Chapter 8: Congratulation! Future Son-in-law!

"Oh, Emperor, I do have a matter to discuss with you," said Duke Henry.

"Yes, what is it?" asked the Emperor.

"As you are well aware of the scandalous that happened this afternoon, I want an explanation."

"What is that you want?"

"I want Prince Eric to be responsible for what he have done to my granddaughter."

"Why do you say that?"

"It takes two to make an affair work. Don't you think so?"

"What makes you think they were both in it together?"

"As far as I was told, Prince Eric has claimed to marry my daughter after he lay hands on her. And I was also told it was very hot as well, since they were found with clothes half undone."

Ruby recalls Eric and Samantha's little rendezvous. Even if the thunder lashes out her eyes the images of them in the bushes won't wipe away her memories of them embracing each other.

The Emperor didn't say anything.

With no response, Duke Wild tenses and continues to say, "You are well aware that with this issues, it will stain her reputation. It will ruin my innocent granddaughter’s name. No men will marry her." 

The Emperor looked at Eric and asked, "What say you, Eric?"

"Please say no. Please say no!" whisper Ruby.

"I will marry her," said Eric. 

Ruby's heart echoes with pain. She can feel every blood pounding out of her chest.  The stinging throbbing agony was hitting her in every angle of her body. She feels that even if she screams nothing will come out, and no one will hear her.

"Good. Very good," laughed Duke Wild.

The other men exclaimed in excitement as they all said, "Congratulations! You got a fine son-in-law there." 

Samantha looked at Eric and beam. She was so excited to hear that Eric had agreed to marry her. She knew that by telling her grandfather, he would pressure the Emperor to preserve her innocence. Thus the Emperor will question Eric's judgment. Knowing Eric, he is a man of righteousness so he will do everything to keep her good name and take responsibility of her.  

"Go ahead Samantha, go to your husband to be," edge Duke Wild. 

"But grandfather, what about his other fiancée?" question as innocently as Samantha can.

"What?"

"The one who is supposed to be his future princess consort."

Eric frowned and said, "I don't love her. I only agree to the engagement because it was decreed by the previous Emperor." He looked up at Samantha and continued to say, "Samantha, I love you only."

Ruby's heart have officially broken into two. Tears were rolling down her cheeks uncontrollably. 

"But what about the decree?"

""As of now, I cannot do anything about it, since it was done by the previous Emperor."

"So, you are saying that I can only be your consort?" 

 "When I come back from the war, victorious I will take your hand in marriage. I will annul my marriage with that woman. You will be my princess consort."

Samantha smiled. 

"Samantha, even if you are not my legal wife now, you will still be my favorite consort." 

Samantha's smiles disappear for a moment there. Her wicked face could not be seen by her pretense of innocence. She smiled and said, "Of course my prince. As long as you recognize me, and who I truly am in your heart. I, Samantha Wild, will become your wife." Leaning into his embrace she held him.

While snuggling in his arms she thought how much she hated the idea of being his consort. She wanted the news tomorrow to spread of her being his princess consort, not to be stuck as second to Ruby. She did not want to be just his consort. But, for the time being she will have to suck it up and pretend to be okay. She will have to get rid of Ruby soon, in order to take the position of being his princess consort. 

For now, she will continue to make Prince Eric hate Ruby even more, and when the time comes to get rid of her no one will notice her. In order to get to her objectives, she won't care what happens to that ugly fat girl. In order to become the future Empress, she must be the Princess Consort first. That was her only way to lay claim to the throne.

A loud clap was heard from the Emperor. 

"Good. Good. I never liked that girl Ruby Scarlet either. But due to being faithful to my words, I have to honor the words of my father, the previous Emperor. It's a good thing that my son will marry both women from prestigious background. And one of them is beautiful too," laughed the emperor. 

Ruby's heart pounded painfully. So, the Emperor was only pretending to care about her. 

Samantha gleamed with happiness and bowed down to him. She turned to Eric and kissed him. 

The great hall was thundering with excitement and cheers. 

Ruby was covering her ears in the waves of laughter. Unable to bear any more pain, she ran out of the great hall, tears streaming down her face. The double doors to the great hall opened, and to everyone's surprise they didn't see anyone. They all stared in confusion. She ended up at the great fountain of waterfall. There she sat looking into her reflection. 

"No, this can't be! He is my true love," weep Ruby. 

After a long time, she finally summons the strength to get up to go talk to Eric. Ruby, who was still invisible, was walking to Eric's room. In the windows, she saw the silhouette of Samantha and Eric. She saw the both of them embracing each other. 

Heart pounding, Ruby said to herself, "How could he take her to his bed?" Frustrated she thought, "They just announced that they were going to get married, and was he in that much of a rush to sleep with her, that he took her into his room?" Tears that she thought couldn't come anymore came once again.

Thinking back to her engagement party yesterday. During and after their engagement ceremony Eric was such in a rush to leave her that she didn't even get a chance to see him. How cruel he is to her. Did all her love mean nothing to him?

"Wow, did you see how Prince Eric was going at it with Miss Samantha Wild?" said one of the fat guard who was coming out of the hall. 

"I saw them. But hey! Who can you blame, a man needs his fill too you know," replied the other skinny guards.

"I mean you might as well take all you can before leaving to war."

They both giggled and laughed.  

Ruby's fist clenched into a ball. Anger burst through her heart as she looked back at the window and the lights turned off. Although she walked away from his room, her feet brought her back to Eric's room again. She was standing outside his room, and she thought of knocking on the door. Her hand came to a stop as she could hear the bed creaking and the moans of Samantha and Eric's voice. Ruby's heart nearly stopped. Horror memories of them in the bush came flushing in her mind.

"Damn, they have been at it for hours," said one of the soldiers patrolling. 

"Hey, she's a hot babe," replied one of the other soldiers.

Covering her face with tears flooding down her cheeks, she ran out of the palace.