Raphine's plans have grown bolder. She’s now targeting the Concubine’s grip on the empire, using Jerkan's shifting loyalties as a weapon in the dangerous game of royal politics. Her bond with Jerkan deepens unexpectedly, pulling her into uncharted emotional territory. Meanwhile, Orpana, her spirit companion, becomes a human ally, aiding Raphine in taking over the lucrative coffee trade and crippling the Concubine’s influence. Yet, as tensions between the Empress and the Concubine erupt into open conflict, Raphine struggles with a painful choice: securing Adrian’s future or following her growing feelings for Zerkan. Every move she makes tests her loyalty, love, and ambition—forcing her to decide just how far she'll go to rewrite her brother’s fate, even as the original story’s tragic ending looms closer.
