Oh! My Empress

"W-what?" Audrey almost fainted when she heard that she had gotten an invitation to the palace the next day.

She had chewed her youngest daughter, her maid and that bastard Chris out after the royal party had left. She knew that her husband was rather distraught because of Emmeline's behavior and was afraid of royal wrath.

It seemed his concerns were coming true. Otherwise, why would that witch, who had never acknowledged her in any of the noble parties, call her with her daughter?

"Is there an invitation from the palace? I have been dying to visit the royal castle," Cecilia, who had been frolicking around her mother and listening in on the adult conversations. She was the eldest and was allowed to be with the 'adults' to learn the societal etiquettes.

"Shut up Cecilia. I am talking here. The invite is for me and Emmeline. You will not be able to go this time," Audrey massaged her temples. It was one headache after another. All because of that wench. She should have killed Emmeline in her womb, why did she give birth to such a nuisance?

"But mom, I want to go, please!" Cecilia whined, she was very bad at reading the room. The spoiled brat she was, she needed to have everything that her younger siblings were going to have.

"Can't you see mom is busy right now? You need to learn right behavior, young lady. Go reflect on yourself and how you should not be speaking when not asked," frustrated, Audrey sent her daughter back to her room.

Cecilia stomped her feet and left. That younger sister of hers was indeed becoming a big trouble for her. But from her mother's reaction, it seemed that that kid was in trouble herself. It would be perfect if she did not have to lift a finger.

She smirked at the fact, finally happy with herself and left for her own room. If only she could go to east wing and rub it in Emmeline's face. Now that wench was grounded, it was all better. At least Cecilia did not need to look at her ugly face and mannerism.

With light steps, Cecilia headed towards her room, only to bump into Ivan and Alex on the way.

"Oh my! Have you come to witness the doom of your new favorite sister, little brother?" she crossed her arms and spoke so proudly, as if she had already gotten rid of Emmeline.

"What are you talking about?" Ivan had no idea, so his curiosity was naturally piqued. A few lines of worry appeared on his forehead. Cecilia smirked with the change in her brother's expression. He was so easy to read. While Alex was standing straight with his poker face on. It was far more difficult to read what was going in his head.

"Oh, did you not hear? She has been invited to the palace. Not by the prince but by the queen. Everyone knows how averse the queen is to our family. She is over. Your beloved sister is now finished," Cecilia guffawed at the future misery she was going to witness. She felt much happier than when her parents would compliment her on her work.

"W-What?!" This time it was Alex who exclaimed in loud voice. The queen invited Emmeline to the palace? This was not good news. His father must have heard already but he still needed to discuss next steps with him.

Both of them ran to the east wing, leaving a maniacally laughing Cecilia in the middle of the hall. Her ominous laughter scared the servants working around.

------------

"What's the fuss? I will handle it," Kim Su Won shrugged her shoulders as she sat down sipping the tea calmly in her simple clothes. She had been grounded for a month, so she could not go out. She could not attend her classes either. She was using this time to recharge and think of strategies to spend next four years with fun.

"What will you handle? You are just a kid. And you are going with mother. She will be the first to throw you under the bus," Ivan spoke in a loud voice, concern dripping from his words.

Kim Su Won looked at her brother wide-eyed. Did he just insult their mother in favor of her? That… had never happened in the novel. He used to respect their mom as did Cecilia and they used to bully her together on instigation by their mother.

This was quite some reversal of his attitude.

"Do you feel the same, Alex?" she asked in her cute voice, tilted her head. Alex had been standing near the door, without uttering a word. Although, the way two had burst the door open and were breathless, she could tell that Alex had followed Ivan out of worry for her.

Her heart felt full for some reason. There were people worried about her. There were people who supported her. She felt lucky for her new life. So, she could not disappoint these people who thought about her, could she?

"Given your capabilities, there can only be two outcomes. You will either come out of it all fine or you will be executed. I cannot think of any other results of this meeting," Alex replied in a very serious tone, sending chills through Ivan's spine.

Kim Su Won slapped his arm, "Come on Alex! I was asking for an honest opinion." This muscleman, why was his skin so hard? Her hand stung with pain right after.

Ivan rolled his eyes on the banter between the two. Hmph! It seemed as if Alex had no issue being friendly and jocular around his sister. He was cold to everyone else, including him. Ugh, Ivan felt so jealous of his sister right now.

"I agree with my friend. And given your past performance, the second outcome is more likely," Ivan wiped the frown on his face and chuckled with the two.

"Jeez, not you too!"

"Hehehe, laugh all you want, you three.. It's going to be fireworks tomorrow," Cecilia, who had made her way towards the east wing and was eavesdropping on their conversation giggled to herself once again.