Esther: The King's Beloved

Esther flinched as the man slowly lifted the veil covering her face. “... Are you afraid of me, Queen?” “No, Your Majesty.” The King frowned, brushing the tips of his fingers over the lip she had bitten down on to keep it from trembling. “You may tell me the truth, My Queen.” “Then.. I am a little afraid.” With a sigh, the man lowered himself down onto the bed at her side, his hand still lingering near her face. “Is this crown I’ve put upon your head not proof enough of my love for you?” “It is enough, Your Majesty.” “Then, fear me not-” Without warning, the King wrapped his arms around Esther’s waist, pulling her body on top of his. “-for you are the only person in all of Persia whom I allow to sit above me.” **** Esther is a child of misfortune, hidden away in the secluded dwellings of the Persian Empire’s most despised clan. She knows nothing of the world outside, save for what her uncle, a guard at the royal Shushan palace, tells her. Everything changes for the young girl, however, when a decree rings throughout the Royal City that each clan must present a woman as a candidate for Persia’s next Queen. As the only suitable woman among her people, Esther has no choice but to serve as her clan’s offering. Somberly, her uncle prepares her to enter the palace, where she will have to live for a year as a Queen Candidate, possibly for the rest of her life if she gains the King’s attention. To survive and someday return back home, she must hide her origins and keep her head down. But before long, Esther finds herself tangled in a web of politics and schemes when she accidentally catches the eye of two men, each with royal blood and secrets of their own. One is hiding his identity, just like she is. And the other is harboring a secret so dangerous, it could turn the entire empire on its head. The stakes of the game only become higher as Esther realizes the thing she must fear most has already befallen her. King Ahasuerus’s affection. Will she be able to protect herself and her people as she unravels the dark mysteries hiding beneath the royal palace’s glittering exterior? ---------- This is a work of fiction and is not meant to portray certain groups of people, religions, and/or places in a historically accurate way. Cover art by @vatarison.art on Instagram