👑 HORROR 👑

<EMPEROR’S LIBRARY>

“This kingdom’s history is pretty broad”. Jade mumbled, finally closing the huge book she was reading for the past few hours.

Then she stood up from the desk she sat on and went to return the book back to its shelf. She was about walking out of the library when she remembered what happened earlier and she sighed while stopping on her track.

“He just flared up just like that. Does he think my love for him is a joke? The sword has also been removed so why won’t he just trust our feelings and remove his cover up? Or maybe he doesn’t truly love me”. Jade said slowly and sighed again but sadly this time.

Then she walked out of the library going straight to the Emperor’s chambers, but when she walked in it was empty and after looking around and seeing no sign of him she gave up and walked out of the chamber.

“I wonder where he is?”. She mumbled to herself as she walked gracefully with her glamorous robe down the hall.

“Thief! You’re a thief Asa!”. Jade could hear a group of servants shouting loudly from outside and in puzzlement she changed her direction towards there only for her to see some servants blocking Asa’s way as she made to walk towards the servants Quarters.

“I don’t understand what your problem is?!”. Asa snapped at the servants who only scoffed.

“Give us all the stuff you stole! We need evidence to show the Emperor!!”. Sheena shouted and Asa threw her a glare.

“Will you hand it over? Or you want us to force you?!”. Another servant said but Asa only scoffed at her.

Before changing her direction back to where she was coming from but Sheena got angry and bent to pick a stone from to the ground to throw at her, but Jade suddenly came over and stepped on her hand, pressing it hard on the ground and Sheena cried out painfully, which made Asa to turn to face them only to be shocked by Jade’s presence, the other servants instantly bowed their heads in respect.

“Go-od day, your grace!!”. All the servants greeted in unison but Jade only threw them a glare.

“Since when has bullying become a huge thing in this palace?”. Jade questioned, her feet still pressing Sheena’s palm that was stuck to the ground, but no answer came.

“Am I talking to a bunch of lifeless logs of wood?!”. Jade shouted angrily and they all began fidgeting with their fingers.

“She joined us in the servants quarters with nothing, but suddenly she had a lot of stuff and she bullied us first! She even sent one of us to the infirmary and she hasn’t recovered fully till now!”. A servant suddenly said and the others nodded in agreement.

“Really? But she was a noble before so are you sure she really stole all those stuffs, you all said she stole?”. Jade asked and the servants kept quiet.

“We must have misunderstood your grace. We’re very sorry”. The servants mumbled randomly and Jade finally lifted her foot from the Sheena’s palm and she groaned out painfully.

“Sorry won’t end this”. Jade said and the servants eyes widened as they stared at her. Then she faced Asa, who gulped down nothing.

“How do you want them to be punished big sis?”. Jade asked Asa calmly and everyone gasped in shock.

“Sis-sister? Thought they weren’t close?”.

The servants whispered to themselves.

“Big sis?”. Jade called again when Asa had already zoned out and immediately Asa regained herself.

“Fifty push ups each”. Asa suddenly said and the servants mouth opened agap.

“Fifty?!!”. They gasped loudly staring at Asa in horror.

“What are you all waiting for?! Get to work?!”. Jade shouted at them and immediately all the servants went on their chests and began their pushups as they groaned stressfully, then Jade faced Asa, who avoided her gaze by looking away.

“Come with me”. Jade said taking her hand and Asa stared at their intertwined hands as Jade pulled her into the main palace.

“Woah, our future Queen’s the coolest”. Kai grinned beside the Emperor.

“Only when shes not reading”. Emperor Damien scoffed before walking into the Palace and Kai blinked in confusion.

They had actually saw what happened from the training ground they stood.

“Did anything happen between them?”. Kai asked himself before walking away also.
***

“Thank You”. Asa mumbled to Jade who looked around the kitchen large kitchen they were.

“I only did it for Kai”. Jade said as she inspected the huge pots before her.

“Kai? Why?”. Asa asked trying too hard not to sound jealous.

“I take as a close friend and since he likes you, i should like you also right?”. Jade said and Asa blinked.

“He told you he liked me?”. She asked, her face flushing up a little and Jade nodded.

“I know he got all those goodies for you. He asked me for recommendations and i told him what i noticed you loved back at home”. Jade said finally picking the biggest pot and giving it to Asa who smiled though still confused, as she took it from Jade.

“I heard the Emperor let you cook in his kitchen before, right after he banned me from entering, and he loved your food. Well now show me what makes your food so special than mine”. Jade said and Asa blinked in confusion.

