The Emperor and His Eunuch

Chapter 1 — The Emperor’s Return

✦

“His Majesty! The pride of our empire has finally returned after a long and grueling battle!”

The master of ceremonies’ deep voice echoed before the immense gates of Valíos Palace.

Dressed in a magnificent mint-green hanbok embroidered with golden thread, the man raised his ceremonial staff as thousands of people gathered in the outer courtyard.

It seemed as though the entire empire had come together on this day of celebration.

The people of Valíos had been waiting for hours for the return of their sovereign.

Valíos was the largest empire on the continent. Its power rested upon a thriving economy and exceptionally fertile lands. Agriculture flourished there, as did fishing and maritime trade.

But the true pride of the empire was its enormous imperial harbor, considered the largest among all known kingdoms.

For centuries, however, Valíos had faced repeated attacks from enemy kingdoms eager to seize its wealth.

So far, none had succeeded in bringing the empire to its knees.

And today, once again, Kael Varen was returning victorious.

Cheers erupted when the steady sound of a horse’s hooves echoed in the distance.

The Emperor was approaching.

Despite his cold and severe nature, Kael was respected by his people.

Loved by some.

Feared by many.

The first rider passed through the gates, followed by several soldiers.

Then he appeared.

Mounted on a majestic black horse, Kael Varen advanced with a proud, upright posture.

His horse’s saddle was adorned with gold, while the embroidered cloth beneath it bore imperial patterns. Deep-red reins contrasted sharply with the animal’s dark coat. Even the protective gear around its legs was decorated with golden details.

There could be no doubt about his identity.

He was the Emperor.

A pure-blood Alpha.

His long black hair was tied into a high ponytail with a magnificent red ribbon embroidered with golden thread. A few rebellious strands framed his face.

A square jaw.

A refined nose.

Full lips.

Dark eyes whose gaze seemed capable of silencing an entire room.

And beneath his armor, his muscular body bore witness to the many years he had spent training for battle.

Kael was undeniably a remarkably handsome man.

The people bowed as he passed.

The Emperor gave them only a brief glance before continuing forward and entering the palace’s inner grounds.

When his horse reached the grand imperial courtyard, Kael dismounted.

A guard immediately approached, bowed deeply, and took the reins to lead the animal toward the stables.

Kael did not wait.

The moment his feet touched the ground, a figure dressed in white approached him.

The man bowed respectfully.

“Welcome back to the palace, Your Majesty.”

Kael glanced at him.

“What news do you have, Elior?”

The eunuch straightened and naturally took his place at Kael’s left as they began walking.

“The palace is well, Your Majesty. Nothing of particular importance has occurred since your departure.”

He paused briefly before continuing.

“Your concubines are waiting for you in the throne room so they may welcome you home properly.”

Kael did not respond immediately.

“I also took the liberty of having a bath prepared for you. Medicinal herbs have been added to the water. After such a long campaign, I am certain it will do you some good.”

“Good.”

The Emperor’s answer was brief.

After a few seconds of silence, he spoke again.

“And my mother?”

“The Empress Dowager is doing wonderfully. She has spent much of her time praying for your victory.”

A slight nod was Kael’s only response.

They soon arrived before the imperial apartments.

Two guards stood before the great red doors. At the approach of their sovereign, they bowed deeply before opening them.

Kael entered his chambers.

He immediately headed toward a room adjoining his bedroom.

Unlike his main study, which was located farther within his private quarters, this smaller room allowed him to work without crossing the entire palace whenever an urgent matter arose during the night.

A low table, lacquered and painted red, occupied the center of the room. A thick red carpet covered the floor, and near the window, a royal-blue armchair awaited its owner.

Several important documents had been neatly stacked on the table.

Elior remained near the door.

Dressed in an immaculate white hanbok, he had naturally white hair that fell all the way to his hips.

Part of it had been gathered and secured with an elegant sky-blue alloy hairpin. Two strands delicately framed his face.

His blue eyes, long black lashes, and naturally rosy lips gave him an almost unreal appearance.

“Everything is perfectly in order,” Kael remarked after removing his gloves.

He turned toward Elior.

“I commend you. You have done good work.”

Elior inclined his head slightly.

“Thank you, Your Majesty. It is an honor to serve you.”

He hesitated for a moment before asking,

“May I call your maids so they can prepare you for your bath?”

“Yes. Please do. I greatly need it.”

Kael began removing his armor.

A few moments later, he was wearing nothing but his trousers.

His bare torso was now fully exposed.

Kael was not particularly modest.

Since ascending the throne at the age of fifteen, following his father’s premature death during a war, he had almost entirely lost any sense of privacy.

An emperor could never be alone.

He had to be escorted.

Watched.

Served.

Protected.

Even while bathing, maids remained present.

Modesty had become a luxury he no longer had the time to possess.

Kael turned around.

Elior froze.

His gaze lingered for a second too long on his sovereign’s back.

He swallowed discreetly before averting his eyes.

“I’ll call the maids.”

Without waiting for a response, he hurried out of the imperial apartments.

Once in the corridor, Elior took a deep breath.

He placed a hand over his chest.

Why was his heart beating so fast?

He shook his head.

He had no time to think about that.

The preparations for the ceremony were waiting for him.

And above all…

He had to continue protecting his secret.

Because no one could ever discover the truth.

Elior was not merely a eunuch.

He was a male Omega.

