The Emperor's Unfavored Empress

Chapter 11 Cassiopeia: Magnus' Threat

“Cassiopeia!” Lin exclaimed upon seeing me.

"Your Highness!" Hera's eyes widened in awe as she peered outside the door, not quite believing what she was seeing. She had never expected to see me drenched in blood.

Their voices filled with worry, "Who did you kill? Is it the fourth prince?" they asked.

"Have you two lost your minds?" I said sarcastically as I passed by them. "Do you think I can do that here?" I immediately went to the bathroom to clean myself up.

"But why are your clothes covered in blood?" asked Lin with a concerned expression, her brow furrowed, seemingly worried as she appearsto contemplate the implications of what she had just seen.

"An attempt was made on the crown prince's life, I was there so I took first aid to tend to his wound." Both of them gasped at the same time.

Hera was taken aback as she asked, "Did you treat the crown prince?"

"How?" Lin asked, "You don't know meddicine, Cassiopeia?" When I glanced at Lin, she was nailed on the ground. Obviously unbelieving of what was happening.

“I just read it in a book–”

"And when exactly have you had the time to read a book?" Lin asked, looking on in disbelief and slight frustration. She’s right, we live on a tribe where reading books are both luxury and a waste of time.

"When we were in Cassiana," I lied hesitantly, feeling a wave of guilt wash over me. Lin was still obviously not convinced by what I was saying, her eyes questioning my every word. "There’s really nothing much that I did?" I added, trying desperately to excuse my actions. "I just bandaged the wound with a cloth, that's all," I said apologetically. She slowly nodded then followed me inside the bath, her expression still unconvinced as she observed my movements closely.

"You can leave me," I said, "from now on I will bath alone," I enunciated.It is incredibly difficult for me to conceal the scars that remain on my back, imprinted as a result of the cruel and unforgiving beatings I endured during my first night in Cassiana at the hands of Croasia and Luciana. I still have nightmares about it, feeling their whips lashing against my skin again and again.

I stepped into the cold marble tub, wincing in pain as the water lapped against the still-open wounds on my back. It had been a month since I was injured and yet they still hadn't healed, which truly surprised me. I slowly immersed my body deeper into the bath, allowing it to engulf me with its warmth. I got out of the tub and then went to the mirror. There, I saw that some of the cuts were still bleeding. I bit my lip as I slowly put on my clothes.

Everyone is asleep, but I am still wide awake. Magnus's words earlier, when he called me his woman, keep replaying in my mind. I felt a strange feeling in my chest.

“What the hell, Cassie! This isn't about your heart. What you're feeling right now is Cassiopeia's true feelings, and you have no right to covet the man she loves." I slapped myself several times to wake up. But the situation was testing me. From the veranda where I was standing, I could clearly see the fourth prince in the room. He is busy writing. I looked at the moon and knew that the night was already deep, but the prince was still awake—and so was I.

I'm so worried that Cassiopeia's intense emotions for the fourth prince will affect me, too. To get rid of any thoughts of the fourth prince, I immediately shut the window and then lay down on my bed.

I was suddenly and abruptly awoken from my sleep by someone gently shaking me. It left me feeling anxious and apprehensive, uncertain of the cause. "Your Highness, you were having a nightmare," Hera said. Then, Lin came over and handed me a glass of water.

"We have been trying to wake you up for a while," said Lin. Hera took a cloth and wiped my forehead. Only then did I realize that I was crying when I cupped my cheek.

"Thank you," I said, after drinking the water.

"Did you have a bad dream?" asked Lin. I nodded in response. In my dream, I was being chased by a group of men in the middle of the forest, accompanied by wild dogs. I ran to the shore and there was a woman who stabbed me in the chest. I touched my chest, feeling the pain as if the dream were real.

I quickly got off the bed and went to the mirror, taking off my clothes. "Lin?" I called out to my friend. "How did I get this?" I asked her, pointing to a recently healed wound between my chest and shoulder.

"Ah, that one," she explained, "that’s when you disappeared for almost three nights, and we found you unconscious on the shore." I frowned in response. "We thought you were dead, but it's a good thing so you survived."

I looked in the mirror again, so unsure of what I was seeing. My face had changed and I couldn't help but wonder if my dream had anything to do with it. Was it a sign of something that was to come? My mind raced as I asked myself, "Do you know who did this to me?"

"According to what I heard, pirates are after you," said Lin, causing me to frown.

“Is there a girl?” I ask.

I saw Lin's brow furrow as a look of surprise appeared on her face. "There's no girl, Cassiopeia," she said seriously, so I didn't bother asking anymore.

"Is that so?" I said, and then quickly added, "Well, it would probably be best if you all went back to your rooms and got some rest."

When I woke up, I immediately received an invitation from the grand palace. "I promise I'll go," I said when I saw the two looking at me.

