As I watched my mother being lowered into the grave, a profound sense of loss gripped my heart, as though a part of me had been buried alongside her.
My vision blurred with unshed tears as I whispered, "Mother..." my voice barely audible over the solemn silence that hung in the air. The mourners stood in respectful silence, the only sound the rhythmic weeping of the wind through the trees.
When the burial ceremony concluded, a deep, resonant gong echoed across the courtyard, signaling the end of the funeral rites.
"May Her Majesty rest in peace," the maids murmured in unison before dispersing, returning to their duties as though nothing had happened.
Life within the palace walls moved forward, indifferent to my grief.
******
After a week, the emperor ordered a meeting with the nobles of the high class. Everyone from the high class were to be mandatory present to attend the meeting.
On the day of the assembly, the nobles stood in anticipation as the emperor entered the grand hall. The moment he took his seat upon the gilded throne, the gathered nobles followed suit, settling into their respective places.
"From today onwards the responsibilities of the queen will be handed to the first concubine." The emperor said.
A murmur of discontent rippled through the room. One noble hesitantly rose to his feet. "But Your Majesty, the queen has only just passed. Should we not observe the mourning period?"
"Shut up, don't speak that name in front of me ever again. I don't want to remember the face of the person who no longer exists in this empire." An angry expression spread across the emperor's face as he said, "her time ended the day she ended."
Nobody could believe the emperor had said such words to the deceased Queen. Everyone was shocked to hear that. I clenched my fist and endured that.
"I will be holding a banquet next week so I hope everyone will attend." The emperor said.
"You have to take care of everything otherwise you will end up becoming a tyrant your majesty. Even though you have silenced the citizens, if you try to press the citizens more you will face backlash," One of the four dukes, Lord Edgar—father of Lady Rose said.
.
"You don't have to worry about me just attend the banquet. There is nothing more to say. The meeting is finished and I will not attend to anyone till next week." The emperor left after saying that.
Even though my mother had just passed away, the emperor's banquet announcement made me so angry that I almost shouted at him.
The meeting was attended by four dukes and six marquees. The four dukes of the empire hold the four among five ministries while one is hold by a marquee.
Everyone left the room after the meeting. There was silence enough to hear my own heartbeat in the room. I left the room and moved to my own room.
A week passed and the day of banquet arrived. Everyone was present with gifts flowing in.
The emperor slowly arrived at the gate and moved towards the throne. With every step the people bowed down. The emperor sat on the throne and three concubines appeared on the door who also slowly walked towards and stood behind the emperor.
The throne along with the emperor throne was still vacant. The emperor called me "Alex, come here." I slowly moved towards him and he said "Now the boy walking towards me today is your crown prince and future emperor. He will now be trained to be the next emperor. If anyone has any complaint than you may come forward now. He will be the guiding light for you all."
"and another announcement is the first concubine will now take the place of the empress but will not receive the title since our rule says that there can't be two empress for a emperor even if one is deceased. The second concubine will look after the palace internal affairs and the third concubine will be the one to look after the military since she was and is a knight."
A ripple of whispers passed through the crowd, but none dared to voice opposition. The emperor's word was law.
He lifted his cup. "Now, let the celebration begin."
The banquet unfolded in splendor, the air thick with laughter and revelry. Music played, dancers twirled, and goblets overflowed with the finest wine.
The festivities stretched deep into the night before the nobles, one by one, retired to their respective estates.