The emperor looked at omega and smiled
"I finally found you"
Omega shivered in fear. Who wouldn't?
"I'm sorry, I can disappear from your sight" she pleaded.
"You really can?"he questioned her making her shiver. She nodded dragging her butt on the floor.
The emperor walked out of his chambers with a smile on his face.
How come I did not recognize you?
The prime Minister's quaters
He sipped his ginger tea slowly. He looked happy. How could he not be happy? He would win sooner .
Flashback:
The prime minister entered the crown prince's room and met his younger brother instead. He looked at Hyman in disgust, his swordman was there too wearing a mask. "He would recognize you, my lord" his swordman pleaded.
"He won't" he said in certainty. His swordman bowed silently. "Kill both prince Hyman and prince Leon" he commanded.
Back to present:
The emperor would never know who the murderer is.
Not in this life.
The Emperor's chambers:
The Empress sat down on the floor and rested her head on the bed. She closed her eyes, her long lashes makes her look beautiful. If you look closely there's a significant difference between her and Ophelia.
She has been Inside the chambers for hours now, the chambers is heavily guided by the emperor's men.
Her lips were pale and dry but still look good. She wore a green and yellow gown adorned with petals.
The emperor entered after being away for the whole day. He saw the little girl sleeping. A beautiful smile appeared on his face.
"Thought she would wait for me" he scoffed. Only the god Mathe knows how much he wants to hug her right now.
She opened her eyes slowly and saw the emperor looking at her, she moved away from him "I'm sorry" she bowed. She looked scared. The Emperor ignored her, she wiped the tears rolling from her eyes in pain.
"You can not keep a noble woman locked" she said bitterly. "Noble woman?" The Emperor mocked. "You're not a noble woman"he said calmly.
The servant at the door interrupted him. He stared at Leo who entered looking at his feet "I got it your imperial highness " he bowed.
The Emperor looked at the empress and walked out of the room.
I should just go back!!!
The Emperor entered his study with Leo and his other trusted guards. "Your imperial highness, I got everything you asked" Kyle bowed respectfully.
The Emperor looked at the book on the table, it was wet and stained with blood. He clenched his fist. He would never forgive them for hurting his wife and his child.
He opened the book slowly, his hand shivering, his heart shattering. He knew this is the only evidence but he felt cold. Is this how it feels?
He opened the book and went through it "This can't be Ophelia's book" he looked at his guards. Leo stepped forward to explain
"Your imperial highness, this is her sister's writing " he explained. He opened to another page "This is sir Hamlet's language, his country" he explained. He Emperor moved back a bit.
"Omega killed her sister so she can come to the palace " Jada explained. The Emperor shook his head "No it's not possible omega can't hurt anyone" the Emperor found himself defending her.
"Your imperial highness, that was my thought till I saw her body close to the cliff. She went there few days ago with her mother" Leo explained.
"So she killed Ophelia" the Emperor needed confirmation. Who would do such?
Omega!!!
He clenched his fist, he would make her life a living hell. He'll show her what it means to lose what you cherish.
He walked out of his study, he was going to his room angrily. He barged in and met omega still on her knees. If he didn't know this young woman's intention, he'll drag her close and hugged her but she's heartless.
"You think I'll pity you?" He mocked. He moved closer to her and held her neck tightly, she opened her mouth gasping for air. Tears Welled up her eyes
You killed her!!!!
"Who sent you?" He asked gritting his teeth. He released her, he's not ready to send her to her tomb now. He still needs to torture her that she'll prefer death to staying alive.
"I'm not here to hurt you" she pleaded. "who sent you" he yelled angrily. She shook her head. No one sent her. She's here willfully without being forced
"You killed your sister for the position of the Empress" he looked at her in disbelieve. "No...I can't hurt Ophelia. She's my sister" she pleaded in fear
"That's why you killed her because you're jealous" the emperor mocked. Omega shook her head in fear. No she can't hurt anyone.
