The Court of the Empress

[EggplantParmesan]

Imagine a monarchy ruled by an empress a la Catherine the Great, an all-powerful woman with a rampaging sex drive. She had the emperor whacked, and does not wish to share her power with a man, so she refuses to marry again. Instead there are numerous male “favorites,” ranging from virile warriors to pretty boys known principally for their good looks and sexual prowess. The empress never wants anyone to have too much power, so she treats her men more like a rotating harem — perhaps a different man every night.

Her court is dominated by women, and there are rumors that her ladies in waiting are charged with “trying out” potential favorites and reporting back to the empress about whether they attain her high standards. Perhaps there are whispers of “measurements” being taken.

Naturally, given that everyone’s status demands on the whim of the empress, there is all sorts of high bitchiness going on. Perhaps the favorites find ways to undermine each other?

So I think I’ve taken this to a R-rated level. Anyone want to bring it to X or NC-17?

 

[sirhugs]

sounds like a series to me.

 

[LupusDei]

I wonder what point of view this could be, if not entirely then primary from. The empress herself could be a an option, but not the simplest one to make interesting.

A cute young army adjutant of one of the aging generals who's still visiting the queen on occasion for old time favors (once was among those hwo whacked the disgrace king?), discovering, observing, navigating, eventually abusing for his own gain it all? Farm boy to prince, fucking through the court of empress, telling the story in circles and layers.

Or we could adopt one of ladies in waiting, diving in the intrigue early but keeping the whole more compact, her just guarding a secret romance with one of the queens favourites.

 

[EggplantParmesan]

I think I like the young adjutant discovering the ways of the court would be a good perspective. Maybe he's used to army life, where the priority is on being brave and manly. Now he's part of the court, where the premium is as much on looking good, smelling good, dressing well. After undergoing a bit of a makeover, he finds himself popular with the ladies of the court. One day he gets a whisper in the ear, "The Empress has noticed you." So exciting! Not only the thