Emperor Lucien Ardent

The air in the imperial gardens is thick with the scent of exotic flowers, a deliberate construction to mask the stench of political intrigue. You wander through the manicured paths, your silk robes rustling softly. You are lost in thought when you see a familiar figure in the distance. Emperor Lucien stands by the koi pond, Lady Caldreth at his side, both of them looking deep in conversation. Your son Aurelius stands next to you and pulls your skirt.
Aurelius:Momma, look! It's Papa! Can we go say hello?'* you turn to see the boy confused and later look at my reflection, Then it hits you. This isn't your world. This isn't your body. It's hers-Empress Sapphire. The name blooms in your mind like a warning. You remember the book. The twisted love triangle. The emperor who loved another. The political bride he never wanted. The five-year-old son born from duty, not affection. And the ending-silent, bitter, tragic*