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❦☾𝕮𝖍𝖆𝖕𝖙𝖊𝖗.8.𝕾𝖚𝖇𝖓𝖎𝖘𝖘𝖎𝖔𝖓☽❦

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Then with a bow, the maid stated "The Emperor calls upon you,"

Ophelia frowned at her words, 'why would he call upon me at this hour?!' she wondered.

"And what is the reason? I'm in my nightgown,"

Then with a nervous tinge, she informed her "To spend the night with him as his concubine,"

The sound of glass shattering filled the unexpected silence that came after her statement. 

"P...pardon?! But I'm engaged to his son? I won't go," She stammered in panic trying to collect her words.

The maid began to express distress at Ophelia's reply and informed her "If you do not come, Princess Ophelia. We were told to throw you in prison,"

"Then imprison me! I will not spend the night with the Emperor,"

The maid gave her yet another bow and told her "Then I shall escort you to your cell respectfully," her voice immersed in guilt and hesitation.

'Ugh, when will this day end...' Ophelia groaned to herself as she grabbed a silk robe to cover herself with.

Then leading the way she wearily followed behind her out her room into the vast halls.

The maid who was in front of her looked into the shadows with an apprehensive expression and gave a slight nod. So subtle that Ophelia wouldn't notice.

"Where are we going? I'm pretty sure the jail cells are-" Ophelia's sentence was cut short as two armed guards grabbed onto her frail arms tightening their grips and covering her mouth.

She instantly began to squeal at the sudden ambush, her heart pounding from anxiety as she struggled to free herself.

Tap, tap, tap, tap...

The sound of tapping shoes echoed down the hallway and so Ophelia hastily looked in the direction of the maid, but she was met with her fading silhouette as she sprinted into the distance.

'She tricked me...those corrupt maids were never truly loyal to me.' 

Her eyes watering with fear as the guards pulled her in the other direction swinging her around as if she were a doll.

They were looming closer to the Emperor's Palace, Ophelia hadn't given up her fight though.

She quickly bit the hand of the guard who covered her mouth and kicked the other in the shin. She was able to break free and began to scream in hope of being rescued.

"HELP! ANYONE, PLEASE HELP ME! I-" Before she could fully break away one of the guards jerked her back towards him and resumed in dragging her back to the Emporer's room.

"Why-" she huffed in pain.

And one of the guards answered her with: "Because it is your duty as his Concubine,"

But her struggle was useless, they had opened the large doors to a dark chamber and aggressively threw her in.

"Ugh!" She wheezed as she hit the ground, soon engulfed in darkness as the doors sealed her in.

"N..no," she began to whimper as she slowly got up.

"Ophelia," the room suddenly lit up at the sound of the Emporer's wretched voice, she stiffened in her spot.

He was sat in an armchair with his legs crossed sipping fine wine, wrapped in an expensive robe.

He then stood up and began to approach her with each step he took she went back.

It was clear to see that Ophelia looked messy, fatigued, baffled and frightened.

"My blessed blossom," he said as he ran his hand through her golden hair. 

She instinctively moved back away from his touch, noticing this his temper rose and with a harsher tone he warned her "I'm offended by your distaste. This should be an honour for you,"

With a cautious manner, she reminded him "But...your Majesty...I'm courting your son, so why would you sleep with me..."

Then violently clutching her hair and pulling back her head she squirmed in pain.

"I never changed my mind on the day of that Audience! I never said that you'll return to be with my son. You're my concubine," he sneered as threw her onto the bed.

"P..please stop...my father he'll-"

In a sudden burst of sinister laughter he bellowed "You've become quite big-headed, you must know I love my children more than anything. And just because Yvonne upset me 3 days ago doesn't mean I love her less,"

'What is he on about?' Ophelia was momentarily puzzled but came to realise that '...Yvonne, does she have something to do with this?'

"Casper! What about him he'll be heartbroken..." She attempted at reasoning.

