Heirs of the villainess

prologue

The Empress stood before the Emperor with a stony gaze. Both knew that this meeting could only end one way. Behind her, she could hear the sound of the Court, and the noblemen's soft-spoken rumors about her increasing steadily. The Empress could not help to find the situation amusing. Just yesterday they had sung her praise for her hard work in the kingdom. Yesterday she had been dressed in imperial silk, ate the rarest delicacies- she was respected. Yesterday, Augusta Rose Rasastita Salvintia was a goddess. Today, she is nothing more than a criminal in her own nation. And today, Augusta's blood will flood the halls she held dear. 

- The Emperor's Flower chapter 21 page 371,

Augusta had no idea why she suddenly remembered the regnant of the book that she read before her death 20 years ago. She looked at the chains that shone brightly in the court hall. She looked down at herself still dressed in her chemise she had worn to bed the night before, and felt the cold air of the early morning breeze whispering to her.

She became that Empress.

Not like I'm scared to die or anything, well I wouldn't be if it wasn't for -" Lady Rasastita," The emperor's words brought her back to the present. She was no longer laying in her bed reading a book, The world she knew was gone. The reality of a book character had become her own. Augusta met the emperor's cool gaze, there was a hint of pity behind those gold orbs but pity would not save her. It didn't save her family and it sure as hell wouldn't save her. "Do you confess to any of these allegations that are being held against you?"

"Am I allowed to ask what these allegations may be? All of this happened so quickly that no one seemed to have time to tell me what was going on." She kept her voice even and her face calm. The original Empress had been loud and aggressive with her answers, causing her to point blame on herself. She did do all those things though. Augusta sighed to herself and started to form a plan. First, she thought I'll have to gain some time to figure out what the hell is going on. I made sure to steer clear of Lily all week so I would have no connection with her if something happened.

"You know what you have done!" A man said from the crowd.

"How can a person- a lady at that - be so cruel." With the rise of a hand, the Emperor silenced the crowd.

"You have been accused of harming the First Queen in an attempted murder. You have also been traced in aiding your family with the underground human trafficking ring. Lastly, multiple witnesses state that you were formulating a rebellion." As the Emperor listed Augusta's crimes, pieces started to fall in place. Oh, it's them, "I'll ask one more time, Lady Rasastita, do you confess to any of these allegations." Augusta shook her head and turned away from the Emperor to face the crowd.

"When have I ever shown any signs of doing any of those things? Have I not fought alongside you in times of wars, did we not sit together and spend sleepless nights working on improving the nation?" Suddenly no one had the gall to look her in the eyes. "Tell me so that I too may be able to understand. When has my love for this nation not shone through the very essence of my existence? Why do the words of people who refuse to show themselves mean more to you than the action which you have seen for yourself." Turning back to the Emperor she said, "No, your Majesty, I took no part in any of those crimes."

"Are you saying that your accuser has lied before God?

"I don't speak for God nor any other high being, I speak for myself and I know I have done no evil." Her words brought forth an uproar, no one seemed to have anything nice to say about her. Augusta took a deep breath and dropped her head, letting her hair act as a curtain from the outside world. She felt someone's hand rub circles on her arm, through thick braids she could see Lord Shu give her a small smile. His eyes showed that he believed her, he would take her side even after the rest of the world turned away. Augusta's heart ached, she gave a small smile back before lifting her head again. She could not afford to be distracted by her emotions, not right now.