"I'm not William."
"It's... the other one."
That is my husband?
Huh.
I'd never expect that.
"Unacceptable… Unacceptable…"
I can't do this. I can't.
I bit my sleeve—
Is this ordinary-looking man really my husband?
"Aah… Emily, are you okay?"
Emperor William gripped my shoulders,
his touch like ice.
"Aha… so now my name is Emily…"
Wait.
Emily...?
That… doesn't sound familiar.
I don't remember it.
I don't remember me.
Memories are fading…
It's all leaking away… slowly…
My poor, confused Emily looks utterly lost… BUT I LOVE IT.
Seriously ... who is that freak?
The way he's staring at me…
So suspicious.
He held my hand—I tried to pull away.
"Are you ready for what we decided a week ago?"
"Aah… wait… a decision?"
Something felt deeply wrong. I couldn't agree.
"Can you… remind me?"
"WHAT A DISAPPOINTMENT!" he thundered.
Emperor William turned, snapping at the chamberlain:
"You. Now."
The man scurried forward, bowing. "Oh yes, yes, Your Majesty!"
The chamberlain addressed the hall, voice slick as oil:
"Ladies and gentlemen…"
Every guest froze, faces swiveling toward us.
"We announce tonight:
The Emperor William and his wife, Emily…"
His grip on my hand turned vise-tight.
"…shall renew their vows."
Everyone turned. Everyone clapped.
VOW? VOW?
WHAT VOW?!
"What's going on?!" I jerked my hand from William's grip.
"You guys mean you're getting a COW for dinner?!"
William seized my hand again—
his fingers tightening like steel bands around my wrist:
"Our vows, my love."
The chamberlain stepped forward, voice echoing:
"The ceremony… will be tonight."
"TO YOU?! NO—IMPOSSIBLE! YOU'RE UGLY! I DON'T LIKE YOU!"
The hall gasped.
"Emily… are you okay?" William's voice trembled with disbelief.
"I CAN'T TAKE THIS ANYMORE!"
A window? A CLOSE WINDOW—!
"I'LL THROW MYSELF THROUGH IT!"
I CAN'T LIVE THIS STRICT, STRANGLING LIFE!
"GET OUT OF MY FACE!"
I SPRINTED—
AND LEAPT.
The court froze. No one believed I'd do it.
But I threw myself anyway.
One last scream at William:
"ANYWAYS I WANTED TO TELL YOU THAT ...
YOU SMELL LIKE CHEAP WINE!"
CRACK.