464 Become a Princess (1/2)
”Your Grace,” Lady Ge Beining shakily whispered. ”Have I offended you so deeply that you must get rid of me?”
The Empress was confused. She turned to Lady Ge Beining with a questioning stare. ”You've indeed offended me, but my punishment was not to see you for a while, that is all.”
The Empress looked down at the scroll again, wondering what went wrong. The first tray contained paintings of the best Princes that this entire continent had to offer, for example, the Crown Prince of Nanhui.
The Crown Prince of Nanhui was an eligible bachelor who was just three years older than Lady Ge Beining. Though he was ranked above her in status, Lady Ge Beining's years as a lady-in-waiting would count for something.
Because Lady Ge Beining was the closest woman to the Empress out of everyone in this palace, her unofficial rank was equivalent to that of a Princess. After all, she was raised like one, even if the Emperor did not grant her an official title.
”Is he that ugly for you to react like this?” the Empress asked.
She looked down at the painting of the Crown Prince of Nanhui. He was quite the looker if she did say so herself. Of course, his Kingdom was a lot more savage for the likes of the conservative Lady Ge Beining, but she might complement him.
”No, Your Grace,” Lady Ge Beining said. ”I just…” she trailed off with uncertainty in her gaze. ”I just didn't think you would want me to depart from your side so quickly, Your Grace. I was under the assumption I'd serve you for my entire life, for that is something that brings both of us joy.”
The Empress gently smiled at this. She had also thought the same thing, but knew it would be too selfish. She, too, wanted to keep this little canary beside her for as long as possible, but life was not that sweet.
”It seems you have outgrown the walls of the palace, Lady Ge,” the Empress said. ”This is your home, and the place that you have grown up in, but it is not the place I envisioned your future to be.”
The Empress reached a hand out and pointed at the title written on the portrait. ”He is the Crown Prince of Nanhui. You will wed him as an Imperial Consort, but if you play your cards right and I know you will, for you are intelligent and strong, you can eventually become the Crown Princess.”
Lady Ge Beining's face turned even paler, like the first fall of snow. With great velocity, she shook her head. ”This offer is greatly appreciated, Your Grace, but I—”
”Hmmm, it seems you are too humble to reach beyond your status, my child,” the Empress murmured. She rolled the scroll up and grabbed another one from the tray.
”If you are hesitant about becoming the Empress of a foreign Kingdom, much like I have done, then you can become the First Wife of a Third Prince. The politics will be equally as rough, but the weight will be much lighter upon your shoulders.”
Lady Ge Beining suddenly found it suffocating to be here. The Empress was so excited to list out the potential suitors, that she could not help but be repulsed.
In the past, even when many men begged for Lady Ge Beining's hand in marriage, the Empress had denied them all, declaring that it was not the time.
But now, out of all times, was the right time? It was too suspicious. Unfortunately, she could voice this thought, no matter the circumstances.
”Your Grace,” Lady Ge Beining whispered. ”I do not want to wed the Crown Prince of Nanhui, a Third Prince, or even a Duke…”