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Training with Azriel
Last Updated:
2024-02-08 09:08:06Related chapters
The Emperor's Substitute Bride A perfect birthday
"Pathetic." He removed the sword from where it kissed her flesh and pointed it down. "For Creator's sake, Naomi, use her body to your advantage. It is yours now. Yours to control!" Naomi bit her lips to fight off the tears that burned in her eyes. There was nothing she hated more than being embarrassed or scolded. "I... I...""How weak," Azriel spat. That singular sentence caused Naomi's eyes to darken with fury. "I am anything but weak." Immediately, she stretched her arm out to where her sword lay on the ground, and in a flash, it flew into her waiting hand. Suddenly, the weight became inconsequential as Naomi's eyes glowed an astonishing shade of violet. Azriel grinned at her transformation and bent his index finger twice, beckoning her to attack him. So she did. Her body spun and moved with a beauty that Azriel had only seen when watching Nerina herself but somehow, Naomi looked even better. Naomi snarled as she pressed attack after attack on Azriel who expertly evaded ever
Last Updated : 2024-02-08The Emperor's Substitute Bride Desecration
The next afternoon, Meriana and Divya joined Naomi's training session with Azriel."Why does the most advanced witch on the continent need magical training?" Divya spoke up suddenly, surprising everyone since she had been quiet through most of the session.Meriana sent her a warning look but Naomi chuckled instead, a diversion already prepared. "So much has happened that you are not aware of, Lolo Divya and I neither have the time nor energy to explain it in detail. All I can say is that magic is a complex thing but I do not believe you would understand, would you?"Divya forced a smile onto her face and inclined her head in a bow. "Of course, Empress. My sincerest apologies for the intrusive question.""Forgiven," Naomi said simply.To ease the tension, Meriana added, "I was born with some affinity for magic and I can say with utmost certainty that Nerina is right. Magic is extremely complicated and even after all these years, I still have not mastered the art.""It would have been e
Last Updated : 2024-02-17The Emperor's Substitute Bride Protect you
"It has been four days and yet no fucking progress!" Naomi threw the papers in her hands down on the table, rose to her feet, and began to pace. Meriana blinked, confused. "Forgive me, Nerina but is there something you are looking for that I am not aware of?" Startled, Naomi halted her frustrated pacing. 'Shit, I forgot she was here,' she murmured to herself then put on a shaky smile. "N-no. I was just trying to look at some military strategies peculiar to the Volcarians and it is proving difficult to grasp," she lied smoothly while rearranging the papers and placing a military tome on top. "Oh," Meriana nodded. "I wish I could offer my assistance but I was never great at history or war politics." Naomi shook her head. "It is fine. I grew up learning much of politics, war, and diplomacy but the royal Volcarians' way of life has become something akin to a myth. I thought it would be good to implement some of their tactics in this war because—" "Because the rebels would never see
Last Updated : 2024-02-28The Emperor's Substitute Bride Regret and despair
"What have I done?" Naomi murmured as she straightened herself. "No, no... Meriana... I didn't mean for any of this to happen."Daegal hissed at the guards who had just watched the entire scene unfold. "Clear the room and speak nothing of what you have witnessed here."His command was quickly obeyed and in a moment, only he, Naomi, Azriel, and Meriana's dead body remained.Naomi covered her mouth with her hand, stifling the sob that fought to come out but she couldn't stop the tears from freely flowing down her cheeks. She tentatively walked over to where Azriel knelt on the ground, clutching his sister's body.His entire form was rigid. There were no tears in his eyes or pain or anything. He was blank, almost as lifeless as the bloodied body he held against his chest.Naomi fell to her knees beside Azriel and placed a shaking hand on his shoulder. Beneath her grip, she felt him freeze, becoming even more rigid than he previously was."A-Az... I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I never—This was
Last Updated : 2024-03-02The Emperor's Substitute Bride A bargain struck
Naomi played with the rings on her fingers as she answered. "Can I come in? I need to talk to you."Tilting his head to the side, Azriel's eyes roamed the length of her body. For an instant, concern flickered in his violet eyes as he noticed how much weight she had lost but it was replaced with coldness, so fast that Naomi almost didn't catch it.He opened the door wider and moved to the side. A silent invitation."Thank you," Naomi said as she entered the room and turned to face him. Azriel merely shut the door, leaned against it then crossed his arms over his chest.'Okay, no sitting then,' she thought. "How are you?" she fumbled for an icebreaker, putting on a weak smile. Azriel chuckled softly then stuffed his hands into his pockets. "Is that what you came here for? Say what you want, Naomi. I have to meet up with Daegal for border patrol."'Border patrol? What's that about?' Naomi wondered but chose not to push Azriel's buttons by asking him. "Azriel, please. Please, forgive
Last Updated : 2024-03-03The Emperor's Substitute Bride On fire
"Breathe, Naomi. Just breathe. Remember your lessons. Just try... At least, it'll be said that you tried," Naomi muttered to herself as she walked to the middle of the training yard where Az stood with his back to her. Daegal held her hand before she could draw her daggers and turned her to face him. "I know, I know. It will be difficult to beat him. That's if I could even do it. You don't have to remind me," she said before Daegal could even utter a word. He chuckled and pulled her close, wrapping his arms around her lithe frame. "I was not going to say any of that, my love." He broke the hug and gripped her shoulders, staring deep into her eyes almost as if he were looking into her soul. Daegal lowered his voice to a whisper. "Azriel always does a move where he spins to bring his sword around to cut. Whenever he does that, his wrist opens up and his grip becomes a bit loose. If you pay attention, time the moment right, and apply enough pressure, you can knock his sword out of his
Last Updated : 2024-03-11The 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 : 2024-03-14
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
