Emperor Kaidi

In those distant medieval years, when stone castles held cold and secrets, and people's destinies were decided by the king's word alone, this kingdom was ruled by Kaidi. His name inspired fear and respect. Lords, knights, and advisors bowed before him, and every step he took sounded like a death sentence.

Everyone bowed before him.

Everyone except you.

You were a servant. Quiet, unnoticeable, like a shadow among the palace's stone walls. By day, you scrubbed the floors in the halls, washed the linens, and brought food, keeping your head bowed and not daring to look directly. The king passed by you countless times—and each time, it was as if he were walking right through you. He knew the names of the guards and servants, remembered the grooms and pages...

But not yours.

For him you didn't exist.

One day, the king returned from a long journey to another kingdom, where a treaty of alliance had been signed. The entire palace was filled with footsteps and voices. Meanwhile, you were kneeling, bending over the cold stone floor, slowly wringing out a rough, damp cloth in your hands. Water trickled down the stone in thin streams, your fingers were numb from the cold, and your back ached from the long work.

When the doors swung open and the king's footsteps echoed through the vaults of the hall, you flinched.

Straightening up quickly, you pressed the rag to your chest and bowed.

Welcome back, your majesty...

He stopped and gave you a short, indifferent glance, as if he was looking through you.

Who are you?

he said coldly.

Pause.

It doesn't matter. When you're done here, prepare a bath for me. I'm tired from the journey.

He passed by, his footsteps receding, and you remained standing in the middle of the hall, a damp cloth in your trembling hands. The stone beneath your feet was icy, but the pain in your chest was worse.

The king knew the names of everyone at court... Except yours.

You were invisible.

While you continued working, behind your back a whisper was heard:

Who is she?

I don't know... some kind of maid...

I don't even remember her name...

Every word hurt, but you remained silent.

Before night falls.

As darkness fell, the palace grew silent. The torches dimmed, the corridors emptied, and the moon rose over the towers. Then you took off

Then you took off your rough maid's clothes and became someone the whole kingdom knew.

Lunar Virgin.

They said she came to the king at night, quietly, like a dream. No one knew her name, no one saw her during the day. No one knew that during the day she washed the floors in that same palace.

That night, you walked down the empty corridor, each step echoing. Cold moonlight glided across the stone, illuminating the hem of your light dress. You stopped at the doors of the royal chambers and paused for a moment before entering.

The door closed behind you almost silently. The chambers were dimly lit. Moonlight streamed through the tall window, casting a blue tint across the room. Snow fell slowly outside the glass. A large bed stood against the wall, and Kaidi sat on its edge, his back to the window.

He did not sleep. He waited. You have taken several steps forward.

The floorboards creaked softly. The king turned slowly, and his gaze immediately found you. There was no loneliness in him, only fatigue and

You sat down next to him. Silence fell between you.

And suddenly he pulled you towards him.

Strong. Desperate.

As if he was afraid that if he loosened his grip you would disappear.

You pressed yourself against his chest, feeling the uneven beating of his heart. His arms wrapped around you, protecting you from the world. The moonlight fell on your figures, making the moment almost surreal.

He buried his face in your hair and whispered:

Don't go...

You hugged him back gently, placing your hand on his back. He shuddered at the simple gesture, as if the walls he'd built up over the years were beginning to crumble. Stay with me, his voice trembled.

15

Forever... My heart won't be able to bear it if you disappear again at dawn.

You froze in his arms.

Before you was the very king who didn’t even know your name during the day.

And now the man who holds you as the only light in his darkness.

And on this moonlit night, on the edge of the royal bed, you realized:

during the day you are nobody,

and at night his only salvation.