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Lahat ng Kabanata ng He Tried to Make the Empress His Concubine: Kabanata 1 - Kabanata 10

10 Kabanata

Chapter 1

"Mother?" I tugged at her sleeve.Mother gently touched the top of my head, her voice perfectly even. "I believe this gentleman and his wife have mistaken me for someone else. I do not know either of you, let alone anything about a daughter."She moved to lead me away, but the man stepped forward and blocked our path."Emmeline, I know you resent me. It was wrong of me to leave nothing but a letter before my wedding and disappear. I know that."He paused, as if waiting for her to soften. "But you have to understand, Seraphina and I are truly in love. You can't force something that isn't there. You've always been gracious and understanding, so I'm sure you can see that."The woman called Seraphina finally pulled her gaze away from me and turned to my mother. A flash of smugness crossed her eyes before she quickly rearranged her face into something pitiful and delicate."Emmeline, all those years Cedric and I spent away, not a single moment passed where we didn't think of you and R

Chapter 2

The rest of my words died in my throat.It hit me then that Mother and I had snuck out of the palace. We had no handmaidens, no guards. If anyone found out who we were, we would be in real danger. Still, it was so unfair!Cedric watched my mother scold me and actually looked pleased. He carried on as though it were settled. "So you do have some sense, after all. You know this isn't the place to talk. Let's go somewhere quieter and sort this out properly. The child deserves to know who her real parents are."As he spoke, he reached out to grab my arm."Don't touch me!" I shrieked and scrambled behind Mother.Mother lifted her hand and blocked his reach with one calm, deliberate motion. "Mr. Ashworth, mind yourself."Cedric's hand hung frozen in the air. His expression darkened. "Emmeline Sinclair, I'm being generous here. Don't push your luck. I walked away once. I can take my daughter and walk away again, and there's nothing you can do to stop me."Seraphina stopped crying too,

Chapter 3

My heart twisted so painfully that I could barely breathe. All I could do was reach out and hold Mother's ice-cold fingers as tightly as my small hands could manage.A flash of embarrassment crossed Cedric's face, but it was quickly swallowed by anger. "So what? Would you have me give up the woman I truly love for the sake of some arranged marriage? Even the Emperor himself defied every advisor in his court to keep his heart devoted solely to the Empress. How is it wrong for me to do the same?"Emmeline Sinclair, I never loved you! Marrying you was nothing more than our parents' arrangement! Seraphina and I chose each other!"As for the gossip, it's been years. Who even remembers any of it?"Mother's gaze drifted across Seraphina's smug face, then back to Cedric. Her eyes looked hollow. "And when you left that newborn child with me, telling me that as the intended wife and that it was my duty to raise her... Was that also because of your great love for each other?""Emmeline!" Ser

Chapter 4

Seraphina stepped closer, pushing her face right up to Mother's. "The legitimate daughter, raising a child for me, the illegitimate one. Just thinking about it makes me feel wonderful!"I was trembling with rage, but Mother gripped my hand tight and would not let me move.Cedric frowned. "Seraphina, that's enough."Then, he sighed and turned to Mother, his tone laced with reproach. "Emmeline, I can allow you to continue raising Rosalind. But Seraphina is the legal wife. Once you enter the household, you will serve her and pay her the proper respects."Tears flooded my eyes all at once. I broke free and rushed forward, kicking Seraphina in the leg as hard as I could. "You're a horrible person! Don't you dare talk to my mother like that!"Seraphina shrieked and swung her hand straight at my face.Mother pulled me behind her. The slap landed across Mother's cheek with a sharp crack.I froze.Mother's head snapped to the side. A red handprint bloomed against her pale skin, but she

Chapter 5

Mother was pulling herself up from the ground. Her hair had come loose, and her clothes were streaked with dust.I threw myself into her arms, shaking all over. Mother held me and gently patted my back.Cedric walked over, his brows so deeply furrowed that they looked carved into his face. "Emmeline, why put yourself through this? The child is suffering with you. She'd be better off back with the Ashworth family!"Mother did not acknowledge him. She simply held me, pressed her lips close to my ear, and whispered in a voice so quiet only I could hear. "Don't be afraid, Liara. Your father must have already noticed we are gone. He will come for us soon."I nodded hard and buried my face in the crook of her neck.Seraphina came over, cradling her bitten hand, her eyes burning with hatred. "That little wretch is just as ungrateful as Emmeline!"She turned to Cedric and snapped, "Cedric, what are you standing there for? Take the child!"Cedric stepped forward and grabbed my arm, pulli

