Episode 3

Martina was on the balcony enjoying the cool breeze of the night. The Nulem Empire is a cold place, even in spring, the cold breeze remains, but for Martina, it's pleasant. Another person would already be feeling their body tremble, perhaps due to the magic Evelyn gave her.

Martina hears the door open, and when she turns, it's the emperor entering. He is surprised to see her outside, but he walks until he stops in the window frame.

"Your body can get cold if you stay out too long," Caleb mentions.

"Greetings, Majesty, I appreciate your concern," Martina curtsies.

"When did I say I was worried? I was just giving you advice," he smiles mockingly.

Just as arrogant and cold as she remembers, but she has to endure it, she must get enough money to go far away.

"I apologize for my mistake, but since I'm a woman, I'm so useless, right?" she appears embarrassed.

"That's not what I mean..."

"It's better to go directly to the only thing I'm good for..."

Martina passes near the emperor and takes off her robe, revealing the transparent nightgown she's wearing. When she reaches the bed, she sits on the edge of it.

"Go ahead, claim what's yours."

Martina separates her legs, without stopping to stare at the emperor. He clenches his jaw, annoyed by the audacity of this woman. He approaches, holding her chin to make her look up. Another would avert her eyes in shame, but she keeps her eyes fixed on his, he recognizes, she is brave. Caleb made her lie down on the bed while he climbs on top of her. He leans down to kiss her neck, Martina remains still, it's not like she's going to do anything, if the emperor wants to satisfy his needs, he will have to do it all himself; something similar happened before, she just closed her eyes and let the emperor do everything, just like he's doing now, but suddenly she feels him move away and stand up.

"I've lost interest, you make it seem like I'm forcing you."

"Isn't that so? For every woman it's an obligation to open her legs for her husband, whether she wants to or not, it has never been important."

Caleb was surprised by the girl's words, but what she said was true, women could not refuse their husbands, but he was different, he would not force her to do something she did not want, he has never forced a woman and this will not be the first time.

"I'm not an abuser..."

With that said, he left the room. Martina was confused by what had just happened, before whether she wanted to or not, the emperor didn't care, but now, he has left. Since he returned, many things have changed and it has been to her benefit, first a witch gave her power and now, the emperor left her alone on her wedding night. If it continues like this, she will be able to get what she wants, a peaceful and carefree life. Martina couldn't help but laugh at that, she will finally be able to live as she wants. At least that night she thought she would rest well, but it was not like that, she had some nightmares or rather memories of what happened in that palace under the harassment of the other concubines.

In the morning, a maid went to bring her breakfast, which was something quite simple, a salad with vegetables almost rotten and a glass of water.

"His Majesty likes his concubines to keep their figure, you must have a strict diet," mentions the maid.

"I don't care what His Majesty says, bring me real food."

"Do you think I'm going to disobey His Majesty?"

"Fine, then I'll go see His Majesty myself, giving us this diet is absurd, you'll come with me."

The maid looks nervous at Martina's words when she sees that she has stood up.

"Walk..."

"His Majesty doesn't have time for your complaints, eat or starve," she shouts.

Martina approaches the maid and grabs her hair to slam her face against the salad plate.

"Who do you think you are to shout at me? I may not be the empress or a princess, but I'm still superior to you and you must respect me."

"I-I...I'll let Lady Ariel know this...the emperor will do justice if she asks..."

"Ariel, do you really think she has influence on the emperor and I don't?"

"She is the favorite concubine, the future empress."

Martina pushes the maid causing her to fall and begins to laugh.

"Let's see if it's true...go, run to Ariel."

The maid ran out of that room, the other maids were surprised to see her running and also with blood on her face. The maid arrived at a garden, where she fell to her knees crying.

"Highness, I ask for justice, this humble servant has been hurt by the new concubine of the emperor."

Before the maid there was a table full of desserts and there a young blonde woman drank tea while enjoying the morning, before the presence of that woman, she stood up and bent down to look at her better.

"But how terrible, how much cruelty, we cannot allow this."

The young Ariel calls her maids to heal the wounds of the newly arrived maid. While she goes to Martina's palace, where the guards easily let her pass and inform her that Martina was walking in the garden, there, the girl stands in Martina's path.

"I don't care if you're my cousin, hurting the maids is wrong, His Majesty will never forgive such acts."

Martina just rolls her eyes, that sweet voice doesn't suit that girl at all, it's clearly seen how fake she is.

"Then go get His Majesty and have him come give me a punishment," she replies mockingly.

"I-it's not about that, His Majesty wouldn't have time for these things, so I'd like to solve it in the best way," Ariel shows a kind smile.

Of course, Martina knows that this is just an act, she must be like that because the servants are watching. Martina raises her hand and a small flame comes out of her palm.

"Good idea, bring her here and we'll burn her alive for disrespecting a concubine of the emperor," the flame grows a little.

Seeing the flame grow, Ariel screams and as she moves back, she falls, the servants quickly approach to help her, while looking at Martina with anger.

"Do you dare to look at me like that? It seems that you want me to gouge your eyes out."

Martina showed a mocking smile and her gaze caused chills. Ariel kneels while crying.

"Please forgive them my lady, they are just protecting me. Please don't hurt us."

"What's happening?"

Martina recognizes that voice, it was the emperor's, now she understands why Ariel started pleading.

"Majesty, I just came to ask Lady Martina not to hurt the maids, she attacked one cruelly and without reason."

Martina covers her eyes and begins to sob.

"I just wanted a decent meal, the maid said that concubines can only have rotten vegetable salad and drink water by your order."

"What? That's not..."

"But if it's an order from Your Majesty, I will apologize to the maid."

When Ariel looked up, she saw the anger in the emperor.

"I didn't know that Majesty, she didn't tell me the reason why the concubine Martina attacked her..." she already shows her tearful expression.