Celestia's POV
You expect me to work with that?
Duke Ashford's voice cut through the Council chamber like a knife, and I froze in the doorway.
My father. Standing twenty feet away. Looking at me with the same cold disgust he'd shown five years ago when he'd sold me to a monster.
He had no idea who I was.
The Architect comes highly recommended, Aldric said from his seat at the head of the table. His voice was tight with barely controlled anger. And I am Emperor. My decision is final.
Your decision is reckless. My father gestured at me dismissively. A faceless stranger with unknown loyalties? This is madness.
I should have stayed silent. Should have let Aldric handle it.
But rage burned through my veins like fire.
Duke Ashford. I kept my voice low and controlled—nothing like the daughter he'd destroyed. Your opinion has been noted and promptly ignored. Now sit down so we can begin.
The entire Council gasped.
No one spoke to Duke Ashford like that. He was the most powerful noble in the Empire after the Emperor himself.
My father's face turned purple. How dare you
I dare because Emperor Aldric gave me complete authority over all political decisions, I interrupted smoothly. That includes the authority to remove Council members who waste my time with posturing. Would you like to be the first example?
Silence crashed through the room.
Aldric coughed, and I thought I heard him hiding a laugh. The Architect speaks with my full backing. Duke Ashford, sit down.
My father sat, but his eyes promised murder.
Good. Let him hate me. Let him plot against the mysterious Architect.
He'd never suspect the faceless advisor was his own discarded daughter.
I walked to the empty seat at Aldric's right hand—the position traditionally reserved for the Empress.
The position that should have been mine.
Several Council members exchanged shocked looks, but no one objected.
Shall we begin? I pulled out the notes I'd prepared after studying Aldric's documents all night. The Empire faces three main threats. Duke Ashford's faction wants to declare the Emperor unfit and install a regent. House Silvercrest is positioning for a power grab. And the northern lords are withholding taxes, waiting to see who wins.
We know all this, snapped Lord Brennan—the elderly noble who'd married Vivienne. He looked even older and meaner than the reports suggested. What's your solution?
Simple. We turn your enemies against each other while strengthening Emperor Aldric's position. I laid out a map on the table. Duke Ashford's power comes from his alliances. Break those alliances, and he becomes irrelevant.
My father shot to his feet. This is outrageous! I serve the Empire faithfully—
You serve yourself, I said coldly. Your shipping records show you've been hoarding grain while the southern provinces starve. Your alliance with House Silvercrest is based on a secret trade agreement that violates three imperial laws. And your recent marriage arrangements suggest you're building a power base independent of the throne.
Dead silence.
My father's face went white. How did you—those records are private—
Nothing is private from The Architect. I met his eyes through my veil. I know everything, Duke Ashford. Every secret deal. Every hidden alliance. Every law you've broken. Would you like me to continue, or will you sit down and cooperate?
He sat.
Victory tasted sweet.
As I was saying, I continued, we systematically dismantle Duke Ashford's support network. House Silvercrest gets exposed for their illegal trades. The northern lords get incentives to pay their taxes. And the Emperor shows strength by making hard decisions.
What kind of hard decisions? Aldric asked quietly.
I turned to face him. Our eyes met—his brown and desperate, mine hidden behind mesh.
The kind that prove you're not weak, I said. The kind that remind everyone why you're Emperor.
Something flickered in his expression. Respect, maybe. Or fear.
The Architect is correct, Duchess Elara said smoothly from her seat. She'd been quiet until now, watching everything with sharp eyes. The Emperor needs to show strength. Perhaps starting with addressing the rumors about his... mental state.
Aldric's jaw tightened. What rumors?
That you're obsessed with a dead girl, Elara said sweetly. That you keep her portrait in your chambers. That you've wasted resources searching for someone who's gone. It makes you look weak, Your Majesty. Distracted.
My chest tightened painfully.
He kept my portrait?
My personal life is not Council business, Aldric said, his voice dangerous.
It is when it affects your ability to rule, my father added. Perhaps if you'd remarry, show the Empire you've moved forward
I will not remarry. Aldric's voice cracked like a whip. This discussion is over.
Your Majesty, I said carefully, while I agree your personal life is your own, the Council has a point. Perception matters. If the nobles think you're distracted by the past
I said the discussion is over. He stood abruptly. Architect, come with me. We'll finish this in private.
He strode out of the Council chamber.
I followed, aware of every eye tracking my movement.
Aldric led me down the corridor in tense silence. We passed the chapel, I kept my eyes forward, refusing to look at the place where they'd destroyed me.
He took me to a small library and shut the door.
Then he spun to face me.
Who told you about my personal chambers? His voice was tight. About the portrait?
