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On fire
Last Updated:
2024-03-11 20:30:04Related chapters
The Emperor's Substitute Bride Set in motion
"Nezetta? What in the world has she done now?" Naomi gasped as she snatched the paper from Daegal's grip and glanced through it, her eyes widening with each damning line she read.Slowly, she set the paper on the table and sat down amidst shuddering breaths.Azriel's gaze impatiently flickered from Daegal to Naomi. "Well, are you going to share this information with—"Before he could complete his question, the doors to the council chambers flew open and Chief Topher strolled in. Immediately, Naomi sat up straighter, putting on the strict, dignified pose of Nerina but carefully made sure to only look at him from the corners of her eyes so he wouldn't notice how much her eye color had changed."My deepest apologies, Emperor. I would have arrived sooner but there were matters in Drakova that I had to look into," Chief Topher said as he bowed before Daegal.Daegal nodded stiffly in response, his mind still reeling from the news he had just received.However, when Chief Topher made to occu
Last Updated : 2024-03-13The Emperor's Substitute Bride A threat to life
"Rise, Ser Kabeer. Knight of the five kingdoms," Daegal said to his close friend, page, and now knight who knelt before him in the courtyard of the barracks amidst the watchful eyes of the other soldiers and knights."My sword and life are yours, Emperor," Kabeer responded as he rose to his feet with his head still bowed in obeisance. Suddenly, Daegal let out a soft laugh and threw his arms around Kabeer, clapping his back firmly. "It seems like just yesterday when you were following me around and scolding me for not listening to my late father. Now, look at you. A knight." Kabeer had returned with some soldiers of the second division that were stationed in the backwaters of Estoria, to give first-hand accounts of the fighting that was going on there. Through most of the campaign, Kabeer proved himself by saving the lives of one hundred of his fellow soldiers from a deadly ambush by Babatunde Alen's forces. This prompted the commander of his division to write to Daegal for him to
Last Updated : 2024-03-14The Emperor's Substitute Bride Treason
Naomi sighed and stood on her toes, then hugged him tightly while stroking his hair. "I'm so sorry about what happened, my love. I truly am and I understand your fears. Trust me, I do."Daegal broke their embrace and gave her a skeptical look. "But?" "But I'm not Daena and your father is dead. He isn't here to harm me.""Yet others can, Naomi!" Daegal gripped her shoulders. "You can be hurt in the most brutal ways simply because Chief Topher, Nezetta, or Babatunde Alen might want to get to me! Nezetta especially. She knows who you truly are and how much you mean to me!" "Daegal, just listen to me. Chief Topher will want to kill you! I can feel it in my bones and I can't sit on my hands doing nothing.""Chief Topher may try to end my life but he cannot do it openly or cause us to lose this war. The battlefield is dangerous. I cannot risk your life!" "Daegal—" "This is the end of this conversation. You will stay here, Naomi."He didn't give her a chance to argue anymore before he ma
Last Updated : 2024-03-14The Emperor's Substitute Bride Take me with you
"Shh, beloved. You will not blame yourself.""Please, please don't let her be hurt. I only asked for her to be kept in the dungeon because doing otherwise would require explanations that I don't think we're ready to grant just yet," Naomi said as she broke away from their hug.Daegal agreed, "You have my word. As you have commanded it, so it shall be."Naomi mustered up a smile in response."Shall I have food brought for you?" he asked.Naomi shook her head 'no'. "I don't think I can keep anything down for now. Can you just hold me till I fall asleep?""Of course, my love." Daegal misted their clothes, leaving them only in their small clothes.When they climbed into bed together, Daegal scooped her into his arms and pressed two kisses on the top of her head.After a while, Daegal broke the silence in the room when he noticed that Naomi's breathing hadn't evened out. "What are you thinking about, love?""A lot of things. My mind is just all over the place," came her response."Name one
Last Updated : 2024-03-14The Emperor's Substitute Bride Her choice
