The Emperor and The

Chapter 1

After an uneventful day, a woman went to bed after reading a novel adapted from an 18+novel, 'The Emperor's Most Cherished Love'.

It'd been a romantic, erotic story about an ambitious woman and her relationship with the Emperor, which began after she went to attend a ball that was held to find him an Empress.

The majority of the novel was smut and the plot was quite secondary to but was interesting enough for her to keep reading; and, in part graphic enough to keep her heart racing. Like many novels, the female lead, Colette was a quiet, gentle young woman. She was unfortunately mistreated by her step-mother Anika, her father's mistress.

Lila and Raymond's marriage was one arranged between two noble families looking to produce more suitable heirs in the future--the two lovers who had been together since children were broken up due to Anika's lower status as a commoner and foreigner. After they were wed, under pressure, Colette was born and Anika was forced by her father and his wife to marry an older man who paid an enormous dowry for her.

That's when the young woman's hell began. Her husband, thirty years her senior drank, a lot. If he wasn't out drinking, he was home angry. For the first time he attacked her, she fought back in a frenzy. Then, eventually, she gave up. Two daughters bore from her pain. She often hid her children away, taking the brunt of the force from their father's torment.

Oh, but did she love her children. Their smiles pulled her through the most agonizing days. No matter how much society saw her as an "evil step-mother" her children saw how much she cared for them and how much she endured.

Six years passed, with her husband taking out his grievances on her, physically and mentally.

After a night of drinking, he died while stumbling in an alley.

The next day, Anika made her escape with bruises still on her body. Her feet lead her to the place where her salvation resided—Raymond's estate. She wanted nothing more than for him to hold her in his embrace.

She arrived at his residence, with her clothes ripped, her two children wearing barely their nightgowns as it rained. They hadn't spoken in years since they were forced apart by his family. A maid, who had recognized her from his days at his family's residence stared back at her wide and ushers her with haste as the night grew older.

Raymond who had still been working in his private quarters and had been notified of their arrival and quickly ushered them downstairs--far from the rooms of his family. After putting the children to bed and discussing their grievances, they held each other under the moonlight. They began their affair, with Lila's resentment growing. For the man she loved to hold another, it was too much for her.

Before things came to a head, Lila disappeared. And, despite the circumstance, Raymond took this as an opportunity to marry Anika, officially. However, because of their class differences, their situation became complex. She grew with the need to show that she and two daughters were good enough for high society after marrying him. She had to deal with rumors that she killed Lila and her ex-husband's death was too suspicious to have been an accident.

After their marriage, Raymond, at every step, had protected her and her children from it all...until one day he had not arrived after doing business in another country. Days turned to months--those months turned into a year and eventually, a distraught and heartbroken Anika has presented the lost diary of the man who brought light back into her was gone by travelers. She was left to take care of his twelve-year-old daughter, in addition to her daughters who were ten and eleven retrospectively.

She had admittedly paid more attention to her own children. The case for mistreatment regarding Colette was that her stepmother never hit her or berated her but instead acted as if the girl had been air. She was the daughter of her beloved, but also the child of the woman who had his child. Her feelings towards it were complicated, so complicated that she declined to deal with them and focus on her children.

The first night after the search for her father stopped, Anika entered Colette's room while she slept, saying gravely,

"Poor child, I cannot fault you, but I cannot bear seeing this beautiful face without thinking of my dear Raymond..." with tears graining her words.

She'd made sure she was properly fed and clothed, but couldn't bring herself to glance at her.

The girl, young Colette who had been raised by her caring mother was, in her eyes, stripped of that gentleness and the love of her father by a vile woman. The girl, whose room was in the furthest home grew a fermenting resent towards her evil step-mother and her pampered step-sisters.

One day, the Emperor, who was pressured by nobles to take at least a queen consort, sent out letters to all families of the nobility and their daughters to a ball. Then, of course, Anika and her two daughters Nisha and Nisha had received one--however, Anika who at the bare minimum had provided shelter and substance for Colette hadn't looked for an invitation for her--Colette instead found the letter that hadn't even been open, and while gripping it in anger decided this was her chance to escape her neglective household.

Armed with an aphrodisiac drug and her mother's old, yet somehow still dress, she attends the ball a week or so later with intention of drugging and seducing the Emperor--though, to her surprise, after their first night together, she became falling for the Emperor who seemed to be obsessed with her at first sight.

Declaring, "Lady Colette, take responsibility for this." The two, through misunderstandings and conflicts eventually confess their love and go on to live and happily ever after.

In terms of plot, the story wasn't much but the smut was top-tier so the reader, Eden, didn't have complaints there. But she had a hard time liking the heroine and leaned more toward liking the characters who were seen as the antagonists--that is before the author wrote short stories written a few years later from their perspective--particularly for the youngest step-sister, Khadija.

The youngest of Anika's two children. The novel, written from Colette's perspective, was painted as a spoiled harlot with a body akin to that of a pampered swine. The girl, in reality, was the exact opposite. With her despised plain looks and Rubenesque figure, she was a rarely-seen reserved girl born mute. A fact no one aside from her mother and sister. Unlike her beautiful sister, who adored being and looking flamboyant, Khadija spent most of her time inside, reading and occasionally being her mother's dress-up doll.

