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F ICT ION
The Empress’ Attire By Gina Fallas-Rodriguez
What type of Empress did she want to be? The question plagued her. Enora had been in power for a little under a year but had yet to decide on how she wanted to present herself to the world. The previous Emperor was ruthless. He wore his gowns of black and gold, mostly so people would see the platform shoes he wore to guarantee he was always the tallest person in the room. She killed him because he was ruthless. He had the hubris of all men in power, the idea that a woman would want to sleep with him for the mere honor of it. She killed him as he was lost in his pleasure by slitting his throat. Once he was done writhing, she assumed his scepter, put her clothes on, and presented herself to the world. As she stood from his balcony, looking at the guards below, she said, “Now is the time of change. You can return home or work for me. You are no longer forced to labor for an unforgiving Lord. Decide by morning.” She was called a witch; people assumed she had unnatural powers because, while many before her had tried to kill him