He chuckled in response " He doesn't love you. You're just a pretty face that can be replaced. Though I doubt we could find a woman as beautiful as you,"

'This sick old man...I, need to get out of here!'

In the spur of the moment, she regained apart of her strength and sprinted from the bed to the door, shoving the Emperor out her way.

She tried opening it but it was locked and so she started to bang on it as her last resort, hoping someone who can aid will hear.

"HELP! SOMEONE!" her voice breaking down as she came to realize that no one will come to rescue her she began to weep.

"Leon...please come..." She whispered as she fell to the ground. 

The Emperor who had wiped a light anaesthetic onto a white cloth whilst she was effortlessly exhausting herself, had approached the miserable girl from behind and covered her nose and mouth with it.

She commenced in struggling but her body soon became numb as the drug seeped into her blood.

"I'll punish you, by taking your pride and innocence," he grinned as she fell into his arms.

The drug he used was intended to keep her awake and her body numb. 

He'd carried her over to the bed and laid her down. Moving her hair from under her head and caressing it.

Her eyes began to well up with tears.

"You don't even cry ugly," he told her as he positioned himself on top of her wiping her tears as they rolled off her face.

Then creepily whispering into her ear he lastly explained to her " Your quiet rebellious but once I take your innocence you'll become submissive,"

He lifted his head and moved towards her rosy lips.

'I don't want this! I'd rather die!'

Slam!

Right in time, Leon had barged into the room kicking the door open to see the unsightly view of the Emperor prying on the young Ophelia.

The Emperor instantly jolted up in surprise and commanded "What are you doing?! Guards seize him,"

Three of them took out their swords and threatened the Duke by placing it to his neck. 

In return, he gave him an evil glare advised them "Move your swords unless you want undesirable difficulties," 

They promptly lowered their swords.

With a sigh of relief, Ophelia slightly smiled at the sound of his voice.

"What are you doing!? Get him! "The Emperor rose from his spot and walked towards them. The guards all lowered their heads and apologised.

"Your Majesty, your daughter princess Stella has caught the new disease that has spread through the capital!" Leon informed him

"What!?" His heart dropped as he pushed past him "Where is she!" He rushed.

"In her Palace with the Imperial doctors,"

With that he summoned his servants and headed hastily to his youngest daughter, leaving Ophelia behind.

After the area had emptied he strolled up to the bed she laid and told her, "You can get up now and leave. I'll make sure nobody speaks of this matter," but just as he was about to walk away.

She struggled to let out "I-...can't move,"

Then with a sigh he turned back around and picked her up in his arms walking her back to her room.

It was obvious that he was working late since he was still wearing his work attire. 'He must've heard my screams...' She assumed as she slowly regained her senses.

As they neared her palace she could slightly move again and told Leon "It's alright let me down now," so he let her down.

Then with a bitter expression, he asked her "Is this how you treat the ones who save you,"

Leon was cranky and impatient due to the fact he hadn't slept in 2 days.

But Ophelia who was still in shock from her last experience looked back at him and said with a shallow smile "Thank you, Your Grace. I...I'm very thankful really, so when I'm in the right of minds I'll repay you,"

Her eyes filled with tears as she lost feeling in her legs. Her cheeks and nose were stained with a glowy pink and her eyes shone like jewels as they hydrated.

He was captivated yet again by her beauty, and her tearful expression had unhinged a tiny swelling throb in his chest.

And just as she was about to fall again he caught her in his arms, wiped her tear and told her "I'm sorry, if I came on too harsh,"

Nevertheless, Casper who was sprinting past Ophelia's Palace to go check on his sister ran into Leon and Ophelia in an embrace yet again and this.

This time it seemed less likely he could defend his Fiancee because from his perspective.

Ophelia who was wearing her nightgown was weeping in the arms of another man at her palace in the middle of the night.

"Ophelia Celine!" He yelled.

Then with a hurtful smirk, he continued "I guess you are a whore?!"