Chapter 22: Chapter 22

A queen, the noblest female of the nation, surrounded by attendants and subjects that vowed to give up their lives blessed by the goddess for her but also the most unfortunate being that could not take her own decisions.

Born as the daughter of a maid that served Prime Minister of Seclair for one single night, Ilaria had never seen her mother and was rather raised along with the other children of the manor. She wasn't abused, wasn't loved and wasn't paid attention to. She was raised as a priestess to the goddess of the realm, serving and loving the needy and providing for others below her ran in the noble blood thrumming through her veins.

It was only after the death of her elder sister who was married to the crown prince of Seclair, she was called as a replacement.

Neither she knew how to act like a queen nor understood the depth of the dark inner chambers and fights between the factions, it was like a rabbit that was waiting to be devoured by a wolf.

The courtiers conversed politely with daggers in their elegance and grace, meant one thing and said another so when a crude person like Zyram appeared, it was almost like rain drizzling on a petal covered in dust, removing some dirt from its vibrant self and engulfing its presence, the queen was enchanted by the devil.

The one who always lived as dead was somewhat alive.

"Ilaria" Chanting her name like a holy prayer the male did not paid attention to the precarious situation the female was currently in as the shadow guards who swore loyalty to her took the man secretly to her majesty's chamber so that none could know.

At the end between life and death,

between sin and virtue,

and between King Harwon's fear and the deep agonizing emotion for Zyram,

Zyram's life prevailed in her heart blossoming with something that was beyond human emotion that even she could not suppress. Zyram was the first person to cling to her, in his own ways care for her and at the end express his desire for her.

She wanted him to live even it was without her.

And she was so foolish to think as such.

"Ilaria"

"Zyram?" Looking at the male that was awake now, the fairy almost flew to his side and checked his pulse, sighing when she found him to be better. He saw her with serene irises and then asked impudently.

"Your majesty...have you ever liked King Harwon?" Such questions were not only impertinent but way beyond a slave to utter yet when the dark ruby irises looked at the deep lilac ones the exquisite beauty smiled with anguish.

"For the very beginning I just wished for a normal life and did for once imagined his majesty and I to live like that yet soon this one came to abhor him...King Harwon is a monster."

Masculine palms that were marred with callus from holding a sword cupped the blush filled face and before Ilaria could resist a deep agonizing kiss was passionately initiated as if he loved the reply that she presented to him.

Warm tongue entered her mouth and twisted with her own, it was as if he was trying to occupy her soul through that contact. One moment she was sitting and the very next her body was below him on the soft silk sheets, violet irises looking wildly as the golden glazed locks spready on the mattress like a halo.

Tousled black hair dribbled down her neck like honey as he pressed his mouth open against her neck and marked her with his teeth sinking down her flesh making her cry out, turning the pale flesh all red. When he again looked up there was a carnal desire to kiss her even with more vigour as if he could not believe how could she still look at him with clear ocean eyes that were as innocent and did not even understood desire at all.

He wanted to taint her innocence.

The female knowing the audacity of this person exceeded bounds and the degree of the sinful act tried to resist with her hands pushing him to be liberated from his hold yet the embrace only tightened as if he was afraid of her going away from his grasp and being devoured by danger and at last she gave in to his seduction with her own naïve and inexperienced efforts.

"Z-Zyram." Soft gasp followed by a moan made her experience that this male was not someone that she had earlier thought. His callused palms and vigorous body did not belonged to a slave...it was of a warrior.

"Ilaria it is your fault to imagine yourself with the one you do not belong to for you are mine.....

If you cannot make me your slave then I will make you mine." Gentle euphonious voice that was masculine yet so enchanting as to resemble a siren's song whispered softly as if casting a spell on the queen who was beneath him making Zyram painfully aware of her allurement.

Dazed irises immersed with the only sense that was him enlightened when horror filled screams and wails surrounded the entire arena. War cries played as symphonies in the background and when the female tried to get out of the hold she was held down

"Zyram!" the last thing she saw was the male looking at her with lethal intentions as she lost her consciousness.

"Go to sleep pretty slave."

____________________

PAST

Vultures encircled the imperial palace of Seclair as rebel forces heavily injured the palace guards and massacred soldiers ruthlessly, half of the royal castle was devoured by flames while the remaining was captured by the rebellion.

