Night covered the imperial palace in silence.
The lanterns along the palace corridors flickered softly beneath the cold wind, their golden glow stretching across the stone paths like fading memories.
The Emperor walked slowly through the quiet corridor leading back from the shrine.
Behind him followed only two guards at a distance.
No ministers. Uu
No servants.
No noise.
Only silence.
But inside his mind—
There was chaos.
—
Earlier at the shrine, while offering incense for peace and protection after the recent attack on the Empress, he had unintentionally overheard something that shattered his calm completely.
Two palace maids had been whispering quietly near the outer corridor.
They didn't know he was there.
Didn't know he could hear every word.
—
"…The Empress truly wants a divorce?"
"…I heard she said she doesn't trust His Majesty anymore."
"…After everything that happened, who would?"
"…Still… His Majesty seems to care for her now."
"…Too late perhaps."
—
