My fingers drummed against the polished mahogany table, the rhythmic tapping of my nails echoing through every corner of the room, filling the silence with a subtle tension, "Henry, do you think it's too early to hold a tea party?" I inquired, my voice laced with casual curiosity, though I was fully aware that my question was more rhetorical than anything else. Still, I valued Henry's input and wanted to give him the opportunity to share his thoughts.

"Your Majesty, you may hold a tea party whenever you desire," he replied, his tone respectful and measured, his eyes steady as they met mine. His voice carried a quiet confidence that I found both reassuring and satisfying. A slow, satisfied smirk played on my lips-just as I had thought. After all, I am the second most powerful person in the empire, with only the Emperor standing above me in authority.

"Then prepare for it. We will have a tea party. Invite all the influential people and that will be your responsibility, Henry," I declared with a tone that brooked no argument, my words firm and imbued with the authority I wielded. Henry nodded without hesitation, his acceptance swift and unquestioning.

I will make this tea party unforgettable. This is exactly what they want, so their wishes shall be granted. After all, it is in the nature of a true villain to give people what they desire, only to deceive them in the end. It's a strategy that has served me well-appearing to offer generosity while subtly manipulating the circumstances to my advantage.

Without wasting any time, I set the Imperial Palace into a flurry of activity, ensuring that every servant was fully occupied with preparations for the event. I made sure that every detail matched my vision, down to the last flower arrangement and the placement of each piece of silverware. Nothing was left to chance.

The color theme for the tea party was carefully chosen, black, gold, and red. Just imagining the reactions of the invited guests brought a sense of satisfaction. I could already see the mixture of admiration, envy, and perhaps a touch of fear that would flicker across their faces when they entered the grand hall.

The following evening, everything I had meticulously planned came to fruition. Tonight was the night of the tea party. I dressed with deliberate care, choosing a golden off-shoulder gown that clung to every curve of my body, emphasizing my silhouette with a slit skirt that shimmered with red glitters. Black gloves adorned my hands, adding a touch of mystery and authority to my appearance.

I stood at the top of the grand staircase, overlooking the tea party that was already in full swing below. My gaze swept across the vast hall, taking in every detail. I was more than satisfied with the outcome. The entire reception hall glittered with an elegance that was almost otherworldly, the opulent décor a testament to my impeccable taste.

As I surveyed the guests, I noticed that they had all dressed to impress, each trying to outshine the others with their extravagant attire. I could see their polite smiles, some genuine, others barely concealing their disdain or envy. The art of masking true emotions was something I had perfected long ago, and it was a skill I easily recognized in others.

A smirk tugged at my lips as I began to descend the staircase. The sound of my heels striking the marble floor resonated throughout the hall, drawing every eye to me as I made my way down with measured grace. I relished the sight of their reactions-most were awestruck, their eyes wide with admiration, while others, particularly the women, watched me with barely concealed envy. Some whispered behind the others, their jealousy evident in the way they glanced at me. My gaze landed on Anastasia, who stood with her family-naturally, they had been invited.

Upon reaching the bottom of the staircase, I paused, "Greetings to the moon of the Empire, your Imperial Majesty the Empress!" sabay nilang bigkas, they bowed their heads as respect, offering the assembled guests a sweet, almost saccharine smile. "Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. It is wonderful to see you all here! I assure you, this will be a night you will never forget. Please, enjoy your tea!" I announced, my voice calm but carrying a firm undercurrent that left no room for doubt. The room erupted in polite applause, though I could see that some clapped more out of obligation than genuine enthusiasm.

The guests took their seats, and I moved to my own place, a solitary spot at the head of the table where I could observe everything. As expected, the tea was served promptly, accompanied by an array of delicate sweet breads.

I lifted the fine china teacup with careful precision, inhaling the fragrant aroma that wafted up from the steaming brew. The scent was intoxicating, mingling perfectly with the soft strains of music that filled the air. I took a sip, the rich, complex flavors spreading across my palate, causing me to close my eyes in a moment of pure satisfaction. When I opened them again, my gaze fell on the guests nearest to me, their faces lighting up with pleasure as they tasted the tea I had so carefully selected.

Minutes passed, and the tea party continued without a hitch. One emotion dominated the faces of the guests-joy, pure and unfiltered. They were completely immersed in the experience, just as I had intended.

A wicked smile curved my lips as the grand doors of the hall swung open. The sudden entrance drew every eye to the doorway, and the collective reaction was one of utter shock. It was as if they had just witnessed something terrifying, something that shattered the carefully constructed illusion of the evening.

Dinala ng apat na knights ang apat na lalaking duguan ang buong katawan sa aking tabi, na pinapangunahan Edward. Puwersahang pinapaluhod ng mga knights ang apat na lalaki. Ngumiti naman ako ng matamis, dinig ko ang daing ng apat na lalaki, "Relax everyone!" I said in a calm voice, though the delight on my face was unmistakable. I could see the horror etched on their faces as they tried to maintain their composure, the tension in the room thick enough to cut with a knife.

