As the night had thickened a red haired woman sat, heart thumping as she played with a finger. She had fair skin as that of a princess and beautiful green eyes.
Anne never thought she would see the Central Palace again. The Emperor had already done so much for her by letting her stay here during the war protected by his seal. Creatures from Earth could not survive up to a month outside their realm, but the Emperor placed a seal on her sharing his life energy with her so she could stay for an extended period. She didn't know how it worked, but it did. It had already been two years since she left Earth in the middle of the war. Her assistance was no longer needed there, she would only be a nuisance.
The door opened revealing a man walking to her with a monocle.
"Roma?"
"Anne," Roma answered with a small smile. "How have you been?"
"Fair. His majesty's talisman has protected me immeasurably. The people still don't know I'm human." Anne said with light in her eyes. Grateful. The Emperor had given her another chance at life and a new home.
"Come with me," Roma said. "The Emperor summons you."
Anne nodded. It had been five years since she had heard the voice of this very man. Much more been summoned by the Emperor of the universe's largest and most powerful Empire. A power far greater Earth.
She had only jumped into a portal by chance, discovering a strange world with crystal red plants and a blue sun. Very different from the green trees of earth
Luckily she landed in a camp where she was found by the Emperor.
He recognized her to be human and she begged for his mercy, at the time she had no clue he was an Emperor. All she had then was the desire to live.
Strangely he looked into her eyes for some seconds and decided to let her live.
It happened a few months before the war against Earth began.
Anne felt the memories resurfacing. Separate from that day she had never seen or heard from him physically again. Who knew Five years later and she would be in his presence once again. A part of her was excited to see white haired man with the deepest red eyes she ever saw.
As she entered the room, Najeer was by the window with his eyes focused reading a document. He raised his head and glanced at them.
"Anne," Najeer said as he lowered the document.
"Your Majesty," Anne blurted as her eyes grew. Her blood heated from seeing him once again. she knelt before him with her eyes down.
"Did I ask you to kneel," Najeer on the other hand seemed as cold as ever as he walked and dropped the document on his desk.
"Sit down."
Anne nodded and sat on a black leather seat. His office looked like a library with a brown desk in front of it. This had to be another one of his office as she recalled Najeer's former office, the one he had brought her to after picking her up from the woods, being contrastingly different. It used to be pale white, with strange red glass bottles floating in the air.
Anne waited patiently for him to speak. You couldn't speak to the Emperor unless you were asked.
"It has been a while," Najeer said as some maids came in pouring a drink for Anne. Her eyes watched the red liquid filled to the brim of the clear crystal glass before the maid stopped.
While some other girls began setting up the tables with food.
"It is an honor to be summoned by, his Majesty," Anne said in a soft tone, breathing out in relief.
"Eat, I'm sure the journey was long," Najeer motioned.
Anne's eyes fell on the baked round biscuits. Her fingers picked one up with a smile, "Thank you."
He saw her eat, knowing humans had a taste for sweets.
"When we found you, I let you recover before questioning you." Najeer started. "You confirmed to Vero, Earth had a king, didn't you?"
"Yes, your Majesty. We do. I mean, I did. I no longer serve that person," Anne answered, eyes revealing icy storms. She had long betrayed her own realm to aid the Qiras take over earth.
Ever since the day Najeer found her when she accidentally strayed into Naqill, she knew what side she was on.
They had wanted to eat her at first, but to her surprise, Emperor Najeer took her in and transferred her to stay with Vero and the others on Earth.
Their meeting was brief and short but it was the most kindness Anne had received from a stranger. He trusted her enough to be an ally in the war. Till this day she didn't know why.
But the Emperor saved her life, had his doctor's heal and nurse her to health. She only had a few brief encounter with the Emperor before he sent her back to her Realm to fight alongside commander Ver.
Commander Vero was the only one who she could communicate with the Emperor through. He was usually so busy, he responded very late. But no matter how late, the Emperor always replied her letters. It gave her a sense of security as strange as that sounded.
"I see," Najeer relaxed in his chair.
Roma gave Emperor Najeer a look, already filled in the current happenings with his new found bride.
"Either one of you must be lying."
Anne heard those words as a spark of confusion rose in her head. 'Either' what did he mean? He must have discovered something but was giving her the opportunity to confess. Had he found another Earth General?
Her heart stopped.
"But," she corrected, "The King I speak of is a woman."
"Not a man anymore?" Najeer's dark pupils sharpened at her. "Have you been lying to us all this time, human." The edge of his lips arched into a taunting half smile.
Anne saw it. The look in his eyes. It was the same as a predator peering at a prey. He had always looked at her like that. But sometimes he tried to conceal it. Now was not one of those times.
"I swear on my mother's life that was all I hid from you. I told you all I knew and everything was true —I only told you she was a king because I didn't think her gender would be important…"
"I wonder what else you found not to be important."
"That's all, I swear on my mother,"
"Not many people have regard for their mother," Najeer answered in a dark calm tone. "Your swearing is worthless."
"Then I swear on my life. I only called her a king because General Vero and everyone else already assumed she was a king. I took advantage of that to mock her."
"Mock her?" Roma asked.
"She is a shallow woman who cares solely on her looks. Calling her a man would be the highest insult to her," Anne said. A woman who spent hours adorning herself in the mirror and vigorously fixated with beauty potions and clothes. To be called a king. She would blow up in flames and curse angrily over hearing it. "You must believe me, I loathe that woman more than anything. She attacked my kingdom, killed my father, took the throne and made me and my brothers into her servants. If I hadn't escaped, she would have killed me like she did my brothers after working like dogs for her!" Her teeth gritted.
"And yet you weren't entirely truthful," Roma spat back. He was disappointed in the human. His Majesty saved her and for what.
"I am sorry," Tears unknowingly sprang out of her eyes from the memories.
"If we missed even the obvious information of the Earth leader's identity I wonder what else was missed."
"But it doesn't make any sense, Vero had sent images of male statues planted in every Empire. The books and letters written about the Regent all referred to her as Emperor," Roma furrowed his eyebrows. "Unless they were..."
"Tricks. Probably everything we thought we knew about the Earth army was a lie as well." Najeer glanced towards Anne.
"I am not a plant. Everything I said to you was true," Anne answered. "You have to believe me," she dared to look him in the eyes sincerely before glancing away unable to withstand his iciness.
Najeer gazed at Anne. He could see the woman shaking. Just like the very day he found her