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SOLENE'S POV
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"What's going on?" My brows were furrowed as I watch the maids going in and out of my chamber. They seemed to be preparing something, they were all in a hurry.
After the short conversation I had with Mother, the Empress Dowager, I had stayed at the palace courtyard for the rest of the afternoon. It was only at dawn did I decided to come back into my room, only to witness such a mess.
"It's the first day of the month Empress. That means, the Emperor will be coming tonight." Sacha politely answered.
Huh? I became even more confused that Sacha noticed the confusion in my face making her confused too.
"Did you also forget that the Emperor visits you in your chamber every first day of the month Your Majesty?"
I squinted my eyes to think but nothing came to mind. Of course, how am I supposed to know that?
"Ahm.. no. I.. I remember." I stuttered feeling embarrassed.
Then what do I do now?
The Emperor will come. And as his Empress and also his wife, it is expected of me to give myself to him.. Ahh I am not prepared for any of this at all!
Is it possible for me to refuse? 
Of course, the answer is no.
Before I knew it, the day was over and the night has come. I was taking a bath which took longer than the usual bath I was customed to. I was so embarrassed as the maids were rubbing and oiling my skin, preparing me for the night with the Emperor. 
After that, they let me wear a rather scandalous piece of clothing, a very thin dress that barely covers my naked body. This is very far from the usual night gowns that I had been wearing. I felt so exposed as I wasn't wearing anything underneath besides the dress itself. 
Once the maids left my chamber, I sat stiffly at the sofa. My heart beats getting louder and louder as the time goes by. My face getting hot in embarrassment.
"It's alright. You can just say you are not yet ready to do it." I comforted myself.
"Celestia."
I looked at the door when I heard Damon's masculine voice. I cleared my throat.
"Come in, Your Majesty." 
A moment later, the door opened. Damon walked in and gestured the following servants behind his back to leave. Without a fuss, they all left leaving us alone in my chamber.
I stood up from the sofa and kept my eyes to the floor when I heard him walking towards me. I am too embarrassed to even look at him!
"Would you rather look at your feet than look at me?" He asked in a tone I couldn't comprehend.
Quickly, I lifted my head to look at him but I remained silent. I do not know what to say because he is right. I would really rather look at my feet than look at him. His blue eyes always mesmerized me, that's why. And I am nervous too.
"You said you don't remember your promise so I'll have to remind you again about it." He said and proceeded to sit at the sofa.
He gestured me to sit beside him and so I did. And even though I was embarrassed at how I look tonight, I was relieved that he did not once look at the dress I'm wearing.
"What did I promised?" I asked after I was seated. 
I look at him anticipating for his answer, silently hoping Celestia did not promised something that is out of this world.
"Two years ago, before we got married, you had promised me that you'll give me a child." He replied quickly.
Upon hearing so, my jaw dropped.
"A.. a child?"
"Yes. My successor."
I gulped. Making a promise is like taking an oath with your life which means, promises should never be broken. It was widely believed that it would be better to die than be ashamed from breaking a promise.
And then suddenly, I remembered the conversation I had with Mother this morning..
I bit my inside cheeks. I can't believe I made the same promise with Damon and his Mother! But in Damon's case, it was Celestia not me. But even so. Ugh.
"Next month will be the third anniversary of our marriage," Damon looked at me.
"That would be three years already which means, we don't have enough time left."
"Huh?" I was dumbfounded even if I understood what he meant.
"You don't expect me to get pregnant in a day or week, do you?"
I laugh as I find the thought ridiculous. It is impossible to get pregnant in a day! Much more having a baby in just a month. What does he think? That the baby would grow real fast inside me?
But, I stopped laughing when I saw that he looks dead serious. 
"But this is so sudden and quite impossible to fulfill!" I complained. I am starting to panic.
"As I said, regardless of your memory loss, you need to fulfill your promise. You said so yourself, that you will." Damon said, reminding me of what I had said to him during the lunch.
"But that is because I did not know what I had promised." I tried to reasoned out.
"Then, you are going to break your promise?" He asked, his brows rising as a clear sign of a challenge.
I bit my lips. Of course, he knew I am not that dumb to break a promise. I sighed.
"Then," I paused. I was suddenly embarrassed to ask the question but I needed to know.
"Did we use contraceptives before?" I asked confused.
"I mean, we've been married for two years, how come we are still childless until now?" 
I look at him in wonder and his face remained expressionless, unbothered by my question.
"We never used contraceptives because we have never slept together." He answered plainly.
My eyes went wide with his revelation.
"Huh? What do you mean we didn't slept together?" Disbelief displayed all over my face.
"You mean not once in that two years?!"
"That's why I said, we don't have much time left." He replied, still, nonchalantly but he is looking at me in a way that made me feel the weight of the world on my shoulders.
Then it hit me like a lightning.
The Emperor, the Kingdom rather, needs a successor. Because if not, the Kingdom will be at risk as only blood descendants will take over the throne. 
"But I heard that you visit me here on the first day of every month?" I asked, still confused. Sacha didn't lie on me, did she?
"Yes but we just slept," he replied dryly.
"Where?"
"In your bed of course, where else?" His voice laced with sarcasm.
"Huh?" I was all confused that Damon suddenly laugh out loud in pure amusement.
"Celestia, you insisted I must not touch you not until you say so. I respected you and so I agreed." He quipped.
Ohhhh.
"Why do you look so disappointed?" He laughed out loud yet again.
"Would you had rather I took you by force than complying to your wish?"
"What? No!" I almost shouted, my eyes went wide and it only made him laugh even more when it's not even funny.
"Do you want to do it tonight then?" He suddenly asked after he calmed down.
"What? Oh, I , uh.." I stuttered all the way. I wasn't ready!
"Do you need more time to prepare?"
I quickly nodded upon hearing his question. I was relieved. I thought he'll beat me to it.
"Alright. But don't forget. We need to do it as soon as possible." He reminded.
"Yes," I quietly nodded.
Yet I don't think I will be prepared not tonight, not the next day, not ever!
:)