Gam 22

Chapter 22 

Chapter 22 

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For the past one week, Natalia had remained in her chambers, she wasn’t allowed to go out, the emperor had given her a week to think about it carefully and then give him a positive response. 

A yes, Natalia’s eyebrow furrows as she thought about how the emperor contradicts himself, he claims he doesn’t want to hurt her or force her, yet he would just let her refuse him… isn’t that being an hypocrite? 

The door opened and a young slender woman walked in with a tray containing food, and Natalia’s eyes darted towards the door, and another frown creased her eyebrows. She had been seeing the girl frequent her room, but she didn’t pay much mind to her. 

“You seem to be more stable than the regular maids,” She drawled as she sat up on the bed, adjusting the pillows to support her back. “Who are you?” 

The girl froze, all her dark hair were held into a large braid that fell over her left shoulder, Natalia noticed that the people in this place differ by hair and eye color they had strange hues and it made her curious, perhaps this girl could tell her. 

“I was brought to be your personal maid by Master Draven, My Lady,” She answered her head lowered. 

“What’s your name?” Natalia asked, still dissatisfied by the sound of everything. 

“Dakota, my lady,” She answered softly again. 

“Just call me Natalia,” Natalia muttered folding her arms. “And I am not comfortable with the way you keep bowing your head.” 

Darkorta’s face held terror, as her eyes widened, her head lowered again. 

“Pardon me, my lady, but the emperor will have my head for disrespecting his mate.” She trembled as she spoke, even though Darkorta was a dragon, she had only heard the cruelty of the emperor from the lips of other dragons. 

They had always warned them to be careful and try their best to not break any rule, or they are destined to suffer cruelty from their emperor. 

Natalia’s gaze 

darkened at the mention of the word ‘mate, a term animals used to refer to their partners. 

“I am not his mate,” She snapped and the maid remained quiet, unwilling to make her even angrier. 

“Forgive me, for my rudeness, your highness.” She pleaded before she approached the bed, Natalia turned 

away. 

“Take it away,” She ordered. “I don’t have any appetite, I am not eating.” 

She wasn’t sure if her people were being fed well, so, she couldn’t afford to be eating this good food while they were probably suffering. 

“But, your highness.” The maid hesitated, her eyes narrowing in concern, “You haven’t anything we brought to you in the past few days. This is bad for your health.” 

Chapter 22 

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“Take it away, and leave.” Natalia ordered sternly, unable to argue anymore, she bowed her head again before leaving. 

“Your majesty,” Draven greeted with his head bowed as he entered into the courtroom of the emperor, but fortunately the emperor wasn’t with anyone at the moment. The emperor was seated with a paper spread before him and he tapped on the inkstone placed carefully beside him with the small brush in his hands. Draven’s curious eyes darted to the paper, trying to understand what the emperor was doing. 

He was painting, something that looks like a landscape. He had heard rumors that the emperor appreciated arts, but this was the first time he had ever seen him put his talent to practice. Draven felt his heart raced because he also enjoyed art. 

“You should have a good excuse for interrupting me,” his voice was still cold, almost unreal, and Draven swallowed hard when he felt the temperature of the room dropped. 

“Pardon me, Your Majesty,” He apologized lowering his head once more. “I bring you urgent matters from the chambers of the queen.” 

Suddenly the brush stopped moving, and the emperor’s red eyes raised slightly. 

“What is it?” He asked, his voice cold and unreal, Draven felt his teeth clatter as the temperature of the room suddenly dropped. 

“The human princess has refused all meals, and this has been happening for a while now,” He started in a calm voice, hoping nothing in whatever he is saying will not anger the emperor. “I am afraid that if this continues, her body might be at its limit.” 

There was a deafening silence in the room, the temperature dropped even lower, and then there was a loud snap. The emperor had crushed the wooden brush with nothing but just his hands, reducing it to nothing but splinters. 

He got up angrily, and then left without speaking another word. 

Natalia laid in her bed, faced up after arguing with the worried maid who had tried countless times to force her to eat something. But how could she eat when she doesn’t know if her people had eaten or not? Why enjoy the luxury at the expense of her people? Her father, her sister? 

She worried for them even more, her father has a bad knee, and working in the mine or doing anything strenuous will be hazardous to his health. 

And she isn’t even allowed to leave the walls of this chambers, it’s sickening. 

The door suddenly burst opened, and the emperor stormed in, panic surged in her chest, as she jumped up, missing a footing she slipped from the bed and landed on the floor. 

“Where did you find the nerve to refuse your meal, princess?” before Natalia could react to him, she felt herself being picked up from the ground and thrown against the bed. She bounced softly against the mattress. “Answer me, princess.” 

Came the growl. 

“What is it to you?” She asked curiously, “I don’t know how my family is doing, and you expect me to sit here 

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Chapter 22 

and stuff my face with all the food?” 

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“Do you think going on a hunger strike will make me change my mind?” He stared down at her and a shaky breath escaped her. “Keep playing with me, princess. And you will get burnt by fire.” 

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Chapter 23