A slow week had passed since Daegal locked Naomi in the castle for her safety.However, she saw it as a slight. One that she wasn’t going to take. She had spent most of the week in the gardens and library, focusing on the magic coursing through her being and trying to find a way to break the barrier that Daegal had set up around her.She couldn’t leave the walls of the castle, not even to go to the dragon arena. The third day after Daegal left, she hoped that the magic would have worn down but she was disappointed instead.Vivid nightmares plagued Naomi each night. They always consisted of the same thing: Daegal being killed in battle by the machinations of Chief Topher or Nezetta.As much as she believed in Daegal’s fighting skills and magic, it didn’t stop her from being scared.When she had tried to tactfully order some of the mages that were left behind, to bring down the barrier, they refused and when she had asked for their reason, they had informed her that the emperor’s orders
Last Updated : 2024-03-16The Emperor's Substitute Bride The taste of fear
Three days before Naomi arrived in Estoria, Nezetta enjoyed the fear she saw in people's eyes. The fear when they had no idea of what was to happen to them and the terror that filled their bones and very big when they eventually found out. Estoria was her home for many of her formative years and it was also the place that housed some of her worst and best memories. Joining Babatunde and Master Faizar all but exposed her to her full potential. Long before, the full moon was an essential catalyst in bringing out that unnatural part of her that her father made her hide for so many years and even sent her away to the Alcatraz because of it. Now, she could summon that side of her with only a thought, without needing the full moon. "Are you ready to devote your lives to the one, true ruler of us all?" Nezetta questioned the dwellers of a commercial town situated in the heart of Estoria. The people had all been taken from their homes by men of Babatunde's army and assembled in their to
Last Updated : 2024-03-18The Emperor's Substitute Bride An imminent confrontation
"First of all, ow! Secondly, let go. Geez," Naomi said. Azriel stared at her for some seconds before he dropped her hand.She rubbed her sore wrist then whipped her head up to meet his violet eyes. "What do you think I'm doing here, huh?" Naomi glowered at him."Directly disobeying your emperor, I presume?" Az responded cooly as he crossed his arms against his chest."Oh fuck that," Naomi answered sharply.Azriel blinked once, then twice. Silence reigned for a moment then out of the blues, he burst into a fit of laughter.Naomi stumbled back a bit, startled by his outburst."You are very lucky that the archers all around know who you are because you would have been dead right now," he said between chuckles."Yeah, I kind of figured that out when I felt a hundred watchful gazes drilling into my back," Naomi replied."Two hundred," Azriel clarified.Naomi's eyes widened as she turned her head around but still couldn't pinpoint anyone exactly.Azriel took off her bag and then slung an ar
Last Updated : 2024-03-18The Emperor's Substitute Bride Hope
Aelyna, come," Naomi ordered through the bond between her and her dragon as she and her husband stepped out of the command tent and into the afternoon sun."Where's Dreygor?" she asked Daegal who had a troubled look on his face. "and what's wrong? What are you thinking about?"Daegal glanced at her for a second before turning away. "In a cave, a short ride from here."As he answered, two squires brought over two horses for them, which they mounted."You didn't answer my second question," Naomi said as she spurred her horse into a trot."Do not worry about it, Cari. Let us go," he said and before Naomi could prod him further, he dug his foot into his horse's flank and it galloped off."You're lucky I love you," Naomi muttered to herself while she motioned her horse to go faster just as Aelyna flew overhead, following her rider.Within a few minutes, they had cleared their camp and were now deep into the woods. Eventually, they both came upon a wide clearing surrounded by caves. From th
Last Updated : 2024-03-20
Latest chapter
The Emperor's Substitute Bride Vows