In most kingdoms across the continent, male Omegas were considered an abomination.

Their existence was forbidden.

When they were discovered, their fate was almost always the same.

Death.

Elior knew perfectly well what awaited him if his secret was ever revealed.

He would be executed.

Without trial.

Without mercy.

For two years now, he had served the Emperor under a false identity.

And so far, no one had discovered the truth.

He was careful.

Very careful.

He could not afford even the slightest mistake.

Elior shook his head to drive away those grim thoughts before making his way toward the throne room.

When he passed through the enormous doors, he stopped for a few seconds.

The room was magnificent.

Immense.

Imposing chandeliers hung from the white ceiling, whose intricate patterns depicted various symbols of the empire.

At the far end of the room, perfectly centered, stood the imperial throne.

Two gold-covered seats rested side by side upon an enormous lion pelt.

Portraits by Valíos’s greatest painters hung along the walls, accompanied by several mirrors with gilded frames.

An immense red carpet had already been rolled out across the center of the room.

Everything had to be perfect.

Elior carefully inspected the decorations.

Then his gaze settled on the flowers.

“Change these flowers.”

The servants turned toward him.

“The Emperor prefers tiger flowers. Quickly.”

The servants hurried to obey.

Once he was satisfied that the preparations were progressing properly, Elior left the throne room and headed toward the imperial kitchens.

The moment he stepped through the door, he was met with complete chaos.

Cooks were rushing in every direction.

Dishes were being moved.

Spice jars stood open.

Pots bubbled furiously.

No one seemed to know where to turn.

Elior frowned.

“What is going on, Jin?”

The head chef spun around abruptly.

“We’ve had a problem!”

He looked completely panicked.

“The spices arrived late. We’ve lost far too much time.”

Elior glanced at the clock.

Only half an hour remained before the celebrations began.

“What do you still have left to prepare?”

Jin ran a nervous hand through his hair.

“The Emperor’s pudding.”

Elior raised his eyebrows.

“You haven’t even started it?”

“No.”

Silence.

Then Elior rolled up the sleeves of his hanbok.

“I’ll take care of it.”

Every cook in the kitchen froze.

“What?”

Jin’s eyes widened.

“But you cannot do that, Your Grace!”

“And why not?”

“You are the imperial eunuch!”

Elior gave him an amused smile.

“Before I became the Emperor’s eunuch, I was merely a commoner. So let me help you so we can save some time.”

The cooks exchanged glances.

Then Jin sighed.

“You are absolutely right.”

A smile appeared on his face.

“You truly are a good man, Elior.”

“Now tell me what needs to be done.”

Jin hesitated.

“Do you know how to prepare this dessert?”

Elior gave him a mock-offended look.

“What kind of eunuch would I be if I didn’t know my own Emperor’s favorite dessert?”

A few laughs rose throughout the kitchen.

Elior got to work.

No one could have known it yet, but this simple gesture would soon draw the kind of attention he would have preferred to avoid.

✦

A few corridors away, a young woman sat before an enormous mirror.

“You look beautiful, my princess.”

The lady-in-waiting delicately arranged her mistress’s hair.

The young woman smiled at her reflection.

“Of course I do.”

She ran a hand through her long brown hair.

“Do not forget that the Emperor is crazy about me.”

Sunhae.

Daughter of the ruler of Soryane, an allied kingdom of Valíos, she had become the empire’s Princess Consort after marrying Kael.

Her light-brown eyes, long hair, full lips, delicate face, and elegant figure made her a true beauty.

An Omega.

Kael had fallen under her spell during a diplomatic visit to Soryane.

When her father offered his daughter to strengthen the alliance between their two kingdoms, the Emperor had immediately accepted.

Since arriving in Valíos, Sunhae had enjoyed a privileged position.

She was Kael’s favorite wife.

And she knew it.

The entire harem knew it.

She also knew that the other concubines coveted her position.

Sunhae looked at herself one final time in the mirror.

She was beautiful.

But behind that perfect face hid a deeply selfish woman.

She believed herself superior to the other women in the harem.

After all, she was not merely a concubine.

She was the Princess Consort.

And above all…

She was the Emperor’s favorite wife.

Today, her beloved husband had finally returned.

Sunhae fully intended to spend the night with him.

✦

After his bath, Kael was dressed by his maids.

He now wore a magnificent red royal hanbok, a color reserved for members of the imperial family.

His hair had been carefully combed and tied back.

Several pieces of jewelry adorned his neck and fingers.

The Emperor was ready.

The battle had not been easy.

But once again, he had returned victorious.

And he was proud of it.

In the throne room, all the guests had now gathered.

The concubines had dressed in their finest hanbok, each hoping to attract the Emperor’s attention.

Elior stood in a corner of the room near the throne.

Waiting.

His gaze remained fixed on the great doors.

His heart beat a little faster.

That man had always had a strange effect on him.

Kael was an Alpha.

He was an Omega.

And no one could ever be allowed to forget what that meant.

He could only hope that he would be able to keep his secret hidden in the shadows.

Suddenly—

TOOOOONG.

The sound of trumpets echoed throughout the throne room.

Every conversation stopped at once.

All eyes turned toward the enormous doors.

Elior held his breath.

The doors slowly began to open.

The master of ceremonies stepped forward.

His voice rang throughout the hall.

“EMPEROR KAEL VAREN… IS ABOUT TO ENTER!”

And the doors opened.