The sharp scent of blood mingled with the fading aroma of hibiscus tea. The once-magnificent Emperor lay sprawled on the cold stone floor, his dark robes stained crimson, his breath ragged. Noor Giza knelt beside him, her expression twisted with both sorrow and madness.
"I cannot be separated from you," she whispered, her voice trembling yet resolute.
With a sudden, violent motion, she pulled out the ornate hairpin and plunged it into the Emperor's hand.
"Agh!" He let out a pained roar, his body recoiling as he clutched his wounded hand. His golden eyes burned with fury as he staggered backward. "You are insane! Men, take this harlot away!"
Noor Giza only smirked.
"No one is coming."
The Emperor's vision swam. His head pounded, the room twisting around him.
His voice came out strained, a whisper of realization. "That tea… What did you put in it?"
Noor Giza leaned in, tears trailing down her face, her fingers ghosting over his cheek with an eerie tenderness.
"We are the only people here, Your Majesty. Just like you wanted. Are you happy now?" Her lips curled into a broken smile. "We will be together forever… Forever."
With one swift motion, she drove the hairpin into his chest.
A strangled gasp escaped him, his body jerking as pain radiated through his core. His breath grew shallow. He had fought wars, conquered lands, but in this moment, he was powerless against a woman's vengeance.
Noor Giza did not hesitate. With the same trembling hand, she lifted the hairpin and drove it into her own neck. Blood trickled down her collar, staining the delicate silk of her garments.
Their bodies collapsed onto the cold stone floor, entwined in death as they had never been in life.
As the last light faded from his eyes, the Emperor thought of another—of a moment long buried beneath years of deception and regret.
Sefa… If our time had always been like the moment we first met, I would not feel like a painted fan cast aside in the autumn wind. We vowed to fly together, no matter the suffering. We swore to fight together…
And then, silence.
---
"Host! Why are you crying?"
A small, mousy creature floated beside me, its whiskers twitching with concern.
I blinked, raising a hand to my cheek. It was wet.
"Am I crying?" I murmured, then wiped away the stray tears. "I suppose… it's just the original host's emotions."
The sound of hurried footsteps echoed outside.
"Something happened! Quick!" soldiers shouted as they rushed toward the cold palace.
Mousy's ears perked up, his small body trembling. "Did Noor Giza do it?!"
I exhaled and straightened. "It doesn't matter now." My expression hardened as I turned to him. "Prepare Raazi to ascend the throne. The Emperor is dead."
---
One Month Later
The sound of a hundred voices chanting in unison filled the grand hall.
"Long live the Emperor!"
Golden banners lined the walls, shimmering under the light of countless lanterns. In the center of the vast chamber, a young boy, no older than twelve, sat upon the gilded throne. His eyes held the innocence of childhood, yet his shoulders bore the weight of an empire.
The doors to my chamber creaked open.
A servant stepped inside, bowing deeply. "Empress Dowager, all the consorts have gathered. They await your presence to pay their respects."
I rose from my seat, my silk robes rustling like whispers of forgotten power. "Understood. Tell them to come in."
A line of women dressed in fine garments entered, their faces pale with fear and submission. They knelt before me, pressing their foreheads to the floor.
"Our respects, Empress Dowager. We wish you great happiness."
I studied them, silent for a long moment, then lifted a hand. "Rise."
They obeyed instantly.
It was a new era. And I ruled from the shadows.
---
The Written Fate of YILDIZ DYNASTY
The screen before me flickered, displaying the official records of the dynasty.
In the fourth month of the 13th year of the Yildiz Dynasty, Emperor Ayadh Yildiz was assassinated by an out-of-favor consort.
In the fifth month, the fourth prince, Raazi Yildiz, ascended the throne, taking the title of the Kind Emperor, under the guidance of his adopted mother, Empress Dowager Sefa Yilmaz.
For ten years, Empress Dowager Sefa ruled in the background, stabilizing the nation until the young emperor was ready.
In the 23rd year, Empress Dowager Sefa fell gravely ill. Emperor Raazi personally cared for her, but in the end, he could do nothing.
It was said that when the Empress Dowager passed away, Emperor Raazi was so distraught that he nearly followed her in death.
A smirk played on my lips. "Well… I really didn't raise Raazi in vain."
Mousy, sitting beside me, let out an exaggerated groan. "Jeez! We could've left as soon as we completed the mission. Why did we have to stay in that world for another ten years?!"
I smiled, stretching my arms. "Sometimes, you must see things through to the end." Then I straightened and nodded toward the screen. "Hurry up and check the account."
Mousy turned toward the glowing display. A notification flashed across the screen:
[World: YILDIZ DYNASTY] Completed; Rank - AAA.
Another message popped up, making Mousy leap with excitement. "Whoa! The next world is ready!"
I raised an eyebrow and leaned in. The new mission title caught my attention.
I smirked. "How interesting… But why is the supporting character's name still Sefa Yilmaz?"
Mousy scratched his head. "I guess it's to avoid any problems. The main system probably unified them all as the same name."
"Is that so?" I chuckled. Then, without hesitation, I clicked the YES button.
Mousy squeaked. "Wait—are we jumping in already?!"
I grinned, my fingers tapping against the console.
"Getting revenge on scumbags is far more interesting."
And with that, the world around us shattered into light—pulling us into our next story.