Episode 12
935 Words
The Imperial Marriage Festival
The palace awoke before dawn.
Bronze bells echoed through the capital.
Silk banners bearing the Imperial Falcon fluttered above the palace walls.
Servants hurried through the corridors carrying baskets of fresh flowers, embroidered carpets, and golden lanterns.
Within a single night...
The Imperial Palace had transformed into a city of celebration.
Arzoo stood at the balcony of her chamber, watching hundreds of workers decorate the Grand Courtyard.
She frowned.
"It looks like a festival."
A palace maid lowered her head.
"It is, My Lady."
"What festival?"
"The Imperial Marriage Festival."
Arzoo turned sharply.
"The what?"
The maid hesitated.
"It is an ancient tradition."
"Whenever the Imperial Council believes the throne requires an empress, noble families from across the empire present eligible ladies before His Majesty."
Another maid smiled excitedly.
"They say every noble family has already arrived."
Arzoo felt something tighten in her chest.
For reasons she couldn't explain...
The news unsettled her.
The Lion's Burden
At the same moment...
Emperor Zayan stood inside the Hall of Governance.
His council had already gathered.
Grand Vizier Kareem folded his hands respectfully.
"Your Majesty."
"The preparations are complete."
Zayan's expression remained cold.
"I gave no such order."
The old vizier smiled politely.
"With respect..."
"The Imperial Marriage Festival is an ancient constitutional tradition."
"The emperor cannot postpone it indefinitely."
Several ministers nodded in agreement.
"The people expect an empress."
"The royal bloodline must continue."
"The empire requires stability."
Zayan slowly looked around the chamber.
Every minister avoided his gaze.
He understood immediately.
This wasn't advice.
It was pressure.
Political pressure.
Someone wanted him married.
Soon.
Very soon.
"The candidates?" he asked.
Kareem answered smoothly.
"Thirty-two noble daughters from the greatest families of the empire."
He paused deliberately.
"And..."
"...Lady Arzoo Ashraf."
Silence.
Captain Hamza looked at the emperor in disbelief.
"My lord..."
Zayan's silver eyes darkened.
"Who authorized her name?"
"The council."
"I did not."
"The constitution permits it."
Kareem bowed again.
"As the highest-ranking unmarried noblewoman currently residing within the palace..."
"...Lady Arzoo is automatically eligible."
The emperor understood the trap.
If he removed Arzoo...
The court would ask why.
If he kept her...
She would become the target of every ambitious noble family.
Someone had planned this perfectly.
Poison Hidden Behind Smiles
Meanwhile...
The ladies invited to the festival gathered in the Crystal Pavilion.
Jewels sparkled beneath the morning sun.
Silks of every color filled the room.
Laughter echoed politely.
But beneath every smile...
Competition burned.
Arzoo entered quietly.
Instantly...
Every conversation stopped.
A young noblewoman wearing crimson silk smiled sweetly.
"So..."
"You're the famous Lady Arzoo."
Another laughed.
"The emperor's newest favorite."
Arzoo answered calmly.
"I am neither famous nor anyone's favorite."
The women exchanged amused glances.
One stepped closer.
"My name is Lady Nigar."
"Daughter of Duke Rahman."
She looked Arzoo up and down.
"I expected someone..."
"...more impressive."
Arzoo simply smiled.
"I expected better manners."
The room became silent.
Several ladies covered their mouths to hide their laughter.
Lady Nigar's smile stiffened.
"No wonder they say you're fearless."
Arzoo replied gently,
"No."
"I simply believe respect should be mutual."
For the first time...
Someone had challenged one of the empire's most influential daughters.
Without raising her voice.
Without losing her dignity.
The Emperor Watches
High above the pavilion...
Emperor Zayan observed everything from a carved balcony hidden behind a marble screen.
Captain Hamza stood beside him.
"She handled that well."
Zayan didn't answer.
His attention remained fixed on Arzoo.
She never sought attention.
Yet somehow...
Every room seemed to revolve around her.
Hamza cleared his throat.
"You know what the court is thinking."
"I do."
"They already believe she'll become empress."
The emperor's expression remained unreadable.
"They believe many foolish things."
"But are they wrong?"
For the first time...
The emperor didn't answer.
The First Trial
A trumpet echoed across the palace.
The Master of Ceremonies entered the pavilion.
"Ladies..."
"The first royal trial begins."
Servants carried in thirty-two identical wooden boxes.
Each was sealed with the Imperial Falcon.
The official smiled.
"Inside one box rests the White Lotus."
"The lady who finds it will receive the emperor's first audience."
Whispers spread through the room.
Every contestant hurried toward a box.
Arzoo stayed where she was.
Lady Nigar laughed.
"Not interested?"
"I don't compete for people's attention."
The official frowned.
"Lady Arzoo..."
"You must choose."
With obvious reluctance...
She stepped forward.
Only one unopened box remained.
She lifted the lid.
Inside...
Rested a single white lotus flower.
The pavilion erupted.
"What?"
"Again?"
"Impossible!"
Even the Master of Ceremonies looked stunned.
He personally inspected the box.
It hadn't been tampered with.
Above them...
Captain Hamza blinked.
"That was..."
"...unexpected."
The emperor quietly exhaled.
"No."
"It was planned."
Hamza frowned.
"You think someone wanted her to win?"
"I know they did."
A Smile in the Shadows
Far across the courtyard...
Behind a silk curtain...
A veiled woman watched the celebration unfold.
A servant bowed beside her.
"My Lady..."
"The first stage has gone exactly as you predicted."
The woman smiled beneath her veil.
"Of course."
"And Lady Arzoo?"
"She won."
The woman softly laughed.
"Good."
"The higher she climbs..."
"...the harder she will fall."
She turned toward the palace gardens.
"Prepare the second trial."
The servant hesitated.
"My Lady..."
"Someone could die."
The woman's voice became cold.
"That is precisely the point."
End of Chapter 12
As the palace celebrated the beginning of the Imperial Marriage Festival, no one realized it had never been intended to choose an empress.
It had been designed...
To choose a victim.
And before the festival ended...
One of the emperor's brides would be murdered.
- Writer
