It was a cold night in the grand palace of the Aurelian Empire. The empress dowager sat in front of the mirror, brushing her hair while looking at her own reflection. Suddenly, memories of her younger self poured through her, reminding her of her prime. She was once a beautiful woman with long black hair and almond-shaped eyes. She was known for her intelligence, beauty, and grace. That beauty was now covered by the lines of time within the corner of her eyes, forehead and cheeks— she was getting old.
She was drowned in thoughts when, suddenly, her lady-in-waiting, Lady Maya, entered the room with a worried expression on her face. "Your Imperial Majesty, someone wants to speak with you," Lady Maya whispered.
The empress dowager sat up, feeling a sense of alarm. "Who is it?" she asked.
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