The Empress's Game - Love Or Death

"Your Majesty, it is time to awaken!"

Which crazy person has decided to disturb my beauty sleep on the weekend when it was my day off from work?

I'm about to throw some hands.

"Your majesty!"

My half asleep state wasn't too fond of the shrill voice and I sat up on my bed, turning to the culprit.

"Why did you break into my apartment, act like a crazy person and call me your majesty while trying to wake me up?! Are you asking for your death?!" I threatened, my eyes not even open as I had not waken up properly.

"Please punish me, your majesty! I deserve death!"

I finally opened my eyes, feeling confused as to the response the lady had given to me, only for my eyes to widen in shock as I saw what she was wearing.

Why is she dressed like a maid? Why are my curtains looking so big and fancy looking?

I looked around the room, trying to take in the fact that I was currently not in my apartment but in an extremely fancy bedroom that gave off a victorian era vibe.

"Y-Your majesty?" The maid stuttered out and I gazed down at her, remembering her presence.

I had to play along with whatever was happening right now until I could figure out the truth.

"I apologise for shouting. I was not in the right state." I said and the maid looked up at me in a startled fashion.

"N-No, your majesty. It is fine!"

She stood back up and went to the other side of the room, grabbing an outfit that was practically shining due to how clean it was.

"You are scheduled to have a meeting with your royal adviser in one hour."

Another maid announced her presence at that time and she bowed in my direction as she spoke up.

"The water is hot and ready for you to bathe in, your majesty." She informed and I nodded, getting out of my bed and following the maid to the bathroom.

When I entered, I was taken aback by how large the bath was. It was more of a swimming pool than a bath.

"If I may, your majesty." The maid requested as she placed a hand on my silk night gown but I shook my head.

"I wish to be alone for today." I said and she nodded, leaving the room immediately.

As soon as the door closed, I rushed towards the mirror on the other end of the room and stopped in front of it, my eyes widening at the sight of my features.

"What the hell?" I whispered to myself in disbelief.

Short brown hair that barely brushed my shoulders along with a set of crystal blue eyes that had me stunned, it was no doubt.

"Empress Lillian Vanguard."

The setting I had been placed in along with my appearance had confirmed it altogether.

I had somehow transmigrated into the novel or...this was all a dream that I was about to wake up from. Either way, it felt too real for it to be a dream.

"Your majesty. Are you in need of assistance?"

The maid scared me since it had been silent earlier but I cleared my throat and spoke up.

"I am fine."

I stripped myself out of my clothes, making sure to put them on the table by the mirror before I used the steps that had been designed to help me get into the bath.

"Oh...this is nice." I muttered, my body relaxing as the water was the right temperature to do so.

I saw the cleaning essentials to use and grabbed the shampoo, finding the scent to be quite pleasant and used some to clean my hair. I then went onto using the soap and cleaned my body which wasn't necessary since it was already so clean.

"The empress must bathe twice a day or something to have such amazing soft skin." I muttered in awe as I felt my skin with my hand.

"It is almost time for your meeting, your majesty." The maid told from the other side of the door and I quickly washed myself up, getting out of the bath and covering myself with a towel.

I was guided back to my room where my hair was dried with a wind gem and brushed so my hair looked presentable. I was then fitted into my clothes and when I saw myself in the mirror once again, I was amazed.

"You have done a good job." I complimented, trying to speak the way Lillian had done in the book and the maid dipped her head as a response.

"I am humbled, your majesty." She said before she guided me out of the room and towards the throne room where my royal advisor, Fredrick was waiting.

"Your majesty, Empress Lillian Vanguard is entering!"

The large double doors opened and I held my head high, walking into the room with confidence while my royal advisor who was present in the room had bowed in respect.

As I sat down on my throne, I couldn't help but feel powerful as I also crossed my leg over the other and gazed down at Fredrick with a smile.

"Your majesty, I have something very important to hand to you." He revealed and my eyebrows rose up in wonder.

"Hand it to me." I offered my hand in which Fredrick placed the scroll in it and I opened it up to see some sort of written will or something like that.

"Explain this to me, Frederick." I couldn't understand what was being said in this scroll as it was written in a way to hide the true meaning behind them.

"It is a declaration claiming that when the family line begins to decline, the current emperor or empress must prevent that from happening." He explained but I was still perplexed.

"What is it that I need to do." Fredrick seemed to hesitate but as he saw my soft expression, he revealed what your task was.

"You must marry and prevent the family line from declining."

I was startled, everything now making sense and a light blush painted my cheeks.

"But wouldn't it still be the same? I would marry my significant other and give birth to a child. You know this family is cursed with only being able to bare one child with their partner."

It had been known for centuries that the Royal family had been able to bring one child into the world to continue the heritage but no matter how much each couple tried, another would not be born.

"If you choose to accept, you must marry more than one candidate who is to become your husband. This way, you will be able to have more children and each child will have the blood of royalty within them." Fredrick explained and I remained quiet, trying to take in what had been told.

'If this is a dream...I can do whatever I want since it won't affect me after I wake up. But, if this is real...' I thought of the chances but as I was thinking, some sort of blue screen appeared in front of me, startling me in the process.

"Your majesty?" Fredrick called and I stared at him in shock.

"Can you see this?" I pointed at the screen and his face revealed he was confused.

"You are pointing at nothing, your majesty." He told and I quickly feigned a smile, letting out a chuckle.

"I was just testing a joke, Frederick." I mentioned and he laughed, clapping his hands as if I told the best joke in the world.

"That was truly magnificent!"

I laughed in a sheepish way, feeling slightly embarrassed before I focused back onto Fredrick.

"Give me some time alone to think about it and then I will call you back." I ordered and he nodded, bowing towards me once again before walking out of the room.

The doors closed and I gazed at the blue screen in front of me, reading what was on it.

'MISSION - ACCEPT THE MARRIAGE OFFER.

REWARD - 1st Husband

FAILURE - DEATH

"Death? That means I have no choice but to accept." I muttered in disbelief.

There was the possibility that this was a dream and if I was to press the 'unaccept' option, I would probably wake up.

I hovered my finger over the option but the screen glitched at that moment, words presented in big bold red letters showing up.

'THIS ISN'T A DREAM, ANN.'

My real name was displayed on the screen and I froze, taking in the fact that I was actually living inside a novel.

"Really?"

The screen glitched again.

'REALLY'

The mission screen returned and I gulped wondering if I should press it or not.

"I could die."

I had to admit, I was scared now. I didn't want to take the chance of dying just because I assumed I was in a dream. It wasn't worth it.

'THANK YOU FOR ACCEPTING'

I clicked the 'accept' option and sighed, slumping back against my throne chair with an exhausted look.

"The only way I can confirm if this is a dream or not is if I'm still here after I wake up."