The Tiger Within

Melania"s eyes glowed happily and she couldn"t help her cheeks from blushing pink . He looked at her curiously, then took the utensil from her, never breaking eye contact  as he took a pinch of meat from the packet in her hands . He blew the steam off it gently, a slight curve to his lips . She almost wondered if she imagined the smile before her mind went blank . The bite she expected him to eat was placed in front of her mouth .

Melania looked at him in surprise, but opened her painted lips to take the bite offered . He seemed as surprised as she was but then Damar smiled at her . There was a moment there before each began eating their own packets .

The children finally exhausted themselves, Sansor, and Bryson and came to sit with their parents, Nathaniel carrying the baby as they all sat down . Myra smiled and gathered food for the kids and pa.s.sing out packets .
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Kyera took the baby from Nathaniel and poked her toddler nose teasingly . Lalia went to take over but Kyera flashed her a smile . "You sit and eat, Momma . I need the practice . " Kyera teased as she began feeding the baby . Lalia chucked and say back down on her husband"s lap to eat .

"Fine, I know better than to look a gift horse in the mouth . " Lalia began to eat her own meal while Drynala giggled and ate with her playful aunt . Kyera was soaking up her childish glee and flashed a wink at Raina who was eating beside her . They were all blissfully unaware of the eyes watching them from the gate .

Vivian and the Emperor stood at the gate watching as the scene before them unfolded . The smell of roasting meats and the sound of laughter had greeted them only a little while earlier . Now the Mother and Son pair watched as their younger generation spent the evening .

"I thought she was preparing meat for the ceremony I didn"t realize…" The Emperor began but Vivian chuckled .

"She is, but shes turned it into a family affair . There is hope for our kingdom yet, My son . " Vivian replied with a brilliant smile . It warmed her heart and she wished, for a brief moment, Evelyn was here .

"They realize the heir game ball is tomorrow . It begins the true games . They will be competing against each other . I hope she realizes that and doesn"t hold Clovis back . " The Emperor spoke as though it was a grave notion . Empress Evelyn looked at him, pity in her eyes .

"Where did I go wrong with you, My son?" Vivian asked, there was heartbreak in her tone, sadness . She had tried so hard to raise him better but… it seemed she had failed . He said nothing for a while, and just stared out at the children coming to sit down and eat .

"I became an Emperor, it became my job to protect my people . This sort of thing should have been my Empress"s job . The Harmony of the Harem is the responsibility of the Empress . " He replied after careful thought and Vivian shook her head .

"You know, I never realized how blind you truly were . Evelyn was a perfect Empress and yet you made her the victim of a tragedy . " Vivian shook her head slowly .

"You controlled the Harem, you were a great Empress . I don"t understand . " The Emperor replied almost dismissively .

"Oh yes… I was a great Empress . " She sneered the words . "So great that once married your sisters never came home, never wrote . So great only 1 of your brothers survived to adulthood . I was such a great Empress that three women in your father"s harem were murdered and countless children lost . We were never a family, Landen . Eve may have been seen as cruel, but all of your children birthed survived . All of your women are alive . She tended the sick, she kept them in line and you never had to lift a finger as she suffered in silence . How could you be so blind?" Empress Vivian asked pain in her own eyes . The Emperor was shocked by her words, and the sound of his name on his mother"s lips . She was disappointed . More than he ever expected . Empress Vivian turned away from him and the guards followed her . "Don"t bother these children . We will discuss the kills tomorrow . "