Hello, lovely people! Thanks for viewing! Hope you enjoyed all the story and enjoy what's to come! This one is very long! Sorry :)


My toes curled in my boots as I stood on the front steps of the Little Palace, the chilly air wildly whipping my hair. I waited irritably for my carriage to roll up to the entrance, all the while cursing the King for the senseless riding compromise that I had been forced upon. When Genya had informed me over breakfast that Vasily would be sharing a coach with me, I'd almost knocked the table over in my rage. I would have preferred to ride with Zoya. At least if I punched her, I wouldn't be charged with royal assault.

Genya and David had left an hour or so earlier. Zoya, Marie, and Nadia's stagecoach had gone first, along with the Darkling's and his oprichniki's horses. I didn't even have Ivan or Sergei to strike up a conversation with. I remembered Genya's sad smile as she'd strolled toward the warm horse-drawn carriage. "I wish you could come with me," she'd said. "I'm sure you wouldn't mind sitting on a screw."

It's better than riding with Vasily, I thought crossly. I knew the driver would pick the king-to-be up first, but it had been over an hour, and he still hadn't shown up! How long did it take for him to get prepared?

"You are so lucky to be riding with a royal prince!" Marie had enthused. What an honor.

I noticed a few unfamiliar Grisha that were heading toward the pavilions staring at me. To get a glimpse at the Sun Summoner, I suppose. Some even came over to talk with me personally, but the short-lived banter often ended awkwardly, and they slowly gave up trying.

Alone again, Starkov. Could you be anymore stubborn? I played with my fingers, my eyes lingering on the scar that ran across my palm. I would have to ask Genya to remove it. I didn't need any more reminders of Mal.

I busied myself in calculating what was in my luggage: My silk kefta, 18 pairs of trousers, 18 shirts, 6 nightgowns, and my copy of Istorii Sankt'ya. And around one hundred pairs of undergarments. It was altogether very simple, since all I usually had to wear was my kefta, and my only pair of boots. I'd left the slippers behind at my room, which was vacant at the moment.

As I was about to start counting the number of mythical beasts carved into the Palace wall, a monstrosity of a carriage arrived. It was massive and the royal pale blue, its edges heavily bordered in gold-leaf. On one side, a golden sunburst was embossed, on the other, was the Ravkan double eagle. A sparkling cage. I pitied the poor horses at the front, looking ridiculous with feathered plumes around their necks.

The door opened, and out popped the fair-haired head of Vasily Lantsov.

"Why, you're awfully early," he clucked. "Come inside, Alina Starkov. A frozen Sun Summoner is a useless Sun Summoner."

And a druken prince is a useless man. I bit my tongue, commanding myself to keep in the words of sarcastic poison. Despite my reluctance though, I obeyed his order mutely, dragging my case across the floor. I grunted.

I placed my hefty suitcase on my lap once inside and forced myself to take a seat beside Vasily. His thigh pressed against mine. Across from us sat three heavily-set men clad in uniforms from the King's Sentry. Their stare could have withered a flower.

Vasily acknowledge them with a passing glance. "These are my guards," he said haughtily. "Vlad, Vladimir, and Vladislav. They're triplets, groomed from birth to protect the likes of myself." Royalty.

My response was a murmured hello.

The prince's heavy-lidded eyes glimpsed at me with disdain. "I am optimistic about this trip, Alina Starkov. It will be a pleasant change to get to know you better." He smiled as if he knew something I did not. "Our alliance will bring Ravka together, no doubt." His hand drifted off his leg to take hold of my knee.

I contained a barely-restrained shudder. "I am looking forward to that very much, moi tsarevitch."


The following days in the carriage passed in a blur. Every day riding with Vasily was tight with tension. He would press his side to mine, and gaze at me cryptically. I would move farther to the window, but he persisted in his silent advances.

At one of our frequent stops at Ravka's southern border, I took the time to hunt for Genya through the mess of tents, and was blessed enough by the Saints to meet her by chance. Despite the fact that we were both traveling at the same time, I hardly ever came across her.

