The journey had been tedious, an absolute bore as Yue had to listen to her sister babble on about how great of an opportunity this would be for [i]her[/i]. Talking as if she had already won, [i]gushing[/i] over the idea of status and the finer things in life once more. How she would single handedly bring back their family name from ruin, that she would be its saviour. It irked her, how she had forgotten the very man she was so desperate to get her claws into had been the cause of their parents' demise. This Emperor had stripped all their titles, killed their parents and all she could think about was living the high life once more. They had been lucky that they had not been killed by association with how brutal he was rumoured to be.  

Mei seemingly didn’t notice her sour mood, she continued to talk on and on even though Yue had tuned it out. Looking out at the scenery as they made their way to the city. Growing up with her sister she was used to how self-absorbed she could be, Mei was constantly in her own little world and whilst she never intended to be malicious, she wasn’t always aware of the back handed compliments she would give. It would certainly get her into trouble in the city if she wasn’t careful.  

Not that it should be something she should worry about, Yue was there for a different purpose and she couldn’t babysit her sister on top of the most daring plan that would get her killed in a heartbeat if she wasn’t careful. Mei was older, she should have more sense to be careful and it was clear her sister only cared for one thing and had her own mission in mind. It didn’t mean Yue wouldn’t keep an eye, despite the jealousy and rivalry between them growing up she was still her family. Although she wouldn’t admit it, or voice it out loud she had a deep-seated worry about getting caught and her sister also suffering with the crossfire.  

Despite the droning on of her sister, the anxiety that bubbled away as she thought about all the ways this could go wrong. The what ifs, the what could or would happen, the journey to the city had been a smooth one. Both girls arriving in one piece and with a bunch of other potential candidates.  

“This competition will be easy.” Mei boasted, clearly eyeing up the girls that stood in her way. Already noting some of them had no titles nor wealth so surely it would not catch the Emperors attention.  

“Mei, we are all on equal footing here. We’ve all be invited for a reason. Don’t you see that?”  

“Oh, sweet [i]little sister[/i], no. He needs someone with a [b]title[/b], someone that can help calm all this unrest. No commoner would do that. Even though our titles were ruined, imagine the hope it would give people as he took an Empress from a family who had been once great, who he had personally destroyed.” 

A brief pause as Yue considered her sisters words, feeling a mixture of shock but also a hint of pride. Not for the insult to the other women, but the fact her sister had considered about the unrest of the population this Emperor faced. Perhaps she had viewed her sister as materialistic without any sort of sense, but that comment suggested she had thought about an angle to go for that could be quite smart. It all depended on what the Emperor wanted, but should he be looking for a way to appease some of the people, he could consider taking someone who had a title even with a previous ruined name.  

It mattered not, before Yue could even answer her sister all the girls were being ushered to follow. Announcing that they’d be shown their accommodations. Leading them all towards a more communal style of housing, much to the clear disgust of some of the noble ladies. Even her sister pulled a face at the idea of it, but Yue wasn’t surprised. With a lot of candidates this would be the easiest to keep them all in one place, to no doubt watch how they interacted with one another and suss out personalities.  

“Trust me, mingle with the girls, do not act like this accommodation is beneath you or that anyone else is.” Whispering the advice into her sisters' ear, it was up to her on if she would listen to it, but she hoped she would heed the warning. This was a test; everything would be a test on their character and she needed her sister around to keep the attention if she planned to stay under the radar.  

“I... w-well. Of course.” Mei stammered out; her face heated at the warning because she had almost said something about having a better place to sleep. “Thank you.” Begrudgingly offering a word of thanks as she listened to advice, slipping into the crowd to mingle and talk with the others.  

There had been no Emperor to greet them, no sign of his presence as they were shown around their new lodgings. Yue had spent the evening making small talk with the other guests, eyeing up potential areas to sneak in and out of all whilst keeping an eye on her surroundings, as if they were being watched.  

As the evening pressed on it was clear to see the variety of mixed emotions between all the girls. Some excited, happy, nervous and even upset. Yue could name every emotion as everyone played nice and attempted to get to know one another and the competition they all faced.  

By now with the hour being late most of the girls had gone to bed, exhausted with the travel and the range of emotions that they felt. Even her sister had turned in for the night, but Yue was still sat in the communal area with a book in hand reading. Turning her face towards the doors as she heard voices, furrowing her brows as she tried to hear what was being spoken.  

Moments after the doors swung upon as a rather nervous looking official rushed inside to follow orders that had been given to him. To wake all the girls. Glancing up from her book she followed the rushing male before she took note of another figure, deep green eyes finally meeting her target.  

The Emperor.  

The very man she was here to [b]kill[/b].  

Rising to her feet she brushed down her fine dress that her uncle had provided as she watched him, tucking the book away under her arm. Speaking no words as she had not been addressed, but she couldn’t help herself as her eyes wandered. Eyeing him up and down as she took in his appearance. Surprised by the handsome looks as she had always painted him out to be some old looking monster in her mind.  

It didn’t last long before the bustle of the girls started to pour out, most dressed in sleeping attire, some looking dishevelled not having time to arrange themselves and when the penny dropped on who was here to see them, Yue caught a few mortified looking faces in the crowd. Whispers spreading through the group as some eagerly awaited on what he had to say.