Bride of the Ruthless Emperor

Episode Five

The man’s warm blood splashed on Leanna’s face and dress, and he slumped backward, his bulging eyes staring into the sky.

Still on her knees, Leanna couldn’t move. Who was this man? And what was he talking about? A scream was lodged in her throat, but she couldn’t let it out.

The Emperor was at her side first. She vaguely heard him asking questions, but she couldn’t process them.

“Your grace,” Alia said, holding her hands and leading her away from the body and the other men. “Your grace, please say something.”

Alia took her back to the carriage and escorted her in. She retrieved a water flask from a corner of the carriage and splashed some on a cloth to wipe the blood off.

The Emperor’s voice boomed from outside the carriage. “Where is she?”

Alia flew to her defense. “She’s still in shock, your majesty.”

“Why did she come out? Shouldn’t you have stopped her?”

“She wanted to see what was happening. I wasn’t paying attention, your majesty.” Alia bowed low. “I’ll do better, your majesty.”

“Don’t scold Lady Alia,” Leanna said, finally finding her voice. A bone-deep weariness had settled on her shoulder like a heavy mantle and it showed in her voice. She would have preferred to sit sullen, allowing the Emperor to say all he wanted and leave, but Alia shouldn't be in trouble for her choices. “Please, your majesty.”

Emperor Alaric’s face was a dark cloud. He glared, a muscle moving in his jaw. “I’ll remind you that you are under my protection, princess.”

“Yes, your majesty.” Leanna squirmed under the heat of his gaze, but she forced herself to sit up straight and meet him face-to-face.

He narrowed his eyes, turning them to dark slits in the process. “I do not have the time to question you now. But soon.”

He turned away and gave instructions to the coachman and the guard. As he walked farther away, Leanna heard him issue instructions to everyone, telling them of their plans to rest for the night at the nearest town, Ildale.

“Are you all right, your grace?” Alia asked again, looking at Leanna in concern.

Alaric was walking away and Leanna watched him for a moment before saying, “I’m still a little shocked, but I’m very well.”

That was a lie. Leanna’s heart hammered in her chest and she didn’t know how to feel. She considered telling Alia what the man had said, but believed it might merely worry the girl for nothing.

They remained silent as their party proceeded into Ildale. They found an inn large enough to take everyone.

Alia stayed by Leanna’s side as the Emperor and his aide found rooms for everyone.

As they stood in the courtyard of the large inn, Leanna noticed a stern-faced woman watching her and recognized her silvery-blonde hair. The design of her dress was unique, form fitting with an unusually low cut top, her pale breasts pressed provocatively together and upward.

Who is she? Could she be a companion for Alaric?

It seemed highly probable. Everyone who spoke of the Emperor’s harem mentioned that the women all held an unearthly beauty. The thought of the harem had lingered in the corner of her mind and she had successfully ignored it, but seeing this woman was pulling it to the fore of her mind.

She turned to Alia. “Do you know who that woman is?” She hoped there was no sign of distress evident in her voice.

Alia glanced once at the woman and said, “Her name is Thalisa Soot. She came with Emperor Alaric and…” Alia trailed off.

In spite of herself, Leanna felt jealous. If so many women were warring for his affection, what became of her? The battle to prove invaluable enough to be his bride seemed impossibly difficult.

The Emperor returned to get her from outside by himself. He didn’t say a word, merely beckoning her and Alia and leading them up the narrow stairs to the adjoining rooms in which they'd spend the night.

Leanna’s room was small and cozy. A pleasant fire burned in the grate, spreading warmth around. She ached to take off her garments and soak in a tub.

But first…

“I want to speak to you, princess.” the Emperor stared pointedly at Alia.

Leanna wasn’t ready to be alone with him again, but she knew she had to do it. She nodded approvingly to Alia. The girl bowed and left the room, giving Leanna a comforting look before going.

Once the door closed behind Alia, the man stepped closer to Leanna, his brows furrowing, the surrounding air charged.

“You have a lot of explaining to do,” he said, the words coming out with a soft growl.

Leanna had to look away. Though his stare was painfully intense, she could feel a flush going through her body, and she didn’t think it was caused by fear. He was an attractive man and his effect on her was powerful.

“My apologies, your majesty.”

He grabbed her face by the chin, forcing her to look at him. A slight sting followed the initial touch of his fingers, but the bite faded to a tantalizing warmth. “Who was that man?”

“I don’t know who he was.”

“You don’t know? But he rushed to you like he knew you.”

“He was a cleric, one of the many clerics who pray and worship in the Isle of the Eeds. I recognized the language when he spoke, but I don’t know him. He probably recognized me as the princess.”