A graceful chuckle escaped my lips, the sound light and airy, yet it seemed to echo ominously in the silent hall. "Everyone, this is just for entertainment," I said, my voice smooth, yet laced with something that unsettled them even further. Confusion flickered across their faces as they tried to laugh along with me, their attempts half-hearted and strained. With a sweet smile, I rose from my seat, my movements fluid and deliberate. Without hesitation, I reached for Edward's sword, its cold steel glinting in the dim light as I unsheathed it.

I swung the sword effortlessly through the air, the blade slicing through the silence with a deadly grace. Without warning, I pointed the sharp tip directly at one of the captured bandits kneeling before me. The suddenness of my action caused the room to erupt in gasps, and the man before me, eyes wide with fear, nearly collapsed from the sheer terror of the moment.

"Do you know," I began, my voice soft yet carrying a weight that demanded attention, "That these men attempted to take my life?" the room, which had already been teetering on the edge of panic, was now plunged into a heavy, serious atmosphere. I smiled as though the matter was of little consequence to me, a casual expression that only deepened the unease in the room, "And they said they would sell me... " I paused, letting the tension build as their eyes locked onto me, waiting for my next words. Binaba ko ang espada, my smile faded into a cold, serious expression. "To the Nobles," I finished, my voice dropping with the weight of accusation.

Shock rippled through the room, their faces reflecting a mix of disbelief and fear. I watched as they began to eye one another with suspicion, doubt creeping into their minds like a poison. A few of the men couldn't hide their anger, their expressions darkening as they glared at those beside them, as though silently accusing them of some unseen crime.

"Then, they deserve to die! Your Imperial Majesty!" one of them exclaimed, his voice ringing out with fervor, quickly followed by murmurs of agreement from others. But I wasn't done. I leaned in slightly, my eyes narrowing as I posed the next question, my voice dripping with a mock innocence that belied the deadly intent behind it. "And those Nobles too?" I asked in chorus with their cries, the innocence in my tone clashing with the seriousness of the accusation.

Silence fell like a shroud over the room, the weight of my words sinking in. They knew as well as I did that some among them might very well be involved in such vile dealings. The sudden quiet was telling, their earlier bravado evaporating in the face of the unspoken truth that hung heavily in the air. Nilingon ko ang lalaki na nakaupo sa pinakadulo, ang Duke. Napangisi ako, nababakas sa mukha niya ang pagkabahala.

"I wonder, who could be the mastermind behind all this," I mused aloud, letting my words hang in the air, laced with an underlying sense of excitement. The tension in the room thickened as if I were deliberately aiming to unearth the very root of the matter.

"Your Imperial Majesty," a voice suddenly interrupted my thoughts, drawing my attention. It was an elderly man, his presence commanding the room as he stepped forward. My brow furrowed slightly as I observed him-there was an air of arrogance about him, evident in the way he held himself. "Hindi ba't mas maganda kung ang opisyal ang hahawak sa suliraning ito?" he suggested, his tone firm and unwavering, as though he were confident that he was making the correct recommendation.

"And what exactly is the difference between those officials and myself?" I countered, pausing deliberately to let the weight of my words sink in. My gaze fixed on him, unwavering as I maintained my composure, my voice calm but carrying an edge that cut through the silence. "When I am the one who gives the commands, aside from His Majesty?" I continued, my tone growing more serious, my expression hardening as I challenged his implied authority.

The room grew still, the air charged with the unspoken implications of my words. I could see the flicker of uncertainty in his eyes, a small victory that I savored as I held his gaze, asserting my dominance over the situation.

No one dared to speak further, as if nothing could come to their minds to question me again. The silence was thick, suffocating, as they weighed their options in the face of my presence. I feigned a light cough, breaking the oppressive stillness, and flashed a graceful smile as if the tension from earlier had never occurred. "Nevertheless! The tea party will still continue, so please, have a sip!" I said, my voice laced with a sweet invitation, attempting to pull them back from the edge of discomfort and dissolve the lingering tension that surrounded us. I took a slow sip from my teacup, concealing a smirk behind its delicate rim.

Edward and other knights swiftly removed the four men who had been kneeling beside me, their presence a stark reminder of the authority I wielded. The tea party resumed with an air of forced normalcy, the conversations subdued and careful. I could sense their unease, the way their gazes avoided mine, as if I carried an unspoken threat they were only beginning to comprehend.

Ngayon na natuklasan nila na malayo ako sa mga haka-haka na naririnig nila patungkol sa akin, they would no longer see me as someone of low standing. Their every move would be measured, knowing that crossing me could be a fatal mistake. Yet, I knew there was a flip side to this newfound respect—they might hasten their plans to bring about my downfall. The thought made me smirk.

These people, driven by greed and ambition, were predictable in their desperation. I would wait, patiently, for their next move, knowing full well that they would act sooner rather than later. And when they did, I would be ready.