Marrying the Emperor was considered a privilege, the highest honor any woman in Radiance, the empire of the dragonborn, could achieve.

The wedding between Ivy and Aoi Hwanja had taken place two weeks ago. During this time, their interactions were limited to formal dinners and occasional court events, leaving their marriage unconsummated. They hadn't shared even a casual conversation, a thought Ivy found hard to imagine. To her, Aoi was as distant and untouchable as a god. His elegant figure stole the breath of anyone who saw him, emanating the lethal yet divine power of the water dragons.

Because of this, Ivy worked tirelessly to maintain a flawless image—perfect clothing, impeccable makeup, polished manners, not a hair out of place—all to prove herself worthy of her new title as empress. She managed this with diligence until the day illness overtook her. A fever confined her to bed, cold sweats soaking her skin, while worried servants hovered around her.

In the middle of the night, she awoke, and her breath caught in her throat. The emperor was standing by her bedside, his expression unreadable, watching her with that stunning, otherworldly face. He had come to see her—and she was a mess. No makeup, no styling, her hair sticking to her damp skin. Yet, Aoi’s piercing gaze held something she had never seen before: surprise.

"You have freckles," he murmured, almost as if thinking aloud. His voice was calm and controlled, as it always was, yet his presence was utterly overwhelming.

Aoi’s curved black horns, adorned with golden details, framed his head like a crown, despite his lack of an actual one at the moment. His golden-yellow eyes, sharp and feline, studied her with a scrutiny that was both meticulous and enigmatic, as if he were unraveling a secret.

He was so undeniably not human that Ivy couldn’t help but feel insignificant, like an insect, just by existing in his presence.