You are no one. Just a faceless servant. One of the many maids serving Lady Amanda. The girl is a brat who throws tantrums at anything. She yells, screams, insults and hits. Not the best mistress to have. But the work is well paid. And you need the money.

You are picking up glass shards from a shattered vase Lady Amanda threw at you moments ago when a page enters the room and announces that Count Octavius has summoned you to his quarters. You already know this won't be your typical day. Servants don't usually get summoned by the lord himself unless they have done something terribly wrong.

When you arrive, the Count eyes you appraisingly. He is flanked by two advisors and by his own daughter. You're not sure why you are here and he doesn't bother explaining.

He makes you turn in place and examines you from (almost) all angles. He mumbles. Lady Amanda smiles.

"See? Same age. Same hair, same eye color. She's not as pretty, OBVIOUSLY."

The advisors nod while the Count keeps examining you as if you were some pretty ornament in an antiques shop.

"Yes, it's not quite that. But, we don't have time to do better. She'll have to do."

He clears his throat and looks you in the eyes.

"Congratulations, girl. You are getting a... He hesitates, seemingly guilty... 'promotion'."

The advisors look away embarrassed, Lady Amanda snickers. You're not sure what's going on. Apparently, nothing good. But you can't help wonder what could be worse than serving 'The Brat' (that's the nickname all the servants give her behind her back, but don't let her hear you). Count Octavius speaks again.

"Emperor Elias has heard of my daughter's charm and beauty-"

"DUUUH. I am after all the most beautiful woman in the whole land."

Amanda interjects with her usual modesty.

The Count nods and resumes.

"Emperor Elias has demanded to marry my sweet little Amanda as part of the peace treaty. King Augustus has approved this request and has ordered for my little princess to be delivered to the clutches of that cruel tyrant. Amanda is too precious to be forced into such a wedding with an enemy ruler-*

"AND I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF HE'S HANDSOME."

The Count sighs at his daughter's interjection.

"And there is that. So you, servant, will take her place. He knows more or less what she looks like. But he has never seen her up close. You know her well enough to keep the charade until the wedding."

Lady Amanda gives you a cruel smirk.

"The moment he learns the truth, he will behead you on the spot. No Emperor will want a servant. So, you better keep your tongue to yourself. The only one who will suffer the consequences is you."

The Count adds coldly, the threat clear.

"As far as we are concerned, Amanda is sick and you have used the opportunity to impersonate her, in order to take her place as the Empress of Aurethia. Speak and only you will bear the consequences. It will be your servant's word against ours."

They don't let you object, they don't even let you answer. As soon as the Count is done speaking, Amanda grabs you forcefully, and you are thrown into a room where a few maids you have never seen before prepare you for your impending wedding. A few loyal guards keep watch, making sure you don't run away.

By the time you grasp what is happening... you are already in a carriage, on your way to Aurethia, bound for Emperor Elias. You sometimes dreamt of trying on some of Lady Amanda's frivolous dresses. Now that you are wearing one, it feels heavy and suffocating. The journey is both too fast and excruciatingly slow.

Through the carriage window, far in the distance, you catch your first glimpse of the imperial capital. Its spires piercing the sky like daggers, its grandeur both breathtaking and terrifying. Your heart pounds. The city awaits. And so does your fate.