Edit: Sorry for the formatting issue, it's been fixed now! Thank you to those who let me know!
The first time The Evil Queen met with the new ambassador, everything began normally. She was expecting the same wheezing turtle of a man, the ambassador that crawled to her castle every other month and spewed meaningless words at her for far longer than necessary. More than once she had used her charm on him to make him stop, leave, agree to this or that, and so she was once again clothed in a clinging dress of dark velvet. She ran her fingertips absentmindedly over the sliver pattern on the deep vee of a neckline she knew would come in handy. Give me this piece of land, grant me this - it never mattered what she asked, so long as she tilted her torso forward as she did.
She positioned herself on the couch as usual, draping her limbs over the soft cushions and adjusting the fabric of her dress until it fell perfectly. Moments later her head guard knocked on the door - three soft raps, a warning he intended to enter - before pulling the heavy wood open and slipping through the crack.
He bowed as he spoke. "Your Majesty, the ambassador from the White Kingdom is here. She is waiting outside."
"She?" She asked, brows raised in surprise.
"Yes, your majesty." He still hadn't risen from his bow, and she cleared her throat impatiently. She'd long ago grown tired of listening to people speak at the tiles.
"And what happened to Arthur?" She didn't miss the tiny flinch at her tone, even as her guard quickly recovered.
"He passed away last month."
"Mm," She hummed, hardly bothering to express any kind of regret at the news. "Very well. Send her in, then."
The guard nodded and quickly scampered from the room. Regina contemplated a quick, magic-made change of clothing, but decided against it. With any luck the woman would fall the same way Arthur did.
An echo rang through the room as both doors were yanked open and swung shut again. A pretty young blonde strolled into the room. She was not wearing a dress as a traditional lady of the court would, but she was instead clad in simple pants and a fur-lined vest over a loose shirt. The Queen let her eyes drift over the woman's body for a moment, admiring the way the tight clothing hugged her form. Curls framed her face, and she turned- Regina squinted for a moment.
The woman looked familiar, like... Emma.
The woman's mouth twitched up and Regina realized she'd said the name out loud. "Regina," Emma nodded. "It's been quite awhile."
The Queen shook herself out of her state of shock. "That it has. You were just a girl last time I saw you." Regina tilted her head, regaining the appearance of royal superiority that she has always prided herself on. She was well aware that though she didn't look it, she had ten years on this girl.
Emma shrugged, folding her hands behind her back as she moved to inspect the elaborate design etched into the fireplace. "I've been keeping myself busy."
"I bet." Regina slid her legs down from the couch, making room for another. She patted the space beside her. "Please, do have a seat dear." She let her tone drop to the same pitch that always transformed Arthur into her puppet, but judging by the way the blonde's lips quirked up at the sound, she'd only succeeded in amusing her.
Still, Emma did sit beside her, a little closer than was truly necessary. Regina took that as a small victory. Emma looked infuriatingly relaxed, reclining in the seat and crossing her legs as if she belonged. As if this was her home, and not Regina's.
Regina leaned forward slightly, fully aware of the effect it had on her cleavage. She couldn't deny the small satisfaction she felt when Emma's eyes flickered down ever so quickly. The girl's eyes move to meet her own, the Princess seeming perfectly at ease. "If you don't mind me asking, dear, why did the Queen and King decide to send their eldest daughter? Surely a member of court would have sufficed."
Emma tilted her head slightly, watching with parted lips as the Queen's fingernail trailed along the edge of her knee. And then she was meeting her gaze again, confident as ever, as if the momentary crack in her demeanor was nothing. "My parents wanted somebody they could trust."
"And they couldn't trust anyone else? I assure you, I don't bite."
"Seeing as you seem to have a habit of seducing your way into unfair agreements, they thought it wise to send me instead." The statement was blunt, and Regina retracted her hand.
"And they think you're immune." Regina's red painted lips drew into a smile and Emma shrugged.
"I do believe I am." She reached forward and poured a cup of tea from the pot on the table. She paused a moment, taking the time to blow gently on the hot liquid before speaking. "I won't be so easy to crack."
"We'll see."