She was rumored to have been a frequent proprietor of brothels, using her familial wealth to buy men at her leisure. She even had the gall to prance about town with one on her arm! Amongst noble society, she was seen as trash that married in and belonged nowhere near their class.

Scenes from Khadija's perspective weren't dialogue-driven but simply silent recounts of her thoughts, her fears. Everything, up until her death by hanging. After being interrogated after her sister had fallen sick due to poisoning, and miscarried her first child. Khadija, who had no way of saying 'I don't know how Colette got poisoned!', therefore her silence was accepted as guilt by the Emperor and the citizens. Their poor Empress was still being abused by her 'evil' family and their executions became a spectacle.

On the day that she was hanged, she was the last to perish--one after another, she watched the defeated and contorted faces of her family as they were hung like criminals. In her final moments, she could only wordlessly call out to the one man she saw as a father that she'd see him, along with her mother and sister in heaven.

Her death was unfair, unwarranted--nevertheless, because she was a 'villainous', it was what she deserved, by Colette's thoughts on the matter.

When the woman read the first novel, Eden couldn't see how Colette wasn't the villain of the story--and even more, after reading Khadija's story. She died at the young age of twenty-four, unable to prove her innocence.

After finishing her story, she couldn't but feel wronged on her behalf against an author that acted like a god. But what frustrated me the most about the series, aside from the treatment of the 'villains' or the female was the mistreatment of her beloved male lead. Her capable (novel) husband was reduced down to some lovesick fool without a mind of his own.

In the story, Kieran was a thirty-year-old man who became the Emperor through bloodshed. With the identity as the son of a distant country's princess, he was the youngest and most unfavored prince. His mother, who had a weak body already, died giving birth to her only child. After years of being neglected, he learned to fend for himself in an abandoned palace. As he grew older, his resentment towards his 'family' grew as well. He eventually grew up to take the throne after slaughtering his father and brothers. As for his sisters, he didn't have qualms with them and let them live on the royal estate as well as they didn't cause trouble for him.

He was a handsome, powerful man who didn't have many people close to him aside from his advisors--he was untouchable--so how the f**k did the heroine get close enough to drug him?

Not really, even without his secret guards, he could take on a group of men himself if you wanted to.

Perhaps, something about him aroused her interest...

In any case, wouldn't he have tried to silence her? She wasn't the first woman brazen enough to drug him--but then again, for the plot's sake, she was 'different. After meeting Colette, Kieran became a shell of his former self was a lovesick man in power who'd do everything and anything to make Colette happy, whether it was not taking in concubines or killing her 'evil' family.

Throwing the book across the room, Eden went to sleep frustrated.

When she woke up, she found herself lying on a bed that was much softer than the used mattress in her apartment. It seemed wonderful with a hint of lavender.

'Ah, I'm dreaming aren't I?' She mused looking around the bedroom looking around with wide eyes. Everything is soft, delicate, and pink--yes, yes this has to be a dream seeing she wouldn't go anywhere near frills and lace at her age. The room was bigger than her whole apartment that begrudgingly paid eight hundred per month for--a mind's imagination was simply amazing. Clasping her hands together, she got up--Eden decided that as long as she was dreaming, she might as well explore things.

She noticed when she glanced down at her hands, seeing they were small, plump, and smooth, unlike the worn-down texture she'd gotten from working with her hands. Did she dream that she was younger? It seems a bit sad, wasn't it? Eden knew she was a little over forty, but this seemed kind of excessive.

Never mind, it'd be nice to get up and walk around with hearing cracks or pops from her legs. She swung her short, chubby legs, and made her way out of the room with childish excitement. Seeing that the hallway was empty, she opened up her mouth to yell, 'Is anyone here?'

"..."

But no words seem to flow out--only a quiet emptiness appears where they should be.

It seems she could not speak in this dream.

Dreams sure are strange, aren't they?

She shook my head, making her way down the hall.

"Miss Khadija, there you are!" Surprised, Eden jumped, almost stumbling as she looked in the direction of the voice. It was a woman, a tall, thin one, running towards her in a black and white frilled maid uniform. He had olive, freckled skin, and her short, white hair was cropped into a neat bob.

Wait, did she call me Khadija?

Oh, it must be because she stayed up rereading that frustrating series! Well, since she was Khadija here, she should probably play along, right?

Yes, that seemed best here.

Enjoy the scenery a bit.

Eden smiled at the incoming maid, then hitting another roadblock as her mind raced.

Oh, what was this maid's name again?

Addison, Abigail, Amelia--Ada? That's what it was, Ada.

The maid's eyes widened--she bows her head down to hide her blush.

"Young Miss, please come and have breakfast with everyone." Eden nods, following her at a brisk pace. She hoped that today was the ball-- it would be interesting. Originally in the story, Khadija had declined to go to the ball, but Eden was more than ready to go in her place.

