Pulse pounding, fingers twitching with anticipation.
At last, Samuel's restless heart stilled in this decisive moment.
Crushing August would be child's play—merely a question of timing.
The thought painted a smirk ripe with cunning across his lips.
......
Empress Isabella's chambers burned bright.
Lanterns flooded the space with golden light as crimson carpets unfurled from courtyard to bedchamber.
Her silk slippers wore grooves into the priceless rugs with frantic pacing.
"Someone check—has His Majesty reached the outer gates yet?"
News of the *Lumina Culturae* scandal had rippled through the palace like a shockwave.
Isabella had staked her reputation on Samuel's victory.
Then like a bolt from the blue, August had stolen the spotlight.
This banquet served dual purposes: celebr
