I'm Emperor's Fake Daughter
Forgiveness is overrated
The cold air of the dungeon clung to her skin as Liana sat on the stone floor, chains binding her wrists. She didn’t weep or beg. She sat in silence,
Just then the sound of approaching footsteps echoed through the corridor.
Liana Ardin/ FL
*Her lips curled into a faint smirk* Finally, the heroine arrives.
The door creaked open, and Althea, dressed in a pristine white gown, stepped inside.
? ? ? ?
*Tears streamed down her face as she clutched the cell bars* Liana... sister. Please. Please ask for forgiveness. Father might spare you if you repent.
Liana tilted her head, her expression unreadable at first. Then, a soft chuckle escaped her lips, growing louder until it echoed in the small, suffocating cell.
Liana Ardin/ FL
FORGIVENESS? *she said, her voice laced with mockery* Do you think forgiveness would change anything, Althea?
Liana Ardin/ FL
*she stood, the chains rattling with every movement* Let me remind you, sister, I was invisible long before you arrived. Ignored. Forgotten.
Althea Venyor/OG Princess
*her tears fell faster* I don’t understand! Why won’t you try? Why are you acting like this?
Althea Venyor/OG Princess
Liana Ardin/ FL
Acting? *she stepped closer to the bars, her chains scraping against the floor. Oh, Althea, this isn’t an act. This is survival.
Liana Ardin/ FL
You wouldn’t understand because you received loved the momen you arrived and I craved for that love in shadows.
Liana Ardin/ FL
Forgiveness is for people with choices. I didn’t have any.
Althea Venyor/OG Princess
*sobbing* I never wanted this—
Liana Ardin/ FL
*cutting her off* But you have it *a vicious grin spreading across her face* The crown. The emperor’s love. The perfect fairytale.
Liana Ardin/ FL
Every fairytale needs a villainess, doesn’t it? Congratulations, Althea. You got me.
Liana was dragged through the palace corridors, the chains biting into her wrists as guards hauled her forward. The sunlight blinded her as they stepped onto the execution platform, but she kept her head high. She refused to look defeated.
The crowd roared with excitement, their bloodlust palpable.
THE IMPOSTER! they chanted, spitting venom with every word
Liana’s gaze swept across the sea of faces until it landed on the emperor, Kaelion. He sat on his gilded throne, his expression as cold and unyielding.
Liana Ardin/ FL
*She stopped walking. Turning to face him, she called out, her voice cutting through the crowd’s noise*
Liana Ardin/ FL
*The word felt foreign on her tongue, bitter and raw* FATHER!
Liana Ardin/ FL
Did you ever loved me? Even once?
Kaelion’s icy gaze met hers. For a moment, the crowd fell silent, waiting for his answer.
Kaelion Venyor/Emperor
*he repeated* LOVE YOU?
Kaelion Venyor/Emperor
*then continued* I couldn’t even look at you without being reminded of what I lost ❄️❄️
Liana’s breath hitched, the words cutting deeper than she anticipated. But instead of breaking, she let out a sharp, bitter laugh that silenced even the most vicious hecklers in the crowd.
Liana Ardin/ FL
*she said, her voice dripping with venom* You couldn’t look at me? Oh, how convenient.
Liana Ardin/ FL
So you let me play the role of your forgotten doll, ignored and discarded, while I carried the weight of your grief. What a kind, loving father you were.
Kaelion Venyor/Emperor
*his expression didn’t change, but his eyes darkened, and he motioned to the executioner*
Kaelion Venyor/Emperor
She talks too much, Start the execution ❄️❄️
Liana was forced to her knees as the executioner stepped forward, his blade gleaming in the sunlight. She lifted her face to the sky
Liana Ardin/ FL
*Her voice trembling as she whispered to herself* I did all of this for survival. Every choice, every sacrifice... just to stay alive. But who could ever understand that?
Liana Ardin/ FL
*A tear slipped down her cheek as her lips quirked into a faint smile* I still don’t want to die... but I suppose this is what fate looks like.
As the executioner raised his blade, Liana closed her eyes. Her defiance, her bitterness, her pain—all of it etched into the memory of the crowd as the girl who refused to bow.
A small girl bolted upright, gasping for breath. Her tiny hands clutched at the blanket as her chest heaved.
Liana [Venyor] Ardin/ Fl
NO!!!! *huffing*
Celina Venyor/ Empress
*Her mother’s soft voice broke through the haze of panic*
Celina Venyor/ Empress
Lia, baby, are you okay?
Liana [Venyor] Ardin/ Fl
*her voice trembling* Lia had a horrible nightmare
Celina Venyor/ Empress
*she sat beside her, stroking her hair* It was just a dream, sweetheart. You're safe.
Lia nodded, but her mind lingered on the vivid images. Could she really have been that person in the dream? The coldness, the despair—it felt too real. But then she glanced at her mother’s loving face and shook her head.
Liana [Venyor] Ardin/ Fl
*she whispered to herself* How could I be fake? Mama loves me, and Dada will be here in a few days. What a ridiculous dream.
