When Caspian opened his eyes, he was standing behind a large golden throne in a magnificent hall. He glanced around and felt confused.
He studied his clothes and could assert that he was the emperor's servant. He was wearing gray robes made of hemp.
A long red carpet in the middle led out of the hall. As he followed it, his eyes landed on a young man kneeling between two armed guards.
He had been crying, and he looked fearful. His face was pale, and he was avoiding eye contact with the emperor.
Caspian considered the woman sitting on the throne next to the emperor, and then at the men standing on the sides. He used Silas to check in which era he was in.
The architecture leads him to believe that they are in a future era, but the way they are dressed is throwing him off. When he saw that the stellar date was 4023, he was stunned.
Caspian checked on how far along technologically speaking this society was, and almost choked. They live as though they are in an archaic era when they can create cars, spaceships, cellphones, and computers.
They deliberately live this way. This is so odd. At least he'll be able to shower twice a day. He visited multiple universes that took place in an archaic era, and it was a nightmare.
Hygiene is far too important to him. He had to breathe through his mouth. So, he is grateful that they live as well as they can. As long as he has water and electricity, he is fine.
Caspian blinked to receive the universe's information when he heard the emperor ask coldly:
"What happened?"
The shell was named Micah Luna and was 20 years old. Micah was born into a wealthy family. His father was the chancellor of the Tredian empire. His dad was respected and had a lot of power over the ministry.
When Micah turned 18, they arrested his father on suspicion of treason. He was put in prison, but before his innocence could be proven, he died.
As a result, his underling Gray Ellis took his place as the chancellor. Subsequently, the Ellis household rose in the ranks. They gained an even stronger foothold in court when Gray's son, Aeron became the minister of work.
Not long after, the emperor Salvatore Stellard married Grey's only daughter, Camilla. With the entire family intricately tied to the emperor and empire, the Ellis household turned into a force to be reckoned with.
Micah, who had lost everything after his father passed, decided that he would take them down. When his father was arrested, Grey sent guards to empty their house and collect all their belongings.
Micah fought back for his brother Ezra and got a job at the imperial palace. He worked as one of the emperor's eunuchs.
While Gray and his son were sure that Micah wasn't aware of the part they played in his father's death and that he was inoffensive, Camilla believed the opposite.
She believed Micah intended to seduce the emperor. What worried her most is that Micah wasn't castrated before becoming a eunuch.
Because Micah was a ger, they didn't believe that it was necessary. Camilla lived in constant fear he might carry the emperor's child and the future emperor.
Since her brother and father didn't share her fear, she dealt with him on her own. She used the emperor's closest eunuch Eben to spy on Micah and found out that his brother Ezra was the person he cared most about.
She went for his Achilles heel, and had her secret guards drug and put him in her palace. Once Ezra was caught by the royal guards, he was brought in front of the entire court and sentenced to be lashed 10 times.
Ezra died when his wounds infected a couple of days later. Micah was heartbroken and dedicated his life to religion as his brother wished.
He left the imperial city, but Camilla was still not satisfied. She sent her secret guards to kill him on his way to the monastery.
When Caspian had received all the information, he looked at the original's brother, Ezra. One guard spoke:
"Your majesty, we found him in the empress's chambers. Who knows what he would've done if we hadn't caught him."
A few men from the court could be heard whispering. The emperor said in his usual crisp voice:
"We only asked what happened."
The guard swallowed and said:
"I'm sorry, your majesty."
The emperor considered Ezra and ordered:
"Speak."
Ezra glanced at Caspian, biting his lip. Caspian smiled at him gently and gave him a nod. Ezra relaxed slightly and murmured:
"The last thing I remember is being woken up by the guards in the empress' chambers. Before that, I was at my house. I swear, your majesty, I would never do something like that."
The emperor looked at Camilla, and she said:
"The necklace his majesty offered me is also missing."
