She chose her finest dress — the one sewn with soft silk that clung gently to her body. She dabbed perfume behind her ears and on her wrists, breathing it in as if it could give her courage.
Sitting before the mirror, she carefully applied her makeup, smoothing her brows, darkening her lashes, adding color to lips that had not been kissed in far too long.
She smiled at her reflection and hummed softly, a tune her mother used to sing.
"You… are perfect," she whispered to herself, as though repeating it would make it true.
Rising from her seat, she left her chamber and walked through the long palace halls toward the emperor's room. Her steps were steady, but her heart pounded. She reached the doors and moved to enter, only to be stopped by crossed spears.
"Forgive us, Your Highness," one guard said carefully. "The emperor is asleep. He ordered that no one should disturb him."
The queen slowly turned her head and stared at the man.
"Anyone?" she repeated softly.
The guard swallowed.
She stepped closer, her eyes sharp.
"Did you just call me anyone?" Her voice rose, cold and cutting. "Am I anyone in this country? I am the first queen. I stand above every woman in this palace."
The guards immediately dropped to their knees, fear written across their faces. "Forgive us, Your Highness! Forgive us!"
"Move," the queen ordered.
She stepped forward, but the guards hesitated — fear battling fear. One fear was the queen. The other was the emperor.
Her eyes darkened.
"I said move away."
Her voice cracked like a whip. Instantly, the guards stepped aside, trembling. The heavy doors opened, and she walked in without looking back.
Behind her, the guards exchanged frightened glances. They had just disobeyed the emperor. Whatever came next would not be kind.
Inside the chamber, the air was quiet and heavy. Curtains were drawn halfway, letting in a thin stream of light. The emperor lay on the bed, deep in sleep, his face calm — too calm for a man who carried so much darkness.
She walked softly toward him and carefully climbed onto the bed, lying beside him.
The emperor stirred.
His eyes opened slowly.
Though his back was turned to her, he knew who it was immediately.
"Why are you here?" His voice was low and cold.
"You must be tired," the queen said gently. "The court has been troubling you. Rest some more."
She placed her hand on his back, her touch slow and deliberate.
"I never called for you," he replied sharply. "Go back to your room."
"I won't disturb you," she whispered. "Let me stay. Let me keep your bed warm."
Her hand traced his back, searching for warmth that wasn't there.
The emperor inhaled deeply, then sat up suddenly. "Get off."
She froze, then slowly rose as he did. He sat on the bed and looked at her — truly looked at her. For a brief moment, pity crossed his face.
Not love. Not desire.
Pity.
"You think I don't know what you're doing?" he asked after a pause.
She said nothing.
"Give it up," he continued. "And how dare you make my guards disobey my orders."
She dropped to her knees instantly.
"Forgive me. I didn't mean to anger you. I only couldn't sleep. I wanted comfort."
He stared at her for a long moment. Then he said one word.
"Leave."
She didn't move.
Instead, she looked up at him, her eyes burning.
"Why?" she asked. "Why haven't you touched me? Since you married me, you have never laid with me. The same for the others. Why are you like this?"
Silence..
Then, slowly, she stood and began to loosen her dress.
"There is a way for you to stay emperor," she said urgently. "If I become pregnant, everything stops. No princes. No doctrine. You remain emperor until our child grows and takes the throne. You know this."
She stepped closer, reaching for his face.
He slapped her hand away.
She fell to the floor with a gasp.
Pain flashed across her face — not just physical, but something deeper. She looked up at him with anger and disbelief.
"Get out," he ordered.
Suddenly, she laughed.
The sound was sharp, wild, and bitter. She stood, adjusting her dress slowly, her eyes gleaming.
"I didn't want it to come to this," she said. "But you leave me no choice."
The emperor stiffened.
"I know you want the three princes dead."
His eyes widened.
She laughed again. "You can fool everyone else, but not me. You have always been greedy for power. Always. That desperate look — it's still there."
She paced slowly.
"You're not worried about the princes. You don't sleep with your wives. Why? Because you already planned everything."
She stopped and faced him.
"If none of the princes return alive… then the throne remains yours."
She smiled. "Isn't that wonderful?"
The emperor said nothing.
"And recently," she added calmly, "your most loyal servant — Dada — has disappeared."
She tilted her head. "Coincidence? Or did you send him to murder the princes?"
She met his eyes without fear.
"You…" His voice shook with rage. "You've been spying on me?"
He had always known she was clever. But this?
This was dangerous.
Very dangerous.
The queen smiled.
"I know you," she said softly. "Better than you think."
And in that moment, the emperor realized something terrifying.
The woman kneeling before him was no longer begging.
She was threatening.