The Emperor's Concubine

Chapter Forty-Six

(Trigger warning: Read at your own discretion.)

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My stomach churns as I fiddle my fingers with anxiousness. A sigh leaving my lips as I can't help but succumb to the worries that go through my mind.

Leaning against my window sill as the fresh breeze helps to calm my overwhelming feelings, I focus on trying to figure out the correct words to say to him—imagining he's standing before me, my heart can't help but beat out of my chest. As the right words to say refuse to come to mind, I groan and shake my head, hoping to rid the nervous feeling jumping around inside of me.

"It's okay... It's okay, once he gets here, I just need to be honest... Just be honest and say what feels right."

Forcing myself to take a deep breath, I place my hand on my chest—my heart rapidly beating as I prepare myself to talk to him.

"Just tell him how you feel..." I whisper in an attempt to encourage myself.


"I never thought that you would have another man in your heart." Suddenly, a cold voice utters from behind.

Freezing at the sharp presence that suddenly appears, my body turns cold with fear as I look at the floor before me—the sunlight outlining the figure of a man.

My breath caught in my throat, a heat beginning to burn in my eyes as tears grow, I slowly turn back to look over my shoulder.

Standing on the window sill, Micheal looks down at me—his stare filled with disgust and rage.

The black fog at his feet begins to seep into my room from the open window. My body trembling as I take slow and cautious steps back from him, my thoughts blank as I face him once more.

Gritting his teeth, Micheal grips the side of the window frame as he moves to step closer to me. Tightening his grip in a fury, the glass windows burst—the shards of glass exploding as they fly through the room.

I forced myself to stand tall, masking the terror that threatened to consume me as I slowly tried to retreat, but the moment the glass shattered—with it, breaks the fragile courage I'd fought so hard to hold onto. A scream escapes my lips as my legs collapse beneath me.

Falling to the ground, I cover myself from the shards that scatter about. My breath quickening as it feels as though my throats closing up, my body trembling as I look back at the man that towers over me.


"My perfect Celeste... You dare follow a path of infidelity?" Micheal questions, his eyes changing into a crazed stare.

Moving to jump off the window sill as his eyes remain coldly focused on me, the second his feet touch the ground, I snap out of the terror induced daze to run to the door.

The instant I turn my back on him, an electrifying shock rushes through my neck—instantly spreading through my body as I lose control over my movements.

Collapsing to the ground, unable to move or make a sound as an excruciating pain incapacitates me, I fight to stay awake yet my vision soon begins to fade. The room grows blurry with the seconds that pass, a loud buzzing ringing in my ears, and a suffocating tightness appears in my throat. Each breath I take strenuous as the paralysis grows stronger.

Beginning to lose consciousness, the doors suddenly burst open as guards rush in. Watching as chaos ensues through the room, the thunderous vibrations of the floor as I watch furniture thrown about—my vision cuts to black.


Feeling as though I'm falling, I open my eyes to see a black abyss around me. Unable to move my body, I stare into the void feeling disorientated. Suddenly, a glimmer of light appears, instantly engulfing me.



Opening my eyes, I find myself standing in the middle of a ballroom with the figures around me moving strangely. People around me dance, yet their movements seem slowed with their faces hidden with shadows that seem to follow them. Unable to see their eyes, all sound appears distorted and slowed as well.

As I break away from my groggy daze, my eyes widen as I realize where I am—the ballroom from the castle of Avris.

Looking around as I fail to recall my last memories, my jaw drops as I look ahead of me.

A young girl stands against the wall, dressed in a dark purple gown with a sheer veil draped over her face. Her hands are folded neatly above her waist, and her head remains bowed as she stares at her feet. Soft blonde hair falls just past her collarbone, and even through the veil, her downcast eyes glimmer with a striking shade of gold.


"It's me?" I whisper, taken aback as I stare at my past self.

