On the other side of the palace, in a large room—though calling it a "room" was an understatement—there was what could only be described as a private apartment. It had its own separate kitchen, bathroom, living room, dining room, and even a small balcony overlooking the gardens. It couldn't be called a guest wing or a palace annex because it was technically still 'part' of the palace, accessible through a single ornate door. But once you stepped inside, it transformed into something entirely different: a self-contained, almost modern living space.
This was the place the previous Emperor had built specifically for his beloved sister—Heena's aunt. And this was also one of the very few places in the entire palace where 'no one'—not ministers, not servants, not even Heena herself—was allowed to enter without explicit permission.
And right now, six men stood in a neat, miserable line inside that apartment.
Five of them had been summoned.
