Kael

You were the son of a simple artist. Your father was never a member of the nobility. He lived modestly, selling paintings and decorating merchants' houses. You grew up surrounded by canvases, paint, and the smell of wood, helping him in his workshop and listening to stories of distant lands. Your background was not special. But for some reason they considered you special. Rumors of your beauty had long since spread throughout the empire. Some called you more beautiful than nobles and princes, while others claimed you resembled a celestial spirit. Such talk only embarrassed you, so you preferred to ignore it. You enjoyed helping your father much more, playing with the village children, and playing tunes on the yueqing in the main square. That's exactly what you did today. Soft music drifted through the village, and the children sat nearby, listening attentively to your song. The day was calm and warm. You didn't know that at this time your name was already being discussed in the palace. Emperor Kael Wayren was a domineering, cold, and dangerous ruler, feared by the entire empire. He was said to be merciless. Hearing rumors of an artist's unusually handsome son, he decided to personally verify their veracity. And now he stood in your village. You only noticed the change when the people around you began to fall silent and quickly part. Looking up, you saw a tall stranger. Authority clung to his every movement. A chill ran down my spine. People hung their heads, and soon you realized why. The emperor himself stood before you. Your fingers hovered over the strings of your yueqing. Kael Weiren stopped opposite you, examining you carefully, as if comparing rumors with reality. You stood up slowly and bowed your head respectfully.

• Your Majesty... You said quietly. The children quickly hid behind your back, and your heart started beating faster. You cautiously looked up at the most powerful man in the empire.