THE EMPEROR'S CAPTIVE

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who decided to grace the town with his visit. Their town was one of the smallest towns in the Kingdom of Liryc, they relied on farming for survival and even though they were drowning in taxes, the people nev

fancy name. The world was already in the industrial revolution period and yet,

looked sickly thin and had one tattered cloth on her shoulder. She had come to stay with her sick grandma so she could take care of her but the old woman didn’t last too long for Rose to perform her filial duties before she died. Rose never lef

red an abomination because of her looks and anytime they haul an insult at her, Rose wou

ome extra clothes on cold nights when she first came to town till the next farming season started so she wouldn’t die of hunger. Rose was to help with the preparation of meals for the festive, a ceremony

rony! Ros

almost instantly. May was standing at a spot, glaring at the skinny girl with so much annoyance

s,

alling for you,” May clicked her tongue,

say?” She asked. May groaned before poi

trying to prepare?” May raised her voice a

May, I got c

s tonight. The emperor is in a good mood, don’t spoil it with your mindless attitudes,” Rose nodded. “Now

vered with flour, she quickly cleaned her hand on her clothes as she picked up the two bowls and followed after May. Ma

atever it is they called it. She had even overheard some people saying she had the Industrial town diseases. The emperor was sitting at the edge of the long table, their town chief was sitting at

d but it was too late. The bowls she was holding, tripped over May whi

s she struggled to g

he floor. All eyes were now on them, the town chief was already up from his seat to

ting a fifty years old man but the emperor was no more in his late twenties. He had black jet hair that curled to the back, his eyes were wild as that of a cat, his

hall and she knew it was about her. She’d heard worse and seen worse, how come this one affected her so badly. She wiped h

already drowsy so she deiced t

asked from behind. She turned to find

t the inside of her cheek as regret washed over her. She had an

eried. His words didn’t draw ou

om

mily to go back t

s questions began run

se you’re co

vered with a rag from behind and as she struggled to set herself free, she felt drow

he emperor. “Tie her up properly, we don’