Naomi smiled sheepishly when Daegal praised her and laid her head against his shoulder. Suddenly, a chief threw a question at Daegal. "What happened to Empress Nerina? Where is she?" Everyone else in attendance nodded in agreement and began to murmur the question too. Naomi's eyes monitored everyone and made her observations about them. When they quieted down, Daegal took his time to explain every single event from the beginning till date with Naomi occasionally chipping in. And when he was done, the entire hall bowed down to Naomi and called her their empress. Naomi wiped the tears that formed under her eye. She didn't think she would garner such a support system from people who did not know her well enough but after Daegal's information, they looked at her and saw her. Her true self. A few days before, Naomi had Delia released from the dungeons and she was also very surprised to see the transformation but also knew that something was fish ever since Nerina started to be very ni
The Emperor's Substitute Bride Resurrection
"Are you just going to stand there gawking?" Naomi asked, her voice hoarse. Daegal was immediately by her side with water.After she took a few sips, she sighed and with Daegal's help, sat up against some pillows. "What? Why are you both staring at me like that?"Daegal only smiled at her in response. Love and adoration shone in his eyes in such a way that made Naomi's heart melt from the display.As he brushed her hair back, Naomi reached up to tuck a strand behind her ear but midway into the motion, she caught the color of her hand.Naomi blinked once. Then blinked again. She shook her head from side to side and looked at her hand again."Daegal? Azriel? Am I dreaming?"Azriel laughed and pinched her calf. Naomi let out a small yelp and glared at him."No, you are not dreaming."Naomi returned her gaze to her hand and then lifted her other hand too. Tears of joy streamed down her face as she took in the rich, cocoa color."Can you get me a mirror, please?" she said to Daegal and pro
The Emperor's Substitute Bride Work of art
Master Faizar's brow furrowed in confusion when he saw the grin on Naomi's face that made her look maniacal and downright terrifying.Naomi didn't know where strength came from or even understand what she was about to do but she just knew it was what she was destined to do.She slowly rose to her feet with her hands clamped over Faizar's. She stared deep into his hazel eyes and uttered the words that struck fear into his heart for the first time in his life."This is your end and my beginning, Faizar."She threw his hands down and then pressed her fingers against his forehead. Her eyes shone a bright white light as she threw her head back and opened the part of her mind where she had locked her dream-walking magic in.Fueled by hate, revenge, and anger, Naomi threw herself into his dark, twisted mind. She didn't pay attention to his screams of anguish but only focused on what she realized she had to do.Her magic rippled across the clearing and beyond but the airtight shield around th
The Emperor's Substitute Bride The war
Naomi could smell the saltiness of the sea way before she even sighted the battleground. A wide, grassy plain extended toward the shore of the sea, and about a mile inland, Babatunde's army awaited. Rocky hills that seemed very familiar to Naomi arose at their back with some of their soldiers standing atop it. Naomi and Daegal stood on top of a wide hill overlooking the plain ahead. Thalia and Azriel were close behind while Kabeer and Ser Tare, clothed in their dark armor, gave the order for their armies to halt below. They obeyed them and arranged themselves into predetermined positions. The threat they faced though... Naomi didn't even need to count before she knew how outnumbered they were. "They took every inch of high ground they could find. We have to stick to the lower levels instead," Azriel hissed. "At least we have air power. That will be our high ground," Naomi said. "Precisely," Daegal agreed. "I think I can fight on horseback, Daegal," Azriel said but Daegal shot h
The Emperor's Substitute Bride Speaking from the heart
After Naomi's rescue from Master Faizar's clutches, Daegal didn't let her out of his sight for a single moment. He always made sure she was within sight and hearing distance and would even enter a panic when she wasn't near.An evening later, while alone in her tent, Naomi had earlier sent for Thalia and she entered when Naomi was poring over a tome. "How is Azriel?" she asked upon noticing Thalia's entrance. "Better now, Empress. He bled quite a lot since the arrow went clean through his shoulder but I and the other healers managed to help.""Will he be able to fight?" Thalia bent her head for a moment then looked up. "Azriel is strong but he will need time to heal."Naomi cocked an eyebrow. "Time to heal? Why have you not used magic to speed it up?" "We tried but something is wrong. The process is painstakingly slow so we have to rely on nature this time."Naomi bit her lip and set aside the book that was on her lap. "Please take care of him. I will come to see him later.""Of c
