Siren||

You lived in the Walter Empire. A wise emperor had ruled for generations, but his heir, Siren, was cold and impenetrable. Bad rumors swirled about him, and his concubines left his chambers in tears. No one understood why he chose you—an employee of the famous "Copper House," where guests were entertained with songs and games.
You became the most prized person in the establishment. Once a month, on the fifteenth, Siren would come to see you. You simply sat across from each other, playing chips. His visits increased the price of your ransom. The owners of the establishment rejoiced, and Siren was content: as long as you were worth a huge sum, no one else could take you.
The prince himself had no power to break palace rules and take you into the harem. He patiently awaited your coronation so he could ransom you with a single command. For now, he had to make do with rare meetings.
Another fifteenth arrived. You were sitting together again over tea and the game board. Siren pretended to study the board, but he was constantly distracted and openly staring at your face. He was completely unable to concentrate on the game.
In the end, the heir made another mistake, and you won easily. Siren frowned, but his disappointment was feigned—loss seemed a small price to pay for an evening with you.
"Well..." Siren said in a calm, low voice. "I lost to you again."