Her fantasy of taking Valentin's hand while they walk towards the platform for the people to see was crushed so bitterly.
What first queen?
What second queen?
She trembled as the brewing rage in her heart was already too much for her to keep. All she wanted right now was to protest and ask Valentin,
'Why do you have to do this? Can't you just accept me?'
Just as she was about to rush forward to vent her rage and frustration, she felt a strong hand stopping her from causing trouble. It was her dear brother Maxim who was looking at her with stern and angry eyes.
"Hold yourself together Carolina, remember you are the empress. It will take time for you to get what you truly want. But now you have the power.. As the empress!" He told her silently, so that only the two of them could hear it.
But these words were as loud as the thunder to Carolina's ears. 'Yes, I am an empress! No matter how many queens he would take, I will be superior!'
Her amethyst eyes that were filled with rage before had now glowed like the springtime. Convincing herself that one day Valentin will look at her not with a hostile eyes, but with love and tenderness, her heart bloomed sweetly like the Heliotropes.
But soon, the nobles and the people knew the impact of Emperor Valentin's move to get three spouses.
Soon a group of elderly looking people appeared, announcing the rules of the Imperial Family. What they had announced sparked a wild reaction and praises to the whole capital.
Who would have known that the Seirende Imperial Family had a rule: To get one and only one spouse throughout their lives.
This is to ensure harmony and unity within the Seirende Family.
There was an exception to the rule, however, but it comes with a peculiar condition. Should the Emperor need to take on multiple spouses, he shall not let any one of the wives be bestowed with greater power as the other.
In short, for any political decision made by one of the spouses, it has to be vetted by the rest of the harem. Ranking was merely an empty title, with no other meaning but the prestige of the tiara they would be wearing.
"Damn!" Maxim cursed as he hit the table in his frustration. Looking at her sister who was disappointed and aggrieved in his study, he couldn't help but curse the now Emperor.
"What a great move Valentin.. Hahaha!" He sarcastically uttered as he frustratingly clenched his fist in anger.
There was only one meaning of him announcing the three spouses and the truth behind their roles. It was to declare that he saw right through their ploys. He was declaring that no matter what they do, the balance will be maintained within the palace.
The Vesala Faction, the Astaze Faction, and who knows if the neutral nobles and commoners would support the Second Queen? It was a complete equilibrium!
"No, I won't let this end like this!" Maxim declared with unwillingness, he looked at his sister with pity.
With things going this way, her sister will only be walking her way to become a useless empress whom the Emperor doesn't favor!
He wouldn't let her sister live like that!
Also, they needed to install their bloodline in the Seirende Family. This will be crucial in order to take the throne solidly.
"We will use any means." Maxim slowly walked towards his downcast sister, patted her head while saying in a gentle yet dangerous manner, "Even if it means drugging the emperor himself."
Carolina's body froze, "Is there really no way to do this?" She uttered unwillingly.
"For now, there is no other way. But when you birth him a son, you would have to have leverage among the other queens." Maxim replied.
She didn't reply for a long while, she battled her inner self before finally replying with resolve, "Then we have no choice…However, I will make it so that the two queens would suffer most in my victory!"
Thus, came the wedding night of the Emperor, marrying his three spouses. After sharing a toast to the three spouses and receiving congratulatory messages from the guests and officials, the Emperor ended the night early.
He completely ignored the empress and the first queen, directly going to the chambers for his beloved the second queen.
However, just before he stepped inside the chambers, his vision darkened so bad and fell unconscious. When he woke up, he was already lying in the empress chambers. The chamber exuded an amorous feeling until he saw two figures bounded strongly in a corner.
It was her beloved Tehila and the first queen, Lucia.
Their mouths covered with cloth, their hands and feet were harshly bound by chains. Their eyes filled with tears as fear crept over their whole being.
Emperor Valentin jolted his body to rescue the two, but before he could do so, something activated on his body. He spat a mouthful of blood, something was attacking his body in every nook and cranny, tearing every tissue his body had.
It was an unbearable pain, however he didn't let out a whimper, not even a little.
The two women's eyes showed worry as they could just see his body twitch in pain, he vomited a large amount of blood and dark purple veins appeared all over his body as he was feeling an unbearable urge to release the rising fire within him.
Carolina amorously appeared in the midst of this chaos with a light chuckle, "You will die if you don't let your fire out.." She declared as she gently caressed Emperor Valentin's forehead, wet with cold sweats.
