ALANNA ROSE SMITHSON/EMPRESS CAIA.

DOSSIER.

BIOGRAPHY.

Trigger Warnings: Death, Murder, Homo/Biphobia, to be added if requested 

You might have heard of me. Empress Caia of Thundara , The Empire of the Magnificent Throne. The one who played a role in overthrowing and killing her Emperor, for apparently no real reason. The evil temptress who made him fall in love only to later scheme against him. But…you don’t know the whole story. As I’ve learned, history is written by the winners. And I’m not one of them.  

It all started when I was 18 years old. I had been in the harem of Emperor Zarek for 2 years, and finally caught his eye. I thought that was the answer to my prayers. He named me Caia, which means “joy”. He made me his Empress. Our son Roderick was born. I thought I was set for life. That I would live in luxury for the rest of my days. Go down in history as a beloved Queen. But fate it seems had other plans. 

Zarek was gentle and kind at first. But then he turned cruel. The only person in the harem to comfort me besides my loyal servants was Alejandra. I ignored her at first. But eventually, when Zarek threatened Roderick, I opened up. We ended up falling in love. And trust me, it wasn’t planned that way. I just needed a shoulder to cry on. A friendly ear to listen. And Alejandra provided both. 

Until one day, Zarek was planning on sending her away. And so, the two of us hatched a plan to make her his favorite. Alejandra agreed. She then became Lady Alina. But not without a lot of sacrifice on her part. You see, she does not enjoy the company of men, only other women. But I will let her speak for herself. 

As time went on Zarek grew even crueler than I had thought possible. He somehow found out about us, our relationship and threatened to execute us both and Roderick. I knew then, it was time. Something had to be done. So with some help from Alejandra and our loyal servants, I poisoned him. We managed it. And thanks to some expert political maneuvering from Alejandra and I, Roderick became the next Emperor. Though since he was still rather young, I was his regent. 

Therefore, Alejandra and I did most of the ruling. And for that, we were hated. Rumors began to spread throughout the kingdom about us, but we ignored them. We were so happy to be out from under Zarek’s cruelty, that we didn’t think far enough ahead. We paid no attention to the rumors, and that ended up being our undoing. 

After a while, Roderick was overthrown and Alejandra and I were set to be executed by the faction that overthrew my son. Fortunately, our loyal servants helped yet again. They smuggled us out of the kingdom, and we headed to a more open-minded land. 

That is where we are, now. Going by our former names and most days hardly thinking of our time as Empress Caia and Lady Alina. But, the rumors persist. They say we’re evil. We killed the Emperor for no reason. That we drink the blood of virgins. That all of this happened because both of us are slaves to The Darkness. The mental plague that is taking over the world. But none of that is true. 

Both of us have struggled with the Darkness it’s true. But this plague doesn’t function the way people think it does. It doesn’t make one harm others. It is much more likely to make one harm oneself. Luckily, there are cures. Medicines of sorts, spells, enchantments, to keep the Darkness at bay. And luckily, I have Alejandra. My love. 

History is written by the winners. But now you will hear the losers’ tale. And I hope it opens your mind. 

STORIES.