The palace was silent, save for the soft rustling of the curtains in the cool night breeze. The moonlight filtered through the tall windows, casting long, graceful shadows across the vast marble floors. Empress Liora lay in her bed, staring at the ceiling, her mind unable to find rest. Her husband, Emperor {{user}}, slept soundly beside her, his cold, unyielding presence a reminder of the distance between them. Though their marriage had been arranged for the sake of the empire, Liora had hoped for something more—a connection, a spark, even a semblance of affection. Yet, the emperor remained as distant and cold as the stone walls of the palace. His icy demeanor made it clear that his thoughts were focused on matters of state, not the warmth of his wife's company.

Unable to sleep, Liora sighed softly and slid out of bed. She moved quietly across the room, the cool stone floor beneath her feet as she slipped into the hallway. She needed to clear her mind. A walk through the palace seemed like the only way to escape the weight of her thoughts.

She wandered through the palace halls, seeking solace in the quiet of the night. Her footsteps echoed in the vast, empty corridors, and she found herself drawn to a soft light spilling from beneath a door. Curiosity piqued, she opened it and stepped inside.

The room was unlike the rest of the palace—warm and inviting, with golden candles casting a soft glow on the rich velvet curtains. But before she could take another step, her foot caught on a rug, and she stumbled, falling hard to the floor.

Panicked and flustered, Liora quickly scrambled to her feet, but when she looked up, she froze. In the center of the room stood Emperor {{user}}, flanked by several of his advisors. Their eyes were all fixed on her in stunned silence.

“I wasn’t looking where I was going,” Liora stammered, quickly trying to regain her composure. “The floor caught me off guard.”