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08/10/2022

🥳Wednesday has come and gone, can the weekend be far behind? 💪After three days of hard work, let's read a romance novel to relieve some fatigue. 👏Let's enjoy the pleasures of romance novels together!🎉
📜Once forced to surrogate, Miya gave birth to triplets. Before she could have a look at her newborn children, one was taken away by her father for money. At that moment, her heart was desperate.Fearing that his father would take away her other two children to exchange money for his employer, Miya fled with her two children and went abroad to her grandmother with a solemn mood.They encountered each other after six years when she returned home.
📚Title:The CEO’s Surrogate Wife
✒️Writer:Edwin Williams
💌Genre：Romance/Comedy
⏳Status：Completed
📣Clip Sharing
🔖Chapter 1 One-night surrogacy
　It was late night now.

　　The weather was gloomy.

　　Darkness engulfed the whole sky after a heavy cloud drifted it.

　　Miya lay naked on her soft bed, surrounded by endless darkness. She was sent in. She did not know where it was, nor who she would be for the next second. Her heart was still beating uncontrollably though she managed to calmed down for a while.

　　Suddenly, a cloud of powerful footstep came from the corridor and it was approaching, which shocked Miya’'s heart.

　　Followed by the screwing sound of the doorknob, then the door opened. Nothing but a dim light went through the door with a loom shadow of strong man.

　　A cold wind came together, and she shrouded herself.

　　“I...” Miya stuttered when she felt the arrogant man’s proud, which indicated that he doesn't want any talk with her.

　　“Are you scare?” the man’ s voice is cold but pleasant, combing with a sense of despise.

　　Miya’s heart ached suddenly, but what qualifications did she have to fear for her own choice? However, what she didn't expect was that the man's voice was so young and pleasant.

　　Alex's hugged and kneaded her body by his hands. He could feel her soft and smooth skin, which made him held tighter unconsciously.

　　Miya was shivering and feeling his strong body. She could feel his long legs and hefty waist. He was emitting a sense of noble. Her hand vliatinn Diwan lamb as binn KA

　　leaned against her chest and she felt his muscularity. He must be a perfect man, she thought.

　　Alex suddenly came closer to her. A fragrance of a young girl came to his nose suddenly. It was the flavor of lily. And the thin sexy lips approached. For the first time, in that case, he kissed a girl.

　　Miya was shocked by the sudden kiss and shrouded her herself. Anyway, she didn’t refuse because she knew what she wants from this deal.

　　Alex's one palm grabbed her b***y breasts and kneaded them violently! His other hand was drifting on her charming body. Through the feeling of his hands, he knew she's absolutely a femme fatale.

　　“Ohm...” a sense of electricity went through her body and she wanted to escape~her breasts were pain due to his violence. However, a wired feeling spread her whole body, which made her body soft and her heart frighten.

　　He kissed downward until he reached her collarbone. He was nibbling it now. He could obviously feel her shiver, and this was the first woman who perfectly fitted his taste.

　　He kissed downward again until her breasts. He was licking them now, enjoying her shiver, her tight, her smoothness and sensitivity as well.

　　An unnamed and uncontrollable feeling came from her heart, which made her frighten but somehow addictive.

　　Miya suddenly wanted to take a look at his face. She wanted to know who she conceiving for, and meanwhile with a selfishness that she could find out her child someday if she knows what he looks like.

　　When she was hesitating, a sudden pain came from her private part, which drew her back to the reality.

　　The pain, which drew her to the hell from the heaven, is an overwhelmed feeling.

　　The overwhelmed pain proved that she was no longer a girl but a woman. And from now on, David, the man who lost her in gambling, is also no longer her father. The pain of tonight rewarded him all of his goodness. She is just a chip of him after all.

　　Alex’s hot breath sprayed on her face. His body smelled good. It was a lemon flavor, giving a refreshing feeling. The smell seemed to relieve her pain a lot.

　　"Dear, shout out!" his voice was unusually pleasant, but there was an irresistible tyranny.

