In the Shadow of the Crown

The afternoon sun bathed the Imperial Gardens in a soft, golden light as Princess Celestia invited Empress Eliza to a tea gathering. The scent of blooming flowers filled the air as the tea party took place in the serene garden, surrounded by the beauty of nature. The table was delicately set, adorned with fine china, a tea set with intricate designs, and delicate pastries that would tempt even the most indifferent.

Eliza, wearing her usual serene but distant expression, sat down, her chestnut brown hair cascading like silk around her shoulders. Her movements were slow, as her body, in its delicate state of early pregnancy, made her appear more fragile than ever. The maids had dressed her in a soft, pale blue gown that shimmered faintly in the sunlight, but despite their careful efforts, Eliza’s eyes seemed distant, lost, as though she wasn’t truly present in the moment.

Princess Celestia spoke gently, offering Eliza warm words, but the Empress remained silent. She could see Eliza’s fingers twitch slightly around the teacup, yet she could not bring herself to make eye contact. For a brief moment, Celestia thought she saw something, a flicker of recognition, but it quickly faded.

The tea party continued for about an hour, with Celestia’s soft words floating into the air, unanswered. She had hoped, maybe naively, that this small gesture of kindness could awaken something in Eliza. But it was clear that nothing had changed.

After the tea party concluded, Princess Celestia rose from her seat and gave a polite, though somewhat wistful, farewell.

"I hope to see you again soon, Empress," she said gently, bowing her head.

Eliza merely nodded in acknowledgment, her gaze lingering on nothing in particular. As Celestia left the garden, the air felt heavy, thick with unspoken words and unrealized hopes.

***

After the tea party, Eliza made her way through the halls of the palace in search of Raen. She moved slowly, her body betraying her weakness as the early stages of her pregnancy drained her energy. There was no urgency in her steps, yet she knew where she was going.

She found him in the royal chambers, speaking to Crown Prince Asher, who had come to discuss matters of the throne and future alliances. The conversation was unimportant to her; all she needed was Raen, and when she finally entered the room, her presence barely registered to anyone.

Without a word, Eliza walked up to Raen and silently sat on his lap, her body slumping against his, her head resting against his chest. Raen's eyes were cold and calculating as he watched her, but there was something comforting in the way she nestled against him, like a doll in his arms.

"Eliza," he said, his voice low, "You have come to me."

But Eliza didn’t respond, her eyes empty. The spark in her gaze had completely vanished. She was still, too still.

Raen could feel the weight of the moment, the coolness in the room, but he said nothing further. Eliza was his creation, and he had always known that she was more a masterpiece than a woman.

***

After a long moment, the Crown Prince left the room, and Raen was left alone with Eliza. He observed her carefully, noting the subtle changes in her demeanor. Her pregnancy was still in its early stages, but he knew that it was important to be cautious.

Raen summoned a physician to examine Eliza’s condition, asking if it was safe to engage in certain activities with her in this delicate state. The doctor, after performing a quick check-up, assured him that Eliza's body was indeed fragile, but nothing was dangerously amiss at the moment. However, the physician recommended careful observation as the pregnancy developed further.

As the doctor left the room, Raen’s three maids arrived, reporting the details of the tea party. They informed him about the interaction between Celestia and Eliza, relaying every small detail they had overheard. Raen listened intently, his expression unreadable.

Once the maids finished, Raen gave them an order. "Continue to observe the princess and report back to me. I want to know everything."

The maids nodded and exited.

***

After the maids departed, Raen instructed the servants to bring food to Eliza. He had received word that she had eaten little during the tea, and he knew it was important to nourish her.

When the food arrived, Raen seated Eliza in front of him and, as he had done countless times before, he fed her spooning the food to her lips and watching her eat. Her movements were mechanical. She didn’t seem to enjoy the meal, but she ate it, almost as if she were fulfilling a duty.

Raen remained silent, observing her. The sparkle in Eliza’s eyes had completely disappeared, leaving only an empty shell. After she finished eating, Eliza immediately stopped moving, her body stiffening again as she sank into her own world of silence.

***

Raen glanced at the table, and an idea crossed his mind. Eliza had shown interest in tea earlier, so he decided to indulge her. "Bring tea and dessert," he instructed the servants, his tone commanding but not harsh. "Let her have the things she desires, if it brings her comfort."

Soon, a fresh cup of tea and small, delicate pastries were placed in front of Eliza. She didn’t react immediately, but when the scent of the tea reached her, she seemed to stir slightly.

Raen approached her, leaning down to whisper softly in her ear. "No one can take you from me, Eliza. You are mine. And no one will ever awaken you, not the way I can."

He kissed her gently on her forehead, then began feeding her the pastry. She ate passively, allowing him to care for her as he pleased. Raen was pleased with the silence, the stillness. It was a comfort to him, knowing that Eliza was his and no one could take her from him. He was content for now.

***

As Raen continued caring for Eliza, he received word that the King had arrived to discuss matters of marriage and political alliances. Raen could already sense the tension in the air, knowing the importance of the conversation. As the King entered, his eyes briefly landed on Eliza, who was sitting silently on Raen’s lap, her vacant expression unmistakable.

The King eyed Raen with a knowing look, speaking with a slight chuckle. "So, the rumors are true, then," he said, referring to the whispers surrounding Eliza. "She is indeed your perfect creation."

Raen’s expression didn’t change, but there was a faint glint in his eye. "She is the only one," he replied coldly, his voice firm. "The rest of the world can only imagine what I have created."

