Sure! Here's Chapter Two: The Petals Behind the Throne with all punctuation marks removed:
Chapter Two The Petals Behind the Throne
The sun had barely spilled over the palace roofs when she sat upright in her chambers spine straight as a sword eyes colder than the porcelain teacup untouched by her side
They expected her to sob To be grateful for breath To weep for her neardeath
But the Empress returned and quiet only lifted her hand
Bring me new maids
The head attendant blinked Your Majesty your former maids are still
I said her tone did not rise but the chill in the room did bring me new maids
That was how the palace learned the Empress who had once whispered now spoke with steel And she had no room for shadows from the past
By midday the candidates had lined up kneeling nervous silent
She picked only two
Mirelle a girl with downcast lashes and trembling fingers Her voice barely rose above a whisper but her hands knew how to heal how to fold silk like breath how to stitch without pricking skin
Zareene sharpeyed sharptongued and fast on her feet She didnt bow the lowest but she watched the room like a soldier not a servant
Both knelt before her now heads bowed
We pledge ourselves to serve Her Majesty they said in unison
She looked at them and nodded once
Then serve me well
Whispers flitted through the corridors
By nighttime she stepped into the dining hall and they were already there nine women dressed like blossoms Each one a daughter of power Each one a kingdoms offering
They looked at her and smiled like knives
She returned none of it
Her gaze swept the nine Princesses Pretenders And traitors
One among them she knew had smiled when she drowned
Her lips curled just slightly Not yet But soon
Let us not pretend we are sisters she said softly voice slicing the air We were never raised to love each other were we
The oldest concubine smiled tightly Princess Elaris we were raised to serve His Majesty and bring harmony to the palace
Harmony she echoed What a pretty lie Princess Ismere
And just like that the air shifted
Her first war had begunnot with blood but with smiles
And her allies
Two girls behind her One quiet One watchful
And none of them would bow again
I will have dinner in my chambers from now on If anyone has a question direct it to His Majesty
After that she didnt return to her chambers right away
She walked
Through blooming corridors of magnolia trees and still ponds her new maids trailing a respectful distance behind her Each of her steps though graceful was deliberate like she was imprinting her presence again into every corner that had forgotten her
Your Majesty Mirelle spoke gently behind her would you prefer we fetch your cloak The breeze is chilly
No she replied Let the cold bite I want to feel something real
Mirelle bowed her head
Zareene walking at her other side glanced sideways Should I keep an eye on the shadows
You already are Princess Elaris replied But the real snakes dont slither They smile
They walked on in silence until they turned a quiet corner only to come face to face with him
The Emperor
He was not supposed to be here Not yet
He walked toward her dressed not in his golden court robes but in a dark cloak that rippled with the wind Alone Quiet
The world stilled for a heartbeat
His gaze lifted to hers steady unreadable The eyes of a man who had built and buried kingdoms without blinking But now he looked at her differently As if something sacred had returned from the grave to haunt him
Princess Elaris youre out he said simply You should be resting
She said nothing at first Her gaze did not falter She noticed everything the slight parting of his lips the furrow of his brow the faint red rim around his eyes as if he hadnt slept
Resting
She had died
And he had not arrived
Your Majesty she finally said voice calm but sharp when I sank beneath that water you were nowhere to be found And now you pretend to care
She scoffed You are no different from the rumors Why accept the women when you know theyre going to be just ornaments and you dont care about their life or death
The words hit their mark
Mirelle gripped her hands tighter in her sleeves Zareene tilted her chin slightly watching
The Emperors jaw flexed I came as soon as I could
She stepped forward
No she said You came when it was convenient
Her words left no room for denial
And yet as she turned to walk past him he spoke soft low almost as if he didnt want to say it
I thought you were dead
She paused
Then smiled faintly Coldly
Then allow me to show