She was eager to see how Kieran would look!

Reading the books, she'd imagine him to be the dignified, raven-haired blue-eyed young man she'd always read about. She wondered if he'd be as tall as an elegant pillar, or if his back was really as strong and muscular...or if he really had that much stamina.

Perhaps she'll at least make it to the ball before waking up for another boring day.

When Eden entered the dining area everyone was already there, dressed, and the first person who caught my eyes was Anika, the 'evil' step-mother. She was pretty, with a gentle look on her face. She wore a simple white muslin dress with her hair tumbling down in waves. Her lightly tanned skin and bright hazel eyes made her stand--she could see right away what made Raymond fall in love with her.

Her (novel) husband's mother, as well as Anika, was from the now fallen Eshidabia Empire. It was a country with vast and rich culture, with their money coming from their spice and fabric trade. And then, the former Emperor invaded their lands after they refused to cooperate and took everything in their possession, including the country's only princess.

She didn't look like a noblewoman, perhaps it was because her common upbring left her humble. She didn't wear jewelry, and almost always wore her hair down. She, although a bit plain in tastes, held a kind of gentle type of beauty about her. Seeing her, Eden felt held by her smile, that soft loving smile of a mother.

She looked like an elegant, off-duty empress.

She managed the estate to the best of her abilities and wouldn't attend events unless it was needed--like the one tonight.

She in all regards was a very strong woman.

Nisha, who was a damn near identical copy to her mother, sat drinking tea with her legs crossed. She was younger of course, and possessed a much greater love for clothes and accessorizing than her mother--which was saying a lot. Pretty and flashy, that was what Eden could describe her as.

It was noted in her side-story that Khadija looked nothing like her beautiful mother but rather her bastard father and Anika's mother, who died when she was young. They were both from a country, Zimadian that wasn't spoken about in detail. Her skin had been much darker than her mother or sister, and instead of their hooded, almond eyes, hers were much rounder, wide and deep-set. They were described as a 'dull, bleak void of darkness' and 'cold and uninviting.

"Ah, there's my cute little sister! I've missed you so much!" Nisha's eyes lit up, unceremoniously getting up from her spot to rush over to her with her jewels clinking as she did. Eden was pulled into a warm, familial hug. Siblings, family, that type of thing was alien to her.

Despite that she did return her embrace, enveloping in her flowery scent.

"My dear Nisha, you saw your sister just yesterday! You know she gets overwhelmed when you run up to her." Anika laughed softly and she hid a grin at Nisha being playfully scolded.

"But Mother, she's so cute!"

"Nisha," Anika gives her a soft yet firm warning, making the young woman return to her seat, still gesturing for her 'cute' sister to sit next to her.

"My dear daughters as you know, His Imperial Highness, the Emperor is holding a masquerade ball today to celebrate his victory in battle. This is an also opportunity to introduce you all to society properly."

From the corner of my eye, Eden sees Colette continue eating but with a small, mocking smile on her face. She sat quietly, her small, delicate face illuminated against the sunlight. She had rosy cheeks and dark brown hair. Her eyes blue like a robin's egg, her skin as white as the full moon.

This was the protagonist. 

This was the face that transformed an intelligent, capable tyrant into a fool. Eden stares at her and gives her a small smile. Colette looks in her direction with wide eyes, but slowly her face falls into a scowl, racing off into her bedroom in a fit--with a maid scrambling after her.

Such a pretty face with such a vengeful heart.

It was kind of regrettable--Eden didn't expect her to be such a brat. Maybe it was just her subconscious painting her as one. After all, she did find her kind of annoying as a protagonist. Maybe if she was younger she would understand her better, but after reading what she did to her stepfamily in comparison to their actions against her, shouldn't she be seen as more of a villainess?

And yet, Eden had to stomach her as a pitiful protagonist.

Just the thought made her sick.

Eden frowns, choosing to drink her tea— it doesn't have much of a strong taste, but the floral scent seems strangely real to her senses...

Nisha chats her up, occasionally playing with her hair. Having such a pretty face so close to Eden's own ordinary one doesn't do much to hide her blush. Nisha doesn't act quite noble—which is understandable since she is only one by name—being the eldest out of the sisters, she paid attention to the wants and needs of her family. She didn't care about what other nobles thought of her—she was quite hard-headed in that regard.

She fought for them until the end of her life.

She glanced at her and touched her pink cheek somberly.

'You're gonna die under terrible circumstances despite all of that. Oh, author, you can choke. ♡'

After a particularly light breakfast--basically due to the preparation for the ball, Eden was ushered into a bath filled with flowers and oils. 

It felt really nice.

She even fell asleep.

As she came to she heard the maid talking amongst themselves

While they spoke, something struck her as odd.

She fell asleep...and woke here again.

Eden--now, Khadija was stuck here, in this shitty story?

Mentally, she screamed as loud as she could into the void of my mind as she tried to asset the situation at hand. That's right, if Eden is in her body, what happened to the real Khadija?

Did she die?

Did Eden die?