CHAPTER 12

Dawn Scarlett



It's already been an hour since the people who measured my body left my room, and I do think that it is already the right time to go out and to request an appearance from the emperor of this city.

"You stay here for a while," I said to the fox as I place it on top of my bed. It then nodded its head, as if it can clearly understand what I have said. Oh well, it has already been proven by a few kinds of research in my previous life that foxes are to be a lot more intelligent than any other carnivores like the badger. It is because foxes are known to have larger brains. . Foxes are very smart in ways that matter: finding food, surviving in weather extremes, outwitting predators, protecting their young. They're smarter than most, but not all, dog breeds.

That is an ordinary fox, but this guy right before my eyes is not an ordinary fox. Duh? This fox has nine tails - nine fcking tails and such foxes can only be seen on animated series or are only mentioned in different legends or myths. They are greatly considered as fictional mythical beings and honestly, I freaked out the moment that I saw this little guy right in front of my eyes.

Nine-tailed foxes appear in Chinese folklore, literature, and mythology, in which, depending on the tale can be a good or a bad omen. The motif of nine-tailed foxes from Chinese culture was eventually transmitted and introduced to the Japanese and Korean cultures. I know this because I have studied this in one of my elective subjects in college - let's just say that I am quite interested in folklore, mythology, and stuff that is why I enrolled in that elective.

In Japanese folklore, Kitsune the Japanese word for fox is intelligent foxes that possess paranormal abilities that increase as they get older and wiser. According to yōkai folklore, all foxes can shapeshift into human form. While some folktales speak of kitsune employing this ability to trick others—as foxes in folklore often do—other stories portray them as faithful guardians, friends, and lovers.

Foxes and humans lived close together in ancient Japan; this companionship gave rise to legends about the creatures. Kitsune have become closely associated with Inari, a Shinto kami or spirit, and serves as its messengers. This role has reinforced the fox's supernatural significance. The more tails a kitsune has—they may have as many as nine—the older, wiser, and more powerful it is. Because of their potential power and influence, some people make sacrifices to them as to a deity. Conversely, foxes were often seen as "witch animals", especially during the superstitious Edo period (1603–1867), and were thought of as goblins who could not be trusted.

I know that he is something out of the ordinary based on my stock knowledge regarding mythologies and legends but the thing is, what Fourteen mentioned a while ago makes me think that this fox right in front of me is more than just an out-of-this-world fox. And after I talked to that Emperor, I am going to do my research just like what fourteen advised me to do.

He has a point - it made me realize that I am already staying in this world for a year now, yes I have already adapted to the customs and traditions of the people, like how they talk and what they are doing, the currencies and stuff but still, I am completely oblivious about a lot of things. I technically became complacent that knowing just that is already enough for me to be able to live a new life here and blend in.

"I'll be back before the sun sets, so just play around here or something since I am also the only one who could see you," I said again as I patted him on his head before completely turning my back from him and walking towards the door of my room. And without further ado, I opened it and stepped outside. As I did, the sun rays instantly greeted me and I cannot help but be blinded by it, of course - I have been staying inside my room ever since I woke up and it is almost lunchtime already that is why the sun is already up high in the sky.

I guess this is also the right time to meet with the Emperor, it is almost lunchtime so we are going to eat together again and while eating I am going to bring up whether or not he is really serious about the marriage thing and if he is indeed serious then I am going to decline - like I have right to decline right?

Also, if he feels that he is indebted to me for saving his life a year ago then I will tell him straight at his face that his debt is already paid the moment that he became my last patient to own the spot where my clinic is right now, which is part of my deal with his brother Trajan. Again, of course, I am going to make sure that I am not going to lose my head for opposing him - I am going to be polite as much as possible and of course, I am going to control my temper.

I am about to start walking when suddenly I heard a familiar voice call out my name.

"Hey Dawn, where are you going?" the familiar voice exclaimed and that voice came from none other than the Emperor's brother himself, Trajan. It's been a while since I have seen him and I do not know what he is up to these days but I guess that is also fine because no one annoyed me. Even if he is part of the royal family no one can change my perception of him being a quite annoying person - it seems like he cannot understand the concept of confidentiality and privacy but then again I need to make sure that I am not going to offend him whenever I am bickering with him because he is still a prince and I might also lose my head if someone overhears that I am talking like that to a Prince of this city.

