Bride of the Ruthless Emperor

Cutlery clinked against fine china as the royals finished up their meal. The air carried a bit of tension, but mostly, everyone was calm. There were six people at the long table, with the castle staff standing at attention to the side. Princess Leanna, her younger sister, Princess Imelda, King Rowan, Queen Halaria, Emperor Alaric Kathos, and the captain of his royal guard, Gerwulf Garb. Princess Leanna’s father, King Rowan, cleared his throat and looked at the Emperor. “Your Majesty, is everything to your liking here in South Hallow?” King Rowan looked older at that moment. A small gold circlet sat atop his sparse curls and it seemed to have shifted out of place. Emperor Alaric had been in Brewstere, the capital of the Kingdom of South Hallow, for less than a week. Mostly, he spent a lot of time walking in the gardens and sitting in the war room with King Rowan. Emperor Alaric finished the morsel in his mouth and washed it down with wine before speaking. “It rains a lot here, doesn’t it?” “Indeed. It does.” King Rowan laughed nervously. The Emperor smiled. “But where I’m from is often bleak, so this is fine.” He is such a handsome man, Leanna thought. It was the first time he was sharing a meal with all of them. His black wavy hair fell to his broad shoulders and his jawline was sharp and strong. All the stories she had heard about his reputation among women made a lot of sense. “What do you think about Leanna?” the King suddenly asked. Leanna froze, her hand growing numb around her spoon. Me? What could he think about me? She wanted to know, but was scared to hear it. She wished she could block her ears from the conversation. She felt the Emperor’s eyes at the side of her face. It was certain that he was observing her. She tried to move, but found the task daunting. “Hmm.” The Emperor’s voice was a deep and contemplative rumble. “Your daughter is exceedingly beautiful. I’ve heard a lot about her before I came here. But none of the rumors do her any justice.” King Rowan laughed again. In the ensuing silence, Leanna stole a small glance at Queen Halaria, her mother. The woman was eating with unhurried motions. Gray strands streaked her waist-length auburn hair which was neatly parted in the middle, framing a beautiful face. “In addition to the rest of our terms, we’ll give you our daughter, Princess Leanna, as your bride,” her father said. Rain beat against the stained glass windows. A cold draft swept through the halls and the candles flickered. It was as if all warmth had leached out of the room. Leanna Artel looked at her parents, confused about the seriousness of the situation. Her father’s words echoed in her head. A bride? Me? Where did all this come from? When her father invited Emperor Alaric to dine, she knew it was to discuss politics and the changing powers on the continent. For months, her father had been plagued with worry, often pacing the halls with his lamp, lines etched into his face. Her mother carried her own fears, often sitting and staring out of the window, at the windy city beneath. They said when Emperor Alaric arrived, things would be easier. She didn’t know they meant they’d sell her to him, as his bride, to make things better. Her heart hammered in her chest. Queen Halaria shifted in her seat, her eyes on the leftover steak sitting in cold sauce on her plate. The only person who allowed herself to meet Leanna’s gaze was her sister, Imelda. But her eyes were big and large, full of the same confusion Leanna felt. At the head of the table, three seats down from her, the Emperor moved, a small smile spreading across his sharply handsome features. “How wonderful. A bride.” It seemed her father had been waiting for his words. He let out a breath. “Do you accept those terms, my lord?” he asked, his Adam's apple bobbing wildly in his throat. Leanna turned towards the Emperor, awaiting his answer. His dark eyes stared at her, burning a hole into her face. A blush rose to her cheeks and she looked away. She picked up her goblet, now half-full of wine, and brought it to her lips. “Of course. Princess Leanna is lovely. I would be honored to make her my bride.” Blood rushed into Leanna’s head. It was as though the rest of the conversation wasn't happening around her. She heard nothing but a frightening whoosh and a fevered beat. She had always known she would have to marry someone powerful and influential for her family’s sake. It was the duty of the Princess. Whenever people told her she was a beauty as a child, it came laced with talks of the kind