I have sources everywhere.
That's not an answer.
It's the only answer you're getting. I moved to the window, needing distance. Your Majesty, the Council is right. The obsession with finding Celestia Ashford is damaging your authority.
Don't. His voice went raw. Don't say her name like she's just a political problem to solve.
Isn't she? I forced myself to sound cold. She's been gone for five years. She's probably dead. And you're destroying yourself searching for a ghost.
She's not dead. He moved closer. I would know. I would feel it if she was dead.
My throat closed up. I couldn't breathe.
You can't know that, I whispered.
Yes, I can. Because I loved her. Because I still love her. Because every instinct I have says she's out there somewhere, and if I could just find her, I could explain— His voice broke. I could tell her I'm sorry. That I never stopped searching. That I'd give up everything for one more conversation with her.
Tears burned behind my eyes. I blinked them away furiously.
She wouldn't forgive you. The words came out harsher than I meant. Even if she was alive, even if you found her—you let them sell her to Lord Harren. You stood in that chapel and did nothing while they dragged her away. Why would she ever forgive that?
Aldric flinched like I'd struck him. How do you know about the chapel? Those details weren't in any report
My blood turned to ice.
I'd said too much. Revealed too much.
I told you, I said quickly. I know everything. The Architect's sources are thorough.
No. He stepped closer, eyes searching my veiled face. No one knows those details except people who were there. In that chapel. That day.
Your Majesty
Who are you? He reached for my veil.
I caught his wrist. Don't.
Why not? What are you hiding?
Everything. The word slipped out before I could stop it. I'm hiding everything, and if you tear away this veil, you'll destroy the only chance you have of saving your Empire.
His hand hovered an inch from the fabric hiding my face.
We stood frozen, my fingers wrapped around his wrist, our faces inches apart.
Please, I whispered. Don't do this. Not yet. Let me fix things first. Then... I swallowed hard. Then you can have your answers.
Promise me. His voice was desperate. Promise me you'll tell me the truth eventually.
I promise that when the time is right, you'll know everything.
Slowly, reluctantly, he lowered his hand.
I released his wrist and stepped back, my heart pounding so hard I thought he must hear it.
The Council is waiting, I said, trying to regain control. We should
A knock at the door interrupted me.
Your Majesty? A servant's voice called. Urgent message from the border. Lord Harren's former estate has sent a petition.
I went completely still.
Aldric opened the door. What petition?
They're requesting imperial intervention in settling the late Lord Harren's debts. Apparently, his widow disappeared five years ago without
His widow is dead, I said quickly. Too quickly. Lord Harren's records show she died shortly after him. The petition is fraudulent.
The servant looked confused. But Your Majesty, the estate records show Lady Harren was last seen alive in
The records are wrong. My voice came out sharp with panic. Trust me on this.
Aldric was staring at me. Really staring.
How do you know what Lord Harren's records show? he asked softly. How do you know his widow's status?
I investigate everything. It's what you hired me for.
No. His eyes narrowed. You know too much. Specific things. Personal things. Things The Architect shouldn't know unless
He went absolutely still.
His face drained of color.
Unless you were there, he whispered. Unless you lived it.
My heart stopped.
No. No, he couldn't
Lady Veil. His voice shook. How old are you?
That's irrelevant
Answer the question. How old are you?
Twenty-seven, I said before I could think.
The same age Celestia would be now.
Aldric's breath caught. His eyes went wide with impossible hope.
No, I said quickly. Whatever you're thinking, you're wrong.
Then prove it. He stepped closer. Say her name. Say 'Celestia Ashford' and tell me you're not her.
I opened my mouth.
No words came out.
Because I couldn't do it. Couldn't lie directly about this. Couldn't say that name and deny what I was.
Celestia. He breathed the name like a prayer. Oh God, is it you? Is it really you?
His hand reached for my veil again.
This time, I didn't stop him.
His fingers touched the edge of the fabric.
Your Majesty! Another servant burst through the door. Emergency! The northern lords have declared rebellion! Their armies are marching toward the capital!
Aldric's hand froze.
The moment shattered.
How many? he demanded.
Three thousand soldiers. They'll reach the capital in two days.
Aldric spun toward me. Can you stop this?
I forced my brain to work through the chaos. Yes. But I need complete authority. No questions, no interference, no matter what I do.
Done. Whatever you need. He grabbed my shoulders. But after this is over, we're finishing this conversation. Understand?
I nodded, not trusting my voice.
He released me and strode from the room, shouting orders.
I stood there shaking, my secret hanging by a thread.
He knew. Or he suspected.
Either way, the careful walls I'd built were crumbling.
And I had no idea what would happen when they finally fell.