Chapter 8

WARNING: NAOMI'S ABUSE IS COMING TO LIGHT. PLEASE PROCEED WITH CAUTION.

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"Ecknerd, come here," the Emperor demanded. The butler scrambled into the office, ready to receive orders. The Emperor did not want to ask about Marie's whereabouts, but his mother would not back down.

"Find out where Marie is. I want the report on my desk in an hour," Ecknerd bowed and left to follow orders. Although the Emperor was attempting to get the situation under control, the others did not agree. The princes swiftly left to prepare for the trip to go after Naomi's mother while Xenia and Irene stayed.

"You do not know where she is?" Irene asked. Her husband sighed and thought about how to answer. The silence added gasoline to the fire and his wife's temper.

"Irene, she was not in the mansion. Naomi was the only person left," the Emperor admitted. It was the strangest thing. Ecknerd had sent a letter to Marie informing her that the Imperial family now knew about Naomi's existence. She never responded; this caused soldiers to be issued out and take Noami and her mother to the palace. But when the soldiers arrived at the court, there was no Marie. It was not until later the Emperor found out about Naomi was left behind while her mother and step-father went on the run.

"What mother leaves her daughter behind? Naomi is only five years old! I swear to the gods when I get my hands on her," Xenia growled. He could only shrug and wait for Ecknerd to return with his report.

*KNOCK* *KNOCK* *KNOCK*

"Who is it?" Irene demanded. She wanted answers NOW, and it did not matter from who. Irene needed Ecknerd to hurry up with the report so they can take care of that evil witch.

"It's Charon. My brothers and I are ready to leave when ready," the boy reported out. Irene sighed at her son's boldness to assume that they were going on the trip for Naomi's mother.

"Charon, why do you want to go so badly?" Xenia asked. The middle son blushed and avoided eye contact with both his grandmother and mother. "Nana, that woman hurt our little sister. Father has to stay here for diplomatic reasons, so it is our job to go in place," Charon stuttered out.

"I am going as well, Charon," the Emperor pointed out. Charon instantly deflated. What brother would he be if he couldn't help his own sister? Would Naomi feel disappointed? No, Charon shook the negative thoughts out. She would smile and hug them while listening to stories that she missed out on. The door was opened again, but it was clear it was Jan and Hugo by them not knocking.

"Boys, you cannot come with us. You need to be here for your little sister; Naomi needs her brothers while we are away," Irene explained. It made her heart swell as a mother that her boys cared so much about their little sister, but the moment did not last.

"Your majesty, I have the report you wanted. Luckily Marie's husband is a low rank noble, so tracking her was not that difficult," Ecknerd explained. He handed the papers to the family and took his leave, giving the family time to go over the information. The Emperor swiftly started looking at the documents and reading over their contents. The rest of the family impatiently waited for the Emperor to tell them where Marie was.

"She is in the Capital still. Boys, you heard your mother about staying here. The three of us need to have some questions answered and tell Ecknerd to summon us if something happens to the Palace or Naomi," the Emperor ordered. The boys nodded and left the room to go straight to their sister's room while the adults got ready.

"We will meet up in thirty minutes at the front gate. If you are late, then you will be left behind," Xenia commanded, and like that, she left the office. Irene and the Emperor left soon after to prepare, but they did not speak to each other. It would be the first time Irene would meet her husband's former mistress, but this was about Naomi.

********THIRTY MINUTES LATER*************

The three finally met up at the front gate, along with a couple soldiers, to keep the peace. They set out for the Capital, determined to find Marie and get the answers they needed to help Naomi get better. The ride to their destination was quiet, too deep in their own thoughts to talk about anything. But it did not take long for the group to arrive at the Capital, yet nowhere close to Marie's location.

"Your Majesty, we are three streets from the hut," a soldier informed. The Emperor nodded and ordered the group to keep going towards Marie. Nerves ate away at the Emperor; his wife or mother never has Marie, but their hatred was crystal clear. He was so deep in thought about the events that were about to unfold that he did not notice they arrived at the destination.

It was a simple hut; that is the first thing that they noticed. It was an excellent place to lay low when the Imperial family is on your back. Xenia did not waste any time and started banging on the door while Irene and the Emperor tried to catch up. Before the old woman could cause any more noise, the door opened. It revealed a beautiful young woman with bright red hair, tan skin, and purple eyes that stood out. The woman had a fake smile with annoyance written her face, but one look at the Emperor changed it.

"Oh, Aidric, what brings you here? You looking for a good time?" the woman purred. Irene almost puked at her overly sweet tone, but the Emperor quickly answered before his wife could.

"Marie, we are here about Naomi," Aidric answered. Marie looked displease at the mention of her daughter's name. She gestured the group inside and closed the door. Marie guided them to the living room and sat down, a sign for the rest to do the same.

"What did that brat do now?" Marie growled. The venom in her tone made Irene almost bolt out of her chair, but she kept a calm face.

"Was she ever abused?" Aidric asked. Marie tensed but did not answer the question. Irene did not like this at all; she wanted to know what happened to her baby girl.

"No, she was fed and happy," Marie lied through her teeth. Everyone in the room knew this, but Marie didn't.

"Marie, why was Naomi alone? Locked away in a room with no food or water?" Aidric calmly asked. Marie huffed in annoyance, but she started "explaining the truth."

"She was my ticket to being a concubine. But you didn't show up to any events, so I was stuck with her," Marie said calmly. Irene gripped her chair as that bitch told them everything.

"Naomi always was a clingy girl. She got in the of my work and was rude to her own mother. I had no choice to discipline her," Marie went on.

"What is your definition of discipline," Irene asked. She was scared of the answer that Marie would give them. Marie seemed confused at the question but answered anyway.

"She got the whip or belt, but I learned later on that it was more work to care for Naomi afterward," Marie smiled. Aidric could feel the bile rise in his throat, a whip? Not even his father, the former Emperor, whipped him. What was Marie thinking?

"If she was terrible, I would lock her up in our old closet with no food or water," Marie continued. Xenia tried to hold back, just waiting for Marie to continue before beating her lights out.

"I paid her out a couple times to pay the bills, but the men returned with her crying and demanding me instead. But that's how the world works," Aidric lashed out. Before anyone could blink, Marie was against the wall with a hand around her throat.

"What did they do to her?" Irene gritted. Marie gasped for air, but the Emperor did not let go.

"She cried too much, so they beat her instead," Marie cried out. Xenia pushed Aidric out of the way and gripped Marie's scalp smashing it into the wall with no remorse. Marie's cries did not satisfy the blood lust running in their veins. Xenia was not done though, she dragged the woman out into the streets towards the guards.

"I need to go back to the palace. Naomi needs her mother right now," Irene called out, and like that, she was gone.

Xenia and Aidric paid her no mind. They needed to give out punishment.

"Marie, you are found guilty of child abuse and child trafficking. You will be stripped of your maternal rights and whipped until you have no skin left. Until Naomi wakes up, that will be your punishment," Xenia growled out. After the soldiers dragged Marie away, the other two went towards the palace to give the children the news.

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I am so sorry about the abuse. Do you think Aidric has changed? I also hope yall enjoyed momma bear Irene and badass granny, Xenia! The next chapter will have Naomi and a lot of fluff!