“I have never walked into this kitchen before. I was even about asking you why we’re in the Emperor’s special kitchen. And you said I cooked for him? I didn’t, I don’t even know how to cook—

“You don’t know how to cook? I guess Jade’s bad cooking is better”. The Emperor said walking into the kitchen with Kai following him from behind, and Asa bowed while Jade scoffed hissing as she looked away from him.

‘Bad cooking? I cooked bad and he’s still alive?!’. Jade snapped in her head.

“I think not knowing how to cook is better than poisoning the person you cook for”. Kai said and Asa smiled secretly while the Emperor gave him a stern look.

“Who got poisoned? Are you referring to me?”. Emperor Damien asked and Kai broke into an awkward laughter.

“I dare not”. Kai bowed slightly.

“Good”. The Emperor said and then turned to Jade, but before he could speak Jade already walked out of the kitchen and he sighed before going after her.

Asa began walking out of the kitchen also but Kai held her back by the arm and she turned to face him, giving him a questionable look and he became silent.

“Do you have anything to say?”. Asa asked Kai who immediately began playing with his fingers nervously and Asa almost smiled at how cute he looked.

Kai’s nervous eyes scanned Asa’s pretty face and then stopped at her neck seeing the necklace he brought for her and he smiled.

“I thought you didn’t like it”. Kai said staring at the necklace and Asa traced his gaze and smiled, while caressing the cherry pendant of the necklace on her neck.

“I love it a lot. I lost it this morning, but I’ve finally recovered it, it’s never leaving my neck now”. Asa said and Kai blushed silently but he suddenly slaped his cheeks to stop and Asa chuckled.

“I’ll be taking my leave now”. She said and turned to leave.

“I might be announced as the prime minister by tomorrow”. Kai said and Asa faced him with a wide smile.

“Really you applied for the exam?! That’s great, I’m happy for you”. Asa said her smile still intact and Kai onky nodded awkwardly.

“But that’s not what I meant”. Kai said and Asa stopped smiling.

“That’s not what you meant?”. She asked.

“I mean to say, that I’ll be influential enough to take very good care of you”. Kai said and Asa blinked in confusion.

“By tomorrow you’ll stop being a servant, I’ll see to it”. Kai assured and Asa only stared blankly at him.

“Take care of me? Why?”. Asa asked.

“I like you Asa”. Kai muttered and began advancing towards her slowly till he got closer to her and took her hand, Asa on the other hand was too tensed about his confession to move.

“Don’t think too much about it. You can reject me also if you don’t feel the same and don’t worry I’ll still help you recover your status as a noble”. Kai promised and began walking out but a sciff from Asa made him stop on his track as he turned to see she was also staring at him.

“I knew you’re a shy type but you’re horribly not romantic at all, let’s try this whole confession thing again, in the garden with lots of flowers, gifts, huge shining moon in the beautiful dark sky designed with lovely stars, and love settings okay? I’ll go change”. Asa smiled winking at him before running out of the kitchen and Kai stared after her in confusion.

“Does that mean she likes me also?”. Kai mumbled cluelessly then his eyes widened.

“She mentioned love settings and garden? How do i arrange that? I should go meet someone”. Kai asked himself and immediately ran out of the kitchen.

<DANXU’S CAVE>

“You’re Binn now, take her name tag”. Danxu said handing to Mina a wooden name tag he picked up from the unconscious servant before them.

Mina was dressed in the robe of the palace servants and could actually be mistaken for one if not for her completely bald head.

“Go to the palace now and keep me updated on how things are going in the palace, i plan on fully infiltrating the palace tomorrow morning”. Danxu said as he stared at his palms, deviously.

“If i can disguise as a servant by wearing their uniform and also stealing a name tag. Why can’t you help me grow my hair also? Have you ever seen a bald someone work in the palace before?! Even the girl I’m impersonating isn’t bald”. Mina said And Danxu threw her a glare.

“That’s your business. Put on a scarf or go the way you are, but all i do know is that i want you to keep me posted. I’ve got apot surprises for palace and Damien. I’ve been planning it for years so don’t because of your ugly insecurities ruin my plan. And yes, help me confirm something. Everyone knows Damien was cursed that’s why he doesn’t show his face, but i noticed during my last visit to the palace that he only hides his face during the day but not at night, otherwise why would a mere mistress knows how he looks? Check if the sun really has something do with his curse, it might of help to us, and don’t waste my time on it!!” Danxu glared before walking out of the chamber and Mina scoffed staring after.

“Just him and his stupid speculations again! And did he just say ugly insecurities? He can make me anything but not my full self with a pretty long hair?”. Mina scoffed angrily as she made to leave but sighting the unconscious servant on the ground her gaze darkened as she picked up a sharp stone from the ground and began shaving her hair brutally.

