Today was the day.

The day I was prepared for all my life.

I got out of my bed as the maids brought in the robe I'll need to wear during the purification ritual.

It was still dark outside since the ritual had to be done before sunrise.

I couldn't sleep last night.

I was anxious and nervous.

I've been taught to be the Emperor the day I set foot in this world.

And that's what I wanted to be.

Once I was dressed in the robe, I made my way out to the thirteenth garden of the palace. The garden where my father, grandfather and previous Emperors of Obelia were crowned.

All the priests were surrounding a marbled shallow pit. They all bowed when they saw me.

Father and mother were already there, watching from the sidelines.

I let out a shaky breath and climbed down the steps to the bottom of the pit.

"Close your eyes." One of the priests instructed me and so I did.

I imagined this day thousands of time in my mind.

Bathing in the holy water.

Crowned as the emperor the next minute.

Taking the oath in front of my people.

Having lunch with the high nobles.

Watching the traditional play in the auditorium.

I just made a small addition to this part.

Watching the play with a certain pink-haired girl.

I stopped myself from smiling as cold water was poured onto me.

Chantings started and I felt warm, even though it was cold outside and not to mention a bucket of cold water was just dumped on me.

I started feeling light and I could see white light even though my eyes were closed.

The nervousness slowly disappeared as I felt weirdly confident.

"You may open your eyes, your majesty."

I opened my eyes slowly, knowing well that the sun had already risen.

I was the Emperor.

"Congratulations, Son." Father said making his way towards me with a butler following him with a crown kept on the cushion he was carrying as I made my way out of the pit.

"I'm so proud of you, Raashid." Mother said, her red eyes shining.

I got down on my knee as father placed the crown on my head.

"Thank you." I said, rising to my full height, an unfamiliar weight on my head.

"We'll be waiting near the Royal cross for your speech. Good luck." Father said and escorted mother to the front gate while I entered back in the palace.

Maids came rushing and handed me a towel. I kept the crown on the cushion the butler was carrying as made my way towards the dressing room.

I quickly slipped on a navy blue tailcoat and white with all the royal jewels.

The maids were giving the finishing touches to the suit as I placed a red cape with golden falcon designed on it, on my shoulder.

Finally, I placed the crown on my head.

As I made my way out of the dressing room Mari and Caiden, dressed in a formal attire greeted me.

"Blessings and glory upon the sun of Obelia." They said bowing down.

I nodded and frowned, "No need to be so formal."

Mari scoffed before handing me down the paper which had my oath written on it, "You think I want to?", he said before looking around, "We are outside now. I can't just go around insulting the new Emperor of Obelia." Caiden nodded in agreement and said, "Enjoy while it lasts, your majesty."

I smirked as I made my way towards the carriage and getting inside it while Mari and Caiden took the carriage behind me.

I started reading the paper as the carriage started moving.

When it stopped, I got out and guards surrounded me. I made my way towards the stage in front of the people of Obelia.

I started taking my oath, telling them how I'm here to protect them and all the other similar stuff.

They all awed at me which was surprising at first since I knew I wasn't exactly a good speaker but became used to later on.

Their reactions were all the same. Every time. Like whatever I do they seem to worship it, which was creepy at first but I had to get used to it.

I made my way back to the carriage and checked my pocket watch. A sigh escaped my mouth as I realised that there's still a lot of time left till I visit the auditorium.

I just wanted to meet Adailia.

I wanted to see her today.

I wonder what she's doing right now.

I let my mind drift towards the pink-haired girl yet again.

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It was time.

The lunch with the nobles was over and I was again taken to the palace to change into my evening attire.

I slipped on the white trousers and a black coat, adorned with gold. Then I put on a navy blue cape, rimmed with soft white fur. Lastly, I put on calf-length black boots with falcon emblem. And the whole outfit finished with royal jewels and sigil.

I got inside the carriage and made my way towards the Auditorium. It was a huge three-storey building, used for entertainment purpose for the royals. It was only used on such auspicious days.

I entered the building with guards following me. I made my way towards the third floor where only the Emperor and his fiancee were allowed. The auditorium was constructed in such a manner that there was a stage at one end and the seats were set up higher and higher like stairs till it reaches a balcony like extension where only the Emperor and his fiancee were supposed to sit. The higher the status the higher your seat.

I entered a balcony which only had two individual seats made of gold and detailed designed craved on it. The door opposite to it was the one from where Adailia was supposed to enter.

