The central palace did have a name. It was just hardly ever used that most hardly ever remembered. When the empress was young, she had delved headfirst into the history of the imperial palace with the enthusiasm only the young possess. She'd eagerly learned about the history of the architecture and the lives of those who'd lived within its golden walls. She'd longed to live there too one day.
"Father told me I might marry the crown prince someday, Kora," a young Katya had told her joyfully. "I've never seen him before, but he must be very good-looking, no?"
Back then, Kora had called the empress by a much simpler "Young Miss Duvernay". She'd been just as psychotic back then too, but Kora hadn't learned the painful lessons enough times at that young age.
"Crown Prince Wilhelm is indeed handsome, my lady," Kora had said on command. Those were the words she was supposed to say, but she had meant them.
