Through the years Emperor Darya has led the whole Empire, it was peaceful and full of great changes. Farmers were given fair revenue and the market price lowered down. She also demolished some of the systems of crimes. She has also built schools for the commoners and has given them a chance to acquire a higher position. These achievements, thus far, the only reason why the anti-imperial faction loathed Emperor Darya. She is becoming more and more powerful as years pass. They thought that they were a second step ahead after making the son of Duke Garrett marry the Emperor. Although the Emperor married their trump card, they are still not able to grasp their main goal.
“Your majesty,” Duke Esteban put down the cup of tea he just sipped from. He then looked at his wife’s beautiful face.
“Is there something that is making you uncomfortable?” She smiled.
“I will never be uncomfortable around you, your majesty,” he smiled back. “I would like to inform you again about my coming expedition this year again.”
Upon hearing that, she nodded as she already knew what was in it. “Oh, so you will be gone for a month again?”
“It is sad to say that I will have to leave your side for a while, your majesty.”
“I have no problem with it. I am also sorry that I could not spend more time with you.”
They talked even more about the expedition and while Emperor Darya was listening, she would just react and compliment him with his achievements as both the Duke and her male consort.
“When you come back home, I will tell you something.” She announced as she waved her hand while she watched her husband walk away.
“I am looking forward to it,” Duke Esteban smiled and lowered his head before finally leaving. When he was gone, the smile on Emperor Darya’s lips faded.
Every year, her husband would go on an ‘expedition’ in a month. She did not suspect his actions as she trusts him and that she knows that he is different from his father, the former Duke Garrett. However, just recently, she could feel something changing in her husband’s actions. Which is why she investigated this ‘expedition’ and what she found out is that the report her husband tells her is different from it. An expedition does not necessarily have to be in one place but she found out that his husband would go to the same place where he goes on expedition during all these years, even before they got married. It was even reported that he is meeting a woman there.
“Should I tell him about you?” She caressed her abdomen while looking at the direction where her husband went. She cupped her baby bump while thinking if she will investigate more about this ‘expedition’.
“Your majesty, it is time for your appointment to the doctor.” Her personal aid came to her and told her about her schedule.
She nodded and stood up. She was then accompanied with her personal aid to be checked by the doctor. Luckily, everything was alright and she was told to not be stressed out because she is in the stage where miscarriage is in the highest possibility.
At night, she would hug her husband’s pillow because she misses him so bad. It only passed a few hours and she wanted to ask for him. In a month, she patiently waited for him while urging herself to understand what might be the real reason behind his expedition. While being pressed by some nobles, she did not budge and protected her body at all cost to protect the child in her womb. Every morning, she had morning sickness that she wanted to get rid of but it was no use. It is hard. It is hard to protect a child within her.
After a month, she cheerfully approached her husband who came from the expedition. She attended him and served him well so he could relax after his long trip. Maybe because of it, he even fell asleep right after bath.
She came back to her personal room during the night and after bath, she found herself reading a book because she could not sleep. While reading, she could not understand everything as her mind was somewhere else. She is still thinking if she is going to tell her husband about her pregnancy. She really wanted to surprise him about it however, she is afraid of seeing a reaction she would not expect. She is nervous about how he would react about it. Was their five years of marriage sufficient enough to tell that they are harmonious with love?
Love. With that thought of that, Emperor Darya stopped reading after hearing knocks on the door of her room.
“It is me, your majesty.”
Hearing her husband’s voice, she immediately replied, “Come in.”
The door was opened and there she saw the smiling face of her husband. He was almost unrecognizable because he looked strikingly handsome with that genuine smile. She closed the book even though she had not flipped another page.
“I hope I have not disturbed your majesty’s leisure time.”
“It is alright since it is my husband.”
Her husband chuckled and again, her heart wavered. This man surely would not make her heart stop beating around him. Duke Esteban walks towards her to kiss her forehead.
“I feel bad for sleeping before you, your majesty.”
“No worries. I knew you were tired. Have you had a good sleep?”
“It is thanks to your majesty.” He beamed as he went to the opposite chair in front of her. So then, a maid served a cup of tea and a teapot on the table between them.
“During my expedition, I discovered a very good drink perfect for your majesty.” Duke Esteban talked after taking the teapot and putting this brownish drink on the cup.