Cruel Fate
Liana [Venyor] Ardin/ Fl
*sitting on the plush carpet, surrounded by her dolls*
Liana [Venyor] Ardin/ Fl
Mama, why does Dada never come home? Doesn’t he love us?
Celina Venyor/ Empress
*pausing as she braids Liana’s hair, her fingers trembling slightly*
Celina Venyor/ Empress
Your father loves you very much, Lia. He’s been searching for something very important. Something that will make me better.
Liana [Venyor] Ardin/ Fl
*titling her head in confusion* Are you sick Mama?
Celina Venyor/ Empress
*forcing a smile, brushing a strand of Liana’s hair behind her ear*
Celina Venyor/ Empress
Just a little. But your Dada is the bravest man in the empire. He’s looking for a special medicine to help me.
Liana [Venyor] Ardin/ Fl
*frowning, clutching her doll tightly*
Liana [Venyor] Ardin/ Fl
*pouty* Then why doesn’t he come to play tea party with us? You’re already the best, Mama. I don’t want a silly medicine!
Celina Venyor/ Empress
*chuckling softly* Oh, my little star, your father wishes he could be here every day. He’s working so hard so that we can all be together. Someday, you’ll understand.
Liana [Venyor] Ardin/ Fl
*snuggling against her mother, her voice small* Will you always be here with me, Mama?
Celina Venyor/ Empress
*kissing the top of her head, her voice warm but bittersweet*
Always, my darling. Forever and ever
The two spent the afternoon lost in their own little world, hosting imaginary tea parties and dressing up dolls. For Celina, those moments were a refuge, a fleeting escape from the reality.
Kaelion stood in the grand hall, his armor still dusted with the remnants of his latest campaign.
The empire’s newly crowned emperor had not yet shed the weight of his crown, and his burdens were only growing heavier.
He glanced down at the child running toward him—his daughter, Liana.
Her laughter echoed, cutting through the grim silence that seemed to follow him wherever he went. She was holding something in her tiny hands, her face glowing with excitement.
Liana [Venyor] Ardin/ Fl
*running down the palace corridor, holding a colorful drawing* Dada ! Dada! Look what I made!
Kaelion Venyor/Emperor
*turning, his armor glinting in the sunlight as he kneels to her level* What is it, little one?
Liana [Venyor] Ardin/ Fl
*proudly holding up the paper* It’s you, me, and Mama! See? We’re all happy together!
Kaelion Venyor/Emperor
*studying the drawing, a flicker of warmth crossing his stern features* It’s beautiful, Liana. Just like you.
He knelt, placing a hand on her head. She grinned, leaning into his touch, and for a brief moment, Kaelion felt the weight on his shoulders ease. But the moment was fleeting
Liana [Venyor] Ardin/ Fl
*grinning, tugging on his sleeve*
Can we play now? Mama says—
It seemed like he might stay longer, but the moment passed as quickly as it came. He handed the drawing to one of his attendants and rose
Victor Frost/ Butler
*approaching hurriedly* Your Majesty, the scouts have found a lead on the elixir. We must leave immediately.
Kaelion Venyor/Emperor
*sighing, standing abruptly* Liana, be good for your mother. I’ll be back soon.
The empress’s illness was worsening. Every healer he had summoned, every potion he had commissioned, every whispered prayer—none of it had made a difference.
Liana [Venyor] Ardin/ Fl
*watching him walk away, her small voice barely audible*
But... you just got here.
He turned and walked away, his steps heavy with unspoken words. His advisors were waiting, the search for a cure pressing.
The palace felt like a tomb, its halls eerily silent. Liana, now ten, sat at her desk, her journal open before her.
The nightmares had grown more vivid, their images etched in her mind like scars. The girl in shackles, the cold stare of the emperor, and the jeering crowds—they felt more like memories than dreams.
She closed the journal, pressing it against her chest. Rising, she walked to the window, the weight of her thoughts pressing down on her.
Liana [Venyor] Ardin/ Fl
*softly, to herself, her voice trembling but resolute* Today is the day... Mother will die. Not from illness... but from a blade in the dark.
Her breath hitched as her fingers gripped the windowsill. The whispers in the palace, the sudden increase in guards, and the hushed urgency in the servants’ voices all pointed to something terrible
Liana [Venyor] Ardin/ Fl
Why must fate be so cruel?
Night of Assassin
Kaelion stood by the palace gates, his expression as hard he prepared to leave for the mountains. The elixir of life—a rumored cure for Celina’s illness—awaited him at the summit.
Just as he was about to mount his horse, a small, desperate voice pierced the chilly morning air.
Liana [Venyor] Ardin/ Fl
*shouting* Father! Please, just for today, don’t go outside!
Kaelion turned to see Liana running toward him, her tiny arms stretched out, tears streaming down her cheeks
Kaelion Venyor/Emperor
**For a moment, he hesitated**
But his resolve was firm. If he delayed any longer, Celina would be lost forever.
Before he could speak, Baroness Sybil Frost swept in, catching Liana by the arm and pulling her away.
Baroness Sybil Frost/ Fl's Ex Nanny
Your Majesty, I will handle her. Please don’t let her distract you.
