The world knows me as Empress Seraphina, cherished above all else, the apple of the Emperor’s eye. What the world does not know is that my favorite secret is slipping out of the palace disguised as a young nobleman to watch the artistes at The Gilded Lyre. Today, the Emperor left under a simple guise to oversee drills at the city’s military garrison. Seizing the opportunity, I slipped out once more. I was enjoying the performance from a balcony seat when a lavishly dressed young lord and his retinue of thugs stormed into the hall. “My father’s finally let me off the leash! At last, a chance to see the beauties of The Gilded Lyre for myself!” he bellowed. “What’s this nonsense about ‘artistry, not favors’? I am a lord’s heir! Whomever I desire, I shall take!” This was The Gilded Lyre, where the artistes sold their craft, not their bodies. The sudden intrusion sent a wave of fear through the women on stage. The music faltered, the dancing ceased. The man advanced with a predatory smirk. “My father is the Lord Marshal of the Imperial Cavalry. To be noticed by me is the greatest fortune of your lives. Isn’t being my mistress better than being a common whore?” To have my rare escape interrupted like this… I frowned. Some petty lordling? I am the Empress. 1 The suffocating formality of the palace was a cage, and The Gilded Lyre was my one true sanctuary. Emperor Cassian knew of my little eccentricity and had always turned a blind eye to my visits. But today, just as I was losing myself in the show, chaos erupted below. I stood and peered over the railing. The man leading the disruption, the self-proclaimed heir, had to be Lord Sebastian, the only son of the Lord Marshal, Gideon Valerius. A lecherous grin was plastered across his face, his gaze slithering over the performers like a venomous snake. “The Gilded Lyre truly lives up to its name. These women are a cut above the common wenches in the brothels,” he sneered. “Today, this young lord will show you all some proper affection.” Madam Fleur, the proprietress of the house, was visibly terrified, but seeing the trembling girls on her stage, she squared her shoulders and stepped forward, forcing a veneer of calm. “Ah, Lord Sebastian! What a pleasant surprise to have you grace our establishment today.” “As all in the Capital know, the girls of The Gilded Lyre offer their art, not their bodies. I must ask you not to make things difficult for a humble woman like myself.” Lord Sebastian tore his eyes from the stage and fixed them on her. “You know who I am, yet you still dare to speak to me this way?” he scoffed. “Artistry, not favors? What a joke! When I take an interest in someone, I do as I please. Who are you to object?” He looked back to the stage and pointed a finger at one of the dancers. “You. Come down here. Let me have a proper look at you.” The girl’s face went deathly pale, but she stood frozen, unwilling to move. Madam Fleur took another step forward, blocking his view. “My lord, all the girls here are…” This time, she didn’t finish. Sebastian swung a fist, striking her hard in the chest. She flew backward, clutching her sternum, unable to rise. He glanced at her pathetic form with a contemptuous smirk and nodded to his men. They understood instantly, dragging the terrified girl from the stage and throwing her at Sebastian’s feet. My hands clenched the balcony railing, my knuckles turning white. That man, Gideon Valerius! A decorated war hero, and this is how he raised his son? Beside me, my lady-in-waiting, Lily, saw my grip and shook her head, her brow furrowed with worry. “My lord, you mustn’t. We are already breaking imperial decree by being here in disguise. We cannot afford more trouble.” “If you feel for these women, we can send the Imperial Guard when we return to the palace,” she whispered urgently. “If your identity is exposed, it will put His Majesty in a terribly difficult position.” Lily was my closest confidante. Whenever we left the palace, she called me ‘my lord’ and the Emperor ‘His Majesty.’ I understood her caution. I hesitated, but then Madam Fleur’s cry pierced the air again. “My lord, I beg of you, you cannot do this!” “These are good girls, trying to make an honest living with their talents. If you truly admire one, speak to her with kindness!” I looked down to see Sebastian forcing the young dancer into his arms, his foul mouth moving towards her face. She struggled desperately, but his strength was too much. In the split second before his lips touched her, I could no longer hold back. My voice boomed across the hall. “Stop!” 2 Seeing that scene, I cast all of Lily’s warnings to the wind. I understood her fears, of course, but as the Empress, if I could not protect a few women in a hall, how could I claim to protect the people of an empire? How could I be the Mother of the Realm? My shout drew Sebastian’s attention. His eyes swiveled up to meet mine. “Well, well. It seems we have a white knight for this fair maiden.” Lily tugged at my sleeve, her eyes darting nervously towards the thugs standing behind him. I knew we were outnumbered. Clearing my throat, I projected an air of authority. “I overheard you from my balcony. You must be the heir to the Lord Marshal’s house, are you not?” “A man of your station can have any woman he desires. Why trouble the artistes of The Gilded Lyre?” “Perhaps you could do me the honor of letting this matter rest for today?” Hearing my words, Sebastian released the girl and studied