By midday,
The palace was no longer quiet.
It whispered.
Softly at first.
Then louder.
More deliberate.
Servants leaned closer than usual.
Guards exchanged glances,
And between footsteps, trays, and passing shadows,
A rumor was born.
"Did you hear…?"
"They said the Empress's personal maid…"
"She was hurt…"
"No.. worse..,"
But everyone understood it.
And that made it far more dangerous.
**************
In the Empress's chamber,
Sarah stood still.
Perfectly still.
Her back straight, her chin slightly lifted, her expression calm,
Before her, two maids knelt, their heads bowed so low their foreheads nearly touched the ground.
Their bodies trembled.
"You will repeat exactly what you saw," Sarah said.
Her voice was soft.
But it carried authority sharp enough to cut.
The first maid swallowed hard.
"Your Majesty… we—we saw her last night…"
"Amelia," the second added quickly, as if finishing the sentence would lessen the weight of it. "She was walking back to the servant quarters…"
"Walking?" Sarah asked.
A single word.
Yet it pressed heavily against them.
"Yes, Your Majesty… but… slowly…" the first maid whispered. "Like she was in pain…"
Sarah's eyes narrowed slightly.
"And?"
The maids hesitated.
Fear flickered between them.
Then—
"There was blood…" the second maid said, her voice barely audible. "On her dress… and her legs…"
A pause.
Then, even quieter,
"We suspected… she was violated."
Silence.
Thick.
Suffocating.
Sarah turned away slowly.
Her face remained composed.
But her mind,
Was already moving.
Fast.
Too fast.
This was not just a rumor.
This was a threat.
To order.
To control.
To power.
"The majesty must hear this!
Leave," she said quietly.
The maids didn't hesitate.
They fled.
*******************
Sarah stood alone for only a moment.
"Prepare the royal chamber."
Her tone had changed.
Colder.
Sharper.
Decisive.
She ordered a messager.
"Yes your Grace "
*****************
Not long after,
The royal chamber stood ready.
Ministers lined the sides.
Guards stood like statues.
Servants lingered at the edges, silent observers.
And at the center,
The throne.
Alexander sat upon it.
Still.
Unreadable.
Untouchable.
Beside him stood Liam, Simon, and Rock.
Silent.
Watchful.
Then...
Sarah entered.
Graceful as ever.
But her eyes, were no longer soft.
"Bring her."
The command echoed.
Moments later,
Amelia was led inside.
Each step she took was careful.
Measured.
Painful.
Her face was pale.
Her eyes lowered.
But she could feel it,
The weight of every gaze in the room.
The whispers that died the moment she appeared.
She reached the center.
And knelt.
Her hands trembled.
Her heart pounded so loudly it felt as if everyone could hear it.
She already knew.
This was about Last night.
"Amelia."
Sarah's voice.
Calm.
Controlled.
Terrifying.
"Yes… Your Majesty," Amelia replied softly.
Sarah stepped forward.
"I will ask you one more time."
The entire chamber held its breath.
"Who did this to you?"
The question fell like a blade.
Amelia froze.
Her mind emptied.
Her chest tightened.
She couldn't breathe.
Slowly,
Her eyes lifted.
And for a brief moment..
They met his.
Alexander.
He did not move.
He did not speak.
But something in his gaze,
Made her heart twist painfully.
Her lips parted.
But no words came.
She looked away immediately.
If she spoke the truth—
She would die.
Not even hesitation.
Just death. No one will believe her.
"I…" she tried.
But her voice broke.
Silence followed.
Long.
Painful.
Heavy.
Sarah's expression hardened.
"You will speak."
Still—
Nothing.
"Are you dumb?!" Sarah's voice snapped through the chamber.
Amelia flinched.
Her head lowered again.
"I don't know…" she whispered.
A lie.
Weak.
Fragile.
Obvious.
The chamber stirred.
Murmurs rose, then fell just as quickly.
Sarah straightened.
Her voice turned cold.
"The one who did this deserves punishment."
