When Selena was holding her horse as she fastly rushed forward to the palace, she parted ways with the chauffeur, who kindly gave her a cloak that can cover her up during her ride. 

So, despite the coldness of the breeze that the wind was causing, she warmly held upon the cloak that was giving her balmy heat. It was the only warmth that was keeping her from shattering. 

She was indeed brave to get over the fact that she suddenly occupied the body of someone with a dead flag and whom many abhorred. She was brave enough to accept her destiny, but hidden within, fear was unbecoming. 

The tide of the wind was brushing through her face, as each was comforting her from her every breath. She looked at the skies which were blue and sunny, noticing the rise of the sun before she left and after she returned.

Because of the accident, she couldn't help but to get back later than her scheduled time. Although the accident didn't cause her much harm, she still has a few scratches and bruises covering hand and feet.

Her dress wasn't spared as well, it was ruined to which it wasn't recognized. Now she looked like an escaped victim. She tried to look back at the thought by charging herself with the ability to think positive.

She wasn't brave; she was petrified. As the author, she makes characters and improvises them depending on the flow of the story. Yet, no one wants to become one of their characters. She was scared that living here may have caused her nightmares. She fears that her life will be taken away if she stays silent.

The thoughts of survival never crossed her mind. She was an undergraduate who chose to write over a diploma. She had no one, or perhaps had someone she left behind. Her parents died, leaving a 5-year-old child within her care.

As someone who was still in 7th grade, she lacked the ability to raise someone, so she begged her mother’s sister to take the child like it was her own. When she finally started college, her younger brother entered highschool, and he lived his life as a carefree who may have forgotten her sister now.

Her mother’s sister was not the worst kind, so she left her brother at ease. While she was in college, she as well became a working student who was taking both to achieve her goal. Yet, she dropped during her 1st year in the second semester. 

She pursued writing, earned by writing, paid her depth, and her loans, while she reached something she didn't even dream of. She became a best-selling author, who had sold millions of copies worldwide. Her books were translated into multiple languages and won various literary awards. The author has become widely recognized as a literary icon in modern society.

Despite not having any familial figure to see her achievements. She was glad to recognize her fans, colleagues and fellow authors, and her own family. She didn't need physical warmth, she just needed someone to accept her.

Yet Selena Solen was a princess who suddenly was sold to another empire as a political trophy. She had responsibilities and duties. So her training to become one was the worst part that she ever felt.

She was alone, with no one to warm her or guide her. She lives her life as a tool for marriage, waiting to rot in someone else's house, whomever she may marry. 

There are many expectations she needs to comply with, many burdens, many shortcomings, many educations to become that perfect wife who will know nothing but to serve her husband and the empire.

Option was not even offered to her. 

Although she was a precious princess, she was not treated like one. She was just a political tool, and she didn't have any choices. She needed to live up to her father’s expectations; she needed to impress her husband. She needed everything to survive.

The author was someone who worked hard, and she could choose her own destiny. Yet Selena was different. She was scared, alone, empty and lounging for someone’s affection. 

The empress palace is not far from the main palace, so she had to use the main entrance to enter the place. When she carefully halted the horse, and it strolled slowly, two guards immediately ceased her from entering.

"This is the Imperial Palace, all common citizens must present their citizen testimony sheet to enter. Without one, we will not give you permission to enter!" the guard said. 

Selena turned towards them as she removed the cloak’s hood that was covering her face. "I am Empress Selena Solen Alvadiz. I have never heard that the empress needed one to enter her own home. Why is that?"

The two guards shiver. "Your majesty!" they said as they seemed alarmed. The empress is known to be extravagant and beautiful, and they have seen her countless times, so she’s not a stranger to them, but they weren't expecting her to be like this. 

"I'll say it for the last time, does the empress need permission or does she not need it?"

The guards peered down. "We apologize, we didn't recognize the empress. Please proceed, your majesty!"

Detaining her here will only cause more chaos, not only that she bears a wicked reputation, being sacrilegious to her can lead to them being fired. 

So, they didn't have any choice. 

She nodded as the horse continued entering inside. She then made the horse run fast to avoid any patrols. She just wanted to rest and then work. 

Another postponement will probably annoy her. When she reached her residence, she strolled through with a fast speed, before the horse halted and it meandered. 

Selena's eyes widened, as she stopped at the entrance of her palace. A man was already standing there alongside another. She gulped, and then she carefully jumped down from the horse.

Her body stiffened, but she could keep herself composed, and she gave in. "Greetings, emperor, sun of the empire!" she then swallowed before Selena looked at him. "How can I help you?"

The emperor looked at her with his fearless demeanor and his elegant look. The details weren't lying after all. The emperor was a man of face, who looked like an angel with an awful demonic eye. 

His eyes gaze like a rose. It pierces through you like an arrow of cupid, but behind those eyes is a thorn born from a devil. The worth seeing him is his enchanting, braided scarlet hair, with a nice structural nose and face. 

He looked more like a model than an emperor. Although this is the same man who drove Selena into melancholy and foolishness. He is indeed a devil in an angel's disguise. 

She lingered for a response and she was reading him. Soon, Callisto's mouth moved. "Empress?" he asked, like he only has seen Selena this way. 

"Yes?"

"What had happened to you?" he asked. 

"I apologize for the awful sight, so please do state your business with me, since I don't have time, and I am late for my share of work," she said in a low yet a very unpleasant tone. 

The emperor said nothing. He was silently observing her. He never thought that she would dress like that? Something she never did before? The empress who only knew extravagance? Will complain about her style of dressing when it does not meet her standard.

So, how come? 

No, and why does she look like that? What happened to her?

He noticed the horse, and then he glanced back at the empress. "You didn't bring any bodyguards with you?" he asked. 

Selena tilted. "I have no need for any. As you can see, I have come home safely, despite being in an accident. So, what can I do for you once again, your majesty?"

Accident? He gives her a long and tiring look. "You—" but he got his tongue twisted. He realized he would have crossed the line. He understands that he lost his right to worry, as he was neglecting her since.

"Are you hurt?" he asked, trying to surpass his own self by not acting as rashly as he can. He and the empress, maybe husband and wife, but in name only. He maintains their distance as a married couple, so why does he need to act as if he's worried?

They are married out of politics. Emotions can be a burden for them, but she was hurt. 

Selena always yearned for her husband. If she were here with the author, she would feel happiness and bliss, but the author was different. "Silly me, this husband must be blind. Asking if I got hurt was a depraved of you," she stopped and she bit her lips. "As of now, I appreciate you stating your business for coming. My workload had not been updated since a year ago. I will not neglect it for the second time."

Callisto nodded, as he could not talk to his wife, since she's clearly trying to end this small talk by being forthright. Yet, he couldn't help but to look at her wretched sight. She can't be called 'the empress' if, clearly, she is in no way recognizable. 

But her indifferent cold side reminds Callisto of someone—himself. Selena was serious and cold to him, which she had not done before. It's clear to him that his wife no longer has any affection for him. He must be happy, but why does he feel so bitter?

He only meets her earlier, and she's not the same today as the person she saw a few years back. 

He understood that what his wife said was what she felt, so he nodded and looked at her with an intention.