Episode 11: Whispers In The Dark

"In a palace built on secrets, knowing the wrong truth can get you killed."

Seraphina barely slept that night.

The note burned in her mind, each word carving a warning into her thoughts.

"You are being watched."

Who had left it?

And more importantly—why?

The palace was full of spies, but none had ever tried to help her.

This was different.

This wasn't a threat.

It was a warning.

And that terrified her more than anything.

Because it meant someone knew something she didn't.

And in a court like this—

Ignorance was a death sentence.

The next morning, the palace was restless.

Tension crackled in the air like an approaching storm.

Seraphina noticed it immediately.

The way the guards were positioned differently.

The way the nobles whispered behind their hands, eyes darting toward the throne room.

Something had happened.

And it wasn't good.

As she walked toward the grand hall, she caught pieces of conversation.

"A traitor—"

"Someone tried—"

"The emperor is furious."

Seraphina's breath caught.

She quickened her pace, pushing open the massive doors to the throne room—

And froze.

The sight before her sent a chill down her spine.

Xavien Draethis sat upon his throne, his expression unreadable.

But the air around him—**the sheer force of his presence—**was suffocating.

Cold.

Deadly.

And at the center of the room—

A man knelt on the marble floor, his face bloodied, his body trembling.

Seraphina recognized him instantly.

One of the court's advisors. A man who had never spoken more than a polite greeting to her.

But now—

His wrists were bound. His clothes torn.

And when his eyes met hers—

There was pure terror in them.

Xavien's golden gaze flicked toward her, and for the briefest moment—

Something flashed in his expression.

Something sharp. Calculating.

And then—gone.

His voice was calm when he spoke.

"You are awake, Empress."

Seraphina swallowed.

"What is happening?"

Xavien's lips curled into something that was not quite a smile.

"A lesson."

He leaned forward, resting his chin on his hand.

"This man was caught sneaking messages to one of my enemies."

The advisor let out a broken gasp.

"Mercy, Your Majesty—"

Xavien didn't even look at him.

"Mercy?"

A single word.

Cold. Amused.

Seraphina's heart pounded as she looked between them.

She didn't know this man. Didn't care for him.

But she knew Xavien.

And she knew what was coming next.

"Xavien."

The name slipped out before she could stop it.

A hush fell over the room.

No one ever called him by name.

The advisor's eyes widened. The guards stiffened.

But Xavien—

He just tilted his head.

Watching her.

Waiting.

Seraphina forced herself to breathe.

"Let him speak."

Xavien studied her for a long moment.

And then—

He laughed.

Low. Quiet. Dangerous.

"You have grown bold, little Empress."

Seraphina did not look away.

If she did, she knew she would lose.

Xavien exhaled, standing from his throne.

"Very well." He stepped closer to the kneeling man. Too close. "Speak."

The advisor let out a choked breath.

"I—I was forced—threatened—"

Xavien crouched beside him, golden eyes gleaming.

"By whom?"

The man hesitated.

And in that hesitation—

He signed his own death sentence.

Xavien sighed.

"Wrong answer."

And then—

With a flick of his wrist—

The man's body collapsed to the ground, unmoving.

A strangled sound caught in Seraphina's throat.

She had known.

She had known Xavien was ruthless.

But watching it happen—

Watching him end a life with nothing but a thought—

It was something else entirely.

And the worst part?

He wasn't even angry.

This was casual to him.

As if killing was as simple as breathing.

Xavien turned toward her, his expression unreadable.

"You look pale, little Empress."

Seraphina clenched her fists.

"You didn't even let him explain."

Xavien smiled.

"He hesitated."

Seraphina opened her mouth—then closed it.

Because she knew.

Knew that in this palace, hesitation was just another word for guilt.

Xavien stepped closer.

Close enough that she could feel his warmth, despite the chill in the air.

"This is how things work here, Seraphina." His voice was low. Dangerous. "The strong survive. The weak do not."

Seraphina lifted her chin.

"And you decide who is weak?"

Xavien tilted his head.

"Always."

A shiver ran through her.

Not just from fear—

But from something else.

Something far more dangerous.

Because standing this close to him, with his golden eyes locked onto hers—

She felt it.

The pull.

The unspoken weight between them.

And she knew—

She was playing a very, very dangerous game.

But the problem was—

She wasn't sure she wanted to stop.