　　Miya moved her lips, but no sound came out.

　　Alex suddenly speeded up his pace, which seems to punish her refusal just now. She is just a woman who give birth to a child for him to earn money. How ridiculous for her to pretend to be arrogant!

　　Miya felt a piercing pain from her private parts, and her small hands grabbed the sheet tightly, standing the pain cause by him.

　　Tears flowed down her eyes, buried in her hair and finally damped the pillow cover.

　　Alex didn’t care about this, and he was still moving crazily and went deeper into her body.

　　Crazy lingering.

　　He left in the darkness like a cloud of wind vanished in her eyesight.

　　Miya turned on her phone, and the dim light of the phone illuminated the whole mess of the room, as well as the striking bloodstains on the sheets, which seemed to remind her that she was no longer pure’.

　　Meanwhile, the lights were suddenly turned on and a maid came in with a clothing.

　　Miya was led out the villa after she took a shower. The sky is still dark, and she didn’t know where it is, let alone who was she conceiving for.

　　Till home, she noticed that her lucky beads had been dropped there, where she was entangled with the strange man.

　　Ten months slipped away, Miya gave birth to triplets. Before she could see what her newborn children looked like, one of them was taken away by her father for money. At that moment, she felt desperately hopeless.

　　Fearing that his father would take away her other two children to exchange money for his employer, Miya fled with her two children and went abroad to her grandmother with a solemn mood.
👇If you want to read it . Click the link below👇
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08/09/2022

📣Today is not a pleasant weekend, not a dreadful Monday, but a Tuesday at hard work.！On such a busy day, take some free time to enjoy a romance novel!😝
If you love🥰Rejected but not Broken https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.yoyo_novel.reader , you should read👉📕 Royally Kidnapped by the Prince [📗
📚Title: Royally Kidnapped by the Prince [
✒️Writer:Gia Hunter
💌Genre:Romance/Love
⏳Status：Completed
📣Clip Sharing
🔖1 KENNEDY
　I rose from my seat. Today, she would have a big announcement that I’d been waiting for for almost three years now. My skin tingled in anticipation.

　　If there was the Devil wears Prada, Madam Alessia Hearst, our Executive Editor wore Hermes from bags, scarves, and belts. Louboutin for her shoes, and I didn’t have to mention the choice of her jewelry and watches. She had her own stylist, but she barely agreed to interviews. She took her private life seriously. If she did, it only focused on her job, not her personal life.

　　Alessia Hearst remained a mystery to me. But man, she was sophisticated, classy, and stood tall at least five feet, nine inches tall. She always kept her chestnut hair short. What I loved the most was her medium skin to my Porcelain.

　　“What the hell is wrong with your eyes, Miss Gilby?”

　　I gulped. I could feel everyone’s gaze on me. My face heated when Alessia kept her gaze on me, waiting for my reply.

　　“I had a hard time looking for a new apartment last night. I was planning to move out of my as***le ex’s apartment—” My hand clamped my mouth.

　　My colleagues chuckled around me, but I was also known to have confidence. So, I stood straight and rolled my eyes.

　　“What’s funny with moving out? We women should never depend on men. When a relationship can’t make you happy anymore, then get the hell out of it before it strangles you, depresses you. It’s ugly. Your mental health is important, and the pain will heal than staying in a toxic relationship.”

　　The entire floor went silent—a deafening silence.

　　Wow! She must be single.

　　“Now, my announcement. I’ll be taking a week’s leave starting on Monday. When I come back, I’ll be announcing my chosen candidates for our new senior editors. Now back to work.” She turned around.

　　Disappointment cut through me like a knife. I’d been working hard for the past years. I knew if I was good at it and not. What the hell was wrong with announcing it today? Was she planning to change her mind when she came back?

　　After a few seconds of excruciating silence, she called my name. Yay!

　　“Kennedy?” Alessia just called me by my name. She was still holding the door for me. Oh, my God. This is it!

　　Heat rose to my cheek.