Then she looked delightfully towards the two women and explained,
"See, our husband has to take out the flame inside his body or else he will die.. But it seems like you are not available right now eh…"
She traced the dark purple veins on Valentin's body with her slender fingers while looking mockingly towards the two women.
"But you see, on every decision we take we have to vote right? So we must vote now!" She then released her sinister aura as she stepped nearer against the two trembling women.
She took away the covering on Lucia's mouth. "First queen, what do you think? Will you let the Emperor die and make us all widows?"
Lucia looked towards the Emperor then Tehila, she didn't know what to say. However she knew that the Emperor cannot die today.
"L-let him live.." She said with unwillingness, biting her lip until it bled.
"Ohh, fitting to be chosen as one of the Emperor's spouses! Truly wise and noble, First Queen Lucia!" Carolina clapped her hands sarcastically.
With an eerie smile, Carolina turned her head towards her true love rival, Tehila. "Oh, isn't this the Emperor's true love? Look at your beloved, he is dying from restraining himself from the fire."
She forcefully took out Tehila's covering, "Tell me, what would be your decision.."
"I-" Tehila was about to say something when she was interrupted by the struggling voice of the Emperor,
"Don't.. I... won't break her heart.." He said while doing his best by circulating his mana to quell the unbearable flame in his body.
"Ohh.. What pure love is this? Truly envious isn't it?" Carolina replied with her hands clenching tight in brewing anger.
"However, he will die and we will be all widows. The people will also be led astray. Who knows who the next emperor would be? For sure it will come from the our husband's distant relatives. Will they carry on righteously like the main family?"
Tehila cried as she felt so small and helpless.
Her beloved was dying, but he still thought of her until the end. Her beloved Valentin, loved her and the people dearly, she knew of that fact more than any other. But now she had the power to choose, who will Valentin let go.
"Let him live please.." She said as she could gradually see Valentin's breathing became harsher and harder. Finally, he lost consciousness.
She prepared her heart as she knew that after this night, it will never be the same for the two of them, ever again. At this point, she knew Carolina's purpose, to torment her by letting her witness this heartbreaking scene.
"Ohhh, indeed worthy of your title as the Emperor's beloved! So selfless and pure!" Carolina said triumphantly.
"But you have to witness everything, so that you wouldn't blame me for the outcome!" She said as she took a light purple crystal bottle and poured it out to her body.
As soon as she went near the unconscious Valentin, his body reacted and he acted like a vicious beast. His pupils were no longer shining in blue as he became a soulless puppet out to only release the tormenting heat.
He ravaged Carolina's body. Tehila and Lucia saw everything and they trembled wildly in fear and disgust towards Carolina's scheme. However, they could see that on the way the Emperor was taking Carolina, it was rough and not gentle at all.
Carolina's face became pale as she was violently taken by the crazed Valentin. She shut her eyes as she hoped that the heat from Valentin would go away. With grievance in her heart, she dreamt that her wedding night with Valentin was filled with love and pleasure.
But all she could feel right now is pain. However, Valentin didn't stop. He acted like a beast in heat until Carolina fainted in pain and exhaustion.
Seeing the unconscious body of Carolina, the vicious Valentin flicked her body away from the bed. He roamed his eyes and it settled on Queen Lucia, who was positioned more visibly than Tehila.
Effortlessly freeing Lucia from her bounds, he did the same thing with her, until she also fainted out of humiliation, pain and exhaustion.
His eyes roamed around again, finally seeing the bounded Tehila. Dragging her body to the bed, the vicious Valentin was about to take her too. However..
He saw Queen Tehila's heartbroken face.
His body froze. His subconsciousness instinctively wiped her tear stricken face. His soulless pupil was slowly filled with color as he started to realize what kind of atrocities he just did.
His heart broken in countless pieces.
"Ahh, My Tehila… What have I done to you!!"
He weakly uttered as he looked at her in tears, full of guilt, until he fell on top of her body strengthless.
The next morning, the empire was in uproar as the Emperor fell into a coma after an assasination attempt.
He didn't wake up for months as there was too much damage in every part of his body. When he finally woke up, he immediately got up to work on punishing Carolina, however, he couldn't do so because...
He had gotten both Carolina and Lucia pregnant.
As for him and his beloved Tehila, only time was able to heal their wounded hearts until they were able to face each other again...
--
Thinking about the past, Carolina held her hands together with anticipation. The sufferings and humiliation she experienced, they will all be compensated!
That will be when Kazimir, her son, gets the favor of the holy mage in the oracle and fights for the throne!
"I have waited a long time! This time, we will win!"
