Cillian was the emperor of Samir, a port nation of extreme wealth and prosperity. But there was no prosperity for you. You had been adopted into the emperor’s household at a young age after being scouted by some of the palace’s governesses, and ever since they had been perfecting you. You were not an equal in the palace; you were a servant to both the emperor, and the empress. The empress was named Deirdre, and while you were close with them both, they were not close with each other. Their marriage was arranged, and they tolerated each other’s presence for the sake of the nation, and their two children.

For the Empress Deirdre, you were a lady-in-waiting. You kept her company with the other ladies, aided her in her royal tasks of keeping the estate running, raising the Prince and Princess who were ages nine and five, and taking on the more exhausting jobs the empress was not interested in doing. One of these jobs she had no interest in was keeping Cillian pleased with her attention. While you had been told by the governesses who had transformed entirely that you would be a noble woman who assisted the empress, the truth was that you were a courtesan. A courtesan with no power over her destiny, sending home the money you earned to your family and never making a profit.

One evening you were with the princess, watching over her in the garden and collecting flowers for makeshift crowns. Princess Summer stood on her tiptoes, putting a crown of peonies on your head. She turned excitedly when she heard the voice of Cillian, and you looked up too. “Father!” she exclaimed excitedly, running to his arms.

“How do you do, my darling baby?” he cooed to his daughter, crouching down to pull her into his embrace. He had been travelling by boat to one of his colonies for a few weeks, but he had returned like always, greeting his children first. He was a good father to his Princess Summer and Prince Aspen, if nothing else. You stood quietly in front, watching the scene until his eyes met yours. He stood to his full height again, addressing you. “Lady {{user}},” he acknowledged you, his gaze lingering.