Mel, who had remained standing by the side like a silent statue, stepped forward and said "your Imperial majesty, there Is a matter that requires your attention, I looked at Mel and said "what Is It?" Mel replied "you have a message from Duke blackwood" I got up and nodded to Mel then I looked at Sofia and said "I will be right back dear" In return Sofia nodded then I walked towards my office alone, the walk felt longer than usual the silence of the hallways seemed to echo with my mother's words then I closed the heavy office doors behind me and stood before my desk, on my desk the crystal ball which Is used to communicate between noble's was pulsing with a low, rhythmic light. I touched the ball and the mist within swirled Into focus, revealing Liam he was sitting on a leather chair with a glass of wine In his hand, Liam looked at me and said "good morning your Imperial majesty....I trust your morning was spirited" his voice dripping with an effortless, mocking authority I gripped the edge of my desk and said "what do you want Duke blackwood?" Liam took a slow, deliberate sip of his wine then he said "a gesture of hospitality your Imperial majesty to celebrate our new arrangement and the upcoming merger of our houses, I am formally Inviting you and the empress to the blackwood estate tonight, a private dinner for the four of us" Liam leaned forward, the mocking tilt of his head made my blood run cold then he said "think of It as a double date a chance for us to ensure we all understand our new roles" I replied "a date?" Liam nodded and said "Indeed Scarlett was very specific about the Invitation she feels your... education... Is only Just beginning.....ah and tell her Imperial majesty...to wear a sexy lingerie " Liam smirked as he said that making feel humiliated and angry then to finish It Liam said "we expect you at sunset don't be late" light flickered and died from the crystal ball, leaving me In the silence of the office, the thought of being In their home and what might happen sent a Jolt of terror through me but beneath that terror, the dark, submissive thrill flared up again the word education echoed In my mind, sounding exactly like Scarlett's voice I could almost feel the weight of her gaze already then I left the office and returned to the bedroom, as I pushed open the bedroom doors I see Sofia waiting for me on the couch, seeing me she got up and asked me "Alan?.....what did he say? what does the Duke want now?" I went and stood In front of her and said "he Invited us to the blackwood estate tonight...a private dinner he called It a... double date" Sofia's breath hitched her face pale as she said ".....they can do whatever they want to us there" I whispered looking down at my boots "I know....but we have to go, Sofia we have to follow their orders...and Liam said Scarlett was very specific about the Invitation, he said.......she believes my education Is only Just beginning" at the mention of the word education, a visible shiver had run through Sofia's body then I swallowed hard, the humiliation reaching a boiling point as I said "and he... he wanted you to wear a... sexy lingerie" at the mention of the lingerie, Sofia got anger which was evident on her face then she said "how...how dare he ask something like that from a empress?" I couldn't reply we Just stood there quietly then the air between us began to change I could see the conflict, the terror of being humiliated again clashing with that dark, forbidden spark. Sofia reached out putting her hand on my heart as she said "It's disgusting... It's terrifying...yet...I can feel your heart racing Just like mine dear" I replied stuttering "that....that..I...." a small, mischievous smirk played on her lips while she was blushing, then she whispered "well....tell me, my emperor... since you've already surrendered your pride... what lingerie should your wife wear under her gown tonight for a another man?" I stood frozen, the air In the room suddenly feeling thick and suffocating, the directness of her question specifying that she was dressing for another man, It was the ultimate acknowledgment that my role as her husband had been compromised "Sofia..." I managed to choke out, my face burning with a heat but I couldn't find my voice I was the emperor of a falling house, helping my empress choose how to best present herself to the man who had stolen my throne, the humiliation was absolute yet the bond It created between us In that moment was tighter than It had ever been.
