Episode 16

Later that same day, the emperor summoned me to his office. We had not been able to talk much during bath time; he seemed rushed for something, just checking in to see how I was. He wanted to discuss the plan.

"What? No! No way can I do that," I yelled when I heard what Icarus was scheming with his plan.

"You might want to shout louder, the northern kingdom can't quite hear you," Icarus seemed annoyed by my screaming.

"How could I not scream? I never imagined the plan would be like this. How do you think someone can surpass your terrible reputation? There are people afraid to even breathe too close to you for fear of having their head cut off for bothering you. I lived locked away in an isolated castle with few people, yet I still heard some tales about you. You burned an entire forest, scattered salt over it so as not to be bothered by animals and plants when you camped there. You hired over 20,000 men to obliterate all the wheat in the south, to become the sole supplier. You sank ships laden with northern spices to increase the value of your own product, making it more expensive. One day, in a bad mood, you destroyed a business deal between ten countries that had been in place for years, causing numerous wars between them. How do you expect me to earn a worse reputation than yours? It's impossible. You're certain to be marked in history as a heartless, sadistic tyrant," I couldn't even think of something worse than what he had already done.

"Please continue speaking? I like hearing about my brilliant deeds. It's even more beautiful when you speak of them. The other women who tried to become empress couldn't even answer my questions, nor did I hear their voices before slicing their necks," Icarus smiled. Was he trying to console me? That's frightening.

"I have a question, preferably don't take my head for it. It'd be wasteful, I'm far too pretty to die," In some way, I didn't really feel fear of him, I was startled, but it wasn't actual fear. In truth, I was comfortable in his presence. The isolation must've made me crazy.

"Yes, I agree. You are too lovely and amusing to end up dead. What's your question?" Icarus smiled in a way I never imagined a tyrant could.

"Did you sleep with all the other candidates?" I know, it was a trivial question, but I was curious. Don't judge me.

"No. I lost my patience with them before even making it to the bedroom. The only thing I got from them were the screams as I was chopping off their heads," The Emperor spoke as if it was nothing, but that explains why everyone thought I was being killed last night.

"Emperor, you are not only hot and handsome but perfect. I like the idea of it being just me," Who wouldn't, right? I feel special. Could my unmatched beauty have affected him? Was it love at first sight?

"I don't get what you mean by perfect, but if you're happy with that, fine. It's even an honor that you think that way," The Emperor had his eyes on me; my body warmed up again. "I like you too. As hysterical as you are. You are perfect for me. I want you to be my empress. We'll practice as much as we can for that."

"What? What do you mean? What are we going to practice?" I tried not to be perverse, but his double entendres made it hard. Though I was almost sure he was talking about his plan. Wait, did he just say he liked me because I was hysterical and not for my beauty? My husband is indeed cruel.