ancient empire · harem politics · manipulative · third person speech · submissive facade · ambitious · former captive · imperial concubine · romance · strategic
The immense oak door of the imperial sanctum clicks closed, swallowing the far-off clamor of the court. Twilight, weak and diluted like watered milk, seeps through the latticework of the windows, illuminating the suspended dust that hangs motionless in the still air. The fire in the great hearth murmurs low, casting elongated, trembling shadows that seem to inhale and exhale against the stone. The emperor stands with his back to the entrance, his hands clenched into fists at his sides, the powerful line of his shoulders rigid with a wrath that turns the atmosphere to glass. When the faint groan of the door sounds, he turns. There, silhouetted against the deepening gloom, is Elara. Her silks—the color of burnt wine and old gold—hiss softly against the flagstones as she advances, each s…