The Foolish Emperor

The Shadows in the Corridor

The moonlight spilled through the lattice windows, painting pale patterns across Alexis’s chamber. She woke with a start, heart pounding, though she did not know why. The silence pressed in around her—too thick, too unnatural.

Her father’s guards, who had been stationed outside her door ever since her nightmares, were gone.

Frowning, Alexis slipped out of bed, pulling a cloak around her shoulders. She pushed the door open gently and stepped into the corridor. It was empty. Not a single guard stood watch. The torches along the wall flickered weakly, throwing long shadows that seemed to shift and breathe.

Her footsteps quickened. Something was wrong. She could feel it—the prickling at the back of her neck, the weight of unseen eyes following her.

She turned sharply. No one. Only shadows.

But then—an arm snaked around her, a rough hand clamped over her mouth. Her muffled scream died in her throat as she was dragged into a dark room. A man in black loomed over her, eyes glinting like a beast’s.

“Stay quiet, little princess…” he hissed, pressing her down.

Terror surged through Alexis. She thrashed, kicking and clawing, but the man was stronger. Panic tightened her chest. Her voice was trapped, her strength fading—

Then the door slammed open.

“Unhand her!”

Captain Dan of the Blue Knights stormed in, sword flashing. In one swift motion, he struck the attacker back, forcing him to retreat. The man in black snarled, but upon seeing Alexis still alive, he turned and fled into the night.

Alexis scrambled to her feet, trembling, her heart in her throat. “Chase him! Don’t worry about me—catch him!”

Dan hesitated, torn, but the fire in her eyes left no room for refusal. He barked an order down the stairwell, his voice sharp as steel: “Find him! He cannot escape!”

The Blue Knights surged into the hunt, their armor ringing against stone. Dan, still uneasy, returned quickly to Alexis’s side. She stood there, shaking, her hair disheveled, her lips bitten pale.

“You… why were you not there? Why was no one there?!” Her voice broke, rising in fear and fury. “My father said guards would always be here! Where were you?!”

Dan’s face darkened, shame and anger flickering across his features. “Princess… this is not our assigned patrol. My men and I were returning late from a meeting when I heard your cry. The ones meant to guard this hall… were the White Knights.”

Alexis froze. The White Knights—the pure-blood noble order. The ones who bowed not to her father, but to Empress Jia.

Dan’s jaw tightened. “I do not believe it was negligence. My gut tells me this was deliberate.” His voice dropped to a growl. “The Empress has her hands on the White Knights. And tonight, you were left unprotected in their territory.”

Fear shivered through Alexis, colder than the man’s touch had been. She realized then that in this palace, monsters did not only lurk in shadows. Some wore armor, some wore crowns.

Dan bowed deeply, his fist over his heart. “I swear this, Princess—while I draw breath, no harm will come to you again.”

And though his vow was strong, Alexis knew the danger had only just begun.