[In the Dravenhart Empire]
It's been a year since Emperor Aurelius and the fake Seraphina were married. No one still noticed that she was not the real one. As the months passed by, she got better and better at pretending. The marquess can't sometimes deny their uncanny likeness, especially now.
But that's not the problem! The problem is, it's already been a year, but they still haven't produced an heir. The council was already suggesting to the emperor to take on a concubine if the current empress can't still produce an heir. Especially now that there are ongoing wars.
They do not know what the future holds; if anything were to happen to the Emperor, the seat will be vacant. It might throw the empire into chaos, civil war will break out, foreign countries will be able to easily conquer the empire, and the empire might crumble!
"What the heck have you been doing in the imperial palace? Why aren't you with a child yet? It's been a year since you've been married to the emperor! At this rate, it won't be long before the council decides for the emperor's concubine! And if that concubine produces an heir before you, it will solidify their position. I will be a laughing stock to the aristocrats! You useless wench!" The Marquess yelled at his fake daughter.
Elara Wyntermere, also known as the fake Seraphina, the current empress, was a lady who had an uncanny resemblance to Seraphina. Her silver hair, her eyes, and everything about her were so much like Seraphina that they could pass as twins.
She was found in the slums in the outskirts of the empire by Magnar. She was an orphan. She was so thin when they found her, but they were able to fix her looks and malnutrition within five days, with the help of a mage healer.
"Forgive me, father—" She was cut off by the marquess when he slammed his fist into the table.
"Don't call me father when it's just the three of us. You are not my real daughter. You should know that!" he scolded.
Magnar was just silently standing at the corner, listening to them. He was the sole accomplice of the Marquess. No one knew aside from the 3: the marquess, Elara (the one pretending to be Seraphina), and Magnar the butler. Even the Marchioness was not made aware of this insolent plan to fool the emperor.
Currently, they were at the Marquess' manor, under the guise of visiting her father. It won't be appropriate for the others if they hear that she was being summoned, as she is the empress. She holds a higher power now than the marquess, so they used the excuse that Elara was feeling homesick and would like to visit her once home.
But despite the power in her hands, she couldn't do anything. Since the beginning, she was also an accomplice. And what they're doing could even be considered treason against the emperor and the empire. If she disobeyed the marquess, he could tattle on her to the emperor and could even pin the blame on her.
'Since I am a girl of poor origin, they would definitely take the marquess' side, who is an important figure in the empire, rather than someone who was nothing like me.
"Forgive me, my lord," Elara meekly replied.
"The emperor doesn't visit me at my palace. Even on our first night after the wedding, we didn't consummate the marriage. The emperor—"
"WHAT? YOU USELESS WENCH! WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU STILL HAVEN'T CONSUMATED YOUR MARRIAGE? IT'S ALREADY BEEN A YEAR, AND YOU'RE SAYING NOTHING STILL HAPPENED? WHAT THE HELL WERE YOU EVEN DOING? I SENT YOU THERE WITH A VERY SIMPLE YET CLEAR INSTRUCTION: TO MAKE THE EMPEROR FALL HEAD OVER HEELS FOR YOU SO WE CAN HAVE HIM AT THE PALM OF MY HANDS. AND YET, YOU DARE SAY HE DIDN'T EVEN VISIT YOU?" The marquess was infuriated upon hearing that nothing even happened to them in the span of 1 year.
'No wonder she didn't become pregnant! Such a useless b*tch! I need to teach her a lesson.'
"The emperor was wary of me. I've been trying my best for him to notice me, but no matter what I do, he's always not interested." Elara tried to explain, but the marquess won't listen.
"That's why you have to try harder! Of course he's wary of you! You came from house Sebastienne... MY HOUSE. He's wary of me; what more of you! That's why I told you to find a way to seduce him! Are you stupid, or can you just not comprehend?"
"HAH! What do I expect from a lowlife like you?" he mockingly said.
Elara clenched her fist. She can't stand the marquess' mistreatment, but she can't do anything. She entered this deal on her own accord. There's no one to blame.
But no one can blame her either. To a girl who was living in the slum, with no parents, no home, hardly eating, and barely living, the marquess' offer to her to become his daughter and be the empress was very enticing to anyone who was trying to survive the harsh reality of life.
"I'll give you 3 months, you useless woman. 3 months for you to make the emperor love you. 3 months for you to produce an heir. If you can't do it within 3 months, then you don't have any use anymore. And do you know what I do with useless things? I dispose of them! With no one to see and no one to know, everyone will completely forget about its existence." The marquess walked to Elara, went behind her, and grabbed her hair.
Elara winced at the pain she's currently feeling in her scalp.
"If you don't want to be discarded like a useless thing that you are, prove to me that you're still useful. Or else..." the marquess threatened her.
"Do you understand?"
"Yes, my lord,"
When the marquess was satisfied with her answer, he then turned to Magnar.
"Escort the Empress back to the imperial palace," he instructed him.
He nodded and bowed to the marquess. He looked at Elara and motioned for her to move. Before they could leave, the marquess called out to her again.
"Send my regards to his imperial majesty."
The door was already open, and there were staff passing by, so she had to be careful with her answer.
"Yes, Father!" she replied.
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