A single night filled with smoke and ashes was required to crush the dynasty of Seclair, for its last king was dragged throughout the capital city to shame the fallen monarch, some whispered that the insult was so grave that the king would commit suicide, others considered King Harwon such a coward that there was no other way but to kill him to get rid of his malice.

The royal court was organized as usual for ministers were asked to be present if they did not wished for a similar fate as their king thus many of them relented and those who did not were suppressed without mercy.

Glazed ink hair that resembled spider silk was tousled and wet as if the person had no care in the world as he sat on the imperial throne, after three years of conspiring and making use of numerous people like his tool Commander General Zyram of the rebel forces could finally usurp the throne to acquire the highest position in the realm.

The Emperor

King Harwon and his queen along with the four imperial concubines were summoned for supposedly one last time in the royal court to decide their fates and if possible for a bloody trial.

Soldiers dragged a male who was beaten so profusely that he was already considered half dead inside and four shivering females in fetters but when Prime Minister Yewan saw his daughter Ilaria being brought to the trial without a single strand of her hair being out of place he could not even fathom what to feel...it was as if she had surrendered to destiny and had thoroughly prepared to embrace death.

"Raise your head" The female whose beauty and magnificence had no bounds was bitter with resentment as such that when she followed the command looking at the source of that dark voice she could not help but show emotions that resembled regret, hatred and anger accompanied by a sense of betrayal.

Amethyst clashed with deep scarlet for a moment before she looked away as if watching him made her heart feel so sorrowful that she wished she had never met him. Ilaria had been fed a sleeping concoction the previous night after being kissed and embraced by the same monster who used her to enter the imperial palace and now even looked pleased with himself.

"Prime Minister Yewan, there is still a need for a female by this one's side, what shall one do to choose one's wife?" The daughter was standing at the door of death while the father was making a marriage suggestion to the angel of death, such was the cruel play that would resonate the ears of aristocracy.

"Replying to your imperial majesty-" The male gritted his teeth while kneeling as he said with great difficulty.

"...you may select candidates for imperial concubines from noble families-"

"What about your daughter?" There was a silence so profound in the arena that the ministers dared no breathe while King Harwon who was a proud male felt so much hatred. Even if death all his females must follow him especially if it was Ilaria.

"Your imperial majesty may not know but I only had two daughters, my eldest is dead." Prime Minister Yewan regained his composure and replied with much restraint feeling that this was only a trap.

"One knows, thus I am talking about your youngest." when such crude words were spoken there was a spark of rage within dark azure irses as King Harwon glared as Emperor Zyram.

"Requesting his majesty to punish one by death, I don't dare to have such thoughts." even before Yewan could reply, the soft euphonious voice of Ilaria said without much contemplation. It was directly defying the orders of the monarch but the female did not care.

Laughter resonated throughout the court and Emperor Zyram smiled with some mirth and harmony as he rose to his full height, steeping down his throne like a carnal predator. The courtiers were horrified when the fierce sword that drank blood to quench its thirst was unsheathed from its mane producing the sound of metal clanking.

The weapon that was both poisonous and lethal was slowly kept under the chin of the Prime Minister of Seclair before the masculine male made the man raise his head to look into the dark bloody irises that were murderous.

"Prime Minister Yewan, one asks you with all my kind considerations.

If you agree to this alliance between your daughter and this one, I would grant protection to your Prime Minister Manor and would spare all your kins along with your daughter's life....if not then I would marry her after killing your entire household.

You have just this moment to answer your monarch."

Delicate fists were clenched as sharp nails dug into the palm producing tiny crescent moon marks when the female heard her fate being decided without her will, after moments of silence Ilaria could not help but feel so much confusion and mayhem that glimmering teardrops dribbled her cheeks.

"I request your majesty to let one's father live. I will marry you." King Harwon blinded by fury shook his iron chains that were rusted and heavy to even suppress his motion.

"ILARIA!" When Harwon roared jerking forward to have a hold at Ilaria's fragile neck that would be snapped before she could belong to another, there was a palm that wrapped around the female's eyes and covered her vision and soon the scream stopped all together.

"Take him away."

CHAPTER 26

The past is only 5-6 chapters so just bear with me, it will only continue two chapters more or so.

PAST

Two months later

"What I did was out of love...."

