Three hundred years ago, no one had ventured across the equator of
Kavrillia, and the
Lanarian and
Vincaran civilizations were ignorant of each other's existence.
Twenty-five years ago, the
Lanarian Empire spanned the entire globe despite the Vincaran independence movement.
Yesterday, Emperor
Xeres was alive, beloved by his people for picking up the pieces of the empire after the
Great Civil War, and Crown Princess
Vazali had a quiet life just outside the imperial capital.
None of that is true anymore, and Empress Vazali must lead the empire into an uncertain future.
The truce with the
Vincaran Federation grows shakier by the day as the prophesied birth of a
goddess nears. Meanwhile, the young empress needs all her compassion and determination to face a health crisis, escalating conflict with her
brother, the mistrust of her own people, and the indelible stain left on the empire by its history of conquest and colonialism. The burden would be easier to bear with the support of a family, but her relentless duties and intimidating rank leave her isolated and alone.
As her reign unfolds, Vazali will find that love and betrayal can both come from the most unexpected sources, and shared blood isn't what makes a family.