Ascendance

In the far future, the countries and continents of our current lands have crumbled, and new power has risen. A new empire. Sapphire lives in this glittering land, whose magnificent wealth and finery conceals a shadowy side, filled with trickery and lies. This place, enshrouded by opulent deceit, is the place that she has claimed as her own. And in this perilous game that the royals play to gain fortune and power, anything goes. It isn't rare or unusual for the nobility to resort to murder to get the things that they crave.
Yet despite all of this, Sapphire is still the reigning power of this world, strong, calculating, and fully in control. And she intends to keep it that way. But it's difficult to hold down a kingdom this big without strengthening ties with other nations, and suddenly, she has no choice but to enter a second game. One that may be even more dangerous than the former. One that she had abandoned years ago.