Caspian looked at Camilla. That little bitch certainly made the original go through hell. He understands why she is so scared though. The original is the most pleasing person you'll ever lay eyes on.
The original had a beautiful jade-like face. He had long phoenix eyes and narrow and thin eyebrows. His dark hair made his green eyes shine like emeralds.
He had an aquiline nose with full red lips. Every trait on his face was delicate, the ger looked stunning. He looked so pure and lovely, it was impossible not to fall in love with him.
Caspian said in his head:
*Silas make sure every time the original's name is called, I hear my name. Strengthen my body and put it in auto-repair mode.*
*I already did. You're going to take his lashing, aren't you?*
Caspian said:
*The original cared about his brother most. If I make certain he lives and fulfills his dream to enter the monastery, I'll already earn power.*
Caspian smiled when he heard Silas sigh in his head. He felt his internal force heighten, and let out a breath.
Camilla, who had been looking at him, thought that he would be upset, but she saw him smile. The emperor said:
"You'll receive 10 lashes for trespassing."
Ezra looked at him wide-eyed and tears ran down his face. Camilla smirked. She looked at Caspian and saw that there was no reaction on his face.
The emperor glanced at a guard, and he pulled a stick out of his pouch. He pushed a button on the side and a whip materialized.
When Caspian observed that the thong of the whip was electrified, his eyes flashed. It seems like they aren't backward when it comes to weapons.
Caspian walked down the stairs and knelt in front of the emperor. Because of his larger frame, the emperor, and empress couldn't see Ezra anymore.
Caspian kowtowed twice and met the emperor's eyes.
"Your majesty, may I please take my brother's punishment? I'm responsible for failing to teach him right from wrong."
Camilla's face flushed with excitement. This is going even better than she imagined. Caspian will die from his wounds. Seeing how poor they are now, they'll never be able to buy medicine.
Caspian scanned emperor Salvatore when he cocked his head. The emperor had black dragon robes with a gold dragon. Salvatore had a chiseled jawline, with almond-shaped silvery eyes and dark hair.
His nose was straight, and his lips were full. His hair was styled in a half ponytail. At that very moment, his gray eyes were locked on Caspian.
Salvatore stood up and walked to Caspian. Caspian kept peering at him until he was staring down at him. He held Caspian's chin and tilted his head to look at him from every angle.
The entire hall stared at the scene, confused. Camilla's hands tightened on the throne's arms. Gray glanced at his daughter and then at the emperor. He asked her to leave Caspian alone, but as usual, she was stubborn and did as she wished.
Salvatore stared into Caspian's welling-up eyes. He glanced at his adam's apple when he swallowed. Caspian begged:
"Please, your majesty."
Salvatore looked at him for another beat, then left to sit on his throne. He ordered the guard:
"Whip Caspian."
Ezra said:
"Brother..."
Before he could finish, Caspian turned and pulled him into his embrace.
He whispered:
"Instead of leaving for the monastery next week, leave today. Leave the imperial city and don't look back."
Caspian drew out a pouch discreetly and put it in his chest. He pulled back and smiled gently. Ezra bit his lip, crying.
"Go, or I will never forgive you."
Ezra stood up, looking at Caspian. Caspian smiled at him and he forced a smile. He walked out of the hall without looking back as his brother ordered.
When he was out of the hall, Caspian turned around and looked at the guard, so he could start. The guard looked at the emperor and he nodded. Camilla looked at him with curled lips when the punishment began.
Caspian looked down, biting his lips tightly. Unfortunately, he can't deactivate the pain sensory. But he'll give no one the pleasure of hearing him cry or scream.
When his sanction was over, he felt like sleeping and never waking up. His lip was bleeding, and his face was pale. When he saw Silas kneel in front of him, he looked up and lifted his tired head.
He looked into his worried eyes and said in his head with a smile.
*I'm okay.*
Silas looked at him and then vanished. Caspian looked at the emperor with the same smile and murmured:
"Thank you, your majesty."
After those words, he collapsed.