"Why, what's happening?" Hera asked.

"Because Cassiopeia saved the crown prince," Lin replied, "as a thank you, the emperor will hold a banquet."

"Are we going with you, Your Highness?" Hera asked excitedly.

"Of course," I nod. "Get ready, because it will be held at dinner," I added.

Since there was nothing I could do, I decided to take a stroll outside. I was alone when I met Lysander. "Princess Cassiopeia," he said, "why are you here?" he asked.

"Just getting some fresh air," I simply replied.

"Where did you learn medicine?" he asked me. I knew they wouldn't believe me if I told them the truth; that what I did was just first aid.

"I just read it in the book," I lied.

"Do you also like to read books?" his face beaming with excitement.

"Not much," I replied as I continued walking, with Lysander following me. "I just happened to be interested in medicine." I was stunned when Magnus blocked our path.

"It looks like you've finished cleaning your home, and now you're wandering around." I frowned at him. Was he asking me to clean the room all the time?

"Do you need anything from me?" I asked, glancing at Lysander and then back at him.

"Yes," he answered. “Can you leave my wife and me alone?” he asked Lysander.

"Cassiopeia, see you this evening." Lysander said politely then he left.

"Aren't you ashamed that you got married and are already seeing another man?" I was absolutely stunned by this question and a feeling of guilt and shame quickly washed over me. I had no idea how to respond, as I was completely taken aback by the boldness of the question.

"Excuse me?!" I exclaimed in disbelief at what I had heard. He had the audacity to say that to me, considering it was him who left me on our wedding day and threw me into that dilapidated mansion at the back of the empire.

"Are you jealous?" It was just a joke that I shouldn't have said, because I'm the only one who would be hurt.

"Princess, I won't be jealous because, first of all, I don't like you. You are just a tool of your kingdom to have a relationship with the empire. I am just protecting my name, I don't want the whole land to talk about my wife with another man." I was speechless. I thought that I would not be affected. I shouldn't feel anything but why does every word he said pierce right into my heart?

He let go of my arm, and I stepped back. Clearing my throat, I asked without looking him in the eyes, "Don't you have anything else to say? Because I'm leaving."

"Just fulfill your role as a wife if you don't want me to send you back to your kingdom." Magnus didn't show any emotion as he look right into my eyes. Fear filled my entire being and I swallowed my words. I didn't want to go back to Cassiana, as they would surely kill me. "I knew it, you're afraid of losing your title as a princess of this empire," Magnus smirked as he turned his back and leave me.

Standing there in the middle of the garden, I felt utterly speechless. The cold breeze coming from the west suddenly made me aware of the quiet place that sorrounds me - tears were streaming down my cheeks and I hadn't even realized it.

“Princess Cassiopeia?” I immediately wiped away my tears when I heard a voice. I was surprised to see that it was Alexis, or rather, the Duke of Sinclair, standing in front of me. I felt a strange, complicated mix of hatred, resentment, and fear surround my entire being, yet I couldn't shake the sense of familiarity for the man in front of me.

"Your Highness?" he said. It was only then that I came to my senses. He called my attention again: "Are you okay? Were you crying?" he asked me again.

"Alexis–" I cleared my throat when I saw him frown, "I mean, Duke Alexis, what are you doing here?" I asked.

"The emperor asked me to stay, as there is a dinner to be held later in honor of Your Highness, for saving the crown prince," he answered. At that moment, I realized that the Alexis I had met in the future was not the one standing in front of me.

“Is that so, I hope you enjoyed your stay here in the empire, Duke Alexis.” I was respectful. I breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that he didn't know me at all.

"I really enjoyed my stay here," he said with a meaningful gaze.

"Then, please excuse me," I said, remembering Magnus' threat, “I have to go back.” I stopped when he held my hand and added, "Let go."

"I know how he treats you," my eyes widening upon hearing this.

"I'm sorry, Duke Alexis," I said, faking a smile while shoving his hand off, "but I don't understand what you mean."

"Are you afraid to be seen?" He asked with a meaningful tone then grabbed my hand once again.

"What exactly are you talking about?" I let out a dry and slightly worried laugh, not quite sure what to make of his words. I reached out to shake his hand, but he held onto it tightly in a disturbingly firm grip.

"Too late, your highness. The fourth prince has seen us," he whispered. My eyes immediately searched for Magnus and there he was on the second floor of the palace looking at us. It was as if cold water had been poured over me, and no matter how far away Magnus was, I could feel his gaze piercing through my soul.

"Your Imperial Majesty!" I cried out in shock, looking over my shoulder at the Duke, who thought that the Emperor had arrived and thus released me from his grip.

“You little liar,” he hissed. I could hear his feeble laughter trailing after me as I quickly ran away.