First Meeting

Kingdom of Galsbourg, 1426

Present Time (1426)

When Emperor Liam Hansen entered the small interrogation room, he saw a woman kneeling, her head on the floor.

"Stand up, Lady Giselle, and answer my questions."

She raised her head and recognized the emperor was standing there. She had never met him before, but she saw paintings of him, and he looked exactly like those paintings.

She was shocked, though. Why was the emperor interrogating her???

The emperor was shocked as well. He didn't know Lady Giselle was this pretty.

He sat in front of the table and ordered her to do the same.

She sat in front of him.

They both noticed her hands were shaking. She immediately hid them under the table.

"Is it true? That you're plotting a secret revolution against me?"

She looked up and he felt like he was staring at a sky full of stars.

"That's entirely not true. We learn how to read, write and count. We learn History, Literature and useful skills. We never even thought of plotting against you, Your Majesty!"

There was anguish and fear in her eyes, but mostly anger.

"We even learn to contribute to this Empire. Smarter women mean a smarter nation, because we are half of the population."

It was the first time he heard the words "contribution" and "population" from a woman.

"Richard, hand me those books."

The Captain of the Guards moved forward and gave him five books.

The Emperor put it on the table.

"Did you use these at your academy?"

Lady Giselle opened and skimmed the books. She was horrified by what she saw. The books were about hatred for the emperor and men in general.

"This is the first time I've seen these books in my life. We don't use these in my academy, Your Majesty. Not at all."

She had been asked to change from her expensive dress to the white one from cotton that all prisoners wore. She had to take off all the jewels she was wearing as well.

But in the emperor's eyes, she was beautiful. Her skin looked smooth and silky. Her eyes were so alive and angry. And her words were articulate and straight to the point. He had never met such a smart woman, except his sister.

"How do you prove that you have never spread hatred against me, Lady Giselle?"

She glared at the emperor. She was going to die anyway, she thought.

"Raid my academy, Your Majesty. I beseech you. I even beg you. Check each book and sheet of paper. We learn nothing but useful things. None of them were about hating you. I have never seen you as a bad emperor. Instead, I like your policies. You're this empire's father and this land is our mother. We, the ladies, are loyal daughters."

"We'll definitely check your academy. You will be in trouble if you don't say the truth."

"Do it. You'll see I'm not lying!"

The emperor had never really seen an angry woman before. Everyone had been gentle and indulging with him. Lady Giselle was the first, and he thought she was extraordinary.

"Why did you open an academy for girls?"

"Because no one else did! When I was younger, I desperately wanted to study at Sullivan University, but I couldn't, since they accept only men! I was so heartbroken I became ill and nearly died."

"Your Majesty wouldn't understand the pain of someone who wanted to learn more, and had the capability of it, but was cut short simply because of her gender! You wouldn't understand the heartbreak, since you're the best educated man in the empire. You must have the best teachers and have access to all the books in the empire."

"So I helped myself, and the ladies that wanted it. If not I, who has the resources my kind father bestowed me, who would? Men thought women were only born to please them, give them children and raise them. We were never allowed to get higher education. Illiteracy for women is normal. We were taught to be quiet, even when some of us were abused. We were expected to know very little, accept everything and ask for nothing. I created the academy so that my ladies could have a safe space to voice out their minds, learn more and feel empowered. I have not, and will not regret it. Even if I have to die today."

She was clearly speaking what she was really passionate about, since tears were dropping from her eyes.

The emperor was so amazed, and was sure he had fallen in love in a matter of ten minutes.

"Lady Giselle."

Oh, God. This is it. He's going to announce my execution.

"Yes, Sire."

"Please move into my palace. I need to make you my queen."

"Your Majesty!!!" the Captain of the Guards reprimanded him in shock.

Lady Giselle was even more flabbergasted.

The emperor wanted to kill me himself. That must be it.

"Sire, I beg you. Just give me that last fine meal with poison in it. I ask only for time to write a letter to my parents."

The emperor smiled. "No, Lady Giselle. You're an amazing woman. I need to bring you to my palace, and make you my queen."

She thought it was utterly unkind for the emperor to smile before killing her.

"Do you want to kill me privately at your palace, Sire? Is that what you mean? You'll bring me to your palace, end me, then dispose of my body? Please at least give my body to my parents. Let them have something to bury and a grave to take care of. Imagine how destroyed they would be otherwise."

"No, my Lady. I want to marry you. Please, follow me as my wife."

She didn't understand his words, but the emperor had reached out and touched her hand.

At that time, only husbands touched their wives' hands.

Lady Giselle was so astonished that she pulled out her hand, stood up from her seat and moved backward.

"Thank you for never marrying anyone. You're meant for the Emperor after all."

"Bring me paper and ink," he ordered.

A man appeared from outside the interrogation room, bringing what he asked.

The emperor wrote something, then showed it to her.

Lady Giselle read it.

"The Emperor happily announced that Lady Giselle Kirstein, the founder of Kirstein Academy for Ladies has married him. Due to her intelligence, vision to uplift the ladies in her generation and all her other virtues, she would be this empire's queen. May the people rejoice and bless this union."

"I will stamp it with my imperial seal then announce this in the entire kingdom."

She frowned at the paper. The event had been too much even for her smart mind, and she could only digest a part of it.

"Sire will not execute me?"

"Definitely not. On the contrary, I'm going to keep you by my side."

"But you already have two wives. Why would you need a third?"

"Because they are my mother's choice, not mine. The third wife is my choice. They don't have your intelligence and bravery. Talking to them feels like talking to a wall. The third would make my life more interesting, and be my queen. They also haven't given me a son. I hope you can give me one. Or

more."

"Sire, please don't talk badly about your wives or daughters."

He laughed out loud all of a sudden. He felt that he was being scolded. Perhaps he deserved it. Oh, Lady Giselle would give him so much pleasure, he just knew it.

"I apologize. My concubines are good women. And my three daughters are lovely. But they couldn't be the next king. Maybe you can give me a son."

"And if I can't?"

"Then maybe I have to take another wife for that. Or let my uncle rule after I die, because I don't think I would want to touch another, after you."

She didn't answer. The conversation turned far too intimate, much too soon. Her brain gave up for the first time in her life.

The emperor stood up and walked to her. It's unbearable, the pull to be closer to her.

"Come, Lady Giselle. I'll show you my palace."

He was gently touching her shoulder, and her legs gave out. She fell to the ground.

Fighting to breathe, she held onto the wall.

The emperor followed, and knelt on the floor.

"This is impossible."

"I agree. It's a blessing that such an amazing woman came to me this way."

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Author's Note:

I posted the first version of this story on another platform. I assure you, this story is my original story. I hope you'll like this book!

Read the next chapter to find out why Lady Giselle was thrown in jail and was interrogated by the Emperor!