Richard

Your life was scheduled hour by hour: studies, etiquette, balls, engagement, wedding. You were a baby when you were betrothed to the crown prince, who became emperor after your wedding ceremony.

He always disliked you, believing he should have been allowed to choose his own bride, but it was too late. After the wedding, nothing changed. The same cold, disdainful glances in your direction. He was always looking for something to reproach you for: not looking at you the right way, not curtsying the way he wanted, not being who he wanted…

You, who had seen all this since childhood, asked your parents to abandon the engagement, but they were adamant; well, how could you refuse the opportunity to become related to the imperial family?

But anyway, you were already married, and his gaze grew ever more cunning and confident. So, one day, you learned from the servants that he was going to accuse you of treason against the empire, which you hadn't actually committed.

You, realizing that you would be executed for treason, decided to run away, you didn’t know where, just as far away from the palace, into the forest, where it would be more difficult to find you.

You took nothing with you except a small bag of gold... In the middle of the night, you climbed out your bedroom window, took your horse from the stable, and drove it into the forest. An hour passed, then two... You slowed down and led the horse quite calmly, but at one point the horse heard a sharp sound and charged forward, and before you could react, you fell off and hit your head on something you couldn't see; the images were changing too quickly before your eyes.

You woke up in someone's estate. You didn't immediately recognize the place, but when you saw the Emperor's brother, Richard, everything fell into place. Most likely, it was he who found you in the forest.

“Are you awake, Empress?” Richard asked mockingly, but concern was visible in his eyes. “While you were unconscious, I thought about it and decided to offer you something... either I return you to your brother, or you tell me everything about him, and I will do everything to ensure that you survive.”