Chapter 6

"Father!" I cried out through my tears.That single word echoed through the alley, and Cedric released me as though his hands had been burned. His fingers flew open, and I stumbled free.Seraphina was still frozen in place, her hands caught mid-reach where she had been pulling at my underclothes. The expression on her face shifted from triumph to terror, and then to utter disbelief.The boots of the Royal Guards struck the ground in thunderous unison, their armor glinting cold under the lantern light. The crowd was swept aside in moments, and the mouth of the alley was sealed tight.The golden carriage came to a stop, and the figure I knew better than anyone in the world stepped out and walked toward us with swift, measured strides.It was Father.It was my father, the Emperor.He was dressed in plain clothes, but I had never seen his face look like that before. It was not the kind of frightening that came with anger. It was the kind that made the air itself feel too heavy to br

Chapter 7

"What I'd like to know, Mr. Ashworth, is when exactly my princess became your daughter?"Every last trace of color drained from Cedric's face. His mouth opened and closed, but no sound came out.Seraphina crumpled to the ground, mumbling to herself. "That's impossible... It's impossible... Rosalind is my daughter. She's five years old, and she has Cedric's eyes. How can she not be..."Father did not spare her a glance. He only looked at Mother.Mother leaned against his chest, her voice hoarse. "That child... She was dying when she was brought to me."Seraphina's head snapped up. "You're lying! You're a liar!"Mother did not look at her. Her gaze drifted to some faraway point, as though she were seeing something from a long time ago."Five years ago, you and Cedric eloped and left a newborn girl with me. The baby's face was crooked, her body bruised all over. The physician said she was born too weak and would not survive three days."Her voice was perfectly calm, as if she were

Chapter 8

Seraphina's laughter turned ragged and raw, until tears smeared across her entire face.Cedric knelt on the ground, looking as though his mind had gone blank.Father held Mother close with one arm and carried me with the other as he turned and walked away.Behind us, Cedric's hoarse voice rang out. "Emmeline!"Mother's steps faltered for just a moment. But she did not look back.In the carriage on the way back to the palace, Mother held me the entire time and would not let go. Father sat beside her, holding her hand in silence. I was wrapped in Father's cloak and nestled in Mother's arms. Finally, the fear began to fade."Mother," I whispered, "that terrible woman... is she really your sister?"Mother was quiet for a moment, then gave a small nod."Then why is she so terrible?"Mother did not answer.Father answered for her. "Because some people are simply born cruel. Stay far away from people like them, Liara."I nodded, not entirely sure I understood.I asked again, "Fath

Chapter 9

The royal dungeons were cold and damp, and the air reeked of rot and mildew. Mother brought me with her. She said it would do me good to see some things for myself.Cedric sat inside his cell in prison garb, his hair matted and his face covered in stubble. There was nothing left of the self-assured man from the street that night.When he saw Mother, he threw himself against the bars. "Emmeline! Emmeline, you came! You were willing to see me. That means you still care about me, doesn't it?"Mother stood three paces away, her expression unmoved. "Cedric, I came because I have some questions for you.""Ask me! Ask me anything!" Cedric nodded frantically. "I'll tell you everything!"Mother paused for a moment, then asked, "The child. You named her Rosalind. Why Rosalind?"Cedric blinked. His mouth hung open for a long moment before he managed to speak. "That was... Seraphina chose it. She said... Rosalind meant something pure and lovely. She wanted the child to grow up that way."Mo

Chapter 10

Mother was quiet for a moment, then said, "She was my sister. When we were small, she used to follow me around and call for me, and I would give her sweets."I was taken aback."What happened after that?"Mother said softly, "After that, she grew up. She learned to scheme. She learned to hurt people. The little girl who used to follow me around asking for sweets died a long, long time ago."She touched my head gently. "Liara, the hardest thing in life is staying true to who you are. I hope you never become that kind of person."I nodded with all my might. "I won't! I'm going to be good, just like you, Mother!"Mother smiled.Sunlight spilled through the window and fell across her face, soft and warm as a portrait.…The days passed, one after another. What happened with Cedric and Seraphina faded from memory.I grew up inside the palace walls. Father and Mother were as devoted to each other as ever, and there was still no one in the court but Mother alone.Ministers had prot

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