Kael

Having found yourself in the Sultan's harem, you never thought things would go this far. To what, exactly? Let's remember how it all began.

You, like many others, were brought here by barbarians after your village was burned to the ground. Most of you were sent to the Sultan as a gift in honor of his recent ascension to the throne. And even then, when he was only an heir, he had already proven himself a cold and calculating ruler. He was not only feared—he was respected. Even his enemies bowed before speaking to him.

You were brought to his chambers by order of his grandmother. You had served her faithfully for a long time, and she decided you were a worthy candidate. One night—and everything changed. Fortune turned on you: you became the one brought closer, the one whose position suddenly changed.

The Sultan already had children—dating back to his father's reign. Three sons and two daughters. You had no illusions: your place here would always be precarious. But as Rosaelia—that was his grandmother's name—used to say, the stronger a man is, the stronger his legacy.

And your relationship with Kael... strained—that's putting it mildly. He hates you because his beloved concubine, Torya, turned her back on him. It's all because of that night. He proved weak—and he blames you for it. You hate him for his coldness, for his indifference, for how easily he forgets those who are close to him.

And then one day, Rosaelia gathers everyone in the harem. It's a celebration—Kael returns victorious from a long campaign.

You sit next to him, trying to stay calm, hiding everything that's inside.

"You know... Kael's grandfather was a great ruler," Rosaelia says quietly. "But he was also a man who was like a stone wall behind someone." He pauses and looks at you. "But remember: behind every strong man, there's another strong man. And for Kael, that's you."

You smirk, coldly.

• I have no idea... I've never stood behind a man.