One would think that no one would want to be married to an emperor who can’t make it past the engagement stage before calling off a wedding. However, the ballroom of the most luxurious hotel in the empire was filled beyond capacity with ladies hoping to claim the title of empress.
Before this year’s second selection process, a rumor about participants being given money just for their time made its rounds. Everyone wanted money from the imperial family and suddenly everyone had an eligible daughter. Women as young as nineteen and as old as sixty-two crammed into the ballroom.
"My feet hurt so bad," I thought, staring at my feet in brand new heels. Initially, I didn’t want to be there. I felt as if the father who had already disregarded my existence for twenty-four years was finally finding some use for me. On the long drive from the Duchy of Crespeak, my opinion changed. "If I can become empress, or at least an empress-in-waiting, I can finally leave my father’s shadow." That alone was even to kick me into gear and so, there I was.
Suddenly, tall ornate doors on the second-floor balcony opened. Lights were dimmed and a spotlight was shone on the space. Shortly, the Empress mother and her attendant came into view.
All of us on the main floor bowed. She was going to be the mother-in-law of one of us.
“I am pleased to see such an array of beautiful faces here today.” She was just as elegant as she appeared to be on tv. “I know one of you will make my son, the Emperor, happy and bring honor to our empire.”
Applause erupted and the Empress mother took her leave. Her stern-faced attendant remained. She cleared her voice, “I am Ingrid, attendant to Her Imperialness, the Empress mother. I will be presiding over today’s empress selection.”
The air in the room grew dim. The Empress mother had given us such short-lived hope.
“You all will be compensated for your time here, no matter the final result. I will begin with eliminating a few of you.” She opened her file and adjusted her glasses, “I shall start with those whose ages are not compatible with His Imperialness.”
Suddenly, the doors on the main floor were thrown open. As names were called, women were pulled out of the room by women dressed in black suits. This went on until maybe two hundred of us were left.
“Next, I will move on to those with suspicious backgrounds.”
The removal of women from the room went on and on. At one point I thought I too would be removed. Though I am the daughter of a Duke, he and my mother were not married. They weren’t even engaged.
The echo of the folder closing brought me back to reality. Only eight of us remained. “Congratulations. You all have passed the first round. Please proceed to the next room when directed.”
And that is how the evaluation continued, moving from room to room and one or two of us being eliminated along the way. By the end only two of us remained.
Ms. Ingrid stood before us, finally, with her unchanging stern expression. “Congratulations. You two have made it to the end. However, that does not mean one of you will pass. Both of you could fail. Do keep that in mind.”
For the first time, we were separated. During the entire process we had been kept as a group, but finally we were split. I didn’t both getting to know the other women, but I wished them well. In the service elevator I was led up to the restaurant on the 54th floor. I had never been anywhere so nice in my entire life. Not with my mom and most certainly not with my father.
“Please be seated. The interview will begin now.” The assistant said before walking away.
I was seated at a table for two despite there being options of solo diners. Is this to make assessment easier? Or is someone going to join me? My thoughts began to go wild. I didn’t have to become empress, but I most certainly did not want to do terrible.
A waiter came to the table, offering to take my order. “Water please, no lemon.” I knew that if someone was coming to eat with me, I’d better wait for them to arrive before eating.
As a maid at Crespeak Manor, I watched my father and his family have their meals multiple times per day. I knew how to control my hunger around even the most decadent of food.
Slowly, I sipped on the water for what felt like forever. All of our electronics had been confiscated during check-in and there were no visible clocks in sight. The only hint I had was the sun. I watched it set on the empire’s capital, illuminating it one more time before going to sleep. In the far distance, the Phoenix Palace could be seen. I had never seen it in person and even at this distance I could tell that it was magnificent.
“Ahem.” I jumped at the harsh cough, not realizing someone had approached.
Looking up I realized too late that it was His Imperial Majesty himself. Just as I was about to stand up, he took the seat across from me. He didn’t say a word and simply picked up the menu. He glossed over it and just as he placed it down a waiter was there to serve him. “I’ll have my usual.”
Suddenly, the attention was on me. The waiter was ready to take my order and His Imperialness was staring at me with daggers disguised as light brown eyes. “She’ll have the same,” he uttered without waiting any longer.
The waiter disappeared and then, there was only the two of us. “So, why do you want the title of Empress?” Just as the rumors said, he’s cold and straight to the point.
“I don’t want the title of Empress,” I mumbled, thinking aloud.
“What did you say? You don’t want the title of Empress?” I could sense the anger in his voice. “If that’s the case why waste my time the resources of this empire. I ought to have you beheaded for such fickleness.”
I was stunned, but somehow his words didn’t hurt me. I’d heard crueler things from the people who are supposed to be my family. At least if I were beheaded, I wouldn’t have to live with them for the rest of my life. “Your Imperial Majesty, please forgive me, but I don’t want the title of Empress,” I said clearly, looking him in the eye, “I want the freedom that comes with the title of Empress.”