Episode 5

Chapter 5

When we arrived at the palace, the guards guided me through the different corridors of the place until we reached some very large doors. The guards who took me there informed the other guards who were guarding the entrance that they had arrived and why they had brought me with them. When the men heard the words of those who brought me, they gave me dirty looks, but they quickly went to report it. So, once one of them went inside the hall to inform them of our presence, we all waited in silence for permission to pass.

Throughout the entire journey, I haven't said a single word. I just hope it's true that the emperor is in love with Iris, as the story went. If not, it seems to me that they are going to punish me for being where I shouldn't be, although thinking about it, if the palace maid took me there, there shouldn't be any problem.

When we are given permission to pass, before we move, one of the guards orders me to lower my gaze and remain silent until asked to speak. He threatens me that if I say anything before the emperor gives me his authorization, they will punish me and send me to the orca. Swallowing my saliva in fear at his words, I assure him that I will remain silent, as I have just been revived and do not want to die again so soon.

I value my life too much to waste it on something as stupid as whether or not I was in a garden with the permission of this guy who is the emperor of this place.

Once the three of us entered, we approached the throne step by step, me always looking down as ordered, not letting my face be seen for anything in the world.

From this angle I can only make out that there are a few people present. As I don't know them, I don't know who they are, but they must be members of the court, from the quality of the fabrics of their clothes that can be seen. Those men were not simple commoners.

When we reached the throne, I could only see the emperor's body, but not his face. He had a large body, at first glance you could see the muscles that were hidden by his clothes.

Although from the angle that my view allowed me, the emperor seemed to be without much spirit, you could see that he was tired from the pose he was in, perhaps from being reunited with the nobles of the court for a long time.

When we are right in front of him, they make me kneel and the emperor speaks to the guards.

"I have been informed that you had something important to say. What is the matter? Why bring this woman here?"

"Your Highness, a palace maiden saw this woman in one of the forbidden gardens. She was informed that she had to leave that place immediately, but this woman dared to intimidate and threaten that maiden, who was only following your majesty's orders to drive away strangers. When we saw them in that altercation, we immediately brought the criminal before you to be punished."

After a long silence, the emperor spoke and surprised me because he did so by shouting.

"Those gardens are forbidden to everyone, only a few people are authorized to set foot in that place. That is public knowledge! How dare you enter them?"

The anger in his voice was audible, everyone was silent. I think it's the first time they've heard him talk like that, and here I am, not understanding why they're making such a fuss over a simple garden.

While he asked me a question in the tone he used, it left me paralyzed with fear, so I couldn't even blink. It was like an electric current that went through my entire body, it didn't allow me to open my mouth for a few seconds.

The emperor, seeing that I did not answer, quickly got up and approached me. He takes me abruptly by the chin to lift me up and look him in the face, while he says to me...