I stared down from my balcony looking at the huge auditorium with two doorways on the walls either side of the stage obstructed by red velvet curtains after every five rows of seats.

I sat on my side of the chair getting comfortable as I stared at the empty stage. There were still two hours left for the play to start and only a few guests had arrived. When they saw me enter, a nobleman, who I assume shared a few classes with me made his way towards me.

He took the stairs that directly lead to my balcony. He was stopped by the guards on the stairs, checking his invitation before letting him inside my balcony. Everyone needed an invitation to enter the auditorium, which had their floor and seat number on it.

The stairs from both left and right ended up in the balcony so that nobles can come to the emperor and give their greetings.

The young nobleman congratulated me for becoming the emperor before making his way down and a few nobles made their way from my left side to greet me.

This continued till the play started.

And Adailia still didn't show up.

As I anxiously looked at the door on my left, it slowly creaked open as my breath hitched. I knew it wasn't some noble coming in late to wish me cause they will have to use the stairs. Only someone with a special invitation can enter by that door on the third floor of the auditorium. So it had to be Adailia.

My heart thumped against my rib cage as my eyes trailed upwards from Adailia's blue dress to her face, only to be left disappointed.

It wasn't Adailia.

"Blessings and glory upon the sun of Obelia." Seanna bowed down and greeted me.

"Adailia?" I asked before I could stop myself.

Seanna's amber eyes dulled as the little smile she had left her face.

"I tried." She said, "And she was here. All ready and excited to be with you..but.."

"But?"

"Her stomach started aching!" She exclaimed, frustration clear in her voice, "I told her not to eat so much chocolate cookies but she never listens to anyone when it comes to food! The knights dropped me here and went back to the mansion because Adailia was sick." She groaned.

I motioned her to sit down on the chair beside me but she hesitated, "I only came here to tell you this." She said, "I'll go back down to the second floor on my assigned seat."

I tried rolling my eyes, but they were just too disappointed.

I really wanted to see Adailia today.

"It's fine. You can sit here since Adailia is not coming anyway. I don't mind." I said as she sat down hesitantly.

My mind started thinking about Adailia as the play just continued.

After a long silence between us, where we could only hear the people on the stage speaking, Seanna said,

"I'm sorry."

"It's not your fault." I reassured her.

"It is. I could've just snatched her plate out of her hands. But I didn't." She said and I rolled my tired eyes, "She would've smacked you- real hard if you did. I'm telling you this from experience." I said, wincing a bit at the memory of Adailia basically launching herself at me with a fork in her hand when I ate her last piece of chocolate.

Seanna giggled but that soon died down, "But still..", "It's okay. I'm fine." I said and she snorted.

"Raashid please, disappointment is written all over your face." She said with a smirk before smacking her hand on her mouth eyes wide before she quickly bowed, "Apologies, your majesty. I shouldn't have stepped out of the line and called you by your name." She said.

"It's okay. I'd rather you call me Raashid. It feels weird when all my friends start calling me Your majesty overnight." I said, motioning her to raise her head.

She looked at me hesitantly, "Are....you sure?"

"Yeah, it's fine. You can keep calling me by my name." I told her moving my eyes to look at the play in front of me.

I could imagine her beam as she said, "Okay then."

We both became silent after that, before the person I didn't want to see at the moment appeared in front of me.

"Blessings and glory upon the sun of Obelia," Hayden said, his eyes cold, matching mine, "I wholeheartedly congratulate you on becoming the Emperor." He said, it was anything but 'wholeheartedly'.

His eyes then moved to Seanna as he said, "I need to talk to you."

My eyes narrowed at him as Seanna's eyes became wide before she said, "I cannot, your highness. I-", "I. Need.To. Talk .To. You." He said more forcefully before taking her wrist and pulling her up from her seat.

I quickly stood up, "Hayden Wynknight. I don't know what you're thinking, but you can't just take a lady without her will." I said blocking his path.

He glared at me, "Move." He said but I didn't budge.

That is, until I laid my eyes on a certain pink-haired someone who seemed to be staring at the commotion from the second floor.

Wasn't she sick? What's she doing here now?

As I was lost in this thought, Hayden took the opportunity to pass by me with Seanna and made his way downstairs to the second floor (shoving away guards out of the way) before exiting it by the doorway opposite to which Adailia stood.

I saw Adailia's face contract with anger as she left from the second doorway on the same floor.

I stared at the spot where she stood a second ago before leaving from the door on the third floor myself.

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