Kaelion Venyor/Emperor
**gave his daughter one last lingering glance**
Kaelion Venyor/Emperor
*gently* Lia, be good for Nanny. I’ll be back soon.
His words offered no comfort, and he turned without another word, mounting his horse and riding away
Back in the nursery, Liana sat on the floor, clutching her knees as Baroness Sybil loomed over her
Baroness Sybil Frost/ Fl's Ex Nanny
*coldly* You are a princess, Liana. Not some street child. You do not beg. You do not cry. You behave with dignity! ❄️❄️
Baroness Sybil Frost/ Fl's Ex Nanny
*She grabbed a ruler, rapping it sharply against Liana’s hands*
Baroness Sybil Frost/ Fl's Ex Nanny
Do you understand?
Liana [Venyor] Ardin/ Fl
*nodded silently, tears welling in her eyes. This was normal now*
When it was over, maids rushed in, they were not surprised. They worked silently, applying ointment to the fresh welts on her back, their hands gentle but their eyes filled with quiet pity.
Maid
Princess Liana, please… just listen to the Baroness next time. It will save you pain.
Liana didn’t reply, her tears slipping silently down her cheeks. She let them dress her wounds and lead her back to her chambers.
Maid
Follow the nanny’s orders, my lady. It’s for your own good..
But Liana only stared at the floor, her heart heavy with resentment and pain, knowing that this routine had become as normal as breathing
The palace was unnervingly quiet that evening, the air thick with an unspoken tension. Liana couldn’t sleep. .
Her small fingers traced the lines of the dream journal clutched to her chest. She had written this moment so many times before in her dreams—the shadows creeping, the heavy footsteps in the corridors, and her mother’s lifeless eyes staring into nothingness
Liana [Venyor] Ardin/ Fl
*whispering* Today is the day… Mother will die. Not by illness, but by an assassin.
Her heart pounded as if it, too, could sense the coming danger. The door creaked open, and she flinched, but it was only Baroness Sybil.
Baroness Sybil Frost/ Fl's Ex Nanny
*sternly* You should be asleep, young lady. Go to bed at once ❄️❄️
Liana didn’t argue, but she didn’t lie down either. Once Sybil left, she slipped out of bed and padded barefoot down the dimly lit hallways, drawn by a sense of dread.
She found herself outside her mother’s chamber, the faint glow of candlelight spilling through the crack in the door. Pushing it open, she stepped inside.
Celina lay on her bed, her once-radiant form now frail and pale. Yet her smile remained warm as she turned her head to see Liana.
Celina Venyor/ Empress
*softly* Lia, my darling. You should be asleep.
Liana [Venyor] Ardin/ Fl
*hesitated* Mother... I think something bad is going to happen.
Celina Venyor/ Empress
Come here, my star
Liana crawled onto the bed and nestled against her mother. For a moment, everything felt safe. But then the sounds began—soft, deliberate footsteps echoing through the hallway.
Liana [Venyor] Ardin/ Fl
*froze* { I know this sound. I had dreamt it}
A group of assassins, their faces obscured by black masks, spilled into the room like shadows come to life.
? ? ? ?
The empress dies tonight ❄️❄️
Celina’s eyes widened, and she instinctively pushed Liana behind her. Her frail body trembled, but her voice was resolute.
Celina Venyor/ Empress
*fiercely* You’ll have to go through me first.
The lead assassin lunged, and Celina barely managed to grab a candlestick from the bedside table, swinging it with all her remaining strength
Liana pressed herself against the wall, paralyzed. She knew this moment. She had dreamed it so vividly.
And yet, knowing did nothing to help her. She was too small, too weak, too afraid.
Liana [Venyor] Ardin/ Fl
{This is where it happens. This is where I lose her}
Celina managed to strike one assassin, but another came from the side, his blade gleaming in the candlelight. Liana saw it before her mother did.
Liana [Venyor] Ardin/ Fl
*screaming* Mother, no!
The blade plunged deep, and Celina staggered back, her hand flying to the wound at her side. Blood seeped through her delicate gown, staining the fabric a deep crimson.
Liana’s vision blurred with tears as her mother collapsed to her knees
Celina Venyor/ Empress
*weakly* Lia... run...
But Liana couldn’t move. She watched as the assassins advanced again. Her mother, despite her injuries, dragged herself in front of Liana, shielding her with her own body.
Celina Venyor/ Empress
You will not touch my daughter!
Her voice was a roar of defiance, but her strength was failing.
In the chaos, palace guards finally stormed the room, driving the assassins away.
Download MangaToon APP on App Store and Google Play
![Liana [Venyor] Ardin/ Fl](https://up-pic.mangatoon.mobi/contribute/fiction/9592265/avatar/51241176/1732467799005.jpeg-s200webp?sign=267309b026323bf08c13f4a4c7ff91f6&t=6750ed00)
![Liana [Venyor] Ardin/ Fl](https://up-pic.mangatoon.mobi/contribute/fiction/9592265/avatar/51241176/1732373413120.jpeg-s200webp?sign=f227d6b4381d8f8f4f77df60a43d5f9c&t=6750ed00)
