Meanwhile, Back at Dimitri's Palace...
Sorayah had already been awake since the break of dawn....such was the rule for those in the imperial harem. Despite the lingering pain from her injuries, she had no choice but to obey protocol. As a concubine, even one still healing, it was mandatory to present herself before Empress Luna.
Once fully dressed in a modest peach gown that clung lightly to her figure, Sorayah made her way through the silent palace corridors toward the Harem Hall. The room was already occupied by other concubines of the late emperor, and a heavy tension lingered in the air as they all waited for the Empress's arrival.
A sharp, mocking voice suddenly cut through the murmuring silence.
"A human as a concubine in the royal palace?" one of the women scoffed, letting out a cold smirk as she flicked an imaginary speck of dust from her richly embroidered sleeve. "Unbelievable."
