That day, the rain had poured down with fury; therefore, the evening lay dark beneath the clouds. The streets were slick with the small droplets that still fell, even though the heavy rain had already ceased.

A young woman dressed in white and gold stopped before the palace and handed a letter to the guards, who examined its contents and, after scanning her with a lecherous gaze, allowed her to pass.

She wore a tight top that pressed against her chest, accentuating a striking neckline. The garment clung to her body and matched her white, sheer skirt.

Her hair—and her face as well—were covered by a white-and-gold turban that also...