The Emperor's Concubine

Chapter Three

My head against the cold stone floor, all my energy gone as I await my inevitable death approaching—suddenly, the shackles vibrate.

Through my groggy-exhausted state, the rattling of the chains causes me to awaken. My body too heavy and numb to even move a muscle, only my hearing returns. The sounds of shouting from the other side of the door, followed hastily by a loud pounding against the metal door that booms through the room.

'Is it Micheal?'
I briefly think for a moment, my heartbeat pounding loudly with each rhythmic bang of the door.
'Please leave me alone... Please don't hurt me.'

A loud crash hits the ground causing a breeze of wind to blast through the room.
Gathering all the strength I have left, I force open my eyes. Questioning why I would want to be awake if he's returned to sully my body, my anxious thoughts are soon silenced.
Through my blurred vision, I'm faced by knights dressed in beige uniforms with a distinctive crest on their capes that I can't discern. The color of their uniforms are far different than the Avris guards, I can only question who the group of knights are—and if they've come with vulgar intentions.

My agonizing headache returns as questions rush through my mind, yet the pain soon silences as a tall man with shining dark-blue hair approaches me.
He kneels at my side, a gentle fresh scent wafting from him. Trying to catch a glimpse of the man's face, he gently places his fingers against my neck. His mouth moves, seeming to be speaking to me, yet I'm unable to understand his words as a ringing echoes in my ears.
My head pounding intensely and all my energy exhausted, I close my eyes falling back into unconsciousness.

My body jostled, I wake up briefly once realizing I'm in someone's arms.
Opening my eyes to see I'm being carried through the castle, I can barely react from the overwhelming scene—everything in sight, all drenched in the color red. Blood on the walls, furniture, paintings, and covering the steps of the stairs.
In the front of the castle, the courtyard is set ablaze as knights light a large fire and begin to throw deceased bodies in—a sour bitter scent surrounds the area. The clearest and most vivid sight of all—King Weslium and Queen Leveanne's bodies hung on the gates.

Losing consciousness, I succumb to the nightmares that haunt me. Micheal's voice repeating in my mind, the gazes and unsolicited touch from the guards, and suddenly the horrific sight of the deceased queen appearing before me with her bloodshot eyes and her throat sliced—her hands quickly reach out to grab me.

I gasp, my body jolting to sit up as I force open my eyes to a room brightly lit from the sunset. My body breaking into a cold sweat as the image of Queen Leveanne lingers in my mind, I stare at the walls that are tinted from the sunset's beautiful colors of red-orange hues.
My confusion grows, realizing I'm no longer in the cell, but in a bright cream room adorned with brilliant gold accents. Noticing how warm and soft the bed is, my breath is taken as I look at the radiant view outside the large windows.

Wincing as my back and legs ache, I try to remove the plush duvet off of me, but pause—realizing the cuffs that once heavily weighed on my wrists, are now replaced with tightly bound bandages.

"My lady, please don't move!"

I jump at the sound of the frantic voice.
Looking towards the door, a man in a pristine pressed suit rushes up to me. Appearing to be in his twenties, his platinum grey hair neatly swept back, he quickly sets down a tray carrying gauze and towels.
Gently taking my hand with his gloved one, he adjusts the pillows before helping me lay back down. 

"W-Who are you?" I stammer, flinching as his hand touches my back.
"Forgive me for frightening you. My name is Lance, I'm the personal butler for his imperial majesty." He bows with his right hand on his heart.
"Imperial majesty?" I whisper, my head spinning as I register his words and the luxurious room I sit in, "A-Am I in the Cypheler Empire?"

Lance pauses, remaining silent for a moment as he gives a simple nod.

"Yes. I would ask for your name, but ladies taken into his majesty's harem are given new names..."

Taken aback by his words, I lightly scoff in disbelief.

"His harem?... So, just like pets, he names us?" I glance around the room, realizing the only reason I'd be here—is that my kingdom has fallen.
"I don't believe his majesty has thought of it in such a way." An airy-awkward chuckle escapes Lance's throat, "Your parents were executed for their involvement in crimes towards the empire, but his majesty spared your life by welcoming you into his harem instead... He's given notice and has named you Celeste."

My stomach drops as I look back at Lance's small smile as he speaks that name.
Memories of my parents return, the sound of the name instantly causing a wave of fear to hit me—each injury I've ever endured seeming to ache at once—recalling King Weslium's sinister grin as he spoke my name.

