"Sigh!" A sigh escaped her lips, dealing with all those cunning consorts, cost her so brain cells.
So of the consorts even seed downright stupid. Despite knowing their goal, which was having a chance to et the Emperor, she still smiled and tried answering them.
"Finally, they are gone."
"Yeah, I had to hold myself from slapping one of them." Debrah said.
Zosia sotis wondered, why Debrah an old maid, was more impulsive than the new ones.
She glanced at her but didn't say anything.
"You and Maritza can go and finish what you were doing. I will go and embroider with Evelyn"
Since she ca to this world, she had not left the palace. She was ignorant of the world outside.
The more she thought about how ignorant she was of the outside world, the more she felt uncomfortable.
One might think, Why doesn't she just scale through the wall, disguise herself and go outside.
This is not a novel but a reality. The Emperor guards are way more skilled than a toddler like her and even if they ignore her, what about the funds she will use.
Aish, she felt more distressed thinking about it.
Zosia looked at her feeble hands and felt the need to train her skills and body more. If she wanted to be safer in the Imperial Harem, the more knowledgeable she needs to be.
Just rembering the tug of words she had with a consort this morning, made her frown and lose a lot of brain cells.
"What is wrong with all these concubines and consorts? Don't they have better things to do?" She asked Evelyn who was currently teaching her how to embroider.
Evelyn smiled at the question, "They are more free than you think, Princess."
"They are not like you who learn to improve your knowledge or add more skills to your skill set. The only skill they try to improve on is their art in seduction." Evelyn comnted calmly.
Zosia sighed. The answer wasn't surprising. Glancing at the handkerchief she was currently embroidering, she marveled at how fast she beca more skilled. Even her embroidery was currently better than Evelyn's own.
"The Princess Skill has surpassed mine. It would be nice if you could start embroidering a cloth rather than a handkerchief." Evelyn praised, her eyes filled with joy.
"Mmm, we can use the bolt of cloth that consort brought to give to ."
"No! Princess, there is a difference between accepting a gift to give face and accepting and using the gift.
Unfortunately our coffers are empty and we have no way of returning the gift, that's all the more reason we can't touch them."
Zosia bit her lips in frustration. Her eyes suddenly lit up.
"Get a paper and a brush."
Evelyn didn't ask what the Princess intended to do and only did as ordered.
The paper and brush with ink was neatly laid out before her. Taking the brush, she allowed her hand to move freely against the paper. Her writing even incorporated so calligraphy techniques that are not of this world.
After writing, she dropped the brush.
"What do you think? Do you think the Empress will respond?" She asked Evelyn who was standing behind her.
Evelyn marveled at how sharp, free, light yet bold the seven year old princess writing was.
"The Princess is a genius. Unfortunately, she can't bask in the glory of her skill." This thought brought sothing else to her mind.
"Princess, if you are sending it to the Empress, let write for you. You are aware of the Empress dislike, if she catches a hint of your talent, she wouldn't waste ti to snuff out your life."
Zosia thought about it and agreed.
They were still talking when the Emperor entered.
Zosia and Evelyn greeted.
Zosia's bow, more courteous and graceful than before. She felt that the Emperor ca at the right ti.
Behind the Emperor stood 10 guards and just from their aura, Zosia could tell they were more skilled than the rest of the guards she has seen in the palace.
"What is the Emperor's plan? Why does he favour that much?" She couldn't help but ask herself such questions.
"I will just take it as they co." She decided but she thought about another problem. How would she properly practice martial arts. Even though she was practicing in her space and could be said to have trained this body to be better than an average guard, it was nevertheless the fact that no one knows and if sothing happens and she shows the skill, how could she explain it.
She knew assassinations would be coming for her soon. With the care she receives from the Emperor. Also the family of the Forr Consort of the Wealth Palace (Courtyard), may start sending people to probe.
Zosia signaled Evelyn to go get tea. Since the day she offered the Emperor water, he sent her a lot of tea. Ranging from the most common to the most expensive.
Her eyes suddenly shone. Sending tea leaves as a return gift isn't that bad. But thinking about how to asure the value of the tea leaves in relation to the value of their gift, gave her a headache.
The Emperor took the seat facing Zosia. His gaze inadvertently landing on the paper.
