To her anguish, that hope was extinguished as the fire in his eyes was turned toward her . "Eve, I demand you apologize to Queen Fae, and receive to slaps yourself to repay you for your deed . " The silence gathered for a moment, the sound of a heart breaking and freezing over hung between them .

"Evelyn . Don't call me Eve again . " She corrected him mercilessly . Tears in her eyes gatherers and threatened to fall . Surprise met his face as he heard her brush away the affectionate nickname they had shared since they were young . "And if I say no?" She asked meeting his eyes with a icy gaze . He felt the torrent of cold disappointment wash over him, leaving him momentarily confused . When he finally gained his senses again he glared at her .

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"Then you will move to the cold palace until you take your punishment . I will not tolerate My Empress attacking my Queens . " He replied, his voice and stance protective as he wrapped one arm around Queen Fae and the other resting tenderly on Queen Kira's waist . The site sent a jold of pain through Evelyn's chest . Fine, She knew it would be this way, but it didn't mean she had to take it quietly .

"As you wish, Emperor . You have opened my eyes this day . I will die in the cold palace before I allow this injustice to pa.s.s . I will protect myown . " Empress Evelyn replied, her voice soft and gentle even as she made such a harsh declaration . His eyes widened as he stared at the beautiful woman that wa his chosen wife . So long had pa.s.sed since he saw her this emotional . If it was any other emotion, perhaps he could enjoy seeing this pa.s.sion in her eyes . However, the violence and the anger she had just released was striking compared to her docile nature . What ever had gotten into her, he could not just let it pa.s.s .

The broken hearted look in her eyes send pangs of guilt to his heart . He had spoken out of anger at her defiance . Everything about her personality of late said she would yield to him… and yet she had not . Nor did she try to reason with him as she had in the past . Both were equally troubling to his heart . "Eve…" He let go of the girls and took a step toward her .

His arm wrapped around her waist, drawing her close to him . His lips met hers, tenderly caressing her warm soft skin . To his surprise, those lips that always yielded to him, stayed still as stone . She didn't respond to his kiss, or his caress . Even as he rubbed his cheek against hers bringing his lips to her ear . "Please reconsider, forget the slaps . Just apologize . " He asked softly . Something deep within him warned if she walked away now, he would lose something precious to him .

"I will not . You have made your decision . Try not to regret it . " Empress Evelyn replied, pulling away from his arms . With a final look of farewell, Evelyn turned and glided off toward the cold Palace . The Leopard followed her, her eyes accusingly meeting the Emperor's as it followed the Empress down the path . Mally smiled .

"It seems Tears has chosen her Mistress . " Mally said with a grim smile . The Emperor sighed .

"Perhaps I should reconsider . " He whispered as his Queens went to play with the children, triumphant over the Empress but trying their best not to show it .

"Your Majesty, all due respect, you may not give you that chance . " Mally knew the Empress well . She had been like a daughter to her for so long that the hard sh.e.l.l Evelyn showed to all others was unnecessary . Therefore Mally knew once her Lady's heart was broken, she held it together with a thick wall . The blind man in front of her would never be able to open the door . With a pitying glance, Mally walked back into the gardens .

"What did she mean?" He whispered to the wind, eyes concerned as he watched the cold palace path .