The Second Shore (Lucien and Evelyn)

Lucien Arden took the throne.He crowned Rosalind Hartwell empress. And Evelyn Hartwell—the principal wife who had fought at his side all the way from embattled prince to emperor—was given only the rank of Imperial Consort.The day the decree came down, Silverleaf Palace was completely silent.Every servant kept their head lowered and hardly dared to breathe, afraid that Evelyn would weep, or throw things, or come apart the way any consort does when the emperor's favor leaves her.Evelyn simply accepted the decree, calmly.“I thank His Majesty for his generosity.”There was no movement in her voice and nothing in her face. Even her beautiful eyes held not the slightest trace of grief.She turned, went back into the inner rooms, and picked up her book where she had left it.As though the decree that had just stripped her of her place as his principal wife had nothing whatever to do with her.