The carriage rattled to a halt before the towering vermilion gates of the Imperial palace of Solara.
Jia leaned slightly to the side, peering through the narrow window slit.
Well.. that's unnecessary tall
The white stones loomed like cliffs, so high they could probably bruise the clouds. For a brief, ridiculous moment, she wondered if the builder had, at some point, began competing with the heavens.
Rows of banners, gold and crimson, fluttered in the cold Drakoria wind, their embroidered sun gleaming in the light. It snapped sharply, as if warning her not to get too comfortable.
When the gates opened, silence swallowed everything. It wasn't the peaceful kind - this was the heavy, expectant silence of a place that demanded reverence. It prickled her skin in ways that said 'be careful what you say around here.'
As she stepped down from the carriage, her worn sandals met the cobblestone with a soft click, and the faint echo of her steps seemed far too loud for this vast space. She tried not to gawk, but it was difficult. Every direction offered something meant to impress or intimidate.
Soldiers stood in perfect formation on either side of the grand courtyard, their polished armor catching every glint of sunlight. Jia could feel their gazes like cold needles pricking at her shoulders, and she had almost forgotten about the stares.
She turned her gaze away just in time to see a different palace guard approach her, his armor glinting like molten silver under the daylight. The expression on his face could have frozen soup, and she was sure the guard could make it happen if he wanted it to.
"Miss Healer," the guard said, his voice clipped and tone. "You are to follow me, the Emperor awaits your presence."
Jia lowered her head politely. "Of course," she then brushed off the dust that lingered on her skirt and followed the guard.
The way he walked was enough to shame a metronome, while her sandals kept slapping softly against the cobblestones.
The palace unfolded in grand, concentric layers. Curved roofs rose like waves frozen mid-crest, tilted in sapphire and gold. The marble colonnades stretched endlessly, flanked by courtyards with silver ponds and trees trimmed into perfect submission.
Every ring they passed grew quieter, purer and more intimidating. The air itself seemed filtered, thinner, colder and more refined, as though only those born to power were allowed to breathe it comfortably.
Jia kept her eyes mostly forward, feeling even lesser now.
When they reached the last gate, two imperial sentinels stood guard, their halberds crossed in perfect symmetry. Beyond lay the inner court, leading to the Emperor's domain, where one wrong breath could cost her a head.
The escort turned to her and gave the advice he could. "When you enter, do not speak, unless spoken to. Do not look directly at his Majesty or anyone else you find inside until permitted."
Jia nodded quietly, grateful for the information even though she already knew them. Don't talk, don't stare, and most importantly, don't die.
Her heart was a steady drumbeat in her chest, nerves and curiosity mixing like oil and water. She adjusted herself properly and took one last steadying breath before following him through.
Finally, the heavy doors groaned open with a slow, echoing sound, like the throat of some great beast.
Jia hesitated at the threshold, ignoring the ache in her calves. Who knew it took a long treacherous walk just to meet with the Emperor?
The palace was like a mini-city, and she'd walked so much she half-expected her shoes to start complaining.
You can do this Jia.
You can do this.
With that, she stepped inside. The doors closed behind her with a final, resonant thud that made her spine stiffen.
Sunlight poured through the tall arched windows behind the throne, turning the entire dais into a blaze of gold. The Emperor's court glowed like a scene from a legend - grand, breathtaking, and every bit as intimidating as she'd imagined.
Jia swallowed.
"Right, no staring," she reminded herself silently, and immediately realized how hard that rule was going to be.
At the center sat the Emperor… straight-backed and composed, radiating an authority so tangible Jia almost felt it press against her skin. His robes were immaculate white, trimmed with scarlet that glowed faintly under the sunlight. His gaze, sharp and unwavering, followed her every step. It wasn't hostile… exactly, just the kind that made her want to check if her hair was sticking up or if she'd accidentally tracked mud across his shiny floor.
