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Resurrection
Huling Na-update:
2024-04-04 04:55:35Kaugnay na kabanata
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
Huling Na-update : 2024-04-04The Emperor's Substitute Bride In the beginning
PrologueThe light of the many fireflies outside illuminated the darkness of Empress Naomi and Emperor Daegal’s tent as they flitted about.For the first time in months, they managed to sneak some time off of the ongoing war and make camp in the Melorian Valley.Naomi had personally picked out the site flanked by two towering mountains. Along with her husband, Emperor Daegal, they pitched their tent some distance away from a beautiful, sparkling waterfall and its rushing sound drowned out the worries in her mind and filled her with a sense of peace.On a closer listen, she could hear the soft hum of the beetles and the chirping of the crickets as she waited for Daegal to return from scouting.The war against the invaders had been going on for two long years, exhausting resources, and the fighting population, and destroying the kingdoms and civilians under her care.Naomi sighed deeply, the weight of the world bearing down heavily on her shoulders. She was the key to the invader's plan
Huling Na-update : 2022-10-13The Emperor's Substitute Bride The omen
August 21st, 2020. (Present day) San Francisco, California. Naomi woke up with a start in her dark, luxury apartment, her heart pounding feverishly against her ribcage. She didn't know what to make of the dream she just had. Did she see all those events and imagine all the conversations because of how much she had been reading her favorite novel? She couldn't be sure. She inhaled the lingering sweet scent of sandalwood from the burned out candles on her nightstand and stretched out her body. The time on her alarm clock read six a.m. If she didn't leave soon, she would be late for work. Rubbing her face and pushing the weird, fantastical dream, she got out of bed and started getting ready. ... "Breathe. Hit. Breathe. Hit. Breathe. Hit." At the Olympic gym on a sunny afternoon after closing early from work, those were the words Naomi Walker kept repeating in her head, over and over as she delivered blow after blow to the punching bag, in front of her. Sweat dripped from her
Huling Na-update : 2022-10-13The Emperor's Substitute Bride Duty over desire
The sixth month of the year of the creator, 2,020. (Two months before the blood moon) Asghavia, Volcaris. The roar of a dragon pierced the moonlit evening sky as its powerful wings beat the air. The rider on its back dug its heels into the dragon's left flank causing it to screech and veer sharply to the left. Folding its large wings, it swooped downward, flying straight to the ground below. The rider atop its back did not panic but confidently held on to the large horns protruding from the dragon's scaled back. Just as it seemed like it was going to crash to the ground, it opened up its wings and sailed through the air, over the heads of the people of the city who didn't pay much mind to it as they had been used to the sight of dragons for over a millennium. It flew over the street of Shayr, past its stalls, taverns, and brothels as it headed east, to the arena of dragons. Beating its wings against the wind, it began its descent to the grounds of the arena. The arena was a mas
Huling Na-update : 2022-10-13The Emperor's Substitute Bride Secrets and Poison
The sixth month of the year of the creator, 2,020. (Two months before the blood moon) Asghavia, Volcaris.Lolo Nerina's smirk grew as she sat in front of her dressing mirror while her maid brushed her pin-straight hair, dark as the eventide that flowed glossily to her waist and began styling it into a single, elegant braid.Centuries of planning and waiting were finally coming to an end. Today, she would be officially betrothed to the imperial prince and in the tenth month of the year, be formally engaged and married to him; able to live in the Unity Rock until the day of their wedding.It all lay on her shoulders now to bring the reign of the Estors to an end. From the day she was born, her dear father and mother saw great potential in her that they did not see in her elder brother, Orion.Her mastery of magic grew as she advanced in age, surpassing the understanding of her Nebulosi teachers to the point where she began to practice magic on her own. Neither her parents nor her brot
Huling Na-update : 2022-10-13The Emperor's Substitute Bride The priestess
On the 21st day of the eighth month of the year of the creator, 2,020.(Present day)Vishwum, Aesos."You have come a long way, Child."A white-haired old woman draped in simple white robes made of cotton sat on a low stool, counting the brown, glass beads on a necklace with fingers that were weathered and crooked, and had seen better days.However, the aura of power that exuded from her in waves convinced Nerina that she was no ordinary old lady."And yet, Indah is afraid you have journeyed all this way for nothing," She continued, shaking her head as her attention was focused on the necklace in her palm.Nerina hoped that she had suddenly developed a hearing impairment and perhaps had misunderstood what the old woman had said.Plastering a fake smile on her face, she asked. "W-what do you mean by that? How could I have come all this way for nothing?" The journey by sea had taken more than a fortnight and had been extremely tiring. There was no way she could have come all this way f
Huling Na-update : 2022-10-16The Emperor's Substitute Bride Chaos and Flight
With a sharp intake of breath, Naomi's eyes snapped open. The dusky forest around her would have been swallowed in darkness had it not been for the burning torches and the light from the bleeding moon above.That was right. There was currently a lunar eclipse happening and she could vaguely remember stopping at the gas station to admire it with Victoria, but as she searched her environs, she noticed that her car and the gas station were nowhere to be seen.There were only trees and more trees as far as her eyes could see. She seemed to be in a forest or jungle of the sort.She was supposed to be en route to Silicon Valley. However, she could not remember the road to the valley being surrounded by towering canopies of trees of unfamiliar species.As she slowly began to get her bearings in order, she tried taking a step forward but quickly came to the harsh realization that something was terribly wrong.She could not move. Discordant notes screamed like alarm bells in her head, warning h
Huling Na-update : 2022-10-27The Emperor's Substitute Bride A mystery to uncover
San Francisco, California. "You still do not know how to get back to our world, do you? It's been one hundred and fifty years since we were cast down to this forsaken realm and you still have not given a single thought to how we can return to our world?! I am sick, frustrated, and tired of waiting! "You assured me that when we kill the girl and her parents, we would be able to return, and I did it. I did everything you asked of me to the letter and still, I find myself stuck here and there is nothing you are doing about it! Why are you so quiet, Master Faizar? Speak!" A man dressed in a spotless dark-blue suit yelled. He took an agitated puff of the Cao Gold cigar in his hand and exhaled it out slowly as he ran his fingers through his glossy honey-blond tresses. The person he was speaking to rolled his eyes in irritation. He hated being pressured into doing things. He preferred doing things at his own pace and in his own time. "Why wouldn't I be quiet when you have been complainin
Huling Na-update : 2022-10-31
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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
