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Prying eyes
Last Updated:
2023-01-08 22:03:47Related chapters
The Emperor's Substitute Bride I love her, you bastard
The heavy drapes were drawn and the only candle in the room had burned low and rested on her dressing table. The candlelight was too weak to reach the dark corners of the room where the huge wardrobes and the mirror over her dressing table, were located. She pushed the heavy duvet off her body and swung her legs over the side of the bed, sinking her toes into the plush carpet. "What are you talking about?" Daegal asked in a hushed tone, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. "Psht!" Naomi shushed. She tried to convince herself that she was imagining things but from the sinking feeling in her chest, she knew that it was real. She had ceased to use pure logic to explain events after spending quality time on the continent. There was nothing logical about Aesos, Nebulos, or Volcaris. Her heart was racing but she didn't make a sound when she stepped forward. She didn't even realize Daegal had moved till she perceived his presence by her side. Naomi glanced down and saw that his hand was t
Last Updated : 2023-01-11The Emperor's Substitute Bride The portal
Los Angeles, California. The dry but cozy evenings had given way to chilly nights that should freeze out the bones of people if they don't wear appropriate clothing but Master Faizar much preferred this to any other Los Angeles weather. He exhaled a calming breath and in turn, released a puff of smoke into the cool night air. It was a full moon night—just perfect for what he had in mind—and there was a heaviness in the air. Maybe the Creator had come to terms with the knowledge that an almighty entity like herself couldn't keep him away from his home forever. A smirk formed on his face as he recounted his objective. It was perfect. He had waited many years for this. Careful scheming and plotting had finally gotten him to this point and there wasn't a moment to waste. Sure, that tactless fool, Adryan, had almost ruined his plan by kidnapping Naomi Walker's lover but it had been to his advantage anyway. Otherwise, he would never have discovered the Vincula— the easiest way to access
Last Updated : 2023-01-13The Emperor's Substitute Bride In which a moment is cut short
Daegal did not utter a word. Instead, he grabbed onto the reins of his horse and led it outside. A moment later, Naomi heard him galloping away. She raised her head to meet the curious stare of a blonde-haired stable boy. "What?" She snapped at him causing him to bow repeatedly before leaving the stables like his shoes were on fire. Naomi huffed and slapped her forehead. 'Why did I have to open my big mouth? What's Daegal going to think now?' When she half-turned to look for a mount amongst the many horses lounging in their stalls, her eyes caught those of another stable boy, this one dark-haired. He didn't run away though but instead nodded his head to a spotted grey mare two stalls to her right. Naomi let out a small smile in appreciation which the stable boy did not return but went back to his work of cleaning out an empty stall. She shrugged, dismissing his coldness, and approached the mare who eyed her suspiciously. After a few comforting pats on the nose and a helping
Last Updated : 2023-04-11The Emperor's Substitute Bride You fight like a drunken brute
Naomi remembered flying...then hurtling toward the ground. After that, there was nothing.The fog around her cleared and she blinked, getting accustomed to the vicinity. Nezetta lay face-up on the sand with Daegal’s lifeless body next to her. There was no weapon in sight but his clothes were covered in blood.Naomi screamed at the sight before her but no sound came out. Her pulse thrummed frantically beneath her skin as she ran toward Nezetta and Daegal.Her shaking hands hovered above Daegal’s body, tears flowing down her cheeks. "How did this happen?" She thought. Nezetta moved slightly and Naomi noticed the blood staining her chest. She crawled to her. "My love..." She sniveled, pulling Nezetta to lay on her lap. Naomi rocked back and forth, cradling her head in her hands. Droplets of blood bubbled from Nezetta’s lips when she opened her mouth to speak. Her fingers caressed Naomi’s cheek gently and then, clutched her chin tight. Naomi's eyes widened as Nezetta’s obsidian eyes tur
Last Updated : 2023-04-22The Emperor's Substitute Bride She's dead
Naomi had her mouth open in preparation for a quick and downright thoughtless response but she held her tongue at the last minute. She could not be too hasty. Here he was, Prince Daegal, asking her, the woman he believes to be Princess Nerina, why she married him when she was in love with his sister. What suitable response was there? Naomi couldn't answer as she would have if these were different circumstances. She had already made the mistake of revealing her feelings for Nezetta to him. Feelings that Princess Nerina was not supposed to have. Now how was she supposed to answer the question without revealing her true identity? "Princess Nerina, I like my questions being answered when I ask them." Prince Daegal’s hold on her fist grew painful and she winced. There was no mirth in his eyes anymore; only ice. Ice that reminded Naomi of Nezetta’s coldness when she told her that she would have to marry Prince Daegal. 'Come on. Answer him, Princess Nerina.' Shrill, mocking laughter fille
Last Updated : 2023-05-02The Emperor's Substitute Bride The beast awakens
Prince Daegal was not certain why he felt guilty about the Alsayfian woman's death. Aside from the dream and the strong desire to help her, he knew nothing about the woman. So why does he feel like she has been ripped out of his grasp before he could find her? "What was her name?" Daegal stepped closer to Nerina who still caressed the painting like a lost lover. Naomi took a moment to answer, contemplating whether to tell him the truth or make something up. "Her name...was Naomi," She decided to say. "She was the bravest person I ever met. Took her life the way she saw it but never stopped fighting for the truth and what's right. I met her on a tour before our official engagement. She was sick... So sick but had the biggest smile on her face. The light in her eyes was the brightest I ever saw. I was by her side when she died." Naomi was not exactly lying. After all, she was dead. There was no way she could have survived that explosion. Flashes of it came to her sometimes. Entranc
Last Updated : 2023-05-03The Emperor's Substitute Bride Mastery of magic
Dreygor didn't try to eat Naomi this time and for that, she was very thankful. Daegal had done his magic and the wound on his dragon's wing had been healed and it was a smooth flight to Estoria from the Sykorian forests.Through the flight—a short one—Daegal did not say a word to her. However, his hand firmly held onto the back of her thigh for the entirety of their journey to prevent her from falling off.Naomi could only wonder about what was going on in his head. Their heated argument was still fresh in her memory. She was not sure of what she would do about her and Nezetta’s relationship.From what she had seen, she knew that Nezetta was a jealous and possessive person who never even wanted her to get married to Daegal. It was one of the qualities Naomi loved about her yet it would be something that would cause a big problem in the near future.Naomi was well aware that she could not keep Nezetta as an illicit affair and she could not make her marry someone else either even though
Last Updated : 2023-05-15The Emperor's Substitute Bride Captivating
"Breathe from the pit of your belly, Princess Nerina. Do not breathe like a dying fish," Daegal instructed while he spun a coin between his fingers. Naomi rolled her eyes for the umpteenth time since they set out on their journey to Rynzonia. Daegal had been trying to teach her the ropes of her magic throughout their flight from Estoria to the outskirts of Lamesh, a small town bordering the towering and sprawling prison of Rynzonia. It was a day and some hours into their journey on foot and the only thing she had learned how to do was set a portion of the forest around them on fire which Daegal had hastily doused with a quick flick of his fingers and a spell that sounded nonsensical to her. Afterward, he sent her a glare that almost set her skin ablaze. "You are not even looking at what I am doing, Prince Daegal," Naomi spat as she tried out his instructions once again. "I do not need to look at you to see that you are failing woefully," Daegal replied, his face forward. Naomi's
Last Updated : 2023-06-08
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
