A Crown of Ashes and Snow

In the twelfth year of Great Aeloria, the empire went to war with the Kingdom of Eryndor. By winter, the Southwest Guard Army returned victorious. The capital dressed itself in celebration. Banners snapped above the avenues. Citizens crowded the streets to welcome the soldiers home, their cheers rolling through the city like drums before battle. I stood in the imperial court beneath all that splendour, waiting for the emperor to reward me for a victory bought in blood. I was a second-rank official and had been granted the title of Divine General. For a woman, such an honour had never been seen before in Great Aeloria. Gold, silver, jewels, silk. There was little else His Majesty could bestow upon me. Little else, except the promise he had once made. “This time, General Seraphina repelled the southern barbarians and secured a great victory,” the emperor said from his throne. “Yet you were gravely wounded in battle. For this, I deeply regret.” His gaze fell on me. There were dark emotions in his eyes. Complicated. Heavy. Almost unreadable. I looked up at him. After two years, we had finally met again. His eyes and brows had not changed much, but the last trace of youth had left him. The prince I remembered had disappeared. In his place sat an emperor who had learned strategy, calculation, and restraint. Once, I had believed the best reward he could give me would be to honour our old promise. I was the eldest daughter of the Duke of State. Since childhood, I had been destined to become the empress of Aeloria. This was known so widely that even children in the capital had once chanted it in their games. But war had a way of rewriting fate. After being injured in battle, I had not only lost my martial strength. I had also lost the ability to bear children. How could a woman who could not produce an heir become the empress of Great Aeloria? The emperor looked down over the court. His expression softened. “As all of you know, General Seraphina and I have shared a deep bond since childhood. Now that she has returned victorious, I wish to bestow upon her the title of Lady Seraphina and marry her on an auspicious day.” His voice paused. “Does anyone object?” A strange silence settled over the hall. Everyone knew the empress could not be a woman unable to bear children. Everyone understood this truth. No one needed to speak it aloud. The title of Lady Seraphina was lower than empress, but in their eyes, it was already the emperor’s greatest concession. Soon, voices rose across the hall. Officials knelt one after another, praising His Majesty’s wisdom, mercy, and prudence. Then I stepped forward. “Your Majesty, I object.” The court fell silent. Countless incredulous gazes turned towards me. I repeated, calmly, “Your Majesty, I refuse.” The emperor’s eyes darkened. I lowered my head and continued, “I am gravely wounded and can no longer bear heirs for the empire. I have heard that Princess Althea of Western Xia is graceful and virtuous. Once she enters the palace, she will surely be a worthy match for Your Majesty. That would be a great fortune for Great Aeloria.” I saluted, my posture steady. His gaze seemed to burn into my back. News that I had lost my martial arts and could no longer bear children had spread quickly. Within half a month, he had issued a decree to marry the princess of Western Xia. By now, her entourage was already on the road to the capital. So why force me to stay? Although I had no better path before me, I would not accept this one. After a long silence, I finally heard his voice. Hoarse. Heavy. “General Seraphina, do you blame me?” Bitterness rose in my throat. Before I could answer, the Imperial Censor stepped forward and glared at me. “General Seraphina, everyone knows that you and His Majesty grew up together and share deep affection. But now that you cannot continue the royal line, His Majesty’s willingness to make you Lady Seraphina is already an act of great kindness. What dissatisfaction could you possibly have?” I slowly straightened. “I am not dissatisfied.” My voice was calm. “It is only that His Majesty has found a more suitable partner. As for me, I have grown accustomed to life on the battlefield. I would rather return to the border and continue guarding the empire for His Majesty.” I paused. “On the day of His Majesty’s wedding, I will certainly send a generous gift and offer my blessings.” The Imperial Censor snorted. “General Seraphina, now that you have lost your martial skill, how can you guard the border? To remain in the palace and serve His Majesty is already your honour. It would also preserve the affection between you. Is that not a good thing?” My hands tightened inside my sleeves. The wounds beneath my robes still ached faintly, as if reminding me of the truth. A general without martial skill was a tiger without fangs. No matter how great the honour, no matter how high the title, all of it was only an empty shell. “Enough.” The emperor spoke at last. The hall fell deathly still. His presence pressed over the court like a blade drawn halfway from its sheath, and no one dared speak again. I lowered my gaze to the embroidered patterns on my official robe. His eyes remained on my face. After a long pause, he made his decision. “Since General Seraphina refuses, this matter is over.” He issued a decree awarding me twenty-four carriages of jewels, silk, gold, silver, and ornaments as a mark of honour. He also permitted me to enter the palace armed and ride freely through the capital. Such favour was enough to make others envious. But to me, wounded as I was, it seemed almost laughable.