“Recently, I observed that you would sleep late at night, your majesty. I was worried that you will be diagnosed with an illness related to it. This is a herb from Summeria and it cures insomnia, your majesty.”
She nodded while looking at the tea he served. She smiled with the thought of him being worried about her but she had this instinct to not drink it. However, if her husband is planning something, she needs to play with his hands in order to know what his purpose really is. She would not die just because of a drink right? She had never heard of a drink that could cause death so this will be alright.
“I am so thankful to have finally found a cure to this appalling illness, Esteban. Thank you. I will drink it well.” She took the cup of tea and drank it, slowly down to her throat.
When she was done, she breathed out and looked at her husband, beaming. “It tastes good.”
“I’m glad it is to your liking, your majesty.” He smiled genuinely.
That very moment, he looked at his smile and asked herself if that was just a façade? Yes, it might have been a façade because she knows very well that all these years… she had loved him dearly but … never did she feel the same love from him.
“I am feeling sleepy, Esteban.” She told him. He stood up and carried her to the bed. He laid her down gently and covered her with a blanket.
“Good night, your majesty.” He kissed her forehead. When he was about to leave, he stopped after hearing her words.
“Have you ever loved me?”
There was silence there. While feeling painfully drowsy, Emperor Darya finally regretted trusting Duke Esteban. She had finally regretted drinking the tea as she could feel the excruciating pain she could feel throughout her body. It was so painful yet she managed to not shed tears in order to keep her sanity and tell him the things she had always wanted to ask him.
“Have you ever liked this marriage since the beginning?”
“Were your smiles and laughter genuine?”
Once again, she paused as she tried her best to move her hand to touch her abdomen. There her tears fell down from her eyes.
“I love you, Esteban, but why… why would you…” Those were her last words before she finally stopped breathing.
After hearing the complete silence from Emperor Darya, Duke Esteban clenched his fist before turning to see her pale body. He walked closer to her dead body to wipe the remaining tears on her face. So then, his cold eyes turned gentle.
'This is the best way, Your Majesty.'
“My lady!”
Amara woke up with the continuous shaking her personal maid did. She breathed out heavily, shocked at what just happened. She feels like her soul was being pulled out somewhere.
“I’m glad you woke up, my lady!” The maid suddenly hugged her. “I am so worried!”
She was still confused about who this maid is. Is it a new palace maid? The last time she knew was… she drank a poison… Her eyes widened as she looked at her surroundings and saw an unfamiliar room.
“My lady?”
She immediately stood up to look for a mirror and there, her world crumbled down upon seeing an unfamiliar appearance. It was a young lady who had long brown hair and green eyes. She looked pale and her body was so light and thin.
“Who is the current Emperor?” She asked after having some realization.
The maid was so confused about her lady’s behaviour but she answered her question. “It is his majesty, Emperor Esteban, my lady.”
She stood there, petrified.
A month had passed since she woke up in a different body. She is thinking deeply to figure out what might have happened to her. She had also thought that the tea she drank might be the reason why she had transmigrated to a new body but considering that the Imperial family is not looking for her, she had simply died as an Emperor and a miracle happened. She found out that five years has already passed since Emperor Darya unfortunately died due to an “unknown disease”. Based on the public, the Emperor died in her sleep without last words which is why her husband, Duke Esteban, was nominated as the next Emperor. Knowing that her husband took another wife just a month after her death, she would not go out the Count’s manor to avoid seeing the sky as it reminds her of Duke Esteban. She just could not bear to look at it because she could only think of what could be the reason why her husband killed her. She could not bear the pain in her heart that she was not able to see her child that wi
After a long wait for this time to come, Amara has finally got the chance to go to the Imperial palace after forcing her father to go along with him. All nobles were called to the palace for a meeting and she tagged along to go to the Imperial palace’s library. She does not want to meet Esteban yet and she is not ready to face him. She was left with her personal maid after her father went to the main palace. Feeling cold, she could only look at the palace where she grew up. She could only look at the same palace she built five years ago. Seeing it in this view and in another body, she could convince herself to accept the fact that she is no longer the Emperor and that she cannot serve the people like before.“My lady?” Her personal maid, Silla, noticed her lady staring at the main palace and got worried because she looked really sad. Lately, she can see that her lady is like a lifeless doll that had sorrowful eyes.“Silla,” Amara said, “Tell, does this place look cheerfully colourful