　　“Yes?” I strode in her direction. “Alessia.”

　　She did not reply but closed the door behind us. It was not the first time I was in her office. The creative lighting and geometric designs had her personal touch. Incorporated with bold colors, it added sparks of creativity, excitement, and at the same time, a calming effect.

　　I took a seat on the sofa a few steps away from her desk.

　　“I’ve checked your portfolio carefully. I admit that I was hard to be pleased and impressed.”

　　“Thank you.” I smiled.

　　“You’re good at what you do—” But I felt there was a but at the end of her sentence.

　　Crushed by disappointment, I dropped my gaze.

　　“Oh, for God’s sake, Alessia. Just get to the point.”

🔖2 THAYER
I’m doomed.

　　The moment I stepped out of the family jet, I only had one goal—to prove to my father that he was wrong. I knew my birthright, and I had a huge shoe to fill in, but I’d been molded since birth to take his place one day.

　　At the black-tinted limousine, I glanced at Lud and Ash. They’d been briefing me since we took off. I raised my hand to stop them from repeating what had been stuck in my head since I learned how to talk. I knew the protocol, but they were just doing their jobs. Aside from working for my family, they were also my closest friends, and they would surely take the bullet for me even if they were not in my family payroll, and so did I to them.

　　“Are you sure this is a good idea?” Lud asked warily. He was tall, stuffed with pure muscles with a strong jaw, and dark seated eyes.

　　“If you’ll ask me one more time, you’re going home.” I looked out of the window. This was not my first time to be in New York—the city never really sleeps. Unlike from where I came from—less polluted, not overpopulated, and less crime. Thanks to our men in uniform.

　　“If he said it’s a good idea, meaning, he got through with it a hundred times. You know him.” Ash was more mature than Lud, the one-nighter.

　　“I just don’t want him to home empty-handed and end up—”

　　“Man, you can’t just shut up, can you? As soon as he settles in the hotel, you can go gallivanting in the nightclub. I got you covered.”

　　“No way. He’s my job. And I don’t wanna be jobless because I shagged a pretty woman’s brain’s out.”

　　“Jeez.” Ash winced, shaking his head.

　　“We already talked about this. I don’t care what you do with your life for the whole two weeks. Do whatever you like. Just leave me alone.”

　　The car halted in front of the hotel. As we’d discuss, no grand entrance or convoy. We were just tourists like other tourists. And that was what we were doing. Of course, Lud and Ash were on their duties while I was with them. Their eyes were like hawks as they scanned for risk and potential that someone might recognize me.

　　My security details took two weeks to canvas this hotel for previous and possible guests. And I just lost two weeks of my time instead of looking for her.

　　I changed to white crisp shirts and pants after a quick shower. I was used to having someone prepare what I wore, but I was also taught how to be flexible and efficient.

　　I looked at myself in the mirror. I loved my long dark copper hair, but I had to cut it short to get into my disguised look. I hated wearing contacts, so it didn’t matter if my eyes were forest green. Not that it was uncommon in millions of people in this city.

　　A soft knock before the door opened.

　　“She’s here,” Ash informed.

　　I took a deep breath before I faced my aunt Alessia. She always looked radiant and composed. New York did well on her.

　　“No, no, no.” She shook her head violently. “What did you do to your hair, your high—Thayer?”

　　“You should practice a little more.” My smile broke. I wrapped my arms around her and squeezed her into a hug. “I missed you, Aunt Alessia.” She was emailed ahead, including some details before my arrival.

　　“I missed you too, honey. How did you manage to come here unnoticed? Your disguise is poor.” She chuckled.

　　“I beg to disagree, Ma’am. Maybe, it’s because you know, you—”

　　“One more mistake, you’re both fired!” I raised my voice. They looked down and shut their mouth. “You’re not going to—what American used to say? Screw this up for me. I only have two weeks left, Ash, Ludovic.”

　　“I apologize, Thayer.” Lud eased.

　　“I’m sorry, Thay,” Ash followed.

