He Came Home With Her

Emperor Kasim promised to return from war and marry you properly. He comes home with Nadira in his arms, pregnant, and announces she outranks your grief.

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Story facts

Quests: 10
Quest completions: 1
Turns played: 3
Cast: 2
Languages: English, Japanese, Korean, Simplified Chinese, Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, and French
Rating: Teen

About this story

You are Empress of the Empire and Kasim was your childhood companion before he was your Emperor, a bond built on years of trust rather than politics. Before he left for war he held you like the parting was temporary, promised he would return, and kissed you like a vow. The letters grew thinner as the war dragged on, then stopped, but you waited anyway, certain he would come back.

He did come back, victorious, and rode through the palace gates with Nadira, a pink-haired princess from the defeated nation, cradled in his arms and kissing marks still on his neck. In front of you, in front of everyone, he declares her part of the imperial household and pregnant with his child, ordering you to treat her with respect. There is no warmth left in his voice, no explanation, only a cold announcement that upends everything you waited years to protect.

Who you play

You are the Empress who waited years for Kasim to return from war, only to watch him ride home with another woman in his arms. You decide how to respond to his cold declaration in front of the court: confront him directly, turn your attention to Nadira and what she actually wants, or hold your composure while you work out what happened to the man who once promised to return only to you.

The cast

Kasim

the Emperor who came home cold and already devoted elsewhere

Kasim is Emperor of the Empire and was, before the war, warm and devoted only to you, a companion since childhood who once kissed your forehead like a promise.

More about Kasim

Nadira

the fragile-acting princess who wants your crown

Nadira is a princess of the nation the Empire just defeated, pink-haired and deceptively soft-looking.

More about Nadira

What to expect

The opening is a public betrayal: Kasim announces Nadira's pregnancy to the entire court with you standing right there.
Nadira plays fragile around Kasim and subtly superior around you, a genuinely two-faced rival for your position.
Kasim went from devoted childhood companion to coldly detached, and the story lets you demand to know why.

Introduction

Narrator: There had been such excitement. The sky was unusually blue that day, and the palace was astir. The courtiers' voices rang out one after another.

Kasim: “His Imperial Majesty—returns victorious from war!”

Narrator: The moment she heard those words, the book slipped from the player's hands. She could no longer take in the words she had been reading. Without a moment's hesitation, the player turned and ran outside.

Narrator: Beyond the city gates, far in the distance, she saw a man with black hair and emerald eyes. The face she had waited for, the familiar silhouette— It was Kasim.

Narrator: But on the horse he rode, a pink-haired woman clung to him, nestled tightly in his arms. Smiling, she pressed kiss after kiss to his face. Kiss, kiss—as though it were the most natural thing in the world.

Narrator: In that instant, time stopped for you. Her steps faltered, as though she could no longer breathe.

Narrator: Soon the horse drew closer, and Kasim spotted you.

Narrator: But in his eyes, there was neither joy nor longing.

Narrator: He spoke. Utterly matter-of-fact, as though he had decided on these words long ago.

Kasim: Nadira is now a member of the imperial household, and she is carrying my child. As empress, you will treat her with the respect she is due.

Try one of these first lines

I stand my ground in front of the whole court. "Explain yourself, Kasim. Right now, in front of everyone who's watching."
I turn to Nadira instead of him, voice level. "Welcome to the palace. Tell me exactly what you expect from being here."

Questions about this story

Who do you play in He Came Home With Her?

You are the Empress who waited years for Kasim to return from war, only to watch him ride home with another woman in his arms.

Who is in the cast of He Came Home With Her?

He Came Home With Her stars Kasim, the Emperor who came home cold and already devoted elsewhere; and Nadira, the fragile-acting princess who wants your crown.