The long silence engulfing Lady Amara and Silla was deafening. They could only hear the blowing of the wind and the dancing of the flowers around them. Silla could not move from where she was standing as if she lost her rationality. She could not believe what she just heard and what she found out. What’s more haunting her is the fact that she got involved in an unexpected death of a person she was serving. She could not accept the fact that she is serving the Crown Prince until now. She could not accept that the current Emperor was…Silla looked at Lady Amara’s eyes. No wonder… No wonder Lady Amara changed. No wonder… she can feel an extreme feeling of loyalty to the lady. It is because… she… she is…Shush! Amara heard a sound from the bushes. She immediately took the knife she hid from her sleeve and threw it to the flowers.“Acckhh!” A man groaned as he went out the bush with a sword on his hand. His right shoulder was bleeding where the knife got pierced.“My lady, it’s an assassin
After some time of recuperating her feelings, Lady Amara, the late Emperor Darya, finally had the opportunity to go to an Imperial banquet. It was the birthday banquet of the current Empress. Silla did her best to make her stand out and insisted on assisting her during the ball. When the time to leave came, Count Sebastian came to pick her up in her room as they went out the manor together. While in the carriage, the ride was silent at first until Count Sebastian spoke. “Does the Crown Prince treat you well?” Count Sebastian had been curious about this. He can see that her daughter has changed since that incident. He is also worried that something is going on but he has no idea. Amara was silenced as she thought of whether lying or telling the truth to Count Sebastian. She then found herself showing a small smile to not make him too concerned. “We are well and we understand each other, father.” She replied, choosing to stay neutral without telling both the exact truth and a made
Amara was looking gloomy all the time as she watched the nobles dance in twos. She watched the Crown Prince dance with Lady Tanzania. And she watched Esteban happily talk to the Empress. She found herself silently walking out the banquet hall and went to a dark and empty hallway. And without any knowledge where her feet took her to, she found herself looking at portraits of Esteban with Empress Kathika. That hallway was where all the royals’ portraits were displayed but she never saw her face, her own portrait, as she could only see a lot of Empress Kathika’s portraits. She stopped in front of a portrait of three people. There was Emperor Esteban, Empress Kathika, and Crown Prince Lorenzo, looking happy together, like a real family.
“Wake up, you brat!” A man splashed water on a young girl’s face to wake her up. Startled, the young girl opened her eyes feeling so cold with the water all over her clothes. She was confused. “Go fetch water and put the luggage in the carriage! We are going to leave!” The fat man kicked her legs making her groan in pain. She was about to speak for herself but ended up hearing a crack on her voice like something just pulled her tongue. She covered her mouth only to realize that she could not speak well. She immediately stood up to look for a mirror but she stopped upon seeing the place where she was sleeping a while ago.
The young girl was just holding a small pouch where she put the small white ball in. As the carriage started their journey, she was only riding at the back where the luggage and foods were located. Since this morning, she only had an apple and bread but maybe because the body she was in was used to being starved that she does not feel bothered being hungry. It was already dark when they left the Empire. They already crossed the river connecting the two continents and were on their way to the Hapra Forest. However, they did not arrive at the Hapra forest but stopped at the entrance of the forest. Then she was asked to carry some stuff as they decided to rest there. As the errand girl, she was asked to do things here and there. Until then, three carriages arrived coming from another direction. A group of people in commoner clothes came to them as they greeted each other. A mature man with golden hair seemed to be their leader. He was tall and by the way he talked, he
When she woke up from the body of an old woman who lives alone in an empty house nowhere in the Empire, she decided to end her life as she knows that she cannot make anything with that body. Again, when she opened her eyes from another body, she got insane upon realizing that she had transmigrated to a beggar’s body. She would tell anyone who passed by that Emperor Darya was killed by her husband. She would announce that the Emperor Lorenzo was a child of Emperor Esteban from his secret mistress who had become the Empress when Emperor Darya was dead. However, no one would believe a lowly beggar as they regarded her as an insane lowly being who curses the Emperor for her own misery. She was also abused because of this until then she was executed for blasphemy. In her next life, she woke up from a three-year old child’s body of a high ranking commoner. Her family was living in the outskirts of the upper lands of a faraway kingdom where they study alchemy, illegally. Feeling