My head begins to spin as the music distorts, its tempo accelerating until the melody becomes almost unrecognizable. With it, the forgotten memory claws its way to the surface. It's faint, with only scattered fragments coming to mind, yet I recognize the room crowded with unfamiliar faces.

The distant memory from I was only three years old—the first and only time I had ever been exposed to the public eye.

'Was it a birthday? Or a celebration? Why was I allowed to attend?' I think to myself, trying to remember more details.

Suddenly, I make eye contact to the young girl who raises her head for the first time. Her expression is evidently nervous, yet her eyes stare ahead. Taking a step to the side as I follow her gaze across the ballroom, I spot my father laughing with two nobles whose faces are blurred. A boy who appears to be around seven or ten speaks with them.

As I watch on, a ringing abruptly fills my head. Falling to my knees, I hold my head, struggling to focus on the memory. My eyes glued to the group, I notice a small boy who stands hidden in the shadows of the older boy.

As I watch, a piercing ring erupts inside my head—swallowing every other sound until the world is consumed by a high-pitched whine. My knees hit the floor before I realize they've given out. I clutch my head, fighting to keep the memory from slipping through my fingers as it begins to vanish around me. The faces before me blur and sharpen in uneven pulses, until my gaze catches on something I hadn't noticed before.

A small boy.

Half-hidden in the older boy's shadow, he stands perfectly still, as though the darkness itself is trying to keep him unseen.

His eyes, a deep shade of brown with the faintest crimson tone beneath, remain fixed on the younger version of me. They slowly widen with a quiet recognition before a soft, innocent smile tugs at his lips. Hesitantly, he raises a hand and gives a timid little wave.

As his soft wave makes the memory clear, I recall the moments that happen after. Just before I could wave back—mother appeared.

Watching as mother grabs my younger self by the wrist, I watch as she drags my past self away in a hurry.

It was only one interaction—one moment where someone who wasn't family gave me attention—yet mother and father hid me from then on.

An electrifying shock hits my body, the memory beginning to disappear around me as darkness covers the room.


Feeling as if I've been crushed by a boulder, my limbs begin to tingle as I regain feeling in my fingers and toes, with a burnt-bitter scent of ashes hitting my nose. Fighting through the pain, I summon all my energy to painstakingly open my eyes.

My mind in a daze as the memory of the strange dream lingers, I look around. Finally registering my surroundings, the dream quickly disappearing from my thoughts.

My hands chained above my head from the restraints hung on the beams of the ceiling, my legs begin to ache as I realize I'm on my knees. In an ash-covered room, the building seems to be crumbling. The walls destroyed, the windows broken and cracked with tattered and scorched velvet curtains.

All around me, the walls and floors have traces of burn marks, the furniture blackened by ash—it's clear that a large fire had broken out.

As anxiety and fear washes over me, the room grows more and more familiar as I notice the details beneath the piles of ash. My memories returning, the last thing I recall is Micheal appearing. The broken glass around me, and guards rushing into my room just before I lost consciousness.


"Finally awake?" A calm voice speaks.

My hands grow cold with a slight tremble in my fingers, cautiously turning my head, I look to see Micheal getting up from the tattered bed.

"W-What do you want from me?" I summon my courage to ask, watching as he steps closer.
"Celeste, even you should know that a wedding can't be held without the bride." Micheal chuckles, squatting down in front of me with a cold expression in his eyes.

Looking at his body closely, my eyes widen.

It's undeniable that he sustained major injuries from fighting Hayden, yet he stands before me with zero injuries or bruises—not even a scratch.

"How... How are you healed?" I stammer, clearly seeing his eye being cut by an arrow.
"Curious?" Micheal smiles, tilting his head.

Summoning a dagger out of the black fog, he raises his arm before my eyes. Using the blade, he makes a deep cut into his arm—from the base of his wrist up to his elbow. Thick black blood soon trickles out the cut as it pools onto the ground.

Muttering a quiet incantation, a soft green light blooms from his hand, its glow reflected in his eyes until they shine with an eerie neon green. With a gentle sweep of his hand over the wound, the bleeding ceases. Before my eyes, the cut knits itself back together, leaving no trace behind—as though it had never existed.