The Emperor pushed her on the bed, she curled up him fear. He tore her dress angrily, "Please don't torture me, I didn't kill my sister" she pleaded in pain. She cried out when the pain became unbearable for her.
The Emperor stopped after he was satisfied, omega curled up in pain and shame. She looked so ashamed of herself. The Emperor found that funny.
He covered her exposed body with the white sheet on the bed. "Go to sleep" he commanded and walked out of his chambers.
He entered his study again, his guards stood glue. They've been there for hours "Go investigate again" he commanded.
"Aye, your imperial highness, another evidence points at the Empress again" they bowed. He hit his hand on the table angrily "Go investigate" he was angry. Omega can't be the killer, she saved his life. She wouldn't take Someone's life.
Throne room:
The Emperor entered his throne room, the officials all bowed to him. "Your imperial highness"
He sat on his throne, his table was filled with tablets. He doesn't need a seer to know it's about the empress.
"Your imperial highness, the scholars all agreed to go against you if you don't dethrone her" the minister of tax pleaded.
"The villagers are angry, they all wants the queen to be dethroned" the minister of affairs said.
"The soldiers insist they'll divert if you don't give them answers" the minister of war said .
The prime minister had a dangerous smirk on his face.
Let's see how you save yourself!!
The Emperor sighed, "You see you're causing me a lot of troubles" he thought. His mind drifted to last night, how his and the empress body intertwined and how she panted in pain. He smiled, "I'll protect you now and punish you at night"
"Chief royal secretary" he called "Your imperial highness" the royal secretary bowed.
"Block all the scholars from leaving the palace till they solve this riddle 'Gu'" he sent his message.
"Your imperial highness, they're the future of this country" the prime minister was shocked. How will he give them details of his next plan when they'll stay in the palace.
"My son isthe future not the scholars" the Emperor mocked. "The life incentive of the soldiers would be cut out and they'll protect the boundaries night and day. No break for them and no holiday. Anyone who died in the process would be forgotten and no tomb would be raise for them" he declared.
"Your imperial highness" the minister of war almost spit out blood. He was shocked. They pay tax for ammunition, how would they do that if they're not given incentive ?
"The soldiers will not see their family, only their corpse would be sent back home" the Emperor declared cruelly. They gave too much power and he's cutting that short now.
"Increase the villagers tax and bring whosoever refuses to pay to the palace to be flogged" the Emperor declared.
"Your imperial highness, the villagers will hate you" the minister of tax tried to coax the Emperor.
"My father did so much for them but guess what? They claimed he was the worst Emperor and jubilated instead of giving respect of silence" the Emperor yelled angrily.
"They think I'll be Like my father a great Emperor that died in shame and was ridiculed by his own people? Even if I kiss the floor the step on, they'll still believe I'm not enough" he laughed.
The prime minister was shocked. Is this really the Emperor or someone?
The officials shiver in fear. They were not ready to get punished too.
"And you the officials..." He said. They looked shocked, their heat was beating fast. They can't be punished.
"We're your subjects we're only voicing out our opinion " the prime minister gathered the courage and voiced out. Other officials nodded quietly. None had the courage to second the prime minister.
"Choice ... Your daughter leave the palace in shame or you stop getting rice from the palace" the Emperor faced the prime minister who moved back in shock.
If his daughter royal Sally leave the palace in shame, no man will look at her. If he stop getting rice from the palace as an official, that means he'll have to buy rice and he'll pay tax.
He have to feed his servants and large family and that means larger tax...
Just point a sword to my neck!!!
The Emperor smirked and faced the other officials who are already shivering in fear "If you have a land here in Hiang country, you'll pay tax" he declared.
The officials were scared, they forcefully collected lands from the villagers claiming it's the emperor's decision.
Who would pay the tax for them?
They'll have to return the land else they'll be poorer than a palace Maid soon.
The Emperor looked at his officials after he made his decision