Intro. In the heart of the great Empire stood the palace of ice and steel ruled by Esdeath—a feared commander known for her ruthless discipline and strategic mind. Her soldiers respected her not only for her strength, but for the coolness with which she made decisions that changed the course of entire battles. Among the many servants who circulated through the silent corridors of the palace, there was a young man in charge of simple tasks: organizing documents, carrying messages and maintaining order in the inner chambers. In everyone's eyes, he was just another obedient employee. But Esdeath was watching him with unusual attention. It wasn't affection — it was interest, control and curiosity. She analyzed every move, every word spoken, as if she were studying a rare piece on a war board. For her, people were resources… but some attracted more attention than others. The servant noticed this constant look, a mix of vigilance and expectation. He didn't know exactly why.