Satisfying Her Darkest Fantasies

In the winter of the 42nd year of the Hanover Kingdom, Julia Chu stood outside the Grand Hall, her body covered in a thick layer of snow, tears streaming down her face. The biting cold mixed with the overwhelming scent of blood assaulted her senses, causing her heart to constrict.

The man who should have been her father, Emperor Chu, now sat lifeless, replaced by the familiar yet utterly foreign figure of Howard Qin. The man who had once been her husband, who had kissed her brow and called her "song," was now the enemy who had slain her family and destroyed her homeland.

"The Hanover Kingdoms royal family, with their tyrannical rule and harsh punishments, has made the people suffer greatly. Heaven, moved by their plight, has revealed to me in a dream that I must overthrow the tyrant and rebuild a golden age. From this day forth, the nation shall be known as the Xialiang Dynasty, and the Hanover Kingdom shall cease to exist!" Howards cold voice echoed, chilling Julia to the bone and snapping her back to reality.

"Howard, spare my brother!" she pleaded, her voice firm yet filled with desperation.

"Julia, the children of Chu can only die on their feet, never live on their knees!" her brothers urgent voice rang in her ears.

But she did not look at him; instead, she stared at the expressionless Howard, locked in a silent confrontation.

"You... are speaking to me in what capacity?" Howard asked, his words confusing Julia.

What capacity?

She was the Ninth Princess of Chu, the most beloved daughter of Emperor Chu, the cherished sister of her brother...

And also, Howard Qins... wife?

In that moment, Julia realized what he was asking. Was he giving her a choice?

The last remnants of the Chu royal family were not fit to be the empress of the Xialiang Dynasty. Either she could trade everything they had for her brothers life, or she could use her brothers life to cleanse the grievances of his Qin Empire!

"Ninth Princess of Chu, Julia Chu, offers her worthless life, only wishing for the Emperor of Xialiang to grant my brother a path to live!"

After Julia spoke, a silence fell upon the Grand Hall. Her brother, the Chu prince who had been struggling and begging for death, was forcibly held, unable to make a sound, condemning Julia with his eyes for ignoring his wishes.

"...Ninth Princess of Chu?" Howards tone was dark and cold.

Julia felt her heart tremble, and all she could hear was him saying, "Julia Chu, your life is not enough to carry the future of Xialiang!"

Like thunder, the sound of a blade piercing flesh echoed, and the warm blood that splashed on Julias face was like boiling water scorching her heart, causing her unbearable pain.

She watched as her brother lay on the ground, blood blooming from his chest like a flower, yet like her father, he did not respond to her calls.

A tear slid down her cheek, and Julia laughed, her voice filled with mockery.

Yes, her life, a worthless one, could not bear the consequences of letting the remnants of the Chu royal family go!

But had Howard ever considered how she could bear all of this?

Howard Qin, as a prince of the Qin Empire, had been sent to the Hanover Kingdom as a hostage at a young age, spending fourteen years there.

In the 41st year of the Hanover Kingdom, the Chu and Qin empires went to war, and the Qin Empire fell.

As a prince of the fallen Qin Empire, he should have died, but a decree of mercy spared him.

That decree was what Julia had begged for, kneeling in the snow for two full days.

But the decree came with a condition: Howard Qin must marry Julia Chu!

So, not long after, he married Julia and became the prince consort of the Hanover Kingdom.

The joy of lovers uniting had eased Julias worries; she thought he had let go, even persuading her father to let them return to the old Qin capital. But she forgot that such national and familial hatred could not be forgotten so easily.

And so, half a year later, in the winter of the 42nd year, she and the Hanover Kingdom paid the price.

Breathing heavily, Julia pulled the dagger from her brothers body, raised her hand, and plunged it into her own chest.

The sharp blade entered her flesh; her arm fell, and the short knife, gleaming with a cold light, disappeared entirely into her body. The piercing cold made her shiver as she slowly collapsed...

"Howard Qin, you think the Chu family owes you, now you have taken it all with your own hands. Back then, because of me, you kept your life. Now, this life, I dont want you to repay..."