Multiple questions rush through my mind, unable to focus on which one to ask—I can only look back in horror.

"W-Why? How? W-What just happened?" I stammer.
"Impressed?" He smiles.
"Y-You... You never had this power when we were kids... How do you have it now?" I question, staring at the blood on the ground and back at his healed arm.

His piercing green eyes lock onto mine, unwavering. The moment our gazes meet, the realization crashes over me.

I'm looking at a stranger.

The brother I once knew is gone. Whatever or whoever stands before me wears his face, but it's someone else entirely—a far different person than the boy I grew up with.

"I did what was right." He replies.
"And what was that? Did you hide your powers when we were growing up?" I question, holding back the tears that well up in my eyes.
"Dear Celeste, if I had such power growing up, you would never have escaped from me so easily."

The blood drains from my face as his words tighten their grip around my fear. A faint smile crosses Michael's face as he slowly raises a hand to my cheek. Terror roots me in place. Unable to move, I squeeze my eyes shut, forcing myself to endure the nauseating warmth of his touch.

"Just as mother and father taught us, you should understand that I did what I had to." I look back at him as a pleased smile forms on his lips, his eyes lifeless with almost no emotion.
"What you had to do?" I repeat, my voice cracking as my throat becomes dry, "Just what did you do?"
"I traded my soul for immense power. Just as that emperor did, I easily did the same. Now nothing can ever get in our way, I'll always be able to keep you with me."
"B-But why?" I question, my stomach churning as his fingers brush my hair back, "Why would you ever go through such lengths?"
"Celeste... You're my bride. I need this power. I need to make sure everything that I want, is mine. You can never leave my side, I'll never let you leave my side ever again. I want the bride I was destined to be with. Father isn't here to disrupt us again, and I won't let anyone disrupt us from our duties as man and wife."

The feeling that churns in my stomach becomes unbearable as I listen to Micheal speak. Unable to stand his touch any longer, I turn away unconsciously—escaping from his touch.

My eyes widen as I realize what I've done. I quickly look back at him, my heart sinking as I watch the faint smile on his lips disappear, his hand frozen in place.

"Celestia Avri." His voice is almost gentle, "Your future husband wishes to touch you. It is only natural... it's what I desire."

His lips curl into a smile, but it never reaches his eyes. Beneath the feigned warmth lies something cold—something deeply unsettling.

"Your husband wishes to touch you." He tilts his head, studying my expression. "Celestia Avri... don't you remember what Mother and Father taught you?"
"I-I remember..." I stammer, looking at the ground.
"Then come here." Micheal speaks short of patience, his unblinking eyes focused on my every movement.

Holding out his hand, suggesting that he wants me to place my cheek in his palm, my body begins to tremble uncontrollably as I shut my eyes.

Questioning if I can bear his nauseating touch—if I can swallow my values and pride—and do as he commands, the sudden memory of Cabel's warm touch comes to mind.

His gentle touch never commanding or forceful, the emperor had only ever touched me in a gentle way as if I was precious. Every touch of his always had restraint as if he was afraid to disrespect or scare me.

Unable to pretend, I can only focus on how disgusting my cheek feels from being touched by Micheal's hand.

"N-No." I speak in a hesitant whisper.

Tilting his head, Micheal looks back at me for a moment of silence.

"What did you say?" He questions, his voice sharp as he holds his fury back.
"I said no... I don't want you touching me." I speak, meeting his eyes with a glare.

Micheal begins to chuckle, soon manically cackling as he looks at the ground.

"Celestia Avri, we are going to be married. You will be my wife, so you should be pleasing your husband. You should listen to your husband well because you will carry our child, and we'll bring our kingdom to glory once again."
"No." I raise my voice.
"Again... Again you're going against your husband's desire." Micheal's expression drops, a cold-angered look in his eyes.
"The kingdom? What kingdom." I speak up as I meet his eyes with a glare.

