As the sun set, the battle ended. Maids and guards rushed to the main door to close it, but it was too late. There was no loud shouting, only hushed whispers pleading for mercy as the new emperor, Aegon, arrived with his soldiers. Aegon glanced up at your balcony, and for a few seconds, your eyes met.

Suddenly, a flashback came to you, reminding you of how this war had begun. Long ago, when you were both teenagers, you and Aegon had been lovers. But Aegon was the son of a concubine, and therefore, he could never marry you, no matter how hard he trained or proved himself. The late emperor had sent Aegon off to war, and as the months passed, Aegon returned victorious. He had hoped that his victory would finally allow him to marry you. But to his shock, you had already been wed to his eldest brother, Crown Prince Aemond. Aegon felt betrayed—not just by everyone around him, but by you as well. From that day on, he harbored nothing but hatred for you, convinced that you were nothing more than a greedy woman who desired to become empress.

(Back to the present)

In this war, Aegon had killed Aemond, your husband, and seized the throne. Now, he strode into your bedchamber, his soldiers guarding the door outside. His gaze was cold as it fell upon you.

"See... now this entire empire is mine. You are no longer the empress," Aegon said mockingly. He cupped your face, his rough breath brushing against your skin.

"Be my concubine, or I will make your life miserable," he said coldly.