me, a calculating look in his eyes. “Do you an honor? And which noble house do you belong to, pray tell? I don’t recognize your face.” I cursed him silently. Which house? The Imperial House, you dolt! When I didn't answer, he snorted and looked away. “Can’t even name your house. I suppose your family has no one of rank at court.” “You’re dressed well enough. At best, you’re the son of some lowly merchant. What gives you the right to speak to me?” “Now, get lost before you ruin my mood, or I’ll have you killed.” As he spoke, he reached for the girl again. Madam Fleur scrambled to her feet. Though she was trembling with fear and pain, she shielded the dancer with her own body. “My lord, they are all respectable girls. They came to The Gilded Lyre because they trusted me.” “I beg you, my lord, have mercy. Let them go.” As she spoke, she began to sink to her knees. Sebastian’s face twisted with impatience. He slapped her hard across the face, his voice dripping with venom. “I believe I told you once already. I am a lord’s heir. That I desire them is the greatest fortune of their lives.” “If you cannot understand simple words, then don’t blame me for what happens next.” “You are nothing but a collection of glorified whores, and you dare to bargain with me? One more word out of you, and I’ll have all of you shipped to the garrison to serve as camp whores!” The dancer behind Madam Fleur turned, gave a long, sorrowful look to her sisters on the stage, and then knelt before Sebastian. “My lord, you may do with me as you wish. I have only one request.” “I will go with you, if you will spare my sisters and Madam Fleur.” The girl knelt there, her eyes red and brimming, but she fought back her tears with fierce pride. This display seemed to amuse Sebastian. He grabbed her by the chin, his lust stark and undisguised. “You are in no position to bargain with me!” I could not bear it a moment longer. I rushed down, pulled the girl to her feet, and stood face-to-face with Sebastian, my eyes blazing. “The Lord Marshal fights on the battlefield to protect the people of this empire. Is this the lesson in honor he taught his son?” “You have spent years at his side in military camps. Do you think our soldiers shed their blood on the front lines, defending our homes and families, so that you could terrorize women in their name?” “Does this empire have no laws? Is there no justice?” My words were sharp and clear, but Sebastian only sneered, looking at me as if I were something he’d scraped off his boot. “Laws? A lowly merchant’s son dares to speak to me of laws?” “Fine. Today, I will teach you what the law is!” The moment he finished speaking, his men surged towards me. “My lord!” As Lily cried out, my nobleman’s hat was knocked from my head in the scuffle. A cascade of dark hair tumbled down my back. 3 Sebastian’s anger instantly transformed into stunned admiration. He raised a hand, halting his men. “Well, well. Not a young lord after all, but a lovely little lady.” “For such a pretty thing to play the hero… could it be you’ve taken a fancy to me?” “Come, little lady. I will be sure to treat you very, very well.” He advanced on me, his grin widening into a sickening leer. Lily threw herself in front of me, glaring at him with defiance. Sebastian paused, then reached out and snatched the cap from her head as well. “Just as I thought. No young man could be this pretty. Two little ladies, then.” “And you,” he said, looking at Lily, “you must be her maid. A waste not to enjoy you both.” “My men have followed me out today. It wouldn’t be right for me to have all the fun, would it?” At his words, his thugs swarmed Lily, pulling her away. I lunged to get her back, but Sebastian grabbed me by the waist, his grip like iron. I spun around and shoved him away. “Sebastian Valerius, I am warning you! If you dare to touch a single hair on our heads today, I swear I will have your entire house buried for it!” He showed no fear, licking his lips as his eyes devoured me. “Little lady, you still don’t seem to understand the situation, do you?” “My father is the Lord Marshal, appointed by the Emperor himself. I could marry a princess if I wished. What right does a mere merchant’s daughter have to threaten me?” “You are quite beautiful, I’ll give you that. How about this: if you agree to be my mistress, I will let these women of The Gilded Lyre go. What do you say?” I snapped. I slapped him hard across the face. “Insolence!” The lust in his eyes curdled into pure malice. He ran his tongue over the inside of his cheek and grabbed a fistful of my hair. “You bitch! You refuse my generosity?” “It is your great fortune that I even look at you, and you dare to lecture me? Who the hell do you think you are?” “You truly don’t fear death, do you? Then watch. Open your eyes and watch what happens to your little maid!” He yanked me forward, forcing my head to face Lily, and roared at his men. “You’ve all been cooped up in the garrison for too long, haven’t you? This little maid is quite a morsel, isn’t she? So soft, so tender. She’s yours.” “Show this little girl a good time.” “I want her mistress to see, to understand what happens when you defy me.” At his command, his men, who had been holding back, rubbed their hands together and closed in. The leader ripped away Lily’s outer tunic. Her pale skin was exposed to the room, and the men’s eyes glinted with a sharper hunger. I struggled with all my might, trying to break free. Strands of my hair