Novels by Pcb945

By the time dawn breaks, Kiara is positively sure that she doesn’t have any arms. She is in intense pain. Like the previous night, the Emperor rolls over to her side of her bed to seek warmth when the temperature drops at the middle of the night. When he opens his eyes and finds his face almost buried in her bosom, his face turns dark. He pushes himself off the bed and goes to the foot of the bed to unlock the shackles on her feet. When he comes back to her hands, Kiara is sure he hoists the chain to make her feel the most pain but she doesn’t give him the satisfaction of knowing. She bites down on her bottom lip to stop her from crying out. He leaves the room without saying anything, which Kiara is grateful for. Nia comes into the room not long after, her cheeks are puffed out, if her complexion was a few shades lighter, her whole face would have been bright red. “I don’t know what you did last night, but he is in an absolutely foul mood this morning.” She starts.

Nia takes her through a corridor different from the others because of the absence of windows. Lamps line the walls and burn brightly even though it is only noon, the other wall is lined with paintings depicting violent war and bloodshed. Kiara sees soldiers getting impaled on sword and spears, she sees an executioner in the act of beheading a man, an overflowing basket of heads beside him, she doesn’t realize Nia has stopped to talk to another servant. She turns around the corner and sees a man sitting on a throne made out of skulls, his golden eyes and wild golden hair reminds her of an older version of the Emperor, now that she thinks about it, she realizes the resemblance is uncanny. Before she can contemplate further, she sees a soldier coming out of a room by the corner, she looks into an open room and sees the armour she had knocked over during the squabble with her aunt. “Isn’t that…” She breaks away from the company and follows the men into the large room. If she tho

Nia comes into the room after the Emperor leaves, she finds Kiara rubbing her sore wrists. The fact that the Emperor shackled his new wife to the bed on their first night together was hot news in the servant quarters. The men who installed the chains started the rumors, their story was further corroborated by the unfortunate maid who had heard the mistress pulling on the chains and crying out in the middle of the night. All sorts of conclusions were going about, and it was talk that Nia wanted no part of. If word of any of it was to reach The Emperor’s ear, it was sure death for all of them. She pulls open the drapes. “You have a big day today, its your first day in the throne room. Your formal introduction to all the members of the royal court as well as the first time everyone will see what you look like, you’ll be receiving a lot of gifts as well from many people.” “Why do I have to go?” Asks Kiara in a grouse tone. She did not want anything to do with that brute.

Nia massages the oil very gently into Kiara’s skin, she moans in pain when Nia’s hands touches her sore ribs, or her arms that had taken the beaten from her aunt’s slipper as she tried to protect her face. It occurs to her now, that the henna decorating her skin serves another purpose other than announcing that she is a royal bride, the intricate lines and swirls also cover the bruises on her skin. Nia’s tour of the castle was overwhelming for Kiara, she couldn’t even remember the name of the rooms or what they were for and they had only gone through half of the East wing before Nia had declared that it was time for lunch. Kiara did not eat with the Emperor, a small mercy she is grateful for. After lunch, Nia and Kiara take another walk through the remainder of the East wing, at the end of it all, Kiara feels she has been in a maze, she knows she will certainly get lost if she comes here alone. They had a light evening meal by the window where Kiara watched the sun set. Afte

Kiara stands there, not sure of what to do. She wanders to a large window overlooking the courtyard of the castle, the place where all the inhabitants of this kingdom where standing, still cheering. A few spot her and begin pointing at her, she moves away from the window, afraid of what the consequence of her action will be, more so, after being warned by the Emperor himself. What did he call it? Behaving like a filthy commoner. Nia comes around the corner, giving Kiara a little shock. “Come now, it’s time for you to have breakfast with the Emperor at the rooftop.” Nia says, pulling Kiara along. “The rooftop? Why the rooftop?” Kiara swallows, she had just seen the height of the castle, now she had to eat up there? “You came to the city wearing a ceremonial mask, no one saw your face, it is bound to spark some rumors. So, you have to show yourself, so the people can be reassured that it is indeed a woman. You might not know this but something s

Nia joins her in the carriage where she has been dumped and locked in for two hours at least. Kiara turns her face away from her, to hide her tear stained face from the girl. Nia doesn’t say anything. The carriage begins to move, soon after, Kiara hears a whip crack furiously and various unintelligible sounds coming from the hostler. “Where are we going?” She asks. “Home.” Nia replies. “What about court?” Nia looks at Kiara, her features twisted in utter confusion. “The Emperor said we had court this morning.” Kiara expatiates. “You can’t hold court with people who no longer exist.” Nia’s voice is toneless and cold as she says this. Kiara feels the tears pool in her eyes. She is the sole reason her people have been annihilated. The sole reason. She cannot bring herself to make eye contact with Nia. The carriage begins to move with neck-breaking speed on uneven road, the car