　　“Anyway, what’s this is all about? You did not run away from your father or your duty, did you, honey?” She held my arms, tilting her neck. Aunt Alessia was taller for a woman, but I was also taller than the two wankers.

　　I slightly shook my head. “No. I would never do that and put you in trouble. And United States should be the last place I choose. Timbuktu or Maldives. I love beaches.” I grinned.

　　“You’re installing.”

　　“I’m not.”

　　“Then why did you cut your hair? I know you loved it. That was why you kept it long.” She knew me well.

　　“You should stay and be with your family, Auntie. We need you there.”

　　She chuckled. “You’re lying. I don’t have a place there, Thayer.”

　　“That’s not true.”

　　She sighed. “I love my job here. And bastard daughter will forever be a bastard in the eye of your people. My life here is great, and this is where I belong.”

　　My chest ached for here. Even if she was my grandfather’s illegitimate daughter, my father and I had never treated her as a commoner.

　　“We should go.” She walked past me.

　　“You two would not follow me,” I warned them. They may be here because of me, but my family was still their employer.

　　“We’ll check the coffee shop I saw on our way.” Lud’s excuse was poor, but I let it go when Aunt Alessia was out of the room.

　　I found her waiting in the lobby.

　　“What’s going on, Thayer?”

　　“I’m surprised you haven’t had any idea until now.” I walked beside her towards the black Mercedes waiting for us in front of the hotel.

　　“I have a few ideas, but you’re miles away from home.”

　　“I love it when you called it home.”

　　“Can’t deny half of my DNA is running through yours. But I won’t pry. Sure, I’ll figure it out myself.” We stuffed at the backseat of the car.

　　“When was the last time you pay him a visit?”

　　“Sunday. And he’s deteriorating —”

　　I squeezed her hand. “So, I’ve heard.”

　　“Now I understand why you’re here.”

　　She had no idea.

　　***

　　The last thing I wanted to be in was a publishing house or any media in any form. I just hoped my disguise would work before the end of the day.

　　“Don’t worry, if anyone recognizes you, I have my lawyer for NDA,” she said as we entered her private elevator. She must have noticed my sudden discomfort.

　　I knew she was also aware that my father had someone to keep a tab on her.

　　“I don’t belong to a British Royalty, Auntie.”

　　She raised her eyebrow. “Don’t be too confident, Thayer. We have vast coverage in social media.”

　　As she did a brief announcement with her staff, I checked out the stuff in her office. She built her empire without her blood influence. That was why I admired her so much. I stared out of the floor-to-ceiling glass walls that showcased the skyscrapers surrounding us. Magnificent.

　　We just had like this in my country, but mostly, modern classic architectural buildings.

　　I was still standing at the corner of her office when she entered, my gaze focusing on the building at the center.

　　My skin crawled up with goosebumps as soon as the door shut closed. The room was not even close to the coldness I was used to, but it felt like an icy wind was blowing my skin. Then my heart beat a little bit faster as if I dawn more caffeine.

　　I wasn’t aware we were not alone until Aunt Alessia started talking.

　　I kept my stance, hoping her guest would not see me. But then, it was hard to ignore when she kept on taunting the poor woman.

　　“Thank you.” Her voice was soft, melodic like a symphony at the Opera. Two words. Just two words, yet she caught my attention. It was clear in her voice the anticipation of good news.

　　I wanted her to talk more—to hear her voice. She suddenly intrigued me.

　　I turned my head to look at the woman with such an alluring and melodic voice. I could only see the side of her face with her honey blonde hair cascading down her shoulder. Her porcelain skin looked so creamy and soft.

　　From my vantage point, I swore she had sky blue eyes. She had high cheekbones with a small and straight nose. Her lips were full, painted in red lipstick. Right now, she was biting the bottom.

　　Damn.

　　I wanted to trace the rest of my lips with my tongue until she opened them for me to plunge it inside her mouth and taste her sweetness.

　　Jesus Christ.

