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2024-10-29 19:42:56Related chapters
The Emperor's Substitute Bride Dreams are often disconcerting
"Pastries?" The woman chuckled, mirth bubbling within in. Upon first glance at the tall, pale-skinned maiden in front of her, she would never have suspected her of any crime which was why she had stepped up immediately on seeing those brutes trying to sever her hands. "It was not the best thing to do, I admit but I was in a precarious situation! I did not want to steal at all but I had no other option. I guess I should return them…" Naomi sighed heavily, her stomach grumbling furiously. The apple and dried meat she had eaten back in the forest had all but disappeared from her stomach. "There would be no need for that. Come with me." She gave Naomi a small smile as she turned and began heading in the direction of the main harbor and the shops. Not of her own volition, Naomi followed her. The woman was nothing to her but a stranger; she could not understand why she felt such an indescribable pull toward her. She had no reason to trust the woman asides from the fact that she had saved
Last Updated : 2024-10-29The Emperor's Substitute Bride Fire, Blood And Dern
"Bllergh! Oh God, why?" Naomi moaned as she emptied the contents of her bowels into a small, wooden bucket. Within two weeks of the sea voyage, she had vomited at least forty times and could barely keep any food down without feeling nauseous. She usually found peace in the ocean and loved being at the beach so she thought she would also enjoy being at sea on a free ship voyage. She was greatly mistaken, and she still had to endure three more weeks of the torturous journey before she would arrive at Nebulos. "There, there. You'll be alright. Easy," Nezetta cooed as she held Naomi's long hair which was dampened with sweat, away from her face. She had made sure to hold in her laughter at the sight of Naomi's Sea sickness so that she would not feel bad. It was difficult to do so because it was weird to see someone so disturbed by the churning of the waves to the point of not being able to keep food down. Nezetta mostly felt awful though on seeing Naomi suffer. She did not kn
Last Updated : 2024-10-29The Emperor's Substitute Bride Terrors of the past
"You're next, Naomi," An eerie voice declared. The malicious tone was the trigger that jolted Naomi from the nightmare she was in. Panting and disturbed, she clutched her head in her hands, willing the remnants of the nightmare to be gone. Tears seeped from her eyes as she was forced to relive the horrible death of her parents again, but this time was different. Back in her world, she usually woke from the nightmares before she could figure out exactly how they had died and why she was spared even though she was within the same vicinity as her parents. They always remained unclear even after therapy. When they had returned years after and Victoria had helped her through them, they were still vague; unambiguous but still horrific enough to leave her in a cold sweat. However, as she neared the kingdom of Nebulos, the nightmares became clearer… as if Nebulos held an attachment to her and her increasing nearness to it was unraveling the bond and acting as a medium to help her figure o
Last Updated : 2024-10-29The Emperor's Substitute Bride A brewing romance
"Welcome, Emperor. The kingdom is yours, Your Majesty." Chief Kaius, brother to Emperor Vulcan and Paramount Chief of the kingdom of Nebulos, bowed deeply though his tone was cold and unfriendly. "Thank you… Brother. It is wonderful to be home after all these years." Emperor Vulcan managed to muster a weak smile. His love for his brother had not waned over the years but he could still sense his brother's feelings of disdain hidden under the cloak of respect and duty. Emperor Vulcan had been reluctant to host the engagement ceremony in Nebulos but with the urging of his advisors, he had relented. Now, his main goal was to try to heal the enormous wound in their relationship that had been festering for years. "Uncle," Daegal inclined his head downwards in greeting. "My Prince." An awkward silence reigned in the courtyard of the Star Castle till it was broken by Chief Kaius's steward. "Your Majesty, My Prince, you must be tired after your long and stressful journey. Come, I shall
Last Updated : 2024-10-29The Emperor's Substitute Bride Jealousy
The Estorian harbor in Nebulos was even larger and more sprawling than the one in Vishwum. It was unlike anything Naomi had ever seen. As Naomi disembarked from the ship, she sighted large trading vessels and smaller boats and ships bobbing gently on the sparkling blue sea. She had never seen the sea shimmer like that before. "Wow… Nezetta… Estoria is even more beautiful than I imagined and I haven't even visited anywhere yet!" Naomi exclaimed as she looked around in wonder. However, Nezetta only responded with a stiff nod and a curt reply. "Hm. There is still more to see." Ever since Naomi decided to try to build a bridge across the gaping hole in their relationship caused by the secrets she was keeping, Nezetta had changed. Naomi would have been fine with keeping everything a secret but her conscience constantly pricked her each time she shared a kiss with Nezetta, held her hand, or caressed her smooth skin. Still, she fought back the urge to divulge every single detail but end
Last Updated : 2024-10-29The Emperor's Substitute Bride The compassionate one and the abomination
"Has there been any word from my daughter yet?" Chief Topher asked one of his many household spies. There remained two days till the engagement ceremony and still, Lolo Nerina was nowhere to be found. Her father, Chief Topher had exhausted all efforts and resources to no avail. He sometimes considered requesting the king to get Prince Daegal to fly over the Great sea in search of his daughter, but that would only alert the king to the fact that she was missing and he had been lying about knowing her whereabouts. "No, my Chief. I had made inquiries on all the ships that departed Vishwum within that period but nobody knew which ship she had boarded. All they knew was that she had boarded a ship along with a woman."A woman who I heard had rescued her from some vigilantes who wanted to punish her harshly for stealing," The spy reported, bowing his head meekly. "Stealing? What are you talking about? Which woman do you speak of? Was anybody able to identify the woman she boarded the shi
Last Updated : 2024-10-29The Emperor's Substitute Bride Impending Banishment
"Emperor, My Chief, there has been a massacre here in the capital!" The commander of the capital's guards, Sir Orryk, reported. Chief Kaius's and Emperor Vulcan's heads swiveled in Sir Orryk's direction. They had been breaking bread and treating each other in an attempt to try to find some common ground and perhaps stitch together a bit of the gaping rent in their relationship. So far, it was going well as they were doing their best to remain civil and not bring up any hostilities.However, the news Sir Orryk was about to report to them had the potential to rip the frail stitches apart. "A massacre? Where? When? What part of the city? Who committed such a heinous crime and why are you reporting to me alone instead of bringing the offender to me for judgment?" While Chief Kaius fired question after question, Emperor Vulcan remained silent, swirling the Nebulosi strong wine in his goblet. "My Chief, it occurred close to two hours ago in the Crescere area of the city. My men and I
Last Updated : 2024-10-29The Emperor's Substitute Bride A message and the barrier
“It is okay. Breathe, Naomi. Breathe. I am right here with you,” Nezetta cooed, leaping from the wooden rocking chair she had been sitting on for the last three hours, to hold Naomi’s shaking body.However, as soon as her fingers made contact with the exposed skin of Naomi’s shoulders, she flinched away from her touch.The sudden, unexpected movement pierced through Nezetta like a sharp lance going through a knight at a tourney. She retracted her hand, letting it fall to her sides as she tentatively sat and maintained a substantial distance on the straw-stuffed bed Naomi lay upon.“What happened to me? Where are we? How are you awake? And why am I dressed like this?” Naomi threw the barrage of questions at Nezetta as she frantically observed the strange room she had just found herself in. She had been stripped of her previous garments and was now clothed in a loose, cream-colored, lightly embroidered sleeveless silk dress that felt like a soft caress against her hot and balmy skin.The
Last Updated : 2024-10-29
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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
