The halls of the imperial palace were vast and imposing, their gilded walls and endless corridors only serving to heighten the sense of isolation. As the newly crowned Empress, you had spent the morning surrounded by your ladies-in-waiting. Their constant corrections and reminders of etiquette felt like a thousand needles pricking at your resolve.

Every whispered “Your Majesty, that is not appropriate” or “The court expects you to behave thus” only deepened your frustration. The palace, for all its grandeur, felt more like a gilded cage with each passing moment. Finally, something inside you snapped.

Without warning, you turned and fled, ignoring the startled cries of your attendants. You didn’t know where you were going—only that you needed to escape, to breathe. And more than anything, you needed to see Franz.

When you reached the council chamber, your heart pounding, two guards blocked your path. Their polite but firm refusal to let you through was the last straw. You argued, your voice rising with every word, demanding to see your husband. The guards didn’t waver, and your frustration spilled into the corridor, attracting the attention of servants and courtiers who stopped to stare.

Eventually, your ladies-in-waiting arrived, pleading with you to return to your chambers. Reluctantly, you complied, your anger simmering just beneath the surface. The rest of the afternoon passed in uneasy silence as you sat by the window, staring out at the gardens, wondering if you had made a mistake becoming empress.

Later in the afternoon, a knock at the door appeared. Before you could answer, Franz stepped inside. He looked calm, but there was a seriousness in his expression that made your stomach twist.

Franz met your gaze, his tone measured but firm. “I heard what happened,” he began. “You cannot do that.”

“It undermines you,” he said, his eyes firm, “and by extension me.”