"What do you make of Vasily?" I'd asked.

She grimaced. "Exactly like his father, inside and out."

I nodded in agreement. "That's what I thought."

Genya raised an arched brow. "What—has he been…flirting with you? Because if he has, I'll put ice in his trousers. No one has to know."

I laid a hand on her shoulder. "He has been—silently. He's been giving me…looks, and…he keeps touching my knee. But," I paused. "There is no need for depositing frozen water in anyone's trousers. At least, not yet."

She shook her head fiercely. "There is always a need for slush in someone's trousers when Vasily's involved. Can't he process the fact that you loathe him?"

I clucked my tongue. "He probably has, he just doesn't want to see it."

"Oh, well." Genya squeezed my shoulder. "I wish there were something I could do. But if he tries to touch you, kick his ass for me."

I snorted. "So merciless!"

She kicked at me playfully. "I'm just looking after my friend."

We would meet up like this whenever we could, but our situation prevented us from doing so. Those moments with Genya were the only ones were I felt genuinely content.

I never saw the Darkling though. I would often catch him staring in my direction, but we steered clear, in agreement I presume, to avoid each other in the case that people got the wrong impression about our relationship.

Weeks passed by in this manner, through Ravkan and Shu Han soil, until we finally arrived at Ahmrat Jen.


The first impression I had of the capital city of Shu Han, was very hectic. Not a single street corner was unoccupied, nor an alley vacant. Torn scarlet tents and canvases lined the streets in a seemingly unsystematic order.

Various street vendors ran beside the carriages, desperate for us to buy their charms, flowers, herbs, mangoes untainted by the thoroughfare's griminess. Even so, they never dared to lay a hand on the Ravkan eagle.

At the sight of the dirty merchants, Vasily's lip curled in disgust and he closed the curtain.

I was glad that he did. The sight of a girl, barely twelve, with no legs, made me shudder. I almost burst into tears when I saw a baby boy whose irises were bleeding.

Vasily ignored my bleak mood.

However, the scenery changed once we crossed the boundary between the deprived sectors and the rich manors. Then, my jaw opened in awe.

The architecture was none like I'd ever seen before. While Ravka was known for its onion domes, all the roofs in Ahmrat Jen were slightly slanted and triangular, every floor consisting of all-around elaborate balconies. Little serene gardens were speckled over the estates, luminescent koi fish swimming in the ponds' depths. Mango plants were placed in intervals on small lanes.

But all the mansions paled in comparison to the Imperial Palace.

It was as massive as the Grand Palace in Ravka, with all the detail and the dark beauty of the Little Palace. Its roof was slanted like the others, but majestic and imposing. Imperial. Instead of mango shrubberies lining the lane, there were huge mango trees, and fat, juicy fruits hung from its emerald leaves.

The building blocked off any other sights, but I had the feeling that more exquisite things were hidden in and behind those lacquered red walls.

All the carriages pulled up to the pathway. Once the driver stopped, I practically leapt out the door.

Vasily filed out calmly after me. "In order to earn a politician's respect, Alina Starkov, you mustn't act like a desperate peasant. Always enter and exit with grace," he argued.

He had a point, but I didn't appreciate how he addressed me, to say the least. All the same, I kept my comment to myself.

I clenched my jaw and walked forward. Genya was already waiting for me. I smiled tightly and nodded in her direction. She sent me a confused look, but something in my eyes must have warned her.

Marie, Nadia, Sergei, and Zoya were already gathered at the end of the path. Marie and Nadia waved me over, grinning hugely. David slouched beside them, his fingers twitching. A black stain—oil, perhaps?—was smothered over the side of his face and on the tips of his shaggy hair.

My attention turned to the coach at the center of the small parade of coaches. Suddenly, its ebony door opened and The Darkling himself stepped out, Ivan shadowing him. I almost caught my breath at the view of The Darkling's lovely face, the sharp angles outlined perfectly by the light filtering through the trees. His eyes met mine briefly, and then fluttered away. The Darkling, Ivan, Vasily, and I strolled up to the Grisha's circle, Genya following. The entrance loomed high above our heads.

