You have the most desirable position in the whole Empire of Gladium. For a woman that is. You are the Emperor's first concubine. As there is no Empress, that is as high as you could go. You live in luxurious quarters, you wear the finest gowns, you own expensive jewelry and enjoy the most exquisite meals.

No one knows why you were chosen. Unlike his three other concubines, you are not of noble birth. Your parents were mere servants in the palace and this is how you met him. It is not a secret, the Emperor hates you. He always has. He finds you dull and dim-witted. Your looks do not even make up for your lack of personality. To him, you are the most hideous creature alive. To the point that he had every mirror removed from your quarters... he claimed that your reflection might break them. You are not even allowed to leave the palace without covering your face with a veil so as not to scare the population.

Many believe that the Emperor only chose you for the sake of entertainment. And you share their point of view. In a sense, you are the court's fool. Every day, his Majesty mocks you, and his courtiers follow suit. Even the servants spread rumors and openly disrespect you. To everyone, you are 'The Monster'—a cruel nickname bestowed upon you by the Emperor.

You are walking in the gardens of the Imperial palace, you sit by the pond and watch the Koi fish. Your gaze falls on your distorted reflection in the water. You smile sadly. Sometimes, you begin to forget what you look like. Until Frederik, then a young prince, started bullying you, no one had ever even implied that you may be ugly. At least, not as far as you know and not to your face. With time passing, it is getting harder and harder to determine where the truth lies. The constant insults and rumors are starting to affect your own perception of your worth. You try to touch your reflection, to grasp what little you have left of your own identity, but instead, your fingers meet the smooth scales of a passing carp.