"Besiege," Allan commanded coldly, averting his gaze from Eliza. The Imperial Knights surged forward, attacking the assassins with fervor.
While the battle raged on, Eliza's eyes fluttered open, no longer burdened by the menacing energy.
"Empress..." Baron Davis's voice trembled as he clutched the hem of her outer jacket, startling her.
"I am not the Empress," she retorted, causing him to flinch.
"Then why do you look exactly like her?" he questioned. She merely shrugged.
"Why? Do you have unfinished business with the Empress?" she probed, noticing his tense demeanor. He nodded slowly.
"What is it?" she asked.
"I know who pushed the Empress from the tower."
"Then why are you revealing this now?"
"B-Because... I've carried this burden for three years! Blinded by my love for Leila, I thought I was doing the right thing..."
"Who is it then? The murderer?" she pressed.
"His own father, the former Archduke of the House of Montclair."
"Will you testify at the next trial?"
"Yes. That old man can't threaten me anymore, Your Maj--"
Before he could finish, Eliza lightly smacked his head. "I told you, I am not her. Just do your part, and I'll do mine. Okay?" she said with a bright smile.
"Oh! They finished quickly," she commented, observing the lifeless bodies. 'Thank goodness,' she thought.
"Ah! Before I forget, Baron, your wife is still alive. I managed to remove the poison," she said, removing a thread from the Baroness's leg.
"Amazing, right?" she added, excitedly pulling a golden thread from the Baroness's ankle.
"What did you-- You said you are not the Empress..." The Baron was in disbelief as the Baroness opened her eyes.
"I'm not," Eliza replied, puzzled.
"But only the Empress can use the Divine Strings of Life with the Ethereal Threads. Lady Eliza, no, Your Majesty, Empress Kristen, you're alive!" Vincent exclaimed, kneeling in respect.
"Wait... wait a minute! I am not the Empress... what are you saying?" Eliza stuttered, trying to help Vincent, the Baron, and the Baroness to their feet, but they wouldn't budge. 'What the hell?' she thought.
"Whether you are her or an impostor... capture her!" Allan commanded, furious. As two Imperial Knights approached, Eliza stepped back, gripping her rifle tightly.
"Forgive me," she said, knocking them out with the rifle. Though she defeated the knights with ease, the Emperor did not relent. His aura became menacing, and Eliza sensed the danger.
"Eli! Stop this instant! Drop the rifle, now!" Uncle Sam shouted in alarm.
"Y-Your Majesty, wait a minute. I'm not really related to the Emp--" Before she could finish, the Emperor was already before her, his dark purple eyes radiating power. Instinctively, she knew he was a grave threat. As she tried to retreat, his large hand clamped over her mouth.
"Shut up," he commanded coldly, snatching the rifle and throwing it aside. Struggling to breathe, Eliza turned pale, trembling in fear.
'Shit! I'm going to die!' Eliza thought, and in an instant, they were in a different location.
'W-Where is this? A r-room? Don't tell me... we're in this crazy Emperor's chamber?! And why are we in his massive bed?! Why is he on top of me?! This crazy Emperor!' Eliza's thoughts spiraled into chaos as she realized that she is in the serpent's den.
"Finally... we are alone", Allan said. As he uncovered Eliza's mouth, she coughed and gasped for air, clutching her neck as if she had been choked.
"W-What do you want...?", she asked, her voice trembling in fear, which she did not noticed, but the Emperor did.
"Wrong question. It is should be who, shouldn't it, Empress?"
"I told you many times, I am not--" Allan silenced her by pulling her tongue out using his fingers.
"Then... why is my rune to revive my Empress is on you? Hm?" He continued to playfully caress her tongue despite her weak struggle, the restriction spell he cast rendering her powerless.
'This crazy motherf*cker! Why can't I move?!' As Allan's cold assault continued, Eliza's breath grew heavier, and her pale skin started to flush red.
"It is beautiful", he said, smirking.
'W-What's that? Hey! Calm down, my heart! You are being assaulted, Ms Eliza!', she thought, covering her mouth, her breathing still uneven. Allan stared at her before shifting his gaze to his wet fingers and then back to her as he sucked his finger.
"!" Eliza blushed with embarrassment.
"Hey!"
Allan took out his fingers, teasing her. "That's so sweet".
'What is this?! It was said in the novel that this guy despise the Empress to the core...'
"You've become weak, my Vice-Captain"
'Huh?'
"W-What did you say?"
'He said, my Vice-Captain... Only one person called me that nickname'
"Ah...right. Your memories are not fully recovered yet" Allan replied, his expression stoic. He was surprised when Eliza grabbed his collar and pushed him dow, reversing their positions.
"Captain! Is that you?!", she asked urgently.
"What do you think?" he teased, then his expression changed. He hurriedly drew a rune on Eliza's abdomen.
"W-What's the problem?"
Before she could comprehend what the Emperor had done, her outfit transformed into a very thin, white night gown, causing her to panic and feel embarrassed while Allan enjoyed his view from below. The door opened and an ethereal beauty with silver locks and charming ocean blue eyes entered, shocked and betrayed. Her attendants have the same expression.
"C-Captain!" Eliza whispered, trying to cover herself with a blanket, but Allan stopped her, pulling her wrist and making her fall into his solid chest.
"Forgive me, I was a little rough earlier", he said calmly, sliding his hand up from her thighs to her pelvis despite her pleas and attempt to stop him.
"H-Hey...! S-Stop this!", she whispered, glaring at him, but he looked at her with amusement.
"Allan!" the beautiful lady's voice trembled with rage.
"Oh! Lady Everhart, you're there. Apologies, I did not noticed you come in as I am quite busy...", he said slyly, sitting up and placing Eliza on his lap, facing Arabella Everhart. He covered Eliza's mouth with his hand. Her quick reflexes grabbed his arm, but she couldn't overpower him.
"...doing my husbandly duties with my Empress and my wife", he added, kissing Eliza's neck.
"Stop struggling. I'll explain later", he whispered in her ear before licking it, his dark purple eyes fixed on Arabella.
"What? You want to watch us?", he threatened her coldly.
"You will not get away with this!" Arabella retorted, leaving the room. As soon as she left, Allan sighed and released Eliza, whi scrambled away, gasping for air.
"Captain! What--"
Allan's eyes sharpened as he stared at the door. Without hesitation, he drew a rune in the air, directing it towards the door, which locked instantly. The entire room shimmered with protective runes.
"Eliza, no, Kristen. Never trust that woman. She is poisonous than the snake's venom", he warned her gravely. Drawing another rune, Eliza's vision blurred until she slipped to unconsciousness.
He lifted her gently into his arms and, with another rune, opened a hidden door. "Until wee meet again, my beloved Empress", he murmued, kissing her forehead before laying her carefully on the other side of the door.
As he stepped back again into his chamber, his dark purple eyes never left Eliza's figure until the door closed completely.