The days that followed, Daphne worked relentlessly, her days and nights a blur of memorizing names, and herbal remedies. She spent hours in the library, poring over her grandfather's texts, the intricate details of ancient acupuncture and medicinal practices now her only hope for survival.
Soon, the day of her departure arrived.
The Thomas family gathered on the cobblestone drive in front of their manor, a single, elegant carriage waiting for her. The joyful laughter of the wedding was gone, replaced by a somber quiet. The reality of what Daphne was about to face settled over them all.
Her Father stepped forward, his expression solemn. "You are to be vigilant, my dear. The Empress has ears everywhere. Trust no one unless you are certain. You may not tell anyone of the General's arrangement. Not a soul."
Lady Elizabeth took her hands, her eyes filled with a mother's silent grief. She held a folded piece of white silk. "My heart will be with you every day, darling. Be extremely careful." Her voice was soft but firm as she handed Daphne the silk. "This is for you."
Daphne unfolded it, revealing a delicate, translucent veil. It was simple, unadorned, but woven with a subtle shimmer.
"In a gathering of ambitious women, you will be a target because of your unparalleled beauty," Elizabeth explained, her gaze filled with a protective love. "Wear this to protect yourself, to make yourself less conspicuous."
Daphne's throat tightened as she accepted the veil, understanding that it was a shield in more ways than one.
Her mother then embraced her. "We will pray for your safety and for your success in this mission. We love you so much."
Next, Lianna rushed forward, tears already streaming down her face. "I can't believe this is happening!" she sobbed, burying her face in Daphne's shoulder. "Please, please be safe."
Daphne and Finn exchanged a knowing glance, a mix of concern and comfort. They wrapped their arms around Lianna, both trying to calm her.
Finn spoke next, his voice a low, fierce murmur meant only for his sister. "Don't forget who you are, Daphne. A Thomas. We don't break. We don't yield. We're all waiting for you to come home."
Aidan stepped forward, his face more serious than Daphne had ever seen it. He simply pulled her into a brief but firm hug. "Remember what I said. Don't be afraid to use the power you have. The General will be protecting you." His words were a blend of a warning and a promise.
Finally, it was Emma who said her tearful goodbyes, clinging to her sister with all her might before finally letting go.
With one last, lingering look at her family, Daphne entered the carriage. Elara, her personal maid and confidante, followed her inside. Outside, Kael mounted his horse, his silent, watchful presence a source of comfort. He was a symbol of her family's continued vigilance.
The door closed with a soft thud. With a jolt, the carriage began to move, leaving the manor behind. Daphne looked out the window, her family growing smaller in the distance. Her life of innocence, of peace, was now firmly behind her. The mission was beginning.
...
The journey to the Imperial Palace was quiet and serene, but as they neared the city, the road grew busy. Daphne looked out the carriage window and saw dozens of other carriages, all heading in the same direction. Each was a display of a noble family's pride, with emblems of their houses etched onto the doors. Inside, she knew, were the women who would be her competition.
The palace gates were a breathtaking sight. They were so massive they seemed to touch the sky, and they swung open to reveal a world of unimaginable opulence. As her carriage rolled through, Daphne saw dozens of ladies gathered in the courtyard. They were women of every shape and size, with varying complexions and heights. Their faces were a blur of nervous smiles and ambitious eyes. To Daphne, however, they were not people. They were her competitors.
She was fully aware that the Empress had been forced to join this competition. The news had swept across Eldoria. It made the stakes feel even higher. She had to win, not just for herself, but for her family, her future, and Alaric who had placed his faith in her.
As the carriages came to a stop, a tall woman with a severe expression and her hair pulled back in a tight bun strode toward them. Her silk robes were embroidered with the Imperial emblem, marking her as a high-ranking official. This was the Head Maiden, Lady Klara, the one in charge of the concubines.
Her voice was crisp and clear as she addressed the women. "Ladies, welcome to the Imperial Palace. You will now leave your carriages and all of your belongings. Your helps will see to them and have them brought to your assigned chambers."
She gestured to a group of servants standing by the palace entrance. "You are to assemble immediately for an introduction to the rules of the competition. However, before you are all led in, I have been instructed to give you all a final directive from his Imperial Majesty himself."
The women all hushed, their eyes wide with anticipation. The Head Maiden's face remained impassive as she delivered the final command.
"The purpose of this competition is to select the Rose of Eldoria, the most beautiful and outstanding woman in Eldoria. And to show that this is not just a game, the Empress herself will be joining the competition, as an equal contestant. The Emperor has insisted on this as a matter of fairness."