The Isle of the Eeds was a religious seat of the Hallowed Temple. It was protected by the Kingdom of South Hallow and an important part of their culture and development. The clerics in the temple researched powerful protective artifacts to keep South Hallow safe, while also reading signs in the sky to tell the future.

Emperor Alaric c****d an eyebrow. “And you speak the language?”

“I do. I learned it as a child. It might not be expected of me, your majesty, but I wanted to.” There was no direct ban on her learning the language, but speaking with the priests from the Isle was primarily the work of the King. Leanna rarely came into contact with them.

“Why?”

“Curiosity.” And as though realizing the single word won’t be enough, she added, “Your majesty.”

“What did he say?”

“He said I should tell him that the decay is coming.”

The Emperor’s eyes narrowed, getting darker, as though he was trying to decipher if she was lying or not. “Tell who?”

Leanna sighed. “I don’t know, your majesty. I asked, but he didn’t explain. That was when he killed himself.”

With a watchful expression and a low grunt, Emperor Alaric let go of her face. “If you do that again, your girl, Alia, will suffer for it.”

What? “What do you mean?” She couldn’t stop the tremor that coated her words.

“Let’s just say that you don’t want to find out. Remember that you’re under my protection and if anything happens to you, I will have to take responsibility for it, princess.”

“Yes, your majesty.”

He looked at her like he had more to say, but thought it needless.

This was the third time Leanna had had him so close to her. She was almost embarrassed by how much she wanted him to keep touching her.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” he asked.

“I have a question, your majesty.” She was emboldened. Even though he essentially just issued a threat, after the brief conversation, he didn’t seem so daunting now.

Emperor Alaric nodded, encouraging her to ask.

“Why did you tell the men that I’m your bride?”

The sound of his laughter felt like a slap, and her previous fear briefly returned. “Would you rather I told them you’re my w***e?”

“No, but–”

He stepped closer again, until he was only a breath away from her. “You deserve better than me, do you know that?

“Your parents, they pampered you and dressed you up like you’re fragile, kept you in a castle swaddled in silks, soft wool, and furs.” Two of his fingers came to her face, and this time, his touch was gentle, trailing from her temple to her chin. “I heard about you before I arrived. The rumors don’t do you justice.”

Leanna swallowed, her heart thudding violently in her chest. It was meant to be a compliment, but with his derisive tone, she imagined some insult lay beneath his words, something crude she couldn’t glean.

“Are you scared of me?” He lowered his face to hers, his hair falling around her like a black curtain. His warm breath smelled like mint and ale. She could feel his other hand snaking around her waist, pulling her towards him, until she was flush against his chest.

“I- I’m not.” She hoped that he couldn’t hear her heart drumming away in her chest.

“Everyone is scared of me, princess. You’d be a fool not to be.”

He was right and she knew it. He was a scary man. His reputation was one thing, but even in person, he had a strong enigmatic presence that struck fear into everyone. She tried to think straight, to imagine she wasn’t pressed against him, but she couldn’t.

Her mouth was dry, and her brain had emptied.

She gave her head a little shake, to force her thoughts from where they had been hiding, but she only succeeded at bringing a small smile to his face. From the knowing look in his eyes, she understood that he was only toying with her.

This must be how he gathered all those women to himself.

“I told the men you’re my bride because they’d respect you better that way. Does that answer your question?”

“Yes, your majesty.”

“Do you have other questions?”

The feeling of his fingers, lazily tracing circles on her chin was distracting, but she powered through. “What happens when we get to the castle, your castle?”

“I’m sure I don’t know what you mean.”

“Do you tell them then? That I’m a concubine?”

“Nobody needs to know of our arrangement. Unless you tell them. I’d advise that you don’t. It’ll be safer for you that way.”

She could only force out a small whisper. “Safer how?”

“You’re innocent. Untouched and untainted. The men will want to corrupt you. If you’re my bride, they’d know not to go near you.”

“So, they can go near your concubines?”

He smiled. “Yes.”

“Is Thalisa your concubine?” The words left her mouth before she could stop herself.

He laughed, and his face lowered to hers even further. “Are you jealous?”

Is he going to kiss me? She wet her lips with her tongue. “No. I just –”

“Don’t be jealous, princess.” His lips brushed hers softly and a breath hitched in her throat. “Don’t allow yourself to get jealous. Or you’d get hurt.”

She wanted to push him away, to free herself from his warm embrace, but she wanted to taste him, too. She wanted to know what it’d feel like to kiss him. He paused for a moment, perhaps expecting her to pull back, but when she didn’t, he deepened the kiss.