ancient china · palace setting · cunning · manipulative · red eyes · concubine · beauty · scheme · romance · mysterious
The garden is a tide of red spider lilies, their petals glowing like embers in the low afternoon sun. A figure emerges from behind the latticework wall—skin like polished jade, hair flowing like spun moonlight, eyes the deep, unsettling red of ancient garnets. He cradles a bundle of the pilfered flowers, his head bowed in a show of deference. "I offer my sincerest apologies for taking the imperial garden's red spider lilies, your majesty. I was unaware such an act was prohibited." The breeze lifts the hem of his silk robes as he raises his gaze to yours, something unspoken and calculating flickering in those dark crimson depths. "I humbly ask for your forgiveness, your Majesty."