"We are fated to be together-" A delicate tree branch that had pears dangling from it smacked the face of the Emperor that was dressed in regal robes yet he could neither behead the tree not express the pain he felt on his cheek for it would be an insult to his pride, the delicate visage walking ahead of him stopped for a second, looked back and after watching his red cheek felt rejuvenated before moving further ahead.

The servants dared not utter a word, forget about laughing as they watch the scenario which was a daily activity of the imperial palace for it had been two months since Emperor Zyram came to throne.

The male held the fur cloak in between his fingers as the woman further walked in the garden filled with roses without listening to a word that he said. Some said that the female was courting death while others called her a seductress.

Queen Ilaria had been made the first Empress of the empire that was founded by Emperor Zyram, its name- Avesta but alas their relationship had not progressed for despite the marriage the Empress did not allowed the emperor to either visit her chambers nor attended the court.

Many hoped that the monarch would be raged by such impudence yet he visited her every single day instead and apologized for his mistakes, only he expressed that he was not wrong to kill Harwon and was neither a culprit in taking her as his wife.

Zyram loved Ilaria.

But Ilaria was afraid of him, once betrayed she did not wished to become a fool to again fall for him.

"Tonight is full moon and the stars would reflect in the lake, how about we see it together?"

"No" A rose flower was plucked and kept into a basket before Ilaria continued further.

"I have heard that there is a chronicle in the imperial study that you wish to read-"

"No"

"How about we have imperial dishes in the south pavilion?"

"No"

"....."

"Do you hate me?"

"No" The man almost felt like ripping his locks in frustration. It was so difficult to fathom such a tiny woman for he had made her the empress, apologized endlessly, even let family visit the imperial palace often and taught her two brothers himself for he considered them a part of her happiness now.

Ilaria did not disliked Zyram at all, just that he was difficult to understand and his emotions were deep and dark for someone pure like her making her seek his warmth but also be wary of his eccentricity.

He had told her when they were marrying that he did not came to manipulate her but just like Harwon he also considered her his enemy, it was only after that she was so kind to him did he start being obsessed with her.There were so many secrets in between them and sometimes Ilaria wished to run away from him because of them.

While the female was long lost in thought, the man had already embraced her waist from behind as his chin rested on her head sighing for the umpteenth time.

"I will do as you say, just don't abandon me Ilaria."

"Even if I abandon you, you would have your throne and there will be a new empress that shall replace me." She was swirled his grasp as his eyes shone dangerously, the male bowed while holding her close to his chest and whispered sweetly.

"I fought with my comrades and defied many to acquire the throne for the prize was you Ilaria so do not forget, my empress can only be you and do not abandon me for I will even cross the realm of gods to be with you."

"Sweet-talker" A fist that was even more lighter than a feather pushed at his chest making the man laugh when she blushed exquisitely.

"I went to hunt some days ago and found a small baby of Armean stag separated from its mother, do you want to see it?" Armean stag's underbelly had the softest fur that was considered sacred and divine so much so because it was a rarity that even the Kings do not possess, further it was said that the beast had magical healing properties that if its fur is used to make charms, it could ward off death.

Ilaria had only heard about the creature in thick history books thus when the question was presented she could not stop herself from nodding with a blooming face. In two months it was the first time she had agreed to do something with him thus the male could not help but wrap his arms around her and pick the female in his muscular hold to take her to his own chambers.

There it was, amidst of lush greenery, sleeping in the field of flowers a small fawn that had bright red spots on its back and its white fur still so small. It was such a adorable creature yet so shy that when it saw Ilaria it almost ran to her hiding behind her back from Zyram.

The female could not hold herself and the rose flower that she had plucked was almost instantly tucked at the small fawn's ears making it jump in happiness.

Ilaria after so many days laughed with mirth and it was so melodious as if small bells were jingling in the background making Zyram come to her and clutch her into his hold.

"Ilaria do not ever leave me." That day she had dared to roll eyes at the emperor and laughed again making him raise and eyebrow and shake his head as if now at last they were at peace, yet the happiness was never permanent.

CHAPTER 27

"Your liege...we cannot wait any longer, the soldiers in ranks are questioning your dedication towards the empire." Ilaria was happily humming softly as she brushed the fur of Bluebell-the small fawn that she and Zyram had named together when she heard voices coming from the main chamber.

