NYMERIA: THE EMPEROR'S LOST TREASURE

“Catch her! Get that b***h! Don't let her escape!” The crowded marketplace, bustling with people, suddenly fell into chaos as a bright auburn head, covered in mud and dust, ran through. Everyone stumbled over each other as they tried to get away from the pack's abomination. They all watched in fascination and shock as three men chased the auburn head with so much vigor and strength. Judging from the last man’s bleeding nose and unbuckled trousers, which he supported with one hand, it wasn't hard to figure out what had happened or what would probably happen after. The parade that was happening in the middle of the marketplace, the reason for this much crowd in the Symerian Empire, suddenly halted when the auburn lady burst out from the crowd, ran straight for the Rising Sun of the Symerian Empire, and crashed into the Lycan Emperor. Everyone gasped with shock as they watched the cursed child fly backwards from the force, landing harshly on her butt a short distance from the Emperor. Nymeria, who'd been running for her dear life and virginity, looked up to see the wall she had crashed into. Her eyes widened with fear when she came face to face with eyes the color of gold, intense and glowing and looking down at her with curiosity. Nymeria had never met the Emperor before, but she'd heard tales about him, tales that spoke of his greatness and might, tales that always ended with a warning to the locals to never cross paths with the Emperor. As much as Nymeria was avoided by other locals, this emperor’s was worse. Everyone held their breath, watching in silence, most hoping that this would be the last of the Cursed Child. She could hear them, those evil thoughts of her own people, each one wishing her death in the hands of the Emperor. Perhaps it would have been better that those men r***d her than she met the emperor on this ill-fated day. Another noise grabbed the attention of the onlookers, three men, oblivious to the tension in the air or the presence of the Emperor, dashed for Nymeria, yelling all the profanities of the world as they reached for her. In that split second, the intense stare she shared with Emperor Zyaire broke as someone grabbed her by her dirty, silky auburn strands. “Ah! Stop! It hurts!” “Shut up, b***h! How dare you try to run from me? You should be grateful—” “Such audacity.” A calm voice that held all the storm of the world echoed through the air. Chills ran through the spines of the three men as they suddenly became aware of the presence of the great one standing before them. Their knees buckled from underneath them as they fell to the ground and scampered away from Nymeria, their gaze holding nothing but fear as they looked at the Emperor. “Y—Your Eminence,” The three men yelled at once and bowed, their foreheads hitting the floor. Nymeria quickly copied her pursuer, bowing to the emperor. “Such disrespect.” Emperor Zyaire sighed, almost as if he was bored. “We wouldn't dare. We—We... please have mercy on us.” The men cried out from their submissive position. “Alright. I'll forgive you.” The Emperor sighed, and the men looked up immediately, their eyes shining with relief as they bowed to him repeatedly, singing their thanks and appreciation. “Behead them.” Silence. Ten soldiers from the Resilient Army behind him walked forward, bowed to the Emperor before proceeding to arrest the four perpetrators. “Your Eminence! You can't do this! Please! It was a mistake!” The men cried out and yelled and kicked. Emperor Zyaire c****d one eyebrow as he stared lazily at the men, “Okay, chop off all their manhoods and feed it to them before beheading them. As for the girl, let her go. She comes with me.” And just like that, the Emperor walked away, the three men crying and begging for mercy, with a very numb Nymeria being ushered forward by resilient soldiers. *** Emperor Zyaire stood by the open window, a half-filled crystal wineglass in his hand as he gazed up at the moon. He was waiting for her. The one the moon goddess had prepared for him. His breeder. When the high priestess had told him to go on this parade, he'd almost scoffed with disbelief. But what can he say? The moon goddess worked in mysterious ways. Of all the women in his Empire, she'd sent him a dirty human as his mate. To think his heir was meant to come from this woman. Emperor Zyaire's train of thoughts halted when the large doors to his chambers were suddenly pushed open and the faint sound of bare feet meeting the tiled floor echoed in the air. “Your Eminence.” A soft voice, that reminded him of fluffy clouds and dandelions, called out behind him. Emperor Zyaire slowly turned until his golden gaze fell on the scrawny human from this afternoon, except an ethereal being now stood in her place. His gaze trailed every inch of her body, her auburn hair glowing in the candlelight, eyes as green as nature that they drew him in instantly. “Strip.”