The words hung in the air, a formal confirmation of a well-known truth. Daphne remained perfectly still. Her hands, hidden by the long sleeves of her dress, clenched into tight fists. The Empress was the one who had poisoned the concubines, she was the one who had driven her to her death in her previous life. The competition was not a competition but a trap. The Empress was a force to be reckoned with, and she had no doubt that she would stop at nothing to eliminate her competition.
Daphne had gone from a simple debutante to a spy. Now she was a target.
"There will be no exceptions. Follow me," the Head Maiden said, her voice like a knife, her eyes gleaming with a malicious smile as she led them into the palace
...
In the Great Hall
They were led into the Great Hall, a room with ceilings that seemed to touch the sky. It was here that the Head Maiden, a woman who now introduced herself as Lady Klara, addressed them all. Her voice, amplified by the hall's perfect acoustics, carried to every corner.
"Congratulations, ladies. Out of over eight thousand applicants from across the Empire, you are among the fifteen hundred who have qualified for this competition."
"Your journey to this point has been a test of your family's influence and your own grace. Your time here will be a test of your character."
She held up a small brass key. "A key with a number will now be distributed to each of you. This key corresponds to your room, which you will be sharing with one other contestant. You are expected to live in absolute unity and harmony. Any argument, any conflict, any disagreement that comes to our attention will lead to immediate disqualification for both parties."
A grim murmur rippled through the crowd. This was not a test of friendship, it was a carefully laid trap.
"And to ensure fairness in your alliances, your roommates will rotate every two days. This is to ensure you learn to live with all types of people and adapt quickly."
Daphne's mind immediately saw through the lie. It wasn't about fairness. It was about creating distrust. A new roommate every other day would prevent any two women from forming a true alliance or sharing any meaningful information. The organisers were ensuring that every contestant would remain an island, surrounded by a sea of potential enemies.
"Furthermore, there are rules that you will follow to the letter. This is a matter of respect for the Emperor and the Imperial family. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner will be eaten communally in the dining hall. Breakfast is at 8 AM, lunch is at 1 PM, and dinner is at 5 PM. All ladies are expected to be in their rooms by 6 PM every evening. Any lady who is late, even by a single minute, will be disqualified."
Lady Klara's eyes, cold and sharp, scanned the crowd. "Your assigned maid and guard will be given separate quarters for the night. You will have no personal access to them outside of scheduled times. You are not to speak to any palace staff, aside from your own help, without direct instruction. You are forbidden from entering any wings of the palace other than the harem quarters, the dining hall, and the gardens."
The rules piled on, each one another layer of a carefully woven cage. "You will be provided with a standard colour of attire for this competition. Your personal belongings, including all jewelry and family trinkets, will be collected for safekeeping. No personal correspondence with the outside world is permitted. You will not be allowed to leave the palace until you are either disqualified or a winner is chosen."
Finally, Lady Klara gave them the most important directive of all. "The first official test, the Test of Grace, will be held a week from today. You are expected to prepare for it with your free time. This will be your first chance to prove your worth to the Emperor."
Daphne listened, her mind already analyzing the rules for weakness. The forced unity was a tool for sowing dissent. The isolation from their personal guards and the restriction on communication were meant to cut them off from their families. The curfew and strict meal times were designed to test their obedience and create easy grounds for elimination.
Every rule, she realized, was designed to maintain absolute control. This was not a competition, it was a prison.
"You can proceed to your respective rooms. Rest tonight, tomorrow, the battle begins."
Daphne's hands were steady as she took the brass key from a young attendant. It was engraved with the number 243. She gave a brief nod and walked away from the clamoring crowd, her movements calm and deliberate. She had a new set of directives to memorize, and the first step was to get settled.
She found her room in a quiet corridor on the second floor. Her luggage was already waiting just inside the door, neatly stacked. The room was simple but elegant, with two single beds on opposite sides, but only one bed had been made up. The other was bare.
Daphne stepped inside and closed the door behind her. She didn't need to think before knowing who was behind it. An empty room was not a mistake; it was a deliberate act of protection. The Empress had gone to great lengths to ensure no woman could find an ally, yet here she was, given the one thing no one else had: solitude. Only one person had the power and the motive to do that.
Alaric.
He had promised her she wouldn't have to walk this path alone. This was his first message, a silent display of his power and his continued claim on her. He was watching, even from a distance. The Imperial Palace may have set the rules of this prison, but Alaric had just shown Daphne he could break them. The thought was both terrifying and comforting. The game was far more complex than she had ever imagined.