She would have been afraid to eavesdrop if it was Harwon but with Zyram she was almost fearless for he put up with her impudence and was very patient thus she decided to closeup to the door and hear what was being talked about.

"It has spread in aristocratic cthe ircles and within the militia ranks that the Empress has not let you visit her inner chambers since you have ascended the throne, your majesty must have a heir soon thus kindly accept the opening of inner chambers for other concubines-" A sharp dagger barely missed the eye of the man that was talking, it made the voices stop for several moments before they presumed, for the female that could not see what was happening felt her heart drop.

"Zyram...I am your comrade, one that has been with you since our childhoods, I know your madness for the Empress but do not forget that the empire must be kept united at all fronts and it must be only you sitting at the throne for once the heart of those cunning generals changed both our lives along with your wife will be at stake.

Its either she accepts you and give birth for you or you accepting concubines."

After that Ilaria did not had any heart to listen to it any longer, previously Harwon had often spent night with the concubines because many heirs were what reassured the monarch. The previous King had tens of children but only Harwon survived till adulthood, for Zyram to only have one female and that too without making efforts to produce an heir was a prohibited thing.

The sagon entrance opened and a bulky male named Theodore emerged with rage written across his face yet when he saw a female standing outside with shock and astonishment written on her face, he was somewhat embarrassed.

"Your majesty-"

"Ilaria" Ilaria looked at the Theodore and then at Zyram before shaking her head and turning on her heels to cross paths with them. An arm clutched her shoulders stopping her from fleeing away.

Theodore bowed before leaving knowing that the words that he uttered had caused waves at the end but this was his warning to the royal couple for the storm brewing.

"Are you going to accept another woman?"

"What are you even saying-"

"Is that the reason you refuse to touch me?"

"Ilaria its not-"

"Then what...why can't you touch me then?"

"Because you abhor it!" The male voiced through gritted teeth before he saw the woman he adored to the extremities was already trying to hold on to her tears.

"I-I don't hate it, I don't hate you....don't leave me please." It was so pathetic, the way she begged him and asked him to spend a night with her. Zyram for god knows since when had waited for this day but the way she had clutched onto him and begged for his love was so sad and without an ounce of self respect that he felt raged.

"So to ask your husband that you wish to have him fuck you senseless tonight, will you bend your spine and be on your knees? Is this what my empress is capable of?" Those words were so ruthless that the female looked up and almost instinctively stopped her fingers from holding onto him.

"When have I not fulfilled what you ever wished for? When have I denied your wishes and needs. You heard Theodore saying that I should accept concubines and what you did you do at the end.....only come and complain that I should love you instead.

Ilaria if you do not learn to become the Empress, there are wolves that would devour you.

I am your husband and I desire you, only you so stop looking at me with similar eyes like you looked at that bastard Harwon, you can ask me what you want and express your desire. And if it comes to the matter of touching you......this time it must be you that must exert your power and come to me asking for what you need."

Those words were so heavy that it made the female contemplate the life she lived and for once reflected upon herself. Ilaria after that did not came to find Zyram for more than three months in which she held many gatherings with the noble females of the empire from all over.

It was a significantly slow process yet she learned how to remain clam and composed, that kindness was often times folly and many were ready to take advantage of her trust thus when this time she requested an audience with the Emperor, it was through the protocol established by the imperial decree. Zyram had often sought her audience after that day where they fought but Ilaria only spend sometime with him, dedicating all her focus on becoming an empress that their nation would need.

This time she had entered the emperor's inner chambers in broad daylight.

"You all are dismissed." The congregation was discussing certain matters that did not held much importance when they were dismissed by the monarch who was for once looking rejuvenated to see his wife coming to find him on her own.

"Ilaria"

"Zyram, lets have a baby, shall we?"

She was dressed specifically for the purpose as the usual high bun embellished with gems was loosened in tendrils and decorated in fresh jasmine flowers that gave off a sweet scent. The dark fabric that specifically made the empress appear oppressing was changed to serene azure as her cleavage appeared to have water droplets dribbling down like dew drops on a flower.

Zyram looked away for a second trying to stop himself from jumping at her but when she bent down a little and the snow embroidered cloak covering her shoulders slipped down she smiled at him with a teasing expression.

"If you didn't please me tonight, I will seek another-" After that it was her turn to be teased and bullied to the end for the entire night.