The Imperial Palace stood at the heart of Elyndra like a city within a city, surrounded by towering white walls and vast ceremonial courtyards.
Golden rooftops gleamed beneath the sunlight while countless silk banners bearing the imperial crest fluttered in the wind.
Stone stairways stretched across multiple levels of the palace grounds, connecting grand halls, royal residences, administrative courts, and secluded gardens reserved for the imperial family.
Rows of female imperial guards stood stationed across every entrance, dressed in dark silver armor with long spears resting beside them.
Their expressions remained cold and disciplined, watching every servant and official who passed through the palace gates.
Even the air itself felt restrained.
Quiet.
Careful.
As though one wrong word inside these walls could cost a person their life.
Empress’s Study Chamber
The Hall of Imperial Reflection was located within the innermost section of the palace, isolated from the noisy court halls and administrative chambers.
A long corridor lined with dark cedar pillars led toward the study hall, illuminated by hanging lanterns shaped like crescent moons.
The faint scent of ink, sandalwood, and burning incense lingered through the quiet passageway.
Outside the chamber doors stood twelve elite female guards armed with ceremonial swords.
No laughter.
No whispers.
Only silence.
Inside, the study chamber of Empress Selene was vast yet strangely restrained.
Tall shelves filled with scrolls, memorials, maps, and legal records lined the walls from floor to ceiling.
Golden candle stands flickered softly beside stacks of unopened petitions sent from different provinces of the empire.
At the center of the chamber stood a large ebony desk carved with silver moon patterns, covered with official documents awaiting imperial review.
Behind the desk, enormous windows overlooked the imperial gardens, though heavy silk curtains muted most of the sunlight entering the room.
The chamber smelled faintly of ink, paper, sandalwood, and cold winter rain.
No unnecessary luxury.
No playful colors.
Everything within the room reflected discipline, authority, and isolation.
Empress Selene sat behind the imperial desk, calmly reading through memorials submitted by the royal court.
Her long dark hair flowed like black silk down her back, partially adorned with silver imperial ornaments that shimmered beneath the candlelight.
The deep crimson robes draped around her figure carried intricate golden embroidery of moon lilies-the sacred symbol of the imperial bloodline.
Beautiful.
Untouchable.
Every movement she made carried quiet authority.
Even while silently reading documents, the pressure surrounding her presence was enough to make servants lower their heads instinctively.
Her sharp eyes scanned each memorial carefully before she placed her imperial seal upon the approved reports.
No one would mistake her for a fragile queen.
She ruled like someone born for the throne.
A soft knock on the door alerted her.
Without turning her head, she said,
“Enter.”
Years of practice had made her capable of differentiating even the slightest sound.
“Greetings, Your Highness,” a messenger bowed respectfully before her.
Still looking down at the draft on her desk, the Empress raised her hand slightly, gesturing for the messenger to speak.
“This humble servant has come to deliver a letter to Your Highness.
It is from Noble Consort Elyas,” she said hesitantly.
The messenger knew the Empress’s mood worsened whenever anything related to the Noble Consort was mentioned.
“Last time, I told you not to bother me with updates regarding Noble Consort Elyas after delivering my decree to him.”
Her cold voice sent shivers down the messenger’s spine.
“Y-Yes, Your Highness.
This humble servant has obeyed your orders carefully,” the messenger replied nervously.
“However…
this letter was sent from Moonveil Palace.
Noble Consort Elyas is requesting Your Highness’s attention to his plea.”
The Empress tightened her grip on the brush in her hand, still not looking toward the messenger.
Still a nuisance.
“Open the letter and read it.
If it contains another apology, then do not waste my time reading it aloud.”
The messenger nodded quickly, even though she knew the Empress could not see her.
She carefully opened the letter.
“Your Highness…
may this servant read the contents?” she asked hesitantly.
“How much is she going to suffer because of this Noble Consort?
“I already told you I do not wish to hear his apologies,” the Empress replied in a low, chilling voice.
“B-But…
it is not an apology,” the messenger stuttered.
The Empress finally paused her writing.
“Then what is it?”
She dipped the brush back into the ink calmly, though irritation was evident in her tone.
“Noble Consort Elyas is requesting permission to visit the marketplace.”
The brush tip snapped against the scroll.
Dark ink spread across the draft instantly.
This time- the Empress slowly turned her head.
Her sharp gaze landed directly upon the trembling messenger.
“He has not apologized…
and instead wishes to roam around the marketplace?”
Her cold voice echoed throughout the study chamber, leaving the messenger visibly frightened.
“Y-Yes, Your Highness.”
“No.”
The single word fell heavily across the room.
“He is forbidden from stepping outside Moonveil Palace.”
The messenger immediately lowered her head further before hurriedly retreating from the chamber.
Silence returned once again.
The Empress lowered her eyes toward the ruined draft on her desk.
He was nothing more than a shining object I mistook for a diamond…
And I made the mistake of bringing him into my household.
Author’s Note
Empress Selene has officially entered the drama And somehow…
without even appearing before her directly, Elias has already managed to disturb her peace.
Now the real question is: What exactly did Elyas do to earn such deep resentment from his own wife?
Thank you so much for reading
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Stay tuned for more chaos from the matriarchy verse – Lune5verse