“If I’m bald, every other female must be bald!”. Mina screamed as she shaved off even the scalp of the servant so brutally that she began bleeding from the head.

Then finally Mina was done and she got up smiling wickedly as she stared at the bloody stone in her hand.

“I should shave Jade’s head also. Can’t wait to see how the Emperor’s woman will look like once I’m done shaving out her skull”. Mina said and slowly, she began laughing menaicly.

<JADE’S CHAMBER>

Jade stood angrily with wrapped arms as she out the window while the Emperor stood behind her, attempting to touch her for the hundredth time.

“I told you not to touch me!”. Jade snapped angrily not turning to face him.

“Okay your grace”. The Emperor said as he returned his hand and Jade turned to face him with a raised eyebrow.

“Are you here to annoy me right? Why call me your grace?!”. Jade asked and the Emperor sighed before moving closer and grabbing her shoulders even though she protested.

“I’m sorry for shouting at you earlier, my Jade”. The Emperor apologized passionately this time, his eyes locked with hers and she looked away from him wriggling out of his hold.

“Don’t call me that”. Jade mumbled turning her back on him again as she faced the window and the Emperor smiled before hugging her from behind, wrapping his arms warmly around her waist.

“Your names already signifies you’re a rare treasure, so why can’t I call you my Jade?”. The Emperor whispered softly into Jade’s ear and she cleared her throat.

“I’m your Jade? But you don’t love me. I’m just a silly mistress to you aren’t I?”. Jade asked and the Emperor frowned as he made her face him.

“What do you mean by that?”. The Emperor asked, a serious gaze playing in his eyes.

“Aren’t i just a mistress? Isn’t your love for me a huge joke? If it isn’t why then can’t you just be free under the sun? Do you suspect i might harm you or anything?”. Jade asked and the Emperor’s eyes changed in anger but he turned away from her to suppress it and Jade moved closer to him.

“You’re getting at me again”. Jade mumbled hurtfully but nothing came from the Emperor and she hugged him from behind resting her face on his back.

“Don’t do it then. It doesn’t really matters”. Jade muttered and the Emperor held her hands that were wrapped around his waist line.

“Let’s give it a try”. He muttered and Jade’s eyes widened as she broke the hug and she faced him.

“Really?!”. Jade gasped.

“You don’t want me to anymore?”. The Emperor asked bringing up his hands to caress her cheeks and she shook her head rigorously.

“Let’s go to the balcony then”. Jade smiled taking the Emperor’s hand as she led him to the balcony in her room. The moment she opened the huge door, the evening sun flashed brightly through the Emperor’s eyes and he sighed.

Then Jade rushed in to grab a huge duvet, holding it tight and the Emperor faced her in confusion.

“What for?”. He asked and Jade held his hand very tight.

“I can’t bare to loose you, so put your hand in the sun first, and if it starts to burn I’ll throw my duvet over you”. Jade said and the Emperor smiled patting her hair.

“My Jade has become very smart”. The Emperor said as he pulled her cheeks and Jade chuckled, but slapped his hand off.

“Stop that! I’m not a child”. Jade said and the Emperor scoffed before taking off the glove on his left hand.

He looked at tensed Jade who held the duvet tight, ready to react.

Then the Emperor raised his hand up to the sky, were the sun still shone brightly and for the three minutes he left it up nothing happened to his hand and his eyes widened while Jade smiled widely.

“The curse has really been broken. Take the second glove off and your mask also–

Jade wasn’t done speaking when the Emperor’s raised hand began burning in a very speedy pace, that the burn began spreading to his elbow and his fingers began disappearing slowly turning into ashes.

“Ahh!!”. Jade screamed in panick as she rushed to throw the duvet on the Emperor’s body but the burn didn’t stop as it continued spreading like acid to his chest and then his second hand and a tear escaped from Jade’s eyes as she tried stopping the burn but the Emperor quickly stopped her, pushing her away from him.

“Leave, it’ll spread to you once it’s done with me if you don’t keep your distance”. The Emperor warned moving away from Jade as one of his full hand completely burnt into ashes.

“No!!”. Jade screamed loudly falling to the ground in tears and slowly like wildfire the burn spread completely and the Emperor became ashes disappearing into thin air, Jade couldn’t believe her eyes and slowly her vision became blur as she fainted to the ground right next to the duvet she had brought for the Emperor.

“Danxu was right. His curse really had something to do with the sun”. Mina muttered with widened eyes as she watched the whole balcony incident from downstairs, where everyone around was busy.

“This mean the Palace will be easy to break through and dominate by tomorrow”. Mina muttered as she smiled deviously…