Her gaze swept across the room.
"This is the imperial palace. Not a place where such acts go unpunished."
Agreement rippled softly among the ministers.
But one man..
Said nothing.
Liam.
Because he knew.
He had been there.
He had seen the emperor walk into that room.
He had closed the door.
And he had chosen silence.
Because some truths,
Were not meant to be spoken.
Not if one wished to live.
"Enough."
Alexander's voice cut through everything.
Calm.
Firm.
Absolute.
All eyes turned to him.
He rose slowly from the throne.
His gaze shifted,
Just briefly to Amelia.
Then away.
"She will be taken to the royal physicians."
A pause.
"For treatment."
Simple words.
But beneath them,
Guilt lingered.
Unspoken.
Unseen.
But present.
Sarah watched him carefully.
Something was wrong.
She could feel it.
But she said nothing.
Not yet, the majesty took the matter lightly, that alone was a shock for everyone".
"As you command, Your Majesty," a guard said.
Amelia was lifted gently to her feet.
And led away.
The emperor did not wait.
He turned and left the chamber immediately.
His steps were steady.
But his thoughts were not.
****************
In his study,
The doors closed behind him.
Only Liam remained.
Silence stretched between them.
Then,
Alexander exhaled.
"Do you think she was hurt?" he asked quietly.
Liam lowered his head.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
The answer was careful.
Respectful.
But firm.
Alexander ran a hand through his hair.
"I didn't know what came over me that night…" he muttered. "I acted like a beast."
Liam said nothing.
Because there was nothing safe to say.
After a moment, he asked carefully,
"Your Majesty… do you… like her?"
Alexander didn't hesitate.
"Yes."
The word came out before he could stop it.
Liam nodded slightly.
"It is an honor for her family," he replied.
Alexander's expression darkened slightly at that.
His fingers curled briefly.
"Find out where her in the maids quarters," he said. "Her room precisely."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Liam turned to leave.
**************
Meanwhile,
In Amelia's room in the servant quarters,
Amelia sat on the bed.
Still.
Exhausted.
Her body ached.
Her mind even more.
The door opened.
And Clara stepped in.
Her presence filled the room instantly.
Sharp.
Curious.
Suspicious.
She sat beside Amelia, studying her closely.
"So… your name is Amelia now?" Clara said, her tone light, but her eyes weren't.
"Really… are you hiding something?"
Amelia said nothing.
"You still haven't answered my question," Clara continued, leaning slightly closer. "I didn't think you were a virgin… but I always suspected."
Amelia's eyes lifted slowly.
"…Have you done it before?" she asked softly. "Is it always… that painful?"
Clara blinked.
Then scoffed lightly.
"Well, I have a boyfriend," she said casually. "What do you think?"
She leaned back slightly.
"It's only painful the first or second time. After that… it's sweet."
Amelia's fingers tightened.
"I can't tell you what happened…" she whispered.
Clara leaned closer, her voice dropping.
"Silly girl… should I tell Mother and Father?" she threatened lightly. "You'll have to tell the truth."
Amelia's breath hitched.
"Was it a guard?" Clara pressed.
Amelia shook her head quickly.
"I'm trying to forget…"
"If it's a guard, or anyone in this palace, that person is a pervert!" Clara snapped. "It shouldn't go unpunished. Tell me."
Silence.
"It was the emperor."
The room froze.
Tears filled Amelia's eyes.
"He forced himself on me…"
Clara stood up abruptly.
Her face twisted in disbelief.
"What?!"
Her voice rose.
"That's a lie!"
Amelia flinched.
"The emperor wouldn't even look at you!" Clara continued harshly. "And with Father's condition, you should watch your mouth!"
She turned angrily toward the door.
And pulled it open.
***
Then—
She froze.
Standing outside,
Was Liam.
And behind him, The Emperor Alexander Roland.
The emperor himself.
Clara's breath caught.
Her body stiffened instantly.
Fear replaced everything else.
And inside the room, was Amelia!