The Emperor's Substitute Bride Rescue
Nightfall came swiftly. Azriel and Thalia were prepared as they had gone over their plan with Daegal almost a thousand times.They were to sneak through the enemy's camp without drawing attention. Since some might know Azriel, he would stick to the shadows and also wear the helmet and armor that their blacksmiths had created which resembled that of Babatunde's soldiers."Ready, Thalia?" Azriel asked and Thalia nodded in the affirmative.They bid Daegal goodbye and mounted their horses. The ride was silent as they were too focused on their mission to joke or say anything to each other.After thirty to forty minutes of hard riding, they arrived in a thick forest, stopping on a hilltop that overlooked the outskirts of the formidable enemy camp.Master Faizar and Nezetta had used the same kind of spells that Daegal put around their camp to shield it from wandering eyes but thanks to the information that Naomi previously collected from those captured and now dead soldiers, Thalia and Azrie
The Emperor's Substitute Bride Dream walker
"A dream walker?" Naomi echoed as Master Faizar placed the torch in his hand into a bracket. He circled her slowly like she was the prey and he, the predator. He stopped in front of her and ran a hand down her cheek. "Have you never felt the power of going into a person's mind and seeing all their deepest thoughts? Their fears, joys, and sorrows?" Naomi swallowed, her throat stinging from the dryness as she remembered penetrating Azriel and Meriana's minds. Amani's too. "Your eyes give you away, Naomi. So expressive. The magic that you hold is rare, ancient, and terrific. It lies deep within your soul," he said. Naomi scowled. "I don't find anything terrific about it. Sometimes I end up hurting people and other times, no one gets hurt. I don't understand it and I'm not sure I even want to."Master Faizar smiled softly but it did nothing to ease Naomi's worries. She continuously kept trying to access any part of her magic but she couldn't reach it. All she could hope was for Daegal
The Emperor's Substitute Bride Finding Naomi
"Nngh," Naomi groaned as she slowly came to. The last thing she remembered was hugging her parents and...When she fully opened her eyes, there was darkness all around her. She couldn't even see two feet in front of her."Fuck," she swore as she realized that her hands and feet were tied to a pole and as much as she tried to get free by using her magic, it was as if an oily sheen dampened it.'Where am I? Where am I?' Naomi thought to herself as she continued struggling against her binds.Suddenly, a gust of wind blew across her face as something ruffled. A bright light illuminated the space around her as someone stepped through the flaps of the tent.Naomi remained quiet, choosing not to speak but to gauge instead.Her eyes narrowed suspiciously as the figure stalked ever closer to her. Though her heart pounded in her chest, she kept a straight face to hide her terror.Finally, the person shifted the burning torch from his face and his features came into view. He vaguely looked like
The Emperor's Substitute Bride Reunion
Azriel spoke up. "This is them showing their appreciation and undying loyalty to you. Daegal opened their eyes and cleared their doubts."Naomi nodded slowly. "Okay..." Then to those kneeling, she said in a raised voice: "Rise."In seconds, they obeyed her command. Ser Tare gave her a short bow and a heartfelt smile before he returned to his legion. Then she climbed up the podium and whispered some things to Daegal. After a moment, he nodded once. "It is now time for these traitors to face the emperor's justice. Chief Azriel, bring them to me."Six of them were brought up to the platform, still chained. They each had identical haunted looks in their eyes. Naomi cleared her throat before raising her voice. "In light of ours and the creator's mercy, we will give each of you a chance to renounce your allegiance to Chief Topher and Babatunde Alen. Refusal to do so means you acquiesce to your execution."Some of the captured soldiers began to ask for mercy. However, Naomi cast them all