　　My gaze traveled down her fitted blouse, which unbuttoned down her chest, revealing her well-rounded breasts. The hem of her deep red miniskirt ran up an inch higher half of her thighs, showing her well-toned legs.

　　I blinked my eyes to make sure my sight was not playing a trick on me.

　　So striking. Gorgeous.

　　This couldn’t be her.

　　My American Girl.

　　No fu***ng way.
📖What will be the story of their relationship? What kind of love story will she and he have?
👇If you want to read it . Click the link below👇
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.reader.mintnovel

08/05/2022

🎊🎊🎊🎊🎊🎊🎊🎊🎊
🤩Today is an exciting Friday! 🥳The weekend is almost here! 🥳On this day of celebration, let's read romance novels together!🎉
📜Theodora is the Queen of Polis, a city-state that lost the war against the most powerful empire in the continent.👸
She is sure that they'll execute her immediately but, somehow, she survives the meeting with the Emperor, and she finds herself... Married?⁉️
Tossed in a new world without connections and allies, she has to either accept her fate or lose the chance to help her people once again.👐
She soon finds out that her new husband knows more about her than she does herself, and that his purposes are often far from what she expects.🫅
A fallen queen that doesn't know how to be anything else. A handsome Duke who's the cause of her ruin. And their efforts to find some happiness in a marriage that's been forced on them.💪
📚Title: Crazy Duke and Fallen Queen
✒️Writer:xiaohai_23
💌Genre：Romance/History Fiction
⏳Status：Completed
📣Clip Sharing
🔖 Chapter 1 - The Fate Of A Fallen Queen
The Royal Palace of the Ethiro Empire is as big as half of my country.

　　I've been dragged through hallways and gardens, passing beautiful flowers and shady corridors, until finally reaching the destination.

　　After this long journey, I find myself standing in the throne hall, waiting for my sentence. As a fallen Queen, I can't expect anything but death.

　　Yet, the Ethirans are a bit too much.

　　Couldn't they have executed me immediately? Waiting is torture, and I just want to end this once and for all. Did they really need to bring me here from Polis, keeping me captive for a whole week of travel? They could have just killed me there and thrown my co**se in the sea. There wouldn't have been a better place for me to rest than the warm waters of the Central Sea.

　　The Emperor makes his entrance and, slowly and ceremonially, steps on the few stains in front of the throne. He turns with the same pace and sits down while passing his gaze on his subjects. I follow him with my eyes. I remember only now that he's young. A child of thirteen years of age is guiding the largest nation in the world.

　　Although, who am I to judge? I was crowned a few months after my birth and have been Queen ever since. I've never known anything different.

　　I can relate to this kid. Thrones are rather uncomfortable chairs.

　　«What do we have on the schedule?» he asks while passing his eyes on his subjects in his hall. All the vassals have their head bowed in sign of respect, and they pay attention not to let their eyes meet with the Emperor.

　　Fortunately, a prisoner has the right to be impolite. I lift my eyebrows when our gazes meet. I'm going to die anyway, I don't need to act cautiously just to meet a lighter death.

　　If my death saves my people, so be it. However, I will not bow my head to those that caused our ruin.

　　«Let's start with diplomacy,» he says to his adjutant. As soon as he pronounces the words, the chains get pulled until I'm forced to walk forward.

　　They've tied my wrists with heavy chains, even though I followed them on my volition. It was a condition for peace, so I surrendered myself to the enemy. There was no need to put me in a cage and bind me like this, but I guess it was more entertaining. One does not see a chained queen just every day.

　　I stop in front of the throne. I sigh and look around, in search of familiar faces. Unfortunately, I'm alone here.

　　Maybe it's better this way. I don't need to be seen like this by anyone that knew me. Chained, with dirty clothes and unkempt hair, alone in the centre of this giant hall.

　　«What is your name?» the Emperor asks, more curious than hostile.

　　«This Queen's name is Theodora,» I answer mechanically. I have never introduced myself before today. There has always been someone else to proclaim my names and titles.