I admired the golden dragon wrought out in detail across the plane of the oak. The Darkling took hold of the door's knocker and pounded it twice, three times. He waited, still.

The doors opened to a lit hallway.


As we all stepped onto the polished marble floors, a wind of sandalwood and floral perfume wafted over me. Five hallways branched off on either side, and a grand staircase opposite the doorway dominated the room. Genya gave a nod of approval.

But our attention shifted to the fashionable woman standing before us.

Her tresses were carefully styled in an updo, golden ornaments braided in her dusky hair. Not a strand was unkempt. She was clad in a blood-red robe, with a gold ribbon tied at her waist, the dragon crest from the doorway sewn across the chest.

The woman herself was average in height and looked to be about fifty, though the chalk on her face and the paint on her lips helped to hide her age. But no matter how old she appeared to be, it was the authority in her eyes and the proud tilt to her chin that revealed the lady standing before us to be none but the Empress.

The Darkling and Vasily bowed first and we all followed suit.

They both spoke smoothly. "Empress Suyin of Ahmrat Jen, pleased to make your acquaintance."

She looked them up and down, then held out her hand. "The pleasure is all mine."

Vasily kissed the back of it, then the Darkling's lips brushed her knuckles lightly. Suyin beamed. She pulled her hand away a bit too reluctantly. "Which of you girls is the Sun Summoner?" she demanded. Her gaze flickered to Zoya, Genya, and Marie.

I bowed, my hair falling forward. "I am, your Majesty."

Her eyes were dubious. "You're the Sun Summoner?"

"That's what I just said, your Majesty." I felt Genya stiffen beside me and knew everyone else had become rigid as well. Oh, Saints. Is there no filter between my mind and my mouth?

Suyin smiled slightly. "Forgive me for stating the obvious; you just weren't what I expected."

Zoya sneered. The insult was clear, but I couldn't blame her, really. I didn't look like a savior of Ravka. Zoya was beautiful and ambitious, she was made to lead.

I bit my lip and said nothing.

"Ju!" The Empress barked. A petite servant stepped out from one of the hallways, her thin frame enveloped in a green full body cloak. The entirety of her face was covered and only her huge eyes were visible.

"Yes, Lady Suyin?" she whispered.

"Go and fetch me the twins, Liko, Maxim, Irina, and Roza. Make sure they get here quickly. I will not tolerate any madness during this month. Make sure you tell them that as well. Especially Roza." Her expression hardened when she mentioned Roza's name. Ju scurried off to find them.

Suyin turned to us and gave an embarrassed smile. "I am very sorry about that. Our servants tend to drift away to their own activities in their free time, and since ours is such a large estate, it is difficult to keep track."

Lucky servants, I thought. To be able to do what they like without worrying.

"It is no worry," the Darkling assured.

"We understand," Vasily said. Like his servants didn't do everything for him but wipe his ass.

"I trust your journey was well?" Suyin asked.

Vasily smirked. "It was. My ride here was very enjoyable indeed." He glanced at me openly, the mirth growing in his eyes as my cheeks and neck reddened.

I saw the Darkling tense.

The Empress raised a plucked eyebrow "How…" She looked at me and Vasily. "Nice."

Thankfully, at that moment, Ju marched in with three other people at her side. Two were noticeably twins. The boy was a giant, while the girl was slender and shorter, but they both shared the same bronze skin and golden eyes with the Shu tilt. The other domestic was a girl, but like Ju, only her blue eyes and freckled hands were visible. The girl twin must have been a guard then, to go uncovered.

Ju stood straighter. "This is Tamar and Tolya," she breathed, gesturing to the twins. "And this is Irina."

"Where are Roza, Liko, and Maxim?" Suyin snarled. It was the first time I'd ever seen her look less than pleasant.

Ju flinched. "They are on the way, your highness."

As if on cue, a crash echoed from one of the halls. "Liko!" someone hissed. "You son of a—" A smack to a face. "Ow! I was going to say 'broad'!"