"N-No... Not Celeste." I weakly speak, feeling the king's hands wrap around my throat once more.
"Pardon? I'm afraid your name was given by his majesty himself-"
"I-I apologize, but that was my name in my kingdom... I doubt his majesty has heard of me, but I'm Celestia Avri... I'll understand if his majesty refuses to change my name, but a name that came out of my father and mother's lips to address me, is something I can no longer bear to hear."

Lance looks back at me bewildered from my words.
Unable to help but flinch as he raises his hand, to cover his mouth as he ponders for a moment, I shut my eyes—wondering if he'll hit me for speaking out.

"I understand..." Lance breaks the silence with a gentle tone, before cautiously taking a step back from the bed, "I shall inform his majesty, but until he writes back, may I ask what to call you by?"

The cold fear disappears almost instantly. Lance's kind-understanding expression resembling Sylvan's loving care for me, my eyes begin to tear up as I force a small smile to his patient gaze.

For a moment, I gaze out the window as different names run through my mind. Entranced by the sunset and distant stars that begin to appear in the darkening sky, a name begins to resonate loudly to me.

"Luna... Please just call me Luna for now." I whisper, the name feeling comfortable as it rolls off my tongue.

Giving a gentle nod, Lance flashes a comforting smile.

"It's a very beautiful name, Lady Luna... Upon your arrival, we've had doctors come to check your health. Until your injuries heal and your strength returns, you must remain in bed."
"How long have I been asleep for?" I ask.
"Four days. Luckily, the doctor said you were healing at an incredibly fantastic rate. Some of your cuts have healed, so we shouldn't be too worried. Though, since you were malnourished, to help your digestion return to normal, we were instructed to slowly give small amounts of food based on how long you've gone without food or beverages. Is there any chance that you remember?"
"What day is it?"
"Tonight is the 235th day of the year's cycle."

I close my eyes, calculating how many days it's been. The bittersweet feeling hits me as I relax into the pillows, slightly shocked.

"I was locked away on my birthday, the 209th day... It's been twenty-six days." I whisper, taken aback by how long I survived.

An awkward silence falls between us as Lance quietly looks back at me—his eyes full of sadness and pain as he takes in my reply.

"Nevertheless, I'm still alive, right?" I feign a smile, ignoring Lance's pitying expression.
"Yes, Lady Luna... Ahem, well, once you grow healthier, shall I bring you on a tour and introduce you to the other residents?"
"Residents?"
"Yes, this is the golden palace. It used to be where the previous king's children lived in, but now it's used to house his majesty's harem. Would you like to meet them?"
"I-I'll have to think about it." I stammer, afraid of meeting new people after being isolated for so long, "You said this was the palace for the king's children?"
"Yes, my lady."
"So, Emperor Cabel had siblings?" I ask, curious about Lance's words.
"Yes, he did."
"He had siblings?"
"Yes, my lady." Lance looks dubiously as he responds.
"I've learned about this kingdom as a child... I know his majesty had an older brother, but are you insinuating that his majesty had more than one sibling?"

Lance's eyes widen, taken aback.

"N-No my lady, I did not mean it that way -"
"I was only curious. Be rest assured, even if I knew the truth there's no one I could speak to or want to speak to about this." I smile, watching Lance grow composed again.
"Thank you, my lady... It's true that his majesty had an older brother, but he had a younger sibling who passed away at a very young age. The only members who know about this secret, aside from yourself now, are two noble families. So, I'll be grateful if you kept this a secret."
"Of course."
"Thank you, Lady Luna. Shall I bring you a refreshment? The doctor created a medicinal tea blend that'll be beneficial for your health." Lance smiles, breathing a sigh of relief.
"Yes, that sounds wonderful. Thank you." I smile.

Lance bows lightly before leaving the room.

A sigh escapes my lips once left alone. Relaxing my muscles, I lie my head back as my ribs begin to ache. Holding my side carefully, I slowly breathe out.
Staring at my hands—my wrists and body bandaged from the injuries—I gaze at my palm, remembering the powerful gust of wind that saved me in that moment.

"What exactly is a witch?" I whisper, recalling the king's terror, "It's not like it matters now."

Dropping my arms to my sides, my eyes glaze over the intricate details and luxurious decorations in the room. A sigh escaping my lips as I close my eyes, a headache growing as I process the new life I've woken up to.