Kai spun the rose slowly between his fingers. Nine exhausted men stared at him from their cushions, their eyes burning with a potent mix of envy and genuine terror.
Sweat dripped from their chins, but Kai remained perfectly cool.
"You earned her favor," the gray-robed attendant stated, her voice echoing in the quiet chamber.
"Our Matriarch took personal notice of your endurance. You're moving to the inner palace."
Kai didn't bother offering a grateful smile.
He just slipped the flower stem into his shirt pocket.
Walking behind the attendant felt like descending into a beautifully twisted prison.
Marble corridors stretched for miles, lined with silent female guards holding spears.
Golden chains hung lazily from painted ceilings, serving as a constant, glittering reminder of who owned this city.
Starving male servants dropped to their hands and knees whenever women walked past, keeping their foreheads pressed against cool stone until footsteps faded away completely.
