Within a year of the slave revolt, a rebellion had formed, causing many hardships for the syndicates of Alaran. The headquarters of the rebellion was where it was first formed, the slave holdings of the deceased Bai Fu, who had been one of the major players in his business. The dug in nature of the hold made it very easy to defend and all places of the empire were within reach from the position it held, being very close to the center of the country and even closer to Chisimdi, a port city connected to the biggest river in the world, Garangos, which started from the mountains of Alaran and slithered through Chauk and Kathe and Castirin. The syndicates were mostly in the dark about who attacked them. The leaders of the major businesses of the underworld held a meeting to determine who it could have been. Four out of five met in the Zauren Asiri Castle which belong to Rang Fulan, a cousin of Aini, who didn’t hold a very high rank in the royal line but still shared blood with them. Ve
The men were taken aback as the doors of the room swung open with a powerful force, revealing a very pale, dark-haired woman who leaned against the round table. "Greetings, gentlemen. How do you fare this morning?" she asked, interrupting their conversation. “Splitting your forces was not my plan exactly, but it was a boon. You all being here, at the same time, was what I was hoping for.” “I cannot believe it,” Fulan gave a miserable chuckle, “Cousin Aini. Not only do you yet live, but don’t tell me you're also the needle in our eye we have been searching for.” Aini addressed him directly and said, "hello, Fulan. You know, when I was little and visited you in your parents’ grand castle, I would have never imagined that Big Brother Fu would turn into such a rat. Oh, what am I saying? Of course I did, though not to an extent such as this. Even as a child, you always sought after the biggest share, fully disregarding what you did to the other kids.” Fulan explained, "I did what I had
The emperor sat in the dark inside his chamber. It was filthy and cold. No one was to enter his chambers, whether he was there or not, per his instruction. If someone else who wasn't him were to enter, they were to be executed. It has been like this for more than ten years. Nevertheless, today something unusual occurred. Someone entered without knocking or requesting permission. It struck Emperor Chongbaini as odd, even outright rude. Given that he was the emperor, they should have asked to enter. And if it was a stranger, then they ought to introduce themselves before entering, right? When the door opened, a figure was visible, though it was difficult to tell who it was in the darkness as no candles were lit. Chongbaini thought that this was a person he recognized, but it couldn’t have been her. She had been dead for decades, but this woman looked eerily like her. Pale skin and dark hair with soft features, large eyes, full lips, and fuzzy little eyebrows. "Henhao? My treas
“Empress Aini! Empress Aini!” Haipa called from behind. Even while strolling the supposed lonely halls of the castle, I couldn’t get a few quiet moments to myself. Even before I turned around, I could already guess what she wanted. Very likely, she would be holding some papers. There is a ninety percent chance that these are some type of plans or paperwork that she wants me to approve of or see if I could add anything to them. It didn't matter what they were about. If Haipa thought it’s a good decision, then it most probably was. She played a crucial role in the rebellion and was instrumental in planning the overthrow of the old regime. Just like many others I trusted with the new reign of Alaran, she was a former slave. "You don't have to call me Empress, I said as I paused and placed a palm on my hip. Haipa, we've been friends for about two years now. Whatever ...this is," I emphasized, "you really need to get over it." “I really don’t feel in my element here, Emp- eh, Aini,”
I found myself in a pretty strange situation, bleeding, and surrounded by people who really didn't seem to trust me. To calm everyone down, I tried to explain, “Sorry for that, I’m stress testing my body. Being covered in glass only slightly hurts. Either that's very good or very bad. Who knows? Maybe it's just a mental thing and I only imagine the pain.” “You call bleeding all over the ground ‘slightly’?” one of the girls said. I recognized the person who said that; it was Aini, the geisha girl whom I had met while I was still a slave. Also, the girl whose journey Ioine had shown me in the last few chapters. (If you guys read them.) So, she was queen, or empress, or whatever; the ruler/leader of this place. Pretty high rank for a girl her age; if she was human. She did look like one and if she really was, then she must have been around eighteen or so. I'm nineteen and even I haven't had to fill such big shoes. I wonder what's going on inside her head now. It was clear that Aini,
Haipa hoped that the stranger wasn't here to assassinate them. The new government has been in power long enough for them to expect something like that. “It's clear that he's dangerous, -but to us? Very questionable.” She thought. No one should expect any safety while being in his presence, but King Rike had made it clear that he wasn’t there to harm them. Haipa was still curious who this man really was. Already she had made her way towards the guest-room they had given him. This was for the best. They couldn't have thrown a diplomat of another kingdom into a prison. Some of their future plans already entailed having a friendly relationship with the country of Chauk. They had technologies and resources which would greatly come in handy in the rebuilding of Alaran as a proper land for the people. The first step had already been taken by Crown Rike, and now it was their turn to behave properly. Though Haipa thought, “why was he given to me to take care of?!” She’d already guess
“And why do you want to know, girl?” As he pinned me to the wall, I felt my heart racing in my chest. The mere sight of him had been enough to make me weak in the knees, but now, with his strong arms holding me captive, I was powerless. His golden eyes were piercing into mine, and I could feel myself getting lost in them. I stammered, trying to speak, but all I could manage was a meek reply. "It's just that... I noticed the way the Empress looked at you. It seemed like she knew you. But then, the Protector had a much different opinion of your identity." He let out a small chuckle, and a few droplets of water from his wet hair landed on my face. "That is true. Quite observant, my dear." I felt my cheeks flush as he called me "my dear." It was a term of endearment I had never heard from someone like him before, and it sent shivers down my spine. "But neither Aini nor Baohu seemed very happy to see you," I continued, my voice barely above a whisper. He turned around and held his han
I'm starting to doubt my decision. The road leading up to the house is in shambles and has been that way for centuries. I don't think I can convince anyone to rebuild it, especially considering how close it is to the house. The darkness is making me nervous, and I wish Baohu were here to reassure me. Instead, I'm stuck with this foreign diplomat who I barely know. I'm not even sure what I need for the House of Ghosts, but I know I'm not feeling very confident. When Asher questioned why I chose him over Baohu, I try to convince him that he's just as capable. But deep down, I'm not sure if I made the right choice. I'm afraid that I might not have what it takes to face whatever is waiting for me at the house. As we walk towards the estate, I try to clear my head and think things through. But Asher kept talking, making it hard for me to focus. I started to wonder if he's the same person I met before or if he's changed. I can feel my insecurity growing with every step we take and every