The Imperial courtroom was a sea of murmuring nobles and officials, every eye fixed on the empty thrones.
Everyone knew this was not just another day of court, this was the day the Emperor would give his answer.
Alaric stood near the back of the chamber, as he silently observed the court full of pretenders.
His gaze swept over the crowd, landing on the Duke's family, who stood as a single, unmoving unit. He saw no fear in their eyes, only composure.
All rose and bowed in unison, as the Emperor and Empress entered.
The Emperor's face was calm, his expression unreadable, a stark contrast to the barely concealed fury in the Empress's eyes.
They ascended their thrones, and the court held its breath.
The Emperor leaned forward, his voice cutting through the silence with a powerful authority.
"For years, the Imperial court has lacked a certain... vibrancy. A challenge worthy of its noble houses. Yesterday, the Duke of Thomas brought forth a proposal to revive an ancient tradition: the Competition of the Rose, to find the most beautiful and worthy damsel in all of Eldoria."
"I have considered this proposal carefully," the Emperor continued, his gaze sweeping over the crowd. "And I have found it worthy. This competition will begin in one month's time. It is open to every noblewoman of Eldoria between the ages of sixteen and twenty. Let the daughters of our great houses present themselves and prove their worth."
A wave of murmurs rippled through the crowd.
"The prize," he continued, a slow smile spreading across his face, "is one of great honor. The victor would be granted a wish. As for other rewards, the victor's father, as the head of the household, will be granted their choice of a governorship in any province, along with a significant increase in their family's land, title and wealth. The other rewards would be announced in passing"
The nobles gasped, the magnitude of the rewards sinking in. This was no simple beauty contest.
The Duke's family felt a different emotion: satisfaction.
The Emperor, seeing their reactions, gave a cold smile. "But a competition of this magnitude must be judged by the highest standard. It must be so grand, so inclusive, that it honors the very spirit of our Imperial family."
He paused, and a chilling silence descended once more. Every eye was on him, waiting for the final word.
"And so," he said, his voice echoing with finality, "to show that the Imperial family holds itself to the same exacting standards as our subjects, I hereby decree that every noblewoman of the appropriate age shall compete. This includes my beloved Empress, who, at twenty years of age, is the very picture of Imperial grace and beauty. She will join the competition to ensure it is a fair and noble affair, judged only by skill and merit."
A wave of shock, disbelief, and silent terror washed over the assembled nobles.
He paused, letting the shock settle over the court.
"Further details regarding the competition's format and schedule will be communicated by the Imperial Messengers."
With that, a high-ranking Eunuch stepped forward, his voice ringing out with a piercing clarity that echoed in the silent chamber.
"The meeting is dismissed!"
The Empress's composure shattered.She rose from her throne, her eyes blazing with a hatred so deep it seemed to scorch the air.
She was a woman of power and absolute control, and the Emperor had just publicly humiliated her, forcing her to compete against a girl she had already declared unworthy.
The Emperor's smile never faltered.
Everyone would be forced to play his game.
.....
The heavy doors of the Empress's chamber slammed shut.
Her eyes, still blazing with a cold fire, swept over her surroundings.
The delicate porcelain, the shimmering silks, the priceless artifacts, they all mocked her, symbols of a power she now felt had been publicly diminished.
One by one, the items of her wealth became targets for her rage.
A golden figurine of a hawk was crushed under her. The sound of shattering porcelains filled the chamber as she turned destroyed her own possessions.
A young maid, trembling with fear, entered into the room. She held a basket of cleaning cloths, her eyes wide with terror as she saw the damages done. "Your Majesty, let me..."
Before she could finish, the Empress turned around. She saw not a maid, but a symbol of the very humiliation that had just befallen her.
With a brutal shove, she sent the girl stumbling backward.
The maid cried out as she fell, her hand landing on a jagged shard of the broken jade vase.
A scream of pain escaped her lips as blood welled up from the deep cut.
Just then, an elderly woman entered the chamber. It was Nanny Jessica, the Empress's trusted nanny who had companioned her from her parents' home.
Her face, wrinkled with age and worry, was filled with sorrow. She ignored the broken glass and the trembling guards, walking directly to the Empress.
"My little child," Nanny Jessica said, her voice a soft, soothing balm. "Please, child, calm yourself. This will not serve you." She reached out a hand, but the Empress flinched away.
"Do not call me that!" the Empress hissed, "That little girl is gone! She died the day she married him. This is not a time for sentiments, old woman. He has made me a joke to this entire court, all for a worthless country girl."
"But revenge in this manner is unworthy of you, my dear," Jessica pleaded. "You have always been stronger than this. You can rise above it."
"Rise above it?" the Empress laughed. "He has exposed me! He has forced me to fight for the very position that is mine by right! This is a war, Nanny Jessica. And in a war, you either win or you are destroyed. This girl, Daphne, and her meddling family have declared war on me, and I will show them all that no one, not even the Emperor, can defeat me."
She rose, leaving the bleeding maid and the broken nanny on the floor.
Her chamber was a wreck, her pride was in tatters, but her resolve was stronger than ever.
She would not lose.
She would not bow.
And Daphne would come to regret the day she ever set foot in the Imperial city.
....
The capital city of Eldoria buzzed with energy. Imperial messengers on horseback, clad in the Emperor's colors of gold and crimson, galloped through the streets, their trumpets blaring to command attention.
They unfolded scrolls, their voices ringing out over the clamor of the marketplace.
This was the Emperor's word, and the entire Empire was about to hear it.
The announcement was the same in every kingdom, every city, every town, every village square.
"By the will of His Imperial Majesty, the Emperor of Eldoria, a great and noble tradition is to be revived! The Competition of the Rose will commence in one month's time!"
The gathered crowd exchanges astonished gasps and excited murmurs.
"All noblewomen between the ages of sixteen and twenty are hereby invited to apply. The application period shall begin tomorrow morning and will conclude in one week's time. One week following the close of applications, the official list of approved contestants shall be made public."
The messengers paused, allowing the news to sink in before continuing with the conditions.
"Approved contestants are to be housed in the Imperial Palace from the week leading up to the competition. Each contestant is permitted to bring one trusted handmaiden and one personal guard to accompany them during their stay."
The crowd erupted into a new round of whispers. To stay at the palace, to be a guest of the Emperor himself, this was an honor beyond measure.
The messengers then broke down the four stages of the competition, just as the Duke had predicted to his family.
"The competition shall be comprised of four segments, each designed to test a noblewoman's true worth:
The Exhibition of Grace: Judged by Her Majesty, the Empress Dowager, who will select a winner based on poise, elegance, and social prowess.
The Test of Wit: Judged by the Emperor himself, along with the Honorable General, Prince Alaric and three of his most high-ranking advisors. The winner will be the woman with the most keen mind.
The Trial of Combat: Trials in stages to be overseen and judged by none other than General Alaric, His Highness. The winner shall be the one who demonstrates the greatest skill in battle.
The Display of Art: To be judged by the people of Eldoria. Through a public vote, the contestants' artistic creations will be judged, and the people shall choose the most compelling work."
The announcement finished with a final, booming trumpet blast.
The messengers rolled up their scrolls and rode off to the next city, leaving a whirlwind of speculation in their wake.
The people of Eldoria had much to talk about. The Emperor had just changed everything.