There are a lot of people that would do that, and I do not know if I already have accumulated my fair share of enemies in this world. So as much as possible I am keeping it discreet and I am also making sure that I am still 'kind of' respecting him with my words.

"Greetings Prince Trajan" I greeted him formally, well it is natural because he is indeed a prince and not to mention that I am also inside the empire's palace - not calling him a prince would be a huge disrespect.

"What's with the formality though? I already told you before that you can just call me by my name. I have permitted you to do so and not to mention that you are going to be my sister-in-law and the future Empress of this city" he said which instantly made me roll my eyes - subconsciously though because again, I cannot do it right in front him.

I cannot believe that he is bringing that up - that I am going to be his sister-in-law and the Empress of this city. Like, is he okay with it? First of all, he should be the first person to highly oppose his brother for a few reasons.

The first reason I came from an unknown background - doesn't he find it suspicious that I do not even have a surname and that I have two names? Second thing, I am a doctor - I cure people yet I am saying that I do not remember anything about my life before coming here to this city and everything that I am doing is just based on impulse - well, technically since I claim that I have lost fragments of my memories. That I cannot even remember my family background or something like that.

Like the hell? They should really be cautious and they shouldn't trust me that much - I am not a spy of a neighboring country or an enemy but still, they should be at least careful and they shouldn't just welcome me with open arms. Third thing is that I am just a simple doctor with no political or familial backing because yeah, basically I have been transmigrated into this world and I told them that I clearly do not remember anything so that makes me an alien individual. What an Emperor needs is a future wife with a political or familial status that is not me obviously - I am sure that if the public knew especially the aristocrats of this world knew they will surely throw hands.

They will surely make it hard for me they will make my life a living hell, of course, I am the only person they could take revenge for because they cannot touch the emperor. I will start receiving death threats or worse they will try to kill me. It is not that I am overreacting or overthinking things but it is the truth.

Monarchy is different from democracy, way different. I know because I also studied it in one of my social sciences subjects.

"First thing, I prefer using honorifics, Prince Trajan and you are a Prince so why wouldn't I be formal be with you. Second thing, how sure are you that I am going to be your sister-in-law and the next Empress of this city?" I said in a nonchalant tone and I am expecting that he will just brush what I just said off and throw a punch line or something but I am not expecting that he will say something serious that made me curious again.

"You are going to be the Empress and I'll have my brother, the Emperor inform you about the details"

Seriously, why do they want me to become the Empress in the first place?



*



And so, I together with Prince Trajan made our way to the hall where the luncheon is served by the servants of this palace and when the two of us arrived - the Emperor, Aurelius Shen is already seated on his rightful seat. And as a sign of respect, of course, I bowed half of my body as a greeting.

"Greetings to the sun of the empire" I simply said as well.

"You do not have to do that - you are going to be my future wife anyway" I heard him say which made me heave a sigh and I slowly regain my posture. I badly wanted to say that I haven't agreed to his proposition that I will be his future wife and the Empress of this city so it is still not final. Why the hell are they saying that as if I really cannot do anything about it? That I cannot decline such proposal - that if I do I will already lose my head?

I am about to say something when suddenly I heard him speak once again.

"Take your seats. We are going to start our lunch now so that we can talk about the important matters, especially regarding my marriage with you, Dawn Scarlett" he said and unlike a while ago, his voice is comparable to ice - it is really cold. And that coldness in his voice sent shivers down through my spine and the fear of suddenly losing my head crept into my system.

I do not know but the way he said it suddenly bothered me, it suddenly made me feel like there is indeed a deep reason why he is pushing the marriage with me, but the thing is - what could be the reason? Does Fourteen know the reason behind it that is why he suddenly said those words a while ago? But whatever the case is, I am going to make sure that I am going to get the answers that I want right here and right now.

I am not going to allow myself to be kept in the shadows any longer and since I am the one who is the Emperor's prospective wife then it does deeply concerns me and since it does I have all the right to question everything until I am satisfied - it is my right.



*To be continued*