The night was dark, the moon hidden behind a thick canopy of clouds. Cassiana's palace grounds were quiet, save for the occasional rustle of leaves. But beneath this veneer of stillness, secrets were brewing.
Queen Luciana had summoned a covert meeting in the dimly lit chambers of Cassiana's palace. The room, decorated with opulent tapestries depicting the kingdom's history, was filled with the scent of burning incense. The flickering light of the candles threw elongated shadows against the walls, giving the room an eerie ambiance.
The officials, representing almost half of the council who are an ally of the Empress Dowager and an opposition to her execution, sat around a long, ornate wooden table, their faces a mix of fear and will. They were risking much by attending this meeting, but
