Tension

To my left, I catch sight of my siblings standing together. Stella's expression is one of barely concealed amusement, and I can't help but suspect that she had a hand in orchestrating this whole affair.

"Being a member of the royal family comes with certain responsibilities," the emperor begins, his voice resonating through the grand chamber.

I listen in silence, bracing myself for whatever accusation is about to be hurled my way.

"But it has come to my attention that your recent actions have stained that honor," he continues, his gaze fixed sternly upon me.

"I don't understand, your majesty," I respond evenly, masking the turmoil brewing within me.

With a gesture, the emperor signals for his servant, who promptly exits the room. I watch with a clenched jaw as my boys are brought in, their expressions a mix of confusion and defiance. They are forced to their knees beside me, treated as though they were common criminals. I grit my teeth, suppressing the surge of anger that threatens to consume me.

"I still fail to comprehend, your majesty," I reply, my tone measured despite the turmoil raging within me.

"It has been reported that you dismissed all your servants save for one, and then had these three... individuals subsequently brought in," the emperor states, his disapproval evident in his voice.

I resist the urge to roll my eyes at his narrow-mindedness. As if I needed his approval for my actions.

"That is correct. However, I fail to see how such actions constitute a 'stain on royal honor'," I retort, maintaining my composure.

"Do you believe that your behavior is befitting of a member of the royal family?" he questions, his patience wearing thin.

"How could it not be? It is not uncommon for those in positions of power to indulge in certain... liberties," I reply, the hint of defiance lacing my words.

"You're a royal princess!" The emperor's voice reverberates through the silent throne room, his words carrying the weight of authority and anger.

"How dare a princess act so immorally?" he continues, his anger palpable as it fills the grand chamber. I observe with a mixture of amusement and frustration as the assembled nobles cower beneath his wrath.

"Define immoral," I interject, my tone deliberately casual despite the tension in the air. Gasps ripple through the room at my audacity.

"Are you implying that I've engaged in... certain activities with these men?" I inquire, feigning innocence as I raise an eyebrow.

The shock among the nobles is palpable, their whispers spreading like wildfire through the room.

"If that is indeed your insinuation, then surely this is a waste of everyone's time," I continue, my voice ringing clear above the murmurs of the courtiers. "There is no law nor stipulation against my actions, and I dare say that practically everyone standing in these halls has indulged in similar pursuits."

A few nobles avert their gazes, unwilling to meet my challenging stare.

"You think it's the same? You're a princess!" Linus bursts out, his disapproval evident in his tone as he fixes me with a reproachful glare.

I meet his gaze evenly, refusing to back down in the face of his narrow-mindedness.

"Dear brother, that's a rather antiquated way of thinking for an Empire founded by a woman and whose main deity is a Goddess," I remark, my words laced with a hint of sarcasm. "Your words betray a certain misogynistic bias... but of course, that couldn't possibly be the case."

Linus bristles with indignation, but he is rendered speechless, unable to formulate a response that wouldn't further damage his standing. He falls silent, his expression a mask of frustration and resentment. What'd I do to him?

"Regardless, to avoid rumors from spreading, Crown Prince Mathius Azure of the kingdom of Tidal Haven will be visiting in three months on diplomatic relations," the emperor declares, his words carrying the weight of an announcement that catches everyone off guard. "An engagement between you two would strengthen the relationship between Salona and Tidal Haven."

I can't help but scoff loudly at the absurdity of his proposal, earning a sharp glare from the emperor in response.

"Excuse me," he says, his tone dripping with thinly veiled threat as the tension in the hall rises to a palpable level.

"With all due respect, your majesty, I refuse," I retort defiantly, my voice ringing out clearly despite the hushed murmurs that sweep through the assembly.

Gasps echo through the grand chamber at my bold refusal, and I can feel the weight of the emperor's disapproval bearing down upon me.

"Are you defying MY order?" he demands, his voice laced with menace as he takes a threatening step forward.

"Yes," I reply simply, meeting his gaze with unwavering resolve.

In a dramatic display of authority, the emperor unsheathes his sword and descends the stairs, pressing the blade against my neck with a threatening gesture. I feel the tension in the room escalate as my companions, the boys, bristle with the urge to intervene. But I subtly signal for them to remain calm, knowing that any rash action could escalate the situation further.

"Unfortunately, your majesty, you cannot spill the blood of those blessed by the moon," I remark dryly. "To harm one such as myself would incur the wrath of the Goddess herself."

The emperor flinches at my words, his grip on the sword faltering momentarily. The ancient law, which dictates that those blessed by the moon—marked by their white hair resembling moonlight—cannot be harmed without invoking the wrath of the Goddess, hangs heavy in the air. It is this very law that has spared the life of the Archduke, the only one of the emperor's siblings whom he could not kill.