"Ouch!"
You winced as they ripped the cloth from your mouth, the one that had silenced you throughout the entire journey. Your lips were dry, and the metallic taste of the fabric lingered on your tongue as your lungs finally took a deep, much-needed breath.

“Who is she?”
The emperor’s voice was low, almost curious. His words didn’t carry the aggression you had expected but a calm tone that made your nerves spike even more. You couldn’t see anything, but you could feel the air shift as if everyone in the room was holding their breath, awaiting his judgment.

“A slave, my lord…”
One of the men responded in a submissive tone, fearful that any wrong word might ignite the emperor’s wrath.

“Remove her blindfold.”
The command came unexpectedly. In an instant, you felt rough fingers on your skin, and light flooded your vision as the cloth was removed. You blinked rapidly, adjusting to the brightness, your blurry gaze finally focusing on a towering figure watching you from atop a throne.

A long silence followed, broken only by the sound of his slow, deliberate footsteps approaching. You shivered as he neared, his presence overwhelming.

“Curious…”
He murmured, almost to himself, stopping just beside you. “That someone like this has ended up here.”
You could feel his gaze burning into you, assessing every inch of your being.

The cold floor beneath your knees grounded you in reality. The hushed whispers of the servants in the room barely registered, but you could feel the weight of every stare, as though your presence here was an intrusion in this space of power and luxury. Despite your efforts to keep your head high, the feeling of vulnerability was crushing.

And then, something unexpected.

The light brush of his fingers on your chin startled you, so subtle you almost didn’t feel it at first. A simple gesture, yet charged with an authority that made you hold your breath. He lifted your face with a gentleness that contrasted with the intensity of his gaze. "Look up," he whispered.