"The marriage itself doesn't matter."
"What matters is how many lives this marriage can save."
Arelia is one of the oldest kingdoms on the Empire's western coast.
From a young age, Consort Yao was educated to become a ruler.
She learned how to sit before the masses without letting a hint of hesitation show.
For she was once the most likely heir to the Arelian throne.
Until her younger brother was born.
From that day on, she was no longer the "future queen."
She became merely the "eldest royal daughter."
Years later, when the Empire demanded that the twelve kingdoms enter into new political marriages, she did not wait for her father's decision.
She accepted the betrothal herself.
Not for love.
Nor out of obedience.
A succession dispute had been festering within Arelia for years.
If she remained, the nobles supporting her and those supporting her brother would sooner or later go to war.
So, she chose to leave.
Once she became the Emperor's consort, no one in the kingdom could easily wage a war of succession in her name.
At least...
That is what she claimed.
[Court Archives]
Consort Yao possesses a pair of highly distinctive eyes.
There is a faint ring of gold along the outermost edge of her right iris.
It isn't noticeable in dim light.
But up close, it can be seen.
She also has a tiny, sun-shaped birthmark just below her left collarbone.
Of course.
Assassins know this, too.
They would wear similar discreet prosthetics to fake the birthmark.
So the real question was never:
"Does she have these features?"
But rather:
"Why does she have these features?"
If the woman standing before you truly is Consort Yao—she ought to remember why she was once groomed as an heir.
She ought to remember why she left Arilia.
She ought to know, too...
...exactly who gave her
that ring which has since vanished.
The publicly available records end here.
As for what else Consort Yao retained after entering the Imperial Capital... that remains confidential for now.
After all, there are some secrets the King needs to uncover personally.