Spare Tire Punctured

I narrowed my eyes at Consort Yahiya, my lips curling into a smirk. "You mean His Majesty will hate me for exposing Noor Giza and her adultery?"

Consort Yahiya leaned in, her breath warm against my ear as she whispered, "That's right. What happened today will be a throne in His Majesty's heart. In the future, every time he sees you, he will be reminded of this unparalleled humiliation. You and I are the same now—we will never earn the Emperor's favor again. Noor Giza may have lost, but…" She paused, her gaze steady. "You didn't win either."

I scoffed, pushing her away. "Sorry, but I have no interest in women. And I certainly don't want to join your Out of Favor Alliance—farewell."

I turned on my heel and strode out, leaving Consort Yahiya standing in confusion.

The halls of the palace were eerily quiet. A few servants scurried past, keeping their heads low, avoiding eye contact. The atmosphere was thick with tension, the echoes of today's scandal still lingering in the air.

When I reached my chambers, Mousy was already waiting for me. The little creature hopped anxiously onto my shoulder, his tiny paws gripping my collar.

"Host! Consort Yahiya is right! That scumbag of an Emperor won't let either of you get away with this. What are you going to do?"

I plucked Mousy off my shoulder and held him in my palm, letting out a slow sigh. "Do you really need to ask? That harlot has already gotten her comeuppance. What do we need from that scumbag Emperor? Giving birth for him?"

Mousy blinked. "You're serious?"

I smirked. "Deadly."

---

An Isolated Place Outside the Palace

The air inside the small chamber was damp and cold, thick with the scent of old stone and despair. Noor Giza sat hunched on the floor, arms wrapped around herself for warmth. Her once-beautiful face was pale, her lips cracked from the biting chill.

Yet, her mind clung to a single thought.

"He will come… He won't be so cold-hearted… He will definitely come…"

The sound of the door creaking open made her flinch. She turned her head sharply, her eyes lighting up with desperate hope.

"Your Majesty?" she whispered.

But when the dim candlelight revealed my figure, the hope shattered instantly.

Her lips pressed into a thin line. Her fists clenched.

"Sefa! Yilmaz!!" she shrieked, her voice hoarse.

I yawned dramatically, rubbing my eyes as if exhausted. Then, with a lazy flick of my hand, I tossed something in her direction.

A piece of crimson silk, embroidered with golden thread. A lover's knot.

It landed at her feet.

Noor stared at it, her fingers trembling as she reached for it. She knew what it was. The very token she had once sent to the Emperor, a symbol of devotion, of love.

I leaned against the cold stone wall, watching her reaction carefully. "Not so loud, Noor. I'm here at someone else's bidding. This…" I gestured toward the lover's knot, "is what you once gave His Majesty, isn't it?"

She looked up at me with wide, panicked eyes.

I smiled, tilting my head. "Well… He asked me to return it to you."

Her lips parted, a whisper of disbelief escaping. "No…"

I crouched down to her level, my voice slow and deliberate. "And he asked me to give you a message." I let the silence stretch for a moment, watching her breath hitch in anticipation.

"The lover's knot has been broken. He will never see you again, in life or death."

A sharp gasp left her lips. The words hit like a dagger.

She shook her head violently, her tangled hair falling over her face. "No… I don't believe it! You're lying! I want to see His Majesty! He wouldn't do this to me!"

I let out a slow breath. "Wouldn't he?"

She scrambled toward me, her hands clawing at my sleeves. "Please, Sefa! Let me see him! I beg you!"

I remained still, watching her with unreadable eyes. Then, after a long pause, I asked, "Noor… Aren't you even going to ask what happened to the Ninth Duke?"

Her breath caught. Her fingers loosened.

I continued, my tone eerily calm. "This morning, His Majesty personally visited the Ninth Duke's prison cell."

She froze.

"And then…" I leaned closer, lowering my voice. "He poisoned him to death."

Noor's entire body went rigid.

"On his last breath," I added, "he still took your name."

Her hands trembled. Tears welled in her eyes.

"What a deep affection you two had," I mused, watching as her body curled inward, as if trying to shield herself from the truth.

A long silence filled the chamber.

Then, the first sob broke through.

Noor Giza collapsed to the ground, her fingers still clutching the broken lover's knot, her cries echoing off the cold stone walls.