　　This time I have to do it myself: I can't let a foreigner mispronounce my name.

　　I'm no one here, so they didn't even tell the Emperor about my name before. Ethiro conquered my city just to get rid of the problem and pass on another issue.

　　«You're not a queen anymore,» the Emperor points out, and I can't stop myself from looking at him with a challenging gaze.

　　«My abdication was signed a week ago, and it will be effective from tomorrow morning. For this last day, I am still Queen of Polis.»

　　«Is that how it works?»

　　«It was the shortest term this Queen could set without breaking Polis' rules.»

　　It is part of the agreement. Yet, I hope I will not survive long enough to lose my crown. If I die before the seven days expire, my throne will go to my successor.

　　If I see tomorrow's sun, then the line of succession will be interrupted. A queen that abdicates has no right to decide who will rule after her.

　　Not to mention the small detail that Ethiro is now controlling my city.

　　After centuries of independence, Polis has lost its freedom. Being the centre of trading routes and the largest harbour on the Central Sea increased our relevance and stirred the greed of lots.

　　Now that we've lost the harbour, the city is no longer able to sustain itself. My people will be impoverished and hungry. If it lasts too long, they will lose any strength to fight back.

　　I hope that my death will remind Polis who those people are and how they treat their captives.

　　«From tomorrow, then, you will be just Theodora,» the Emperor utters with a cunning look.

　　«This Queen doesn't have any plans for tomorrow,» I exclaim without moving my gaze from him. «This Queen doesn't think she has a tomorrow.»

　　In the end, it's better to execute a Queen rather than a commoner. Cutting my head while I still represent something, the Emperor will show to the world his power. To the world and to Polis.

　　«You planned to die as a Queen, didn't you?» he says.

　　I can't stop my head from moving up a few millimetres, letting the Emperor know that I'm not afraid of anything.

　　For sure, I am not scared of a boy five years younger than me.

　　«Too bad your plans will fail. Herewith, I announce that Theodora, the former Queen of the Kingdom of Polis will, from this very moment, become a citizen of the Empire. She will obey the rules all my subjects do, including bowing her head in my presence and kneeling when addressing the Emperor.»

　　What is this, now? Is it a legal technicality to have me executed? Or does he just want to have a queen kneeling in front of him?

　　He can find an empress if that is his desire.

　　«Greet the Emperor!» one of the guards exclaims and grabs my hair trying to push me down. I struggle until a gesture from the throne makes the man stop harassing me.

　　«It has to be voluntary,» the Emperor says. «Also, I have another announcement regarding our new co-citizen.»

　　Is he finally announcing how they are going to kill me? With my death, the people in Polis will never forget that the Empire attacked us. It may cost us a hundred years, but we will be free again. I bite my lips to stop a weird grin, and I wait impatiently to hear how my sentence will be carried out.

　　«Since my beloved cousin is at the age when one should find a wife, I also announce that Theodora will be married to the Archduke of Kyre. The ceremony will be held in the future, but the marriage will be valid from now. You can address her as Archduchess of Kyre,» he exclaims with a rather impressive voice, for a teenager.

　　Who is the Archduke of Kyre, by the way? It must be one of the elders sitting at the Emperor's right side.

　　I have no intention to obey their orders, so I just stay in place and wait for consequences.

　　«Your strategies won the war, dear cousin. It's only just for you to obtain a prize,» the youngster continues.

　　Their style is so pompous. I didn't have time for all these formalities while I was a ruler. The Emperor sure isn't in any hurry to finish. Are there officers doing his bidding?

　　What did he say about his cousin, by the way?

　　If the Archduke is the one who won the war, then he must be that stern old man whom I talked out the conditions of peace with. At least, he didn't look cruel. He won't torture me just for the sake of fun.

　　The voice that replies to the Emperor, though, is everything but old.

　　I turn my head slightly and glance at my side. He appeared all of a sudden, like a shadow in the night. I don't know how long he's been here since I didn't hear his steps.