I heard harried footsteps, then three tall figures walked calmly into the room, as if all the cares of the world were off their shoulders. Two were men who went uncovered and both were strikingly different and handsome. They wore the same uniform of loose white shirts and tight-fitting black breeches. I heard Marie and Nadia giggle. Sergei frowned.

The third was a slender woman, and the fabric of her robe whispered around her hips. Even with her face concealed, she moved as if she were on a cloud rather than a marble floor.

They all joined the line. One by one, the seven bowed. The Empress stood erect. Ju introduced herself shyly, saying that she would be the maid to everyone along with four other people. Irina announced that she would be serving Vasily. Tamar and Tolya were to be my guards. It turned out I was correct.

It went on to the last three. Liko, dark eyes glinting, smoothly made known that he would be waiting on the Darkling and assisting in the labs with David on the side.

Maxim winked shamelessly in my direction. "I'm available to everyone," he said huskily. My cheeks flushed idiotically. I recognized his voice as the one from minutes before.

Roza rolled her brown eyes. She had the most perfect eyelashes I'd ever seen. Ebony, long, and thick. Not even Zoya had those natural lashes.

"I am the Sun Summoner's maid," she drawled. "I'll help her get ready for the day's occasions. But I'll not be available all the day. I serve the Empress as well."

"And you do your work pleasantly," Suyin admitted unwillingly.

"Thank you very much, your Majesty." Roza curtsied, a picture of grace. "I do not know what I would do without your mercy."

"Neither do I." Suyin grit her teeth. "Neither do I." Her words hung in the air.

The tension could have been cut with a knife. David shifted awkwardly.

Abruptly, the doors behind us unbolted and male servants rushed into the hall, carrying our suitcases. They all looked blankly about the room.

The Empress waved to me and Genya and I stepped towards her. A young, dark man set the luggage beside my feet, rubbing his shoulder. Even though my wardrobe had been plain, it was still quite heavy with the bulky case itself.

"Maxim and Roza," Suyin snapped. Tamar and Tolya tailed them. "Take these to her quarters and give her and the Tailor a tour about the Palace when they have enough rest. Your equipment will be escorted to your room shortly," she assured Genya.

"Yes, your highness," Maxim and Roza droned. Maxim bent down and tried to pick up my luggage and groaned, his biceps tightening. "Damn, what is this made of? Two tons of steel?"

Roza rolled her eyes at him for the second time that hour. "And what have you been lifting? Sticks?" She picked up the suitcase effortlessly with one hand with a nary a grunt or groan. Ivan Vasily, Sergei, and Marie gaped. Nadia gasped in amazement. Roza ignored them, and we six hiked up the stairs. I snuck a peek at the Darkling, wondering when I would see him next.

Genya was slack jawed. "Well, what do you lift?"

Maxim answered for her. "Forty-pound sandbags. She helps me and Tolya with the weighty stuff at times."

"When those two fools get too lazy," Roza retorted. "They laugh and chew mangoes while I'm out there working my ass, doing something useful."

"We are doing something useful," Maxim said cheerfully, green eyes positively glittering. "We are giving you incentive. If we didn't just sit around, where would you get the anger to lift such heavy material? Anger is adrenaline. Problem solved. So, we are technically helping you."

Impossibly, she rolled her eyes again. "I swear, Maxim, you have the reasoning skills of a naughty little child."

"Just hearing you say the word 'naughty' was worth the trouble."

"You flirtatious bastard. I swear, if you weren't so busy charming everyone, you'd have no personality." We emerged onto the second floor, which was all dark wood and jade carpet embedded with jewels that ran down the aisles.

"You think I'm charming?" he asked hopefully.

"Speak one more word and I'll cut you."

Maxim laughed. Even Tamar and Tolya cracked a smile.

Genya grinned also. "You two have a peculiar camaraderie," she pointed out. "I've never seen any of the servants act that way at the Grand Palace. All we do is mope and do our job. We don't even have time for anything else."

