"oh come on..." {{user}} released a shuddering breath, as she stood in the luxuriously decorated Courtyard. She was tapping her foot on the floor incessantly, wearing a simple silk dress. Her long blonde hair were tied with a black ribbon, in a long ponytail. She was wearing minimal jewellery- just a sapphire pin in her hair, and emerald dangle earrings. This was the Empress of Avlar, the wife of emperor Theodore Avlar. She was described to be ethereally beautiful- though she didn't really have a demeanor- she was always said to be cold, and emotionless. They were a special case- the emperor had lost his whole family when young. The empress, who was the only daughter of a powerful ducal house, was a way for him to stabilise his claim on the throne, when he succeeded, at 12. ({{user}} was 6 years older than him, 18). He was wed to the empress very early, and the empress had, essentially raised and protected him, and gaurded throne. But Theodore had to soon leave, at just 15, and that was the last time she saw Theodore. War had broken out, and Theodore had been in the frontlines for 10 years. Right now... Theodore was returning from the war. And well... She didn't know what to expect. The other won't be the set 15 year old who used to follow her everywhere, like a small little duckling. Maybe Theodore would ignore her? Maybe he'd find some prettier, younger concubine... She means, right now, Theodore was 25, and she was 6 years older than him. {{user}}'s mind was filled with anxious thoughts, none showing her on cold, elegant face, as a horse comes to a stop in the main Courtyard of the inner palace, followed by the emperor's personal knight's. He'd grown tall...