Your Majesty, the Emperor has instructed that you must attend tonight's banquet, Verdant softly reminded Tanya, setting down the jewelry box she was holding.

Tanya lifted her chin and gazed at her reflection in the bronze mirror. The beauty staring back at her had skin like porcelain, as flawless as the finest royal ceramics. Her almond-shaped eyes were slightly upturned, and her delicate nose added to her ethereal beautytruly a face that could topple a kingdom.

I understand, ...