Tolya shrugged his broad shoulders. "We have a peculiar system, and our Emperor gives us leeway, because he understands an unsatisfied servant makes for unsatisfactory service." His voice, as expected, was a low bass.

Genya whined. "I wish the King did that."

Roza turned down another corridor and opened a door. "No two men are the same."


Tolya and Tamar stood threatening and still by the entrance, arguing that guards were to stay outside at all times. Tamar was surprising agreeable and perceptive, at least, more so than her brother. None of us bothered to disagree. So, we strolled into my rooms, soft carpet under our shoes.

It was as splendid and large as the one from the Little Palace. The bed was covered in rosy velvet and sun-colored sheets with the design of delicate orchids. A curtain fell about all four sides of it, sheer and gold. A pattern of sunbursts bordered the edges. A fireplace burned across the room, flames flickering and crackling. Facing the entrance was a ceiling-to floor window that stood as a fourth wall, and a vanity table was laid out alongside it. Genya's eyes widened. A balcony opened up to the peace gardens and fountains below. Saints. This is paradise.

On the wall nearest the door, there were 8-feet tall bookshelves, already crowded with novels of every variety under the sun. I sighed.

The corners of Roza's eyes crinkled and I knew she was smiling. She motioned to the shelves. "Beautiful isn't it? I doubt you'll be bored in your visit here." Her voice was almost wistful. "Kerch may have the university, but the Palace has the biggest novel collection in the world." Roza ran her hands over the spines of a row of fairy tales. "So many stories," she whispered.

"And that comes from a girl who feeds off of words." Maxim wrapped his arm around Roza's shoulders. "This one right here practically lives in the dust of the shelves. I have to wrestle her just to get her to let go of a volume. And if she loves it, she's practically dead for the next ten hours."

She shrugged him off. "He has a point."

"I would never utter a sound if it didn't have a logical reason."

"That is debatable," Rosa mumbled. Then, she straightened her posture and turned to me. "We will come and retrieve you in a few hours for the tour. After that, we will help you get ready for the dinner tonight with everyone, since they will be arriving shortly. It is best you get some rest." She curtsied. "Pleasure to serve you, Sun Summoner. And very nice to make your acquaintance, Tailor." Maxim bowed and repeated her words.

"It's Alina," I said at the same time Genya said, "It's Genya."

Maxim's lips twitched. "We'll be sure to remember that, moi soverenyi."

Genya and I raised our eyebrows. "You're Ravkan?" I asked in disbelief.

His white teeth flashed. "Why, of course we are. Have you ever met a Shu named Maxim or Rozalina? We moved here."

"How?"

"That is a story for another time," Roza countered. "Now, you must rest."

She hurried out the door, and Maxim trailed behind. The door shut with a bang.


We fell onto the bed and melted into the mattress. It felt like lying on a cloud. I stroked the slips.

"What do you think of the people here?" Genya stated.

"Hmmm. Let me think," I dramatized. "The Empress feels like a cranky old cow that hasn't been milked in days." Genya giggled. "Ju, Irina, and the twins seem nice enough, though I wouldn't want to encounter Tamar or Tolya in a dark alley. Or a well-lit one, for that matter. Maxim and Liko are handsome, but Liko seems like the more polite one. That Maxim could charm the clothes off of any girl. And Roza…I don't even know what she looks like, how could I tell her personality?"

Genya snorted. "I agree with everything you've said but Roza. I like her. She's tough. Maxim and Liko though…" She fanned herself with one hand. "If I wasn't in love with David, I would chase them. I don't really like Shu men, but Liko is just gorgeous. And Maxim is perfect. Those bronze arms! You have to really admire his face as well."

I rolled my eyes. "They wouldn't be able to handle you," I teased.

She grinned devilishly. "You're right about that."


Sorry if this was boring, I just really had to introduce the setting and my OCs. I am having a ridiculous amount of fun with them and the setting. Please Review! I'm writing this for you, so if you're just a viewer it would make me beyond happy to see you message me, or just follow the story. I want to know how many people actually enjoy the story! Questions are welcome! And so are corrections!

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