A bitter chuckle escapes my lips, born more of exhaustion than amusement as I grow tired of listening to his delusions.

"There are no citizens," I coldly say, "No wealth. No power. This kingdom fell and the only thing left of its glory is the memory of the rulers who brought it to ruin."
"Celeste... This kingdom is ours to rule, and we will bring it back. Our marriage will bring its glory back."
"Its glory? What glory could there be with this cursed land? How poor the land is now? How ruined the castle is—or how much of a joke it's become? A marriage isn't a grand wish. It's a testimony to love one another, not a magical spell that'll bring this land back to what it was, it can't reverse time, and it won't revive our parents!" I shout, frustrated from his lack of thought.
"It fell because you couldn't behave!" He snaps, "This is divine punishment... We must marry to reverse it."
"It's a punishment because of the terrible things mother and father were doing! Our marriage will never undo that! A marriage is a sacred commitment for those in love, and I'd rather burn than to be forced into a marriage with you."
"That's enough!" Micheal shouts, his hand bursting forward to grip my throat, "We are in love! We were born together, we shared mother's womb. You and I were born to love each other!"

Struggling to breathe, he pulls my face close to his.

"The gods are angry. You were born to marry me, yet you couldn't obey." Enunciating each word, rage grows within his eyes, "Our parents died because you couldn't obey. The moment we become husband and wife and do what's necessary, the gods will restore all that we lost."

Suddenly taking his other hand to graze my thigh, I shudder from disgust as he begins to glide to rest it against my lower abdomen.

"You are mine. This is where my seed will go, and this is where our child will be carried." He speaks, his eyes crazily staring back into mine, "We must fulfill our duty as husband and wife to appease the gods."

My eyes sting as tears begin to blur my vision, terror swelling until I can barely breathe. Every brush of his hand fills me with such disgust that, for a fleeting moment—even death feels kinder.

"We're siblings Micheal! Father and mother are dead! They're gone, they'll never come back! So why are you pursuing their disgusting ideals? Why are you doing so much to practice the lessons of those that have died!" I shout, trying to squirm to get away from him.
"Enough." He mutters, tightening his grip.
"They're dead! Why are you continuing, why can't you wake up and realize that this is not love, it's a sickening delusional nightmare!"
"This is love, Celeste!" Micheal shouts, forcing me to look back at him, "You don't have a choice, this is our destiny!"
"No it's not! I dealt with being beat because the thought of having such a future with you, disgusts me! I wanted to run away, I wanted to kill myself, I wanted to die because I didn't want you to ever lay a hand on me again, so what makes you think this is a destiny I'll follow?" I scream, tears running down my cheeks.

Suddenly, his grip on my throat tightens, making it impossible to breathe. I struggle, trying to get away from him. My wrists roughly scrape against the metal chains as I tense up, attempting to free my hands.

"Celeste... Your love, your body is meant only for me. How could you forget everything you were taught?... Did that bastard emperor ruin you?" He questions in a manic tone, his fingers digging into my throat, "I'll teach you again Celeste. I'll teach you that you can only love me in this life and the next."

Just before losing consciousness, his grip releases my throat.


Instantly, I cough, gasping for air. Watching me regain focus, Micheal simply stands.

"We'll marry before sunrise. Cleanse your mind while I'm still being kind. If you disappoint me, I'll make it so you'll never talk back to your husband." Micheal sharply speaks, turning to leave the room.

Slamming the door behind him, I sit in the silence for a moment as my head grows dizzy from the terrifying nightmare I'm stuck in. My body cold from his expression, suddenly I lean forward—vomiting from the revolting touch of his that lingers.

Slumped over as I gasp and cough, saliva fills my mouth as the sensation to throw up lingers. Helpless as I try to slide my hands through the cuffs, a heavy weight falls on my shoulders.

"Cabel... Please help me." I whisper as tears begin to fall down my cheeks—despair swallowing me whole as I worry about Micheal's return.