　　«I humbly receive your praise and rewards, my Emperor,» he mutters. «May I free my bride from her chains, though?»

　　«You may,» the Emperor accepts, ready to pass to another matter.

　　I should complain about this decision, I should shout my indignation. But, I can't move my eyes away from my pledged husband. My throat is clenched in a lump, and I can't open my mouth nor utter any sound.

　　So, he is the Archduke of Kyre.

　　He has always been there, in the last two years of the war, a step behind the leading general. He's been present at every notable event in these months. I wouldn't have paid any attention to him if he didn't always look so calm, as if he knew what was going to happen.

　　I didn't give him any weight during the war, but now I'm starting to understand who he is. The Emperor himself said it in front of the whole court.

　　The Archduke is the one that saw through all my schemes and tactics, ruining our plans and taking away my city from me.

🔖 Chapter 2 - A New Husband
　The Archduke of Kyre is a few years older than me, but he certainly doesn't have my experience in rulership. Yet, he managed to defeat me on my territory.

　　He's a whole head taller, and his eyes shine regardless of the darkness in them. They're pitch-black, but they still reflect the light. I can see my figure in them when he turns to me and smiles assuringly.

　　His hair is also dark, as well as his clothes. He looks like a devil aiming at my soul.

　　He stands next to me as if he's used to dealing with fallen queens. As if he's never done anything else than marrying prisoners and winning wars.

　　There isn't any malice in his smile, but he hasn't any real reason to be resentful. He is the one who won, and he's going to enjoy his reward without worrying too much. This is how things work outside of my Palace walls, I know it.

　　When the guard uncuffs me, I massage my wrists. Red marks cover my skin, but they don't look severe. They will probably fade soon.

　　I'm still confused by this sudden turn of events.

　　Did the Archduke ask to be the one killing me? Or does he just want something to show around as a sign of his victories?

　　Whatever the case, does the Archduke need a wife so badly? Isn't there anyone else willing to marry him, among all those noble ladies?

　　I glance at the crowd, and I discern a range of different emotions among them. Some are shocked, others annoyed or confused. At least, I'm not the only one not understanding what's happening.

　　Regardless, I'm not willing to play along. An Emperor has the power to declare marriages, here in Ethiro. Yet we in Polis value our traditions. If a priest isn't present, this marriage can't be considered valid.

　　I will point this out when the Duke tries to take advantage of me. My words won't stop him, that's for sure, but at least he'll know how immoral his actions are.

　　As if reading my mind, my new husband points with his chin to a spot behind the throne. Right there, a young maiden with painted skin and a long red gown is looking at us with interest. She's analysing my features and the Archduke's actions as if she's observing some children behaving oddly. It's the same way a city dweller stares at the animals of a farm.

　　Red is the colour only the imperial family and the highest priests are allowed to use. That young girl is a priestess, and a high-ranked one, at that.

　　She didn't oppose the announcement, so she implicitly approved of it.

　　I bite my lower lip in a huff. My first idea was thrown in the water even before I had finished forming it.

　　«You can go, now,» the Emperor utters and starts to read a note that arrived a few minutes ago. It must not be that important if the messenger waited for so long before delivering it.

　　The man by my side half kneels, greeting the Emperor by bowing his head like everyone else.

　　If I remember correctly, the etiquette of the Empire states that ladies are required only to curtsey. I could just bend my knees by a few degrees and get it over with, but all this situation is getting on my nerves.

　　I have no intention to follow their rules. No one asked me my opinion, so I don't need to consider myself as one of them.

　　I just wanted to die in peace. Why involve marriage in all of this?

　　The Emperor meets my gaze and smiles gently. I bet he can understand what I'm feeling. I've never needed to show courtesy: it was the rest of the people that revered me.

　　«What are the consequences for refusing to greet the Emperor?» he asks one of his aides. He leans his elbows on the armrest of the throne. Then, he supports his head on a hand.

　　I widen my eyes in outrage. That brat is sitting on the most sacred chair in the Empire, he should keep some decency! Is this how rulers are educated around here? He's disrespecting his subjects, acting like he doesn't care about the symbols they entrusted to him!

