Emhyr Var Emreis x Reader

Four

Slight annoyance lit up inside your eyes.

The emperor of Nilfgaard was a man with little morals and an attitude as hard as stone. He, out of all beings in all of the universes, would have been the last to need an ally.

Yet alone would want one.

He was a lone wolf and carried that image to the outside without fail.

Obviously, you had a right to be doubtful about Ciri's request.

However it did spark your interest nonetheless.

"An ally?", you couldn't hide the amusement in your voice.

A sensitive person would have picked it up as mockery.

And maybe it was.

Maybe you did feel like mocking her.

Not a single movement went through the princesse's face.

"I know you made up your mind about the emperor already.", Ciri said in a calm voice. "But he's not the way he presents himself."

Your eyes narrowed.

"Since when are you on his side? You never considered him... your dad.", you tried to spot a hint inside those magically green eyes of hers.

She shook her head.

Strands of her ashy blond hair got loose and danced with every movement she did.

Cirilla used to be a grumpy child with loads of temper and her own will. She had always been rumoured to turn out a complete failure and for a long time the emperor had not missed out on making clear how displeased her was about her development.

You had always been one of the people to say that she'd never be like him.

But now here she was, years later, as calm as him with a face of stone.

Seeing the similarities between the two send shivers down your spine. It almost scared you.

In an unmoved manner, she leaned forward to support herself on her legs and lock eyes with you.

It was unbelievable but she seemed intimidating.

"I was raised by witchers.", Ciri explained while a smirk tugged at the corner of her lips.

You leaned back in an attempt to escape her gaze.

But she was so present that even leaving the room would have been useless.

"I heard about what happened...", one of your hands rose to run through the strands of your (H/C) hair. "But before someone unveiled the truth people rumoured about them taking you."

A gentle sound of amusement escaped her.

"There's a man. His name is Geralt. He made use of the law of surprise."

"And you were the surprise."

"Right."

"So about your father..."

"The emperor.", she interrupted without a single emotion in her words. "My father is Geralt. He raised me. And I love him dearly."

For a moment you had to think about your next words.

It was obvious that Cirilla had little to no relationship to the man who helped call her into existence.

But this witcher that went by the name of Geralt made her sound like a daughter. A daughter she had never been.

You didn't wish to insult her. Yet your curiosity got the better of you.

"I thought witchers don't feel emotions.", you tried to make it sound like a polite question rather than a statement that the entirety of the world knew of.

A deep breath made her nostrils tremble.

"That is a thing.", she admitted. "But that's not what I came here for."

Out of reflex you rolled your eyes and a sound of annoyance escaped your mouth.

Immediately, you wished to take it back but the damage was done. Now you might as well could be all honest.

"Cirilla.", you rose from your seat to put more wood into the fireplace. "I love you like a sister but no matter what you ask me to do there won't be a payment big enough. The emperor is a man as unpleasant as no other. My family knows."

"And so do I.", she interrupted in a tender manner. "But this could be convenient for everyone."

With a slight shake of your head, you curled your nose to suppress another wave of laughter.

"This is a waste of time. Your father-!"

"The emperor."

Even more annoyed by how persistent she was, you pressed your lips into a thin line and had to inhale deeply.

It was sickening how much she insisted on him being the emperor rather than her father. It made it seem like she tried to deny his blood that ran through her veins as well.

This was almost like an insult to you since you never had been able to deny from where you came.

The appearance of your ears and the gift of magic made it more than clear who your parents were.

You hated how she made use of her privilege and just pushed him away as if the emperor of Nilfgaard was nothing but an unimportant spare piece of herself.

"The emperor of Nilfgaard.", you started again. "He doesn't need allies. He picks whoever he wants to have at his side and once they did their deeds he'll drop them again."

"You don't understand."

"I am the only one of us who seems to understand, little snowflake. I've seen him be himself. To his fullest. And trust me, the only being in all the universes that needs an ally less than he does it the devil himself."

Shiny green dug into your eyes.

It felt like her gaze was about to make flesh melt.

Slowly, almost threateningly, she got up and joined you at the fireplace.

Out of caution, you stepped to the side.

She didn't follow.

Instead, her hand reached out to grab the sword she had placed to rest earlier.

"The emperor needs someone to take the throne once he decides his time has come.", Ciri said without giving away a single emotion. "And it needs to be someone he doesn't mistrust."

It scared you to see this motionless mask. It reminded you too much of her father.

You had to swallow hard before being able to answer.

"The emperor mistrust everyone.", you said. "Even his own shadow."

She shook her head.

"He mistrusts the nobles, because they want to see him fall."

"I am noble too. Do not forget that."

"Which gives you a legitimate reason to join him in the palace."

"Under what reason? He mistrusts my family ever since I can remember."

"Mistrust and disliking are two different things. Even to him."