Episode 13
1100 Words
A Bride Must Bleed
The White Lotus rested quietly in Arzoo's hands.
Its petals were flawless.
Pure.
Untouched.
Yet every noblewoman in the Crystal Pavilion looked at it as if it were stained with blood.
Lady Nigar's smile disappeared.
Another contestant whispered,
"How convenient."
"First, she survives execution."
"Now she wins the emperor's first trial."
"Someone is helping her."
Arzoo ignored them.
She had never wanted to participate in this festival.
Winning only made her situation worse.
The Emperor's Audience
The Hall of Jade had only two occupants.
Emperor Zayan Mirza.
And Arzoo.
Outside the carved wooden doors, dozens of ministers waited impatiently.
Inside...
Silence ruled.
The emperor poured tea into two porcelain cups.
He pushed one toward her.
"You don't look happy."
Arzoo looked at the cup but didn't touch it.
"I don't enjoy becoming the center of palace gossip."
A faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
"Neither do I."
She finally met his gaze.
"Then why is this festival happening?"
"I didn't order it."
"You could stop it."
"I could."
He paused.
"And tomorrow the entire court would accuse you of controlling me."
Arzoo frowned.
"So this is another trap."
"It always was."
She slowly sat across from him.
"Who benefits?"
The emperor answered immediately.
"The person who wants the empire divided."
"If the nobles believe I favor you..."
"They'll unite against you."
"And if I choose another bride?"
He looked directly into her eyes.
"They'll eliminate you before the wedding."
The realization sent a chill through her.
"There was never a safe choice."
"No."
"There wasn't."
A Gift Arrives
A palace servant entered carrying a long wooden chest.
He bowed deeply.
"Your Majesty."
"A gift has arrived for Lady Arzoo."
Neither Arzoo nor the emperor moved.
"From whom?" Zayan asked.
"There is no name."
Captain Hamza immediately stepped forward.
"Open it."
The servant carefully lifted the lid.
Inside lay an exquisite bridal gown.
Ivory silk.
Hand-embroidered with gold thread.
Thousands of tiny pearls shimmered beneath the afternoon sunlight.
The craftsmanship was breathtaking.
Even Captain Hamza stared.
"I've never seen anything like it."
Arzoo looked closer.
Folded neatly on top of the dress...
Was a small note.
She unfolded it.
Only six words were written.
Wear this... if you wish to live.
The emperor's eyes hardened.
Hamza immediately took the note.
"No signature."
"No seal."
"No handwriting I recognize."
The emperor looked at the dress.
"Burn it."
Arzoo blinked.
"What?"
"It could be poisoned."
Without another word...
A guard carried the gown away.
Seconds later...
It was thrown into the palace furnace.
The silk disappeared beneath roaring flames.
Everyone expected it to burn.
Instead...
The fire turned bright green.
The servant screamed.
"Poison!"
The emperor immediately stood.
"Hamza."
"Seal the palace."
"No gifts enter without inspection."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Arzoo silently watched the green flames.
Someone hadn't wanted her to wear the dress.
Someone had wanted her to touch it.
The Second Trial
That evening...
The thirty-two noblewomen gathered in the Moon Garden.
Crystal lanterns floated above the lake.
Hundreds of guests filled the marble terraces.
Musicians played softly while servants offered refreshments.
The Master of Ceremonies raised his voice.
"The second trial begins."
"This is the Trial of Wisdom."
One by one...
Each contestant would answer a question before the Imperial Court.
The wrong answer meant elimination.
The first lady stepped forward.
"If peace and justice cannot exist together..."
"...which would you choose?"
"Justice."
The judges nodded.
The next contestant answered,
"Peace."
Another chose wealth.
Another chose power.
The audience applauded politely.
Then...
Arzoo's name was called.
She walked forward.
The judge smiled.
"My Lady."
"If you were forced to choose..."
"...between saving your family..."
"...or saving the empire..."
"...what would you do?"
The garden became silent.
Even the emperor looked toward her.
It wasn't an ordinary question.
It was impossible.
Arzoo thought for a long moment.
Then answered quietly,
"I would first search for a path that saves both."
The judge interrupted.
"You may choose only one."
She shook her head.
"No."
"If a ruler believes only two choices exist..."
"...then that ruler has stopped searching for wisdom."
Several ministers frowned.
Others looked thoughtful.
Arzoo continued.
"A family builds an empire."
"An empire protects families."
"Destroy either one..."
"...and eventually you'll lose both."
Silence.
Complete silence.
Then...
An elderly judge slowly stood.
For the first time in years...
He bowed.
"Excellent."
"The answer was never family or empire."
"It was wisdom."
Thunderous applause filled the garden.
Even those who disliked Arzoo couldn't deny what they had witnessed.
She hadn't answered like a contestant.
She had answered like a ruler.
Jealous Hearts
Lady Nigar crushed her fan inside her hands.
"This cannot continue."
Another noblewoman whispered,
"The emperor hasn't even looked at anyone else tonight."
Lady Nigar's eyes darkened.
"Then we'll make sure..."
"...he has no choice."
Midnight Visitor
Long after the festival ended...
Arzoo returned to her chamber.
Exhaustion weighed upon her shoulders.
As she opened the door...
She froze.
Someone was inside.
A young girl.
Perhaps fourteen years old.
Dressed as a palace servant.
The girl immediately fell to her knees.
"My Lady..."
"Please don't call the guards."
Arzoo carefully closed the door.
"Who are you?"
"My name is Yasmin."
"I work in the royal kitchens."
"Then why are you here?"
The girl's hands trembled.
"Because..."
"...I overheard something."
Arzoo stepped closer.
"What did you hear?"
Yasmin swallowed hard.
"The third trial..."
"...isn't a competition."
"It's an execution."
Arzoo's heartbeat stopped.
"What do you mean?"
Tears rolled down the girl's face.
"I heard Lady Nigar speaking with someone behind the gardens."
"They said..."
"...before tomorrow night..."
"...one of the emperor's brides must die."
Before Arzoo could ask another question—
A sharp c***k echoed from outside the window.
Yasmin's eyes widened.
"No..."
An arrow shattered the glass.
Arzoo instinctively pulled Yasmin down.
The arrow struck the wall where the girl had been standing only a heartbeat earlier.
A second arrow followed.
Then a third.
Guards shouted from outside.
"Protect Lady Arzoo!"
"Assassin!"
Footsteps thundered through the corridor.
Emperor Zayan himself burst into the chamber, sword already drawn.
His silver eyes scanned the room before settling on Arzoo.
"Are you hurt?"
She shook her head.
"No."
Then she looked toward Yasmin.
The young servant's face had turned pale.
She stared at the arrow embedded in the wall.
Tied to it...
Was a strip of black silk.
The same black silk they had found in the hidden chamber.
Arzoo slowly untied the message wrapped around the arrow.
Only one sentence was written.
The next arrow will not miss.
— End of Chapter 13 —
- Writer