The King nodded, though he seemed slightly disturbed by the conversation. The two men continued discussing the political marriage with the first daughter of the kingdom, but Raen’s thoughts remained on Eliza. No one could touch what he had made. No one could understand the depths of his creation.

After his conversation with the King, Raen felt an even stronger need to assert his claim over Eliza. The mere thought that someone might doubt to whom she belonged stirred something dark and untamed within him.

He returned to his chambers, where Eliza sat silently on his lap, just as he had instructed. Her body was light against him, her warmth pressing into his chest, yet her expression remained empty, distant. Raen wrapped his arms around her, his grip firm yet possessive, as if to remind himself that she was real, his and only his.

"You are mine," he murmured, his voice rough with satisfaction. "And I will make sure no one ever questions it."

He leaned in, pressing deep kisses against her skin - marks of possession that would linger for days. He trailed them along her neck, her shoulders, her chest every place that he could claim as his own. With each kiss, his obsession grew stronger. All the while, she remained seated on his lap, unmoving, allowing him to continue without resistance.

But it wasn’t enough.

"When these marks fade," he whispered against her ear, "I will leave them again. Again and again, until no one dares to think you could ever belong to anyone else."

Taking her delicate hand in his, he guided it to his neck, pressing her fingers against his skin. Her touch was light, barely there, but he moved her lower, letting her understand what he wanted.

"Now it’s your turn," his voice was firm, laced with impatience. "Mark me, Eliza. Let everyone see that I am yours, just as you are mine."

Still seated on his lap, she remained passive as he pressed her lips against his neck, guiding her until he felt the faintest bite. It was unconscious on her part, but the slight sting sent a wave of satisfaction through him. A slow, pleased smile curled his lips as he brushed her hair from her face.

"Good girl," he whispered, before claiming her lips once more, allowing her to leave yet another mark on him.

***

Later that evening, Princess Celestia retired to her chambers after a quiet meal with her family. She pondered over the events of the day, her mind still focused on how she could help Eliza awaken. She had spent time thinking about her plans, but it became evident to her that more than just tea would be needed. She would need her sister’s help, and together, they might be able to reach the Empress.

"I’ll invite my sister next time," Celestia thought to herself. "Perhaps she can help me awaken Eliza."

She lay in bed, sleep slowly overtaking her, as she thought about what to do next.

***

After his conversation with the King, Raen turned to Eliza, who remained silent, still on his lap. He could feel the weight of her silence, the emptiness that surrounded her.

"It’s time to rest, Eliza," Raen whispered. "Let’s sleep together."

And as he held her close, Raen’s mind wandered to what was to come. He knew the challenges ahead and the games that would unfold. But one thing was certain - Eliza would remain his. No one could ever take her from him.

Raen kissed the top of her head, settling beside her as they both drifted into a quiet, uneasy sleep.

***

For twelve days leading up to the wedding, Eliza bore the unmistakable marks of Raen’s possessiveness. The deep, dark bruises on her pale skin never faded because Raen ensured they wouldn’t. The moment he noticed even the slightest fading, he replaced them with new ones, adding more in different places. Everyone who saw her knew, she belonged to him completely.

The wedding ceremony for Raen and his second wife, Princess Celestina, was a grand spectacle in her homeland. Nobles and royals from across the continent gathered to witness the union, their eyes filled with intrigue and speculation. Celestina played her role well, standing beside Raen as the perfect bride, though her mind remained focused on her true goal to awaken the Empress.

That night, the first wedding night took place in Raen’s chambers. Celestina had no idea that her food had been laced with a powerful aphrodisiac, nor that the very air of Raen’s chambers had been treated to heighten her desires. When she stepped inside and saw Eliza sitting silently in a chair, unmoving as always, she immediately approached her, hoping that this moment might be the one to bring the Empress back.

She spoke to Eliza softly, trying to reach something within her. But before she could even begin to question Raen about why Eliza was there, heat surged through her body. The aphrodisiac took full effect, clouding her thoughts. The presence of the Empress no longer mattered, only the man before her did.

Raen watched with amusement as Celestina succumbed, her resistance melting away. And then, as planned, he gave Eliza a command to join them, to show Celestina how things should be done.

That night, Raen left new marks on both of them, branding Celestina just as he had Eliza. This was not only about his obsession with Eliza but also a strategic move to ensure Celestina’s parents had no reason to call off the second wedding in his imperial capital.

The next morning, Celestina bid farewell to her family, and together, they departed for Raen’s empire. The journey back was long, and Celestina spent much of it trying to secure a private meeting with the Empress. Each time she failed, she wrote to her younger sister, detailing her struggles and promising to redouble her efforts.

However, Celestina never realized that her letters never reached their intended destination. Every message was intercepted and delivered straight to Raen, who read them with amusement. After finishing each letter, he would chuckle, then give the order to have the messages sent onward to the young princess, knowing full well how pointless Celestina’s plans were.

Still, Celestina was determined. As she settled into life in the imperial palace, she devised a new plan, one that involved orchestrating an event where the Empress would be forced to engage with others, hoping that a strong emotional response might awaken her.

Meanwhile, Raen prepared for another important event the arrival of the mage who would examine Eliza, seeking to enhance his perfect creation even further. He knew he had to be present for the process, ensuring that nothing about her changed in a way he did not approve of.

That morning, after spending his wedding night with Celestina, Raen went straight to Eliza, bringing her with him to his office as always. The mage would be arriving that evening, and Raen would make sure his Empress remained entirely under his control.

Celestina, however, was not giving up. Even as she plotted her next move, she had no idea that every step she took was already being watched, and manipulated by the Emperor himself.