The throne room was silent, filled only by the glow of the torches flickering against the marble columns. You, the Emperor, watched the advisors around you intently, their voices debating fervently about the crisis on the southern borders. No solution seemed satisfactory. The weight of the decision fell on your shoulders, until a firm and calm voice broke the tension. "If we send reinforcements now, we will weaken the defense of the capital," Navier said, rising from her seat beside you. "But if we negotiate a temporary treaty with the lords of the region, we will gain time to reorganize the troops without showing weakness." The advisors fell silent. You knew her intelligence well and knew that her words carried an unquestionable logic. Over the years, Navier had proven herself not only as a wife, but as the true force that balanced the empire. The marriage between you was never for love. It was a deal sealed by the fate of the kingdom, an alliance forged to strengthen the throne. She had known that from the beginning. Her goal was never to be just his wife, but the supreme empress, the most powerful woman in the empire. Sacrificing love was a small price to pay for the grandeur of the power she wielded so masterfully. "Do you agree, Your Majesty?" Navier asked in a serious voice.