of husband she would fetch. One of her handmaids, an older woman with kind eyes, always said that her parents must be happy because she’d bring them powerful allies. “Your beauty will bring the best men to you. When you come of age, your father would find the richest and most powerful man and he’d give you to him.” Horrifying. That she’d just be given away, with no concern for whether or not she loved the man, was horrifying. Even worse. He might not love her either. But her mother said the same thing too. Women of their stature had no say in their relationships. They only did as they were told. As Leanna grew older, she began to dare to hope. Perhaps her parents would find her a man who loved her for who she was and whom she loved fervently, too. It would be a marriage for duty, but it would be a marriage of love as well. It seemed none of that was to be. Here was the Emperor of the Kadrian Empire, a strong and handsome man known for his cruel and unwavering disposition. And she had to wed him. Leanna wanted to weep. She couldn’t taste the rest of the meal. In time, her mother swept her and Imelda out of the banquet hall, talking about leaving the men to their politics, and the long journey to be had. She handed Imelda to a nurse, instructing her to tuck the girl in bed, then she marched up the stone steps with Leanna, the castle staff bowing to them as they passed. Safe in her room with the handmaids dismissed, Leanna let out a cry. “How could you?” “Your father said it would be better if you didn’t know.” Queen Halaria’s brow furrowed in concern. “He said you would be scared ahead of time if we told you and he didn’t want that.” She would have been scared ahead of time, but she would have been prepared too. These turn of events have blindsided her. “But it would have been better to tell me. We all know who that man is. His reputation has spread across this continent and the next. And you’re giving me to him!” A cruel man. A wicked Emperor and ruthless warrior. Everyone feared him, believing he was always out for blood. Yet, of everyone in the world, he was the one her father sought to give her to? Shouldn’t fathers protect their daughters? Queen Halaria stood tall, squaring her shoulders. Her blue eyes softened. “Perhaps the rumors lie. Let’s be optimistic.” Tears welled up in Leanna’s eyes. “That is not true. You know that as well as I do.” Her mother had no handy rebuttal. She remained silent near the door, her lips pressed together. Leanna stalked to her bed and sat, taking in the space. For all twenty years of her life, she had lived here. Reading poetry and histories and wondering what her future would be like. And now, without warning, she was being yanked away from it all. Though she was scared, she knew it was her duty. “When do we leave?” “Within the week.” So little time. She didn’t have a lot of friends, but this warning showed her she had to make haste in bidding them all goodbye. Would her father give her the opportunity to throw a modest feast perhaps? “Are you scared, my darling?” Her mother drew closer, sitting next to her and holding her hand. Her warm hands provided ample comfort. “Terrified.” “You need not be. You’re brave and strong. The journey will be difficult, but we raised you to be bold.” Would boldness be enough? Halaria cupped her face, staring into her eyes. “The kingdom needs you to make this sacrifice. Our army is small and our lands lack adequate protection. If war breaks out, as we believe it might, we would be exposed.” She touched her hair tenderly. “But an allegiance to the Kadrian Emperor will keep us all safe.” Leanna shut her eyes to take it all in. The life of a princess was a life of duty. It hurt her that she had to leave everything and everyone she knew and cross lands and colonies to arrive in the Kadrian capital. If only she were someone different, she wouldn’t be forced to make choices of this kind. “Will you accompany me?” She opened her eyes to look at her mother’s face, knowing the answer before it arrived. “No, my darling. My place is here. Perhaps one day, under different circumstances, I might be able to make my way across for a visit. But for now…” Leanna pressed her head against her mother’s chest, allowing her tears to flow freely. There was no telling what dangers lay ahead, but she had to be brave. At least, for now, she had her mother. A knock at the door jolted them from their comfortable position. Leanna wiped her face and padded to the door. She opened it, fully expecting to see one of her usual handmaids. But it was the emperor.