In the Shadow of the Crown

The day had arrived with its customary heavy stillness, the air thick with an expectation that seemed to seep from the very stones of the palace. The Emperor and Empress sat on their thrones, the regal splendor of their station casting long shadows across the room. Their eyes met only briefly before Raen motioned for the doors to open.

The head maid of the royal court stood patiently at the entrance, awaiting the moment she would announce the arrival of the three newly appointed handmaidens. The sound of their steps echoed softly as the women were summoned into the chamber.

Raen’s voice was calm, its usual command cutting through the silence.

“Let them come forward.”

The three handmaidens, their dark uniforms and polished shoes gleaming, entered with a grace born of both duty and fear. Their eyes cast downward, never daring to look directly at the Emperor or Empress unless permitted.

Raen spoke, his voice echoing in the grand hall.

“These are your new personal attendants, Eliza.”

Eliza’s gaze remained fixed ahead, her body motionless as she remained seated beside her husband, her chest rising and falling with shallow breaths. Despite the customary beauty of her appearance, a noticeable coldness had begun to settle over her, her eyes lacked any emotion, the bright gleam once present now extinguished. Her voice, when it came, was devoid of warmth, as if it came from a distant, mechanical place.

“I am glad to meet my personal attendants. Thank you, Emperor, for arranging this for me,” she said softly, her tone detached, her lips barely moving.

Raen’s gaze flickered briefly to her before returning to the women in front of him. The three handmaidens exchanged confused glances, clearly not knowing what to do in the face of Eliza’s unnerving stillness. But they knew better than to question.

Raen, sensing their hesitation, spoke again, this time addressing the handmaidens.

“Understand this. You will not question her stillness. It is her place to remain silent and unmoving unless I command otherwise. Your duty is to observe and report every change, every shift in her behavior. You will be her constant companions, her eyes and ears. Should she show even the smallest deviation, you are to inform me immediately.”

He turned his gaze to the head maid, who nodded respectfully.

“Now, you will be further instructed by the head maid of the court. She will explain your tasks in full,” Raen continued, his voice unwavering.

The handmaidens, still processing the unsettling nature of the Empress's silence, nodded obediently. They exchanged quiet words of gratitude and thanks as they bid farewell to the Emperor and Empress, ready to begin their strange new roles. Raen said nothing further as he stood, carefully lifting Eliza into his arms with a practiced ease.

Without another word, Raen carried her from the chamber, leaving the three women behind to attend to their new responsibilities.

***

As they walked through the quiet halls of the palace, Raen’s pace was steady, his mind focused on the task at hand. Eliza’s body, limp in his arms, seemed more like an object than a person. Her breath, slow and shallow, was the only sign of life.

He carried her to his personal study, where a plush velvet sofa awaited. He sat her down with utmost care, as if she were a fragile doll in need of protection.

The sound of a knock echoed through the door, signaling the arrival of Velkor, the Emperor’s trusted chamberlain. Raen barely moved as he called out.

“Enter.”

The door creaked open, and Velkor stepped inside. His eyes briefly landed on Eliza, seated perfectly still. She did not react to his presence. No greeting, no acknowledgment just silence. Raen watched as Velkor bowed deeply to both him and the silent Empress.

“Your Majesty,” Velkor said, his voice carrying respect, though tinged with a hint of unease.

Raen motioned for Velkor to rise. When the chamberlain looked up, he was taken aback by the sight of Eliza’s vacant eyes and still form.

“You may raise your head, Velkor,” Raen said calmly, though his words seemed to echo with a deeper meaning.

Velkor, hesitating, finally spoke up.

“My Emperor… Is everything well with the Empress? She…she seems…” he trailed off, unsure of how to phrase his concern.

Raen did not falter in his response.

“Eliza is in perfect condition. She has simply been...perfected. Her emotions are now solely for me. She will remain still, obedient, and devoted. She no longer has the distractions of ordinary feelings. All that remains is love, her love for me.”

Velkor’s eyes widened in surprise, his concern not completely abated.

“But… surely this is crossing a line? To make her…” Velkor struggled for the right words, “...into something like this?”

Raen’s gaze remained calm, though there was an intensity in it that chilled the room.

“I am already beyond reason where Eliza is concerned. She is mine in every way. She will be perfect for me in every sense.”

Velkor, unsure whether to push further, hesitated before changing the subject.

“Forgive me, Your Majesty, but there are still unresolved matters. The documents for the Empress’s signature. We need her attention.”

Raen gave a subtle nod, his expression unchanging.

“I will have Eliza sign them soon. You may leave the documents with me.”

Velkor, sensing the tension in the room, chose not to continue the discussion further. Instead, he laid the papers on the desk, nodding curtly to Raen and Eliza before taking his leave.

***

The evening passed in an almost eerie silence, with Raen focused on the state matters that demanded his attention. Eliza remained by his side, her presence a quiet shadow. Her fingers moved slowly over the documents as he instructed her to sign, though her gaze remained unfocused, a haunting emptiness within her eyes.

Once the work was done, Raen stood, lifting Eliza once again.

“Tonight, you will be in your chambers. I will take care of you,” he said, his tone gentle but firm.

When they arrived at Eliza’s quarters, Raen spoke again, his words laced with subtle possessiveness.

“Tonight, you will stay with me. Your handmaidens will be free tonight to rest. You will stay in my room. Your place is with me.”

Raen went to change into something more comfortable, and Eliza was helped by her handmaidens to change into a new gown, a soft silk dress in a shade of midnight blue. Her hair was styled into an elegant updo, completing the transformation from Empress to his perfect creation.

When Raen returned to her chambers, dressed in a dark, fitted robe, he took her in his arms once more and led her to the dining hall. He ordered her to eat, and this time, a flicker of life appeared in her eyes—though faint, it was unmistakable.

As they dined together, Eliza moved with a grace that Raen found intoxicating. The life that had been absent returned to her in small doses, her obedience, her affection.

Later, when they were alone in Raen’s private quarters, he issued a command that made Eliza’s pulse quicken with the intensity of it.

“Tonight, you will seduce me, Eliza. Show me the depths of your devotion.”

And so, the night passed in a whirlwind of passion - twice, once in the dining hall and again in the privacy of Raen’s chambers. Each time, Eliza surrendered herself completely to him, her body a vessel for his every desire.