were torn from my scalp, but I couldn't move. Seeing Lily, clad only in her chemise, scrambling backward on the floor in terror, I found my voice and screamed. “How dare you!” “I am the reigning Empress! This is Lily, First Lady of the Empress’s Quarters!” “I’d like to see which one of you dares to touch her now!” 4 The moment my words rang out, Sebastian burst into laughter. “The Empress? If you’re the Empress, then I’m the Emperor!” “The Empress lives in seclusion. Why would she ever appear in a den of vice like this? Who do you think you’re fooling?” “What, you finally realize my father is second only to the Emperor himself? Are you scared now?” As he laughed, his grip loosened. I seized the chance, spun around, and kicked him with all my strength between the legs. He doubled over, gasping in pain. I scrambled to Lily’s side, snatching her torn tunic from the floor and throwing it over her shoulders. Sebastian, his face contorted in agony, pointed a trembling finger at me and roared. “This bitch! Beat her! Beat her senseless! The ungrateful wretch!” His men fell upon us, and a rain of fists and feet descended on me and Lily. She tried desperately to shield me, screaming at Sebastian. “This is the Empress! Are you all truly so eager to die?” “Do you think the law cannot touch you? When His Majesty learns of this, can you possibly bear the consequences?” “Stop! Stop it at once!” Sebastian strode forward and kicked Lily hard in the chest, hissing through clenched teeth. “The law? I am the law!” “You two madwomen seem to have become addicted to your own play-acting. The Empress? Do you even know which way the palace gates face?” He shoved Lily into the arms of one of his men, a terrifying darkness in his eyes. “This little maid is a gift to you all. Have your fun. If she dies, the blame is mine!” Then, his gaze fell on me. He grabbed my hair again, forcing my head up to meet his eyes. “As for you, you should thank that pretty face of yours. Otherwise, you’d be nothing but a toy for my servants as well.” “Come. Serve me well. If you please me, I might permit you to be my mistress.” He started dragging me towards a private room upstairs. I clawed at his face, my nails leaving bloody trails down his cheeks. “Sebastian Valerius, I am the Empress of this realm!” “Send a man to the military garrison right now! The Emperor is there today, inspecting the troops! Tell him I am at The Gilded Lyre, and he will come at once!” “Let Lily go now! If you don’t, when the Emperor arrives, I will make your entire house wish for death!” Cassian knew I loved to slip out of the palace. The mention of The Gilded Lyre would be enough. My scratching had broken his skin. His face turned livid with rage. He threw me to the ground and began kicking me relentlessly. “The Emperor? You dare mention the Emperor, you bitch?” “You should have done your research before starting this farce! If the Emperor were truly at the garrison, why would my father have given me the day off?” “I am a lord’s heir! It’s one thing for you to impersonate nobility in front of me, but to impersonate the Empress? I think you’ve grown tired of living!” Lily’s clothes were nearly shredded, and her terrified sobs echoed through the cavernous hall. I ignored the searing pain in my body and crawled to her, trying to shield her with my own. But Sebastian gave me no respite. He dragged me away from her, his fingers digging into my jaw. “Since you don’t want to join me in the private room, we can do it right here!” His men, grinning, swarmed around Lily, while his own hands began to grope me with desperate impatience. Madam Fleur and the other artistes were kneeling in a circle on the floor, pleading for us. “My lord, please let them go.” “From their clothes, these two ladies are clearly from a wealthy family. What if this causes trouble?” “We beg you, my lord, spare these two girls.” My voice was hoarse as I screamed at Sebastian. “Even if you don't believe me! Have you considered the possibility—even one in a million—that I truly am the Empress?” “After what you have done to me today, can you bear the consequences? Can your family bear the consequences?” My outer robes were in tatters, my tunic hanging loosely from my chest. I could only cross my arms tightly over myself to keep from being completely exposed. When Sebastian couldn't pry my arms away, he began slapping me again and again. He seemed to have lost all control. His breath came in ragged gasps as he looked around, snatched a porcelain vase from a nearby table, and brought it crashing down on my head. “I’ll bear the consequences? First, you should think about the consequences of impersonating the Empress!” “Impersonating royalty is a crime punishable by the execution of your entire clan! And you dare to impersonate the Empress herself!” “Everyone knows the Emperor adores the Empress! For her, he has even closed the royal concubinate and sworn never to take another consort!” “I’ll tell you what, you bitch. Become my mistress, and you might escape this. Otherwise, I will see every last member of your clan put to death!” The vase shattered. Shards flew everywhere. A warm liquid began to drip down my face. Lily’s bloodcurdling scream tore through the air beside me. “Your Majesty!” And in the next second, another voice, sharp and clear, sliced through the air above The Gilded Lyre. “Make way for the Emperor!” “Make way for the Lord Marshal!”
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