have time to discuss the evening's events—they were just having too much fun! While Matthias and Adelaide were certainly all-in while in attendance at one of their soirées, the Emperor and Empress were never ones to close a party out—well, that's not exactly true, they just tended to close out their parties privately. So, after thanking all of happy attendees and finding rooms for anyone that wanted to spend the night, Matthias and Adelaide quietly made their exit, as the party still roared on.
They strolled arm in arm down the palace hallways. Ever the expert party-goers, they had enjoyed just enough wine to add to the ambiance, which meant they were both still quite lucid. A very covert lucidity was always a priority for the Imperial couple—especially at parties—because parties were a treasure trove of the best information, and Adelaide's schemes were grounded in good information. So usually their after-party routine included a discussion of the evening's best party gossip—but not tonight. Tonight, Matthias went straight to a postmortem of the evening's main event.
"Sooo... how did I do?"
Matthias knew exactly how he did—but hearing praise from his beloved was just too delicious not to go fishing for a compliment.
"You were brilliant!" The Empress gushed.
"Well, it was your plan."
"Everybody has a plan... but you played Duke Redmoon like a fiddle!" Adelaide giggled, "He must be absolutely fuming right now!"
"Well, I do feel bad about the boy. I hope he's okay." Mathias's concern was genuine. He never paid much thought to embarrassing himself— he did it so often that it was pretty much his M.O.. But the idea of hurting the feelings of a teenager made him feel terrible.
Adelaide explained, "Yes, I wasn't quite sure which way to go on that one —fighting against one of Redmoon's more experienced soldiers would have given Serena a better opportunity to show off her skills, but then Darius might not have been so quick to stop the match— and somebody could have gotten seriously hurt."
"Yes, your way was best." Matthias reflected, "the boy is bruised, not broken."
Adelaide sighed, "Of course, now we have another generation of Redmoons that has an axe to grind against the palace."
"I don't know about that."
"What?" While Adelaide was certainly the primary schemer in this power coupling, she knew her husband was much more perceptive than he ever let on, so she eagerly awaited her partner's insights.
"Oh, I know my cousin," Matthias laughed, "much better than he knows me. He is prideful, but he isn't stupid. He will learn from his mistakes, and his son will, too. Besides, Duchess Redmoon just had a daughter."
"Yes, Ruby."
"Well, I think after today's events, Ruby will be getting a bit more attention from her father. If we have trouble with Thomas, perhaps Ruby will be more sympathetic to our cause."
The mention of Duke's new daughter shifted Matthias's thoughts in an entirely different direction.
"A daughter... I would love a daughter!" Matthias gushed, "I am sure that she would be as brilliant and beautiful as you!"
"Oh, we don't need a daughter. You would spoil her rotten."
"Of course!"
As Adelaide laughed at her husband's honesty, her love's wish permeated her thoughts. Well, if we do have a child, I won't care if she is smart or pretty—I just want her to have your kind heart. But Adelaide did not say those words out loud. Instead she simply answered, "perhaps."
"Perhaps what?"
"Well, you married the greatest Schemer-Seductress-Witch in the history of the entire continent—and I've done my share of scheming for the day, and I am not in much of a mood for witchcraft. So, perhaps..."
Her words were playful—and maybe a little mischievous. But the smile on Adelaide's face was much more pure—an expression of true love.
Matthias opened the door of the Imperial Suite. The full moon served as the room's only light, so it was as if their little bed by the window was the room's only furnishing. Matthias softly held Adelaide's hand as he led her to the window—he wanted to see her face. In her eyes he could see the moon reflected in a sea of blue. She was his world.
He pulled Adelaide into his arms for a long embrace—this moment was perfect, and he didn't want it to end—the warmth of her body, the softness of her skin against his cheek. And even if this tiny bit of perfection could not last forever, he knew that he would remember it forever. Whatever followed, she would always be with him.
end