Beside him sat the Empress… serene as moonlight on still water. Her poise was faultless, her beauty the sort that belonged on temple murals, not in real life.
The jeweled crown resting upon her hair shimmered faintly with each slow turn of her head, scattering small flecks of color like captured stars. At first glance, her eyes seemed soft, almost kind, but there was something quietly calculating beneath that calm. Jia could feel it even from where she stood, and then decided it was safer to pretend she didn't.
A few steps to the side stood the princes.
The elder, prince Hugo, stood tall and dignified, bearing the same commanding presence as his father, the kind that filled the room without effort, though his eyes held a cooler edge.
His brother, Lysander, lingered a pace behind him, quieter and gentler in posture, but with a thoughtful stillness that made him seem older than his age.
Courtiers, royal attendants and guards were neatly lined as well, their gazes fixed on her the moment she walked in.
"Come forward," the Emperor's voice rang out, low and resonant.
Jia's breath hitched. Her legs didn't exactly agree with the command, but she made them move anyway. She stopped in front of the dais and sank into a kneel, bowing low until her forehead nearly brushed the ground. From that angle, she could clearly see her own reflection, along with the blazing gold crest of the sun engraved into the polished floor.
"Your Imperial Majesty, the Mother of the Nation, and the imperial Princes" she greeted. "It is an honor to be summoned before your presence."
A brief silence stretched thin, long enough to make Jia start wondering if she had somehow already offended someone.
When the Emperor spoke again, his tone was calm - but it carried the weight of command. "You may stand."
Jia rose to her feet, but her gaze remained low. "Thank you, Your Majesty."
"So," he said, his eyes narrowing slightly. "You are the healer from Eldora – the one who saved my son."
Jia lowered her head further. "Yes, Your Majesty. Though… any other healer would have done the same. I was lucky enough to be there in times of the Prince's needs."
The Emperor and Empress exchanged looks. Then, it was the Empress who spoke next, her voice smooth and gentle, but with an undercurrent of authority that made it clear she was used to being obeyed.
"What is your name, child?"
"Jia Hartwell, Your High Majesty," Jia replied quickly, her voice steady, though her heart wasn't.
"And how old are you?"
"I'm eighteen."
"Eighteen?" The Empress brows lifted, her tone touched with genuine surprise. "So young."
Jia managed a small, polite smile, unsure whether it was a compliment or an observation about her impending doom.
The Empress leaned forward slightly, her expression softening. "Who are your family in Eldora? Do you live with them?"
Jia hesitated just for a breath, but her voice remained even. "My father was a great hunter, and my mother a trader. They're… resting in the heavens now," she inclined her head faintly, then added. "I live with my grandpa."
"Oh," the Empress's tone gentled further. She cast a glance at her husband before turning back to Jia. "I see. Then I assume it was your grandfather who taught you the healing arts?"
Jia nodded. "Yes, Your High Majesty. He taught me most of the things I know."
"Did he also teach you about the Mercury-laced tonics?" The Emperor asked, but his gaze did not soften. "The poison is not something easily found in the provinces. So tell me, how did a peasant healer know how to recognize it, when the trained physicians, whom I believe possess far more knowledge on the matter, failed to accomplish such a feat?"
The question fell into the hall like a stone dropped in still water. Even the courtiers lingering at the side seemed to stiffen lightly.
Jia swallowed, her mind recalling the incident in flashes.
"It wasn't anything I'd seen before. But, Your Majesty," she said carefully. "If you allow it, I'd like to share a story my grandpa once told me."
The Emperor's brow arched slightly.
"A story?"
The word alone stirred a murmur through the hall. Even the Empress's serene mask flickered with a hint of curiosity, and the two princes exchanged a glance.
"Yes, Your Majesty," she replied. "There's a saying that every healer should learn not just the cures, but the mistakes that create the need for them. Medicine is born from error, after all. Every poison, too."
For a moment, the Emperor simply regarded her in silence. Then, he inclined his head just slightly.
"Very well," he said. "Carry on."