The palace stood quiet beneath the fading light of evening,
But not for long.
At the highest tower, before a wide window overlooking the empire, the emperor stood in silence.
His long royal robe flowed behind him, stirred gently by the wind.
His gaze was fixed on the horizon.
Cold.
Distant.
"Liam."
The single word broke the stillness.
Liam stepped forward immediately, bowing his head.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Alexander did not turn.
"Gather the troops," he said calmly. "Tonight… we march."
A pause.
"The King of the Valleys has refused to pay tribute once again. He has proven too stubborn."
His eyes darkened slightly.
"We will settle this… once and for all."
Liam's expression hardened.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
*****************
That very night—
The palace gates opened.
And war answered the emperor's command.
Torches lit the darkness.
Armor clashed.
Horses stamped against the ground.
Thousands of soldiers filled the land like a rising tide.
The emperor rode at the front.
**************
The next day By dawn,
War was over.
Victory came too quickly.
Too easily.
***********
The palace trembled again.
But not from war.
From something far more personal.
Smack!
The sound echoed sharply through the servant quarters.
Amelia staggered to the side, her hand flying to her cheek as pain burned across her face.
Tears filled her eyes instantly.
"Why am I just hearing this?" the Empress snapped, her voice cold with fury.
Her eyes burned with suspicion.
"The emperor came to the servant quarters yesterday," she continued. "And, He came to your room."
Amelia shook her head quickly, her body trembling.
"I didn't do anything, Your Grace, please…" she cried softly. "He only asked if I was okay…"
A lie.
Barely holding.
The Empress stepped closer.
Slow.
Dangerous.
"The emperor I know," she said quietly, "does not care about anyone."
Her hand shot out,
Grabbing Amelia's ear harshly.
Amelia cried out in pain, her body instinctively rising.
"Stand up!" the Empress snapped.
Amelia obeyed immediately, her legs shaking.
"I am not kind, Amelia," she said coldly. "If I hear anything… suspicious"
Her grip tightened slightly.
"I will kill you. You are too small" she said.
Amelia's breath hitched.
Fear swallowed her whole body.
"Your Grace!" a maid rushed in suddenly. "Empress Dowager, the Emperors Mom has just arrived."
The Empress released Amelia without warning.
Amelia fell to the ground with a soft cry.
But the Empress had already turned away.
**************
The palace transformed within hours.
From tension,
To celebration.
The Emperor had returned.
Victorious.
The gates were filled with soldiers.
Cheers erupted like thunder.
"Victory!"
"Long live His Majesty!"
"Long live the Emperor!"
Alexander rode through the gates, his presence commanding, his expression unreadable despite the overwhelming praise.
Behind him,
Troops.
Endless.
Captives where brought, new donkeys, Gold and lots of spoils,
And stories of what he had done spread even faster than the earlier rumors.
"He conquered fifty territories in a single day…"
"How is that even possible?"
*************
In the Palace, Among them gathered nobles,
Not all eyes held admiration.
Some held envy.
Others—
Resentment.
Collins, the eldest among the emperor's stepbrothers, stood tall, his gaze sharp with bitterness.
"We all suffered to build this empire," he muttered under his breath. "And yet… only Alex receives the glory."
His jaw tightened.
"I am the eldest son. All this should be mine."
Beside him, another prince, Peter leaned slightly closer.
"Alex has… something unnatural," he said quietly. "That power… it's not normal.
Bad powers..."
His eyes darkened.
"The day father died, he was on the battlefield. I've seen it before…"
A pause.
"He has been craving that power for a long time, How are we sure he didn't kill Father himself."
Collins said,
Their voices lowered further.
"Careful" Peter said.
"I'm not afraid of him". Collins replied.
*****
The celebration had already begun.
Music filled the grand hall.
Laughter.
Wine.
Rich food laid across long tables.
Nobles, elders, and officials gathered, their voices blending into a lively hum.
At the center,
Alexander's mom, she sat elegantly, her posture regal, her expression calm yet proud, Sarah the New Empress clung to her.
Beside Her, where The other Empresses, the late Emperors wives, they also came for the celebration.
Their eyes glittered, not just with pride,
But something deeper.
Greed.
Because the youngest son,
The last born.
Had inherited everything.
The empire their late husband and ancestors had fought to build.
Not because of age.
But because of one thing,
The royal mark.
*****************
Servants moved quickly through the hall.
Carrying trays.
Pouring drinks.
Serving dishes.
Among them,
Amelia.
Her position had changed.
The Empress had forbidden her from staying close.
Now,
She was just another maid.
Blending into the crowd.
Invisible.
Her steps were careful as she carried a tray of drinks.
She moved through the nobles quietly, avoiding eye contact.
Avoiding attention.
But fate,
Had other plans.
***
She reached the table where the emperor sat.
Surrounded by his brothers.
Their laughter low.
Their eyes sharp.
One of them reached out lazily.
"Pour me a drink."
Amelia nodded quickly, stepping forward.
Her hands trembled slightly as she lifted the cup.
And then,
She felt it.
A gaze.
Heavy.
Unmoving.
She didn't need to look to know who it was.
The emperor.
Watching her.
Again.
Her breath faltered.
Her fingers tightened slightly around the tray.
And in that one moment of distraction,
Her foot caught something on the floor.
A slight shift,
A misstep,
And—
Crash!
The tray slipped from her hands.
Cups shattered against the marble floor.
Wine spilled like blood.
The hall fell silent.
Every sound.
Gone.
Amelia froze.
Her heart stopped.
Slowly,
Her gaze lifted.
And met his.
The emperor's eyes were locked onto her.
Dark.
Intense.
And around them,
The celebration…
Paused.