Dear readers,

  The journey of Autumn Myles has finally come to an end, and so has our time together in this world of power, love, betrayal, and fate. When I first began writing this story, I never imagined it would grow into something so intricate, so consuming—not just for me, but for all of you who have followed every step, every sacrifice, and every choice she made.

  This novel was never meant to be just about power or revenge. It is a story of survival, of carving a path where none existed, and of the impossible choices between duty and love. Autumn Myles was never perfect—she was ambitious, relentless, and sometimes even cruel. But she was also human. She loved deeply, suffered greatly, and, in the end, she found peace in the arms of the only person who had ever truly seen her.

  Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  To those who cheered for her victories, grieved her losses, and perhaps even questioned her decisions—thank you. Every word I wrote was for you, for the moments when you held your breath, for the nights you stayed up reading, and for the emotions that this story stirred within you.

  And to Elias, the man who loved and hated her in equal measure, who chose her again and again despite everything—he was never meant to be just a supporting role. He was a force of his own, a man bound by duty yet undone by love. His end was his choice, just as hers was. Perhaps, in the end, their love was never meant to be measured in years but in moments of absolute devotion.

  As I close this book, I hope this story stays with you, not as a mere tale of an Empress but as a reflection of the choices we all make—between power and love, between vengeance and peace, between holding on and letting go.

  For now, this is goodbye. But perhaps, in another time, another world, our paths will cross again.

  With all my gratitude,

  Ian Gale