　　While my thoughts are wandering as routine, the conversation between the Emperor and his aide continues unbothered.

　　«It's a sign of disrespect, your majesty. If the subject doesn't comply after being ordered, though, it might be considered a challenge or even treason.»

　　«I don't think the Archduchess has any thought of treason. She's been a subject for a few minutes only,» the Emperor points out.

　　Treason? Whom did I swear allegiance to, ah? I can't betray someone I'm not loyal to. Well, at least this will speed up the ex*****on. I can't get out of here alive, or people in Polis will think that the Empire isn't as cruel as we all thought.

　　«I would suggest not to let such behaviour go unpunished, your majesty. It would create a precedent. Still, the Archduchess might not be familiar with our rules.»

　　«Shall I try to understand her?»

　　«Your Majesty will make the best choice,» the aid finishes.

　　He's kept his head low for the whole duration of the chat. I once ordered one of my servants to do so, but it was because he had almost caused an international incident. This guy, though, looks used to it.

　　«Since the Archduchess is now married to the Archduke, she's his responsibility. Am I right?» the Emperor continues.

　　«Yes, your Majesty.»

　　«Then, I'll take away the northern part of his territory. Is that enough?»

　　The aristocrats in the hall wince, and then they look at each other with surprise. I bet the region the Emperor is reclaiming is valuable.

　　What does the Archduke have to do with my disobedience, however? Why is this teenage ruler suddenly seizing his loyal subject's territories?

　　«It will be directly under the Crown's supervision until we find someone willing to take the responsibility,» the youngster continues.

　　«It will be done, your Majesty.»

　　«Also, the Archduke is from now on only a Duke. It will be so as long as the northern territory isn't under his power. It was the reason my uncle was an Archduke in the first place. Only with the northern border, Kyre is an Archduchy.»

　　The Emperor turns to me with a cunning grin.

　　«So, Theodora... Are you continuing your battle?»

　　As if I cared about the territories this Archduke is administering.

　　Still, I bend my knees slightly, without moving my eyes down. It's some kind of compromise.

　　«You can go,» he repeats, and I follow the Archduke out of the hall.

　　Only after the door is closed behind our back, I understand that I'm not going to die. Part of me is angry because my plan failed, but the anger decreases every second that passes.

　　We walk for some time, and I start to feel glad that I'm not dying here and now. My fingers are trembling, so I clench my fists to hide it.

　　I was so ready to go, up to a few minutes before. Yet, now I'm happy to be alive. How unworthy of a Queen.

　　My breath is returning to normal, and I can feel the air filling my lungs after so many days of pressure and expectation.

　　I thought it would be so much worse...

　　Then, I remember that not everything is in place. I'm now married to a man I don't know, and he has power in the palace. I think the Emperor didn't come with the idea by himself, but that he was counselled by a beloved cousin.

　　«Here,» he says, turning around a corner.

　　I follow him silently. He's not looking at me at all. It's strange for someone that had just gained a wife. If he is the one behind this idea, he should glance at me triumphantly from time to time. If he isn't, then he should be staring curiously.

　　Still, he's so impassive that it's bothersome. In the end, I'm the one analysing him.

　　«This wing of the palace is for my use, so you can walk around here freely,» he starts, showing me the hallways.

　　Reaching a window, I can see a large, beautiful garden in full bloom.

　　«I'll show you your chamber tomorrow,» he continues. «For now, just remember how to get here. I'll introduce you to my personal servants. The maids are all from the palace, so be careful around them...»

　　I nod, instinctively. I understand what the Duke is trying to say. I don't need someone to tell me such trivial things.

　　«And these are my chambers,» he finishes opening a door.

　　Behind it, there is a huge waiting room. I can see several doors from here, so I have to follow the Archduke... The Duke. I have to follow the Duke.

　　Only now, I understand that I'm alone with a man whom I caused the loss of a title.
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