NYMERIA: THE EMPEROR'S LOST TREASURE

CHAPTER FOUR

The knock at the door made Nymeria jump. Her hand nearly knocked over the flower vase by her side. It wobbled slightly before settling back in place.

"Come in," she said.

A servant stepped into her room without bowing. "Your lunch has been served."

Nymeria shook her head, "I'm not hungry."

She turned her back and walked to the balcony, her grip on the railing tight as she looked over the courtyard.

The servant rolled her eyes slightly, struggling to keep the bare minimum of respect in her tone. "The Emperor has been informed of your refusal to eat last night's dinner and breakfast, you have to eat."

Nymeria spun around, a slight flush returning to her pale cheeks. "The Emperor ordered you to make sure I eat?"

Her hand moved instinctively to her stomach, the tightness she had been ignoring had now transformed into a small growl.

"No," the servant said, her tone colder than necessary, "He instructed us to keep his breeder in good condition."

Breeder.

The word felt like a bucket of freezing water had been doused over Nymeria's head, dragging her out of her temporary high.

Having to sit next to him while he still saw her as nothing but a vessel for his heir caused a shiver to run down her spine.

If only the priestess had arrived already, she thought, then she would tell the Emperor that Nymeria was his mate and he would finally accept her.

"Can I perhaps have my meal in my chambers? Maybe you can inform the Emperor that I'm too fatigued to bring myself down." She asked softly.

The servant unmoved looked at her firmly. "No. I'll let him know his order has been passed on."

And without waiting for a response she turned and left, making Nymeria hurry after her for fear of the Emperor's wrath.

When she arrived at the dining hall, he was already there, sat by the table, his usual folder placed at his side and as his hands worked the cutlery, his eyes stayed fixed on the line. Until Nymeria stepped in.

"Your Eminence," she bowed before settling in beside him. Her mouth pooled saliva at the sight of the meal placed before her.

She dug in immediately, a bit too distracted to notice the Emperor's eyes watching her.

She tore into a piece of meat that tasted better than usual and was about to reach for a glass of water when her eyes finally lifted to meet his.

"Are you that starved?" He asked flatly.

She almost choked , the piece of meat felt like a lump of wood in her throat. Even when she managed to force it down gentle hiccups replaced the feeling. Her face flushed a bright red.

"My apologies." Nymeria's head bowed, letting her hair fall forward to hide her face.

"Why did you refuse to eat?" Emperor Zyaire asked.

Nymeria's lips parted to give her automatic lie, but the last few seconds had shown she was indeed hungry. Her lips pressed together.

"If your tongue is no longer functioning, I can have my men relieve you of it," The threat left his mouth so casually it almost sounded like a simple suggestion.

"I didn't think it was right for Your Eminence to have to share a table with a mere breeder," Nymeria blurted out.

She didn't see him look in her direction, or paused just briefly before returning to his meal.

"So what? You would have starved yourself forever?"

"Till the Priestess' announcement," she thought but the words stayed in her mind.

"You?" Emperor Zyaire beckoned to a maid passing by, making her hurry to the table. Nymeria finally lifted her head to see what was happening.

"Inform all the servants, if I come down for any meal and my breeder is not already sat at the table, it will be your heads on the line"

The maid flashed Nymeria a look of contempt before bowing and running off to deliver the message.

Zyaire leaned into his chair, his attention now fully on the folder, like he hadn't just cemented whatever disdain the servants felt towards Nymeria.

But Nymeria on the other hand, couldn't explain why she could feel the heat on her face growing as she resumed eating her meal, or the sheepish grin that pulled her lips upward. The Emperor's words replayed in her head.

"Why insist I sit beside him?." she thought.

Just as she set her spoon next to the empty bowl of soup, a palace guard marched in.

"Emperor, the priestess has arrived," he announced.

Zyaire tossed the folder onto the table and rose from his chair. "Bring her to my study."

"As you wish," the guard bowed, then hurried off again.

Nymeria's heart raced as she watched the Emperor stepped out of the dining hall and go down the corridor

The priestess was here which meant the time had finally come. Her hands gripped the fabric of her gown and balled into tight fists as she counted down from hundred.

3

2

1

She leapt up nearly tripping and hurried down the path the Emperor had taken.

On arrival, his study doors were shut with no guards on watch, she balanced on her toes and quietly made her way to the door, pressing her ear into the wooden surface.

"Was I wrong about the breeder? Did you not find her as I said you would?" A woman's voice came from the other side. The priestess.

"No, but regardless you led me to a measly human." The Emperor answered, his tone echoed his displeasure.

"I did not," the priestess said slowly, "the moon goddess led you to her. I am simply a messenger."

Zyaire sighed and rolled his eyes, annoyance filling his face, "So I have the moon goddess to blame? My heir is to be born by a useless sack of bones and flesh, and now you want me to marry my mate in the next three months? Did the moon goddess pick the date as well?"

Nymeria's breath hitched, not even from the insult that pierced her heart but....

"Marriage?!" She thought.

"Do you wish to defy the moon goddess, Emperor?" The priestess asked.

Zyaire paused, realising he didn't have so many options. "Fine. If it is the mood goddess' wish, so be it. Now tell me who she is?"

Nymeria teeth sank into her bottom lip, if he was already this mad about her being his breeder. What would happen if he discovered she was his divine mate?

"Good," the priestess spoke softly, "your mate is closer than you think."

Nymeria held her breath and pressed harder into the door.

"Princess Charlotte of Dalton" the Priestess answered.

"What?" Nymeria exclaimed without thinking, making the two inside the study pause.

She pushed open the door and stepped in, her body moving before her common sense.

"What are you doing here?" The Emperor asked

She shook her head, "It's not possible! What she's saying is not possible."

"Who is this filth?" The priestess rose from her chair.

"You're a fraud!" She snapped.

The priestess' face contorted into something frightening. "How dare you question the words of the moon goddess?!"

"You'd better explain yourself fast, Breeder," the Emperor said, facing Nymeria.

"That princess isn't your mate,"

The priestess scoffed. "So I'm right about you being a breeder but a fraud regarding his mate?"

She realised how stupid it sounded but unwilling to let her mate be stolen she faced Zyarie. "Maybe she's not a fraud, but she's lying. You already have a mate and it's not that princess. It's m—"

"Get out!"

The command stole her speech.

"You forget yourself ," Zyarie said, "remember your place or I will have you dragged to the dungeon."

She didn't leave despite the quake in her legs, her heart desperately cried for him to feel the bond.

"Your Eminence..."

Zyarie cut her off, "I've had enough of this. If you say one more word, I'll toss you back on those streets."

His cruelty twisted something in her, something more than the fear of being nothing but the Cursed Child again.

Something stronger.

Something that refused to bend.

"Fine.”