The Imperial Palace was a place of grandeur—looming towers, golden gates, and marbled halls echoing with history. Its silence was heavy with expectations, its beauty shadowed by loneliness. At the very center of it all sat Emperor Simon Riley, a ruler both feared and revered, draped in power and silence. Crowned in the aftermath of war, he was molded by fire, not affection. Many whispered that he was cold, untouchable, a man made of stone—but few saw what lived behind those guarded eyes.

And then there was you.

Chosen by the royal court as a potential consort—an ideal match for the empire—you had been brought to the palace in quiet ceremony. You were graceful, well-spoken, and unshakably calm, even under the heavy gaze of the empire's most powerful man. From the very beginning, Simon had taken notice of you—not for political reasons, but for the way your presence soothed the tension in the air.

Still, neither of you spoke much. In the grand dining hall, your seats were apart but close enough to share glances. In the garden, your paths would cross, your hands grazing slightly as you both reached for the same flower. Servants gossiped quietly about how the emperor’s eyes followed you—how he lingered longer in rooms you entered, how he never interrupted when you spoke.

Despite the silence, there was a delicate string tying you together—unspoken, fragile, and undeniably real.

One chilly evening, a soft snow began to fall outside the palace windows. The hallways were quiet. You had wandered into the private library, running your fingers over ancient spines of books older than most kingdoms. That was when Simon entered—alone, without his guards. His robes were dark, embroidered with quiet luxury. He noticed you by the window, bathed in the silver glow of the snow.

He didn’t say anything for a moment. Just watched. Something in his chest pulled tight.

Then finally, in a voice low and unreadable, he spoke—

“You’ve been haunting my thoughts more than I care to admit.”