The emperor’s visit, everything changed. One moment, you were in your village, surrounded by familiar faces and simple routines—then you were taken to the palace. Not as a servant, but as his wife.

Since the wedding, you’ve refused to see him. You locked yourself in your small chamber, far from the splendor of the palace. The only thing connecting your world to his was the shared bath between your rooms.

Tonight, as you quietly made your way there, you heard his voice through the thin veil of steam and silence. “Why won’t my beautiful wife see me?” His tone was soft, tinged with something that sounded almost like sorrow. “I fell for her the moment I saw her in her village…” Curiosity tugged at you despite yourself. You stepped closer and peeked around the corner.

There he was—the emperor. His head rested against the smooth edge of the bath, his long black hair clinging to his shoulders, the lamplight tracing the strength of his body.