Flora wakes up alone in bed, she feels horrible. Her mouth is dry with a thick and leathery tongue. Spying a bottle of water on her bedside table, she gratefully drinks from the bottle. Flora spies a scrap of paper left under the bottle.
Went to market, took the children. Love, V
She takes another drink of water. Memories from last night play in her head, causing her to groan aloud.
The kissing and barely there restraint.
I should have never let you go, please forgive me.
Vulpes kissing her forehead.
Flora hears knocking on the front door, bringing her from her thoughts.
"Alright, alright," she calls, plodding to the front door.
The world is a bit brighter than expected as she shields her eyes upon opening the door.
"Hello Flora, mind if I come in?"
She squints to see Thomas standing before her.
"Of course not, come in, " she responds.
"How do you feel?," he laughs, noticing her half closed eyes and dazed expression.
"Like shit, drank too damn much. How are you?"
"Better than you," he smirks.
"I'm so sorry about last night," Flora begins. "I should have... "
"Who are you Flora?, " Thomas interrupts.
"I'm just a woman who left my cheating..."
"Who are you really?, " he presses.
Flora heaves a hefty sigh.
"I swear that man's always messing up my plans," she grumbles to herself.
"My name is Flora Inculta. The man you met last night is my husband, Vulpes Inculta, Emperor of the Legion."
Thomas nods, processing what he just learned.
"I hope you're not mad," she offers as he remains silent, causing concern to crease her brow.
"I'm not mad, just surprised is all," he finally ventures. "I mean, I knew you were special."
"I'm still the same person," Flora offers quickly. "Nothing special about me."
Thomas gives a soft smile at her declaration. He reaches into his pocket, pulling out a small box. Her heart begins to pound upon seeing the object in his hand.
"I wanted to give you this," he says, handing her the small box. "I know the timing is shit but if I didn't do this, I'd never forgive myself."
Flora suddenly feels nervous holding the small, black box in her hand.
"I was going to give it to you the other night," he tells her.
"Thomas, you didn't have to do that," she says opening the gift.
Sitting on a small pillow is a pear shaped opal pendant, outfitted in silver. A fine silver chain lay curled underneath.
"This is too much," she protests.
"It matches the sparkle in your eyes," Thomas replies.
Flora blushes.
"I know I'm no match against an Emperor but I hope that you'll accept it."
"Thank you Thomas, it's wonderful," she says, embracing him.
"I feel bad," she says suddenly.
"Why?"
"I don't have anything to give you."
"You've given me plenty," he smirks.
She gives him a playful slap, "Don't be vulgar."
Thomas grasps Flora by the waist, pulling her close.
"Who knew this entire time, I was sleeping with royalty."
"Please don't say that, I'm not that special."
"Bullshit," he remarks. "If that's the Emperor, then you are the missing Empress..."
"Consort," she corrects. "My official title is, was Consort to the Emperor."
"Whatever," he amends with a flutter of his hand. "No, I'm talking about another rumor."
Flora grimaces, knowing what is to follow.
"Interesting piece of information I heard last time I went to California. One about the Courier who assisted the Legion and was later rewarded by marriage to a high ranking spy. Years later, that spy became the Emperor."
"I was not given away, it was love," she says firmly.
"And now?"
Flora looks away, uncertain of the answer.
"I think he still cares for you, " Thomas says lowly.
"What would you know," she grumbles.
"I wouldn't doubt the conviction of a man that travels hundreds of miles into the unknown based solely upon the words of a traveling merchant and a perfume bottle."
Flora sighs, "He's always had plenty of that, conviction."
Thomas opens his mouth but is interrupted by two loud knocks on the door.
"Who's that?"
"Aguilar."
Flora remembers the short and stocky, dark haired man. "Why didn't he come inside?"
"He's keeping watch"
"What for?"
"Your husband, knowing who he is now I wouldn't want to be caught kissing his wife."
"Too late, " she smirks, drawing a conspiratorial grin from her partner. "Besides he's calmed down quite a bit. The man I used to know would have killed you on the spot."
Thomas laughs, "Well then, I have a story for you! A few years ago, the Emperor had some family wiped off the face of the Earth, even had their manor torn down. It was quite a public spectacle."
Flora furrows her brows, "Do you remember a family name?"
"No, no names were given. Just that they were disgraced and had fallen out of favor with the Emperor. Oh! A good majority of the women had red hair. One woman, an older gal, how she stared down the crowd while she stood on the auction block, as if this was all beneath her. Despite the bidding frenzy, no one bought this bird."
"What happened to her?," she breathes, captivated at what she was hearing.
"The guards shot her," Thomas states, miming a gunshot to the head. "Just like that, she was gone, it was something else."
It couldn't be, Flora thinks. Could it be Asper? She had dark red hair and was also Miranda's Aunt, the very one that introduced her to the court. The old woman always wore a bored look every time Flora saw her.
"And that's not even the wild part, all the men were killed by Deathclaw!," Thomas exclaims.
"What!?"
"The men were put into an arena and the largest Deathclaw I've ever seen was set on them. It was gruesome. I didn't know it was even possible to train a Deathclaw like that!"
Flora shakes her head, that crazy man.
Two more knocks come.
"I gotta go," Thomas says. "I'm sorry that our last conversation was about something so gruesome."
"Who says this will be out last?," Flora smiles.
"It will be if I don't leave," he smirks.
As if it illustrate the point, the door opens slightly.
"Come on Benz, move your ass!," Aguilar hisses. "I see them."
"My Empress," Thomas says as he bows over her hand.
Vulpes and the children walk back from market, bags full of food and trinkets. With the house in sight, he notices two men leaving the porch and climb aboard a cart in which a third man sits.
"Must be Thomas," Castor says. "He usually stops by before leaving on a trip."
"But he just got back," Celeste whines.
"Good," Pollux responds. "He needed to go."
Celeste shoots her older brother a fierce look.
"Shut up Paul," she bites.
"I'm older, you don't tell me to shut up. I tell you to shut up," Pollux growls.
"Don't talk to her like that," Castor tells his twin.
As the children begin to argue, Vulpes remains silent, hiding a smile as he watches the cart drive away. Not even seeing that tiny, shiny bauble dampens his mood.
...
"We need to talk," Flora says that night.
"Finally," Vulpes crows. "I've been trying to talk to you for days now!"
She says nothing as she goes to the kitchen door.
"Where are you going?," he asks.
"Just follow me, I don't want to wake up the children."
His interest piqued, Vulpes follows his wife into the backyard.
They walk to a nearby shed. Opening the door, Flora flicks on a light, illuminating the small interior. She holds the door open, beckoning her husband inside.
