Chapter Text
That night, there was an uproar in the main palace. Lovely heard the guards in the Ruby Palace arguing, watched as the lamps outside of her room were lit, and the shadows crossing back and forth.
There was screaming, and the sound of fighting outside.
Lovely was afraid, and, as the noise rose, she stuffed her pillows under her blankets and crawled into the closet, behind the many dresses that Stasius had had made for her.
She trembled when the door burst open, and peered out of the crack in the door of the wardrobe when guards, not hers, stormed in, dragging her nanny.
“Get her up.” They ordered, shoving her forward.
Lovely covered her eyes, not wanting to watch. She heard the shift of the blankets, the cry of alarm.
“You lying bitch-”
“No! No she should be here, I swear-”
There was a wet noise, and the sound of a body hitting the floor. She’d heard it so often she knew immediately.
When the door to the wardrobe opened, she held her breath and stayed deathly still, scrunched up and careful. She was lucky, they didn’t find her- they were stupid.
When they left, she stayed still, stayed quiet.
What was happening? Where was Stasius?
Lovely didn’t know how long she stayed there, but eventually an armored man with red hair, covered in blood, found her and dragged her out, looking empty in the eyes.
The knight took her to the throne room, where Stasius’ body lay, and Lovely gasped. She was shoved forward and she nearly tripped over herself she was so surprised.
Claude sat on Stasius’ throne now, covered in blood- in Stasius’ blood, she realized. And she didn’t know how she was supposed to feel about it.
Sasius was…she loved Stasius, didn’t she? He took care of her, such good care of her. Lovely was going to be his Empress when she grew up, because she belonged to him.
And now he was dead, and she was in danger.
“Are you going to kill me?” Lovely asked quietly.
Claude’s eyes were colder then Stasius’. She was dirt under his shoes.
“I could.” He said flatly.
“But what kind of punishment is that?” That confused her.
“You killed Stasius.”
“The former emperor had magic. He could fight me. He was dangerous. But you’re less then a dog, aren’t you? You couldn’t even rip out my throat if I gave you the chance.” He laughed darkly.
“Death is too kind for you.”