"Was this written by you?" He asked. He noticed that the ink was not yet dried, which ans it was sothing that was written a few minutes ago, not up to an hour.
Zosia did not lie and answered truthfully. If she could rope the Emperor to give her all the support, it would be for the best.
"Indeed your Majesty eyes are the best." She praised, indirectly answering his question.
The Emperor frowned, he didn't like how formal his daughter was with him. He didn't say anything but turned to look at the guards behind him.
"They would be in charge of protecting you. As for the other servants, they would co when you enter your new courtyard.
You should be ready to leave in two days. You would also et your teacher by then."
"You can disperse." The Emperor ordered and the guards left in a very coordinated manner.
Zosia was sure that they used sothing like stealth to leave as she didn't hear any feet sound neither did she hear any shuffling of their feet.
She didn't know why the Emperor frowned, but rembering what she had written on the paper, she felt his frown was understandable.
Evelyn and the rest also left leaving only Zosia and the Emperor.
Zosia did the tea making process she had learnt, though not skillful, her hand still shook occasionally.
The Emperor only watched on and did not bother her. His eyes holding many thoughts.
After doing the tea, she prepared to sit down when the Emperor suddenly asked a strange question.
"What do you think of the Empress?"
Zosia almost fell down at his question, quickly steading herself to avoid making a fool of herself. Unfortunately, all her actions were captured in the Emperor's eyes.
"No formalities. Tell Dad what is on your mind. Pour out all your grievances." The Emperor's voice turned softer and more soothing.
Zosia had a dazed look on her face, "What is going on? What is about to happen?" She felt more anxious that she did not know what was going on in the palace.
At least, if she knew, she felt that she would know how to properly address the question and avert whatever disaster was coming her way.
The Emperor green eyes dimd. But nevertheless, he had expected it. A child who has been living on pins and needles since she was born. A child who has to be careful of her steps else she falls. A child who has been walking on thin ice. It would be more stranger if she actually answered him.
He was more than aware how far he was from being a good father, all the more he was anxious to be one.
Zosia is his only child from his own sperm.
Yes, the rest are bastard children from who knows whom their mothers slept with.
They may think he was unaware but he was fully aware, even knowing whom the father of each child belongs to.
As for the reason why he allowed himself to be cuckold, it was a reason only known to a few.
Glancing at the ssage written on the paper, he didn't want hus daughter to have any more association with that woman.
So that when the ti cos, he would be able to properly deal with her.
Using his hand to trace the letters written on the paper, the more he admired the handwriting.
So free, bold yet light. At the sa ti, he noticed a hint of constraint present in the writing.
It reminded him of soone so dear to him, unfortunately, the person still refuses to speak to him, regardless of how many letters he sends.
"You don't need to answer, but also you don't need to worry about being constrained when with ."
"Co." He beckoned on Zosia.
Zosia not understanding how fast the situation was developing, had so confusion on her face.
She secretly breath a sigh of relief when she didn't have to answer again but why was the Emperor beckoning on her now.
Standing up, she walked to the side of the Emperor. She was expecting him to either point out so corrections on her writing or sothing else.
He lifted Zosia up and placed her on his laps. Delicately patting her on her head.
The corner of the Emperor's lips curled up. He finally fulfilled one of his goals - getting close to his daughter.
Zosia's body turned rigid. Sigh!, she couldn't help but wonder where all her boldness went to.
The Emperor also noticed her stiffness and the light in his eyes dimd a little.
Zosia did not know that the light in the Emperor's eyes has dimd, she was busy getting herself to slowly relax. Her tense body beca less tense but it was also on alert.
The light in the Emperor's eyes returned when he noticed that she was trying to relax.
By the ti the Emperor left, a few hours had gone by.
To Zosia, it was a fruitful one as she not only learnt new things in wiring but her relationship with the Emperor got closer than ever before.
All the more, she beca more worried about assassination.
The Emperor on the other hand felt that this was the most relaxing day ever. How long had it been since he last relaxed. He felt that his sleep this night would be better than before.
He was more determined to get an answer from that person, even if it ans leaving the palace to go et him personally.
That person was the only person he could entrust his daughter to.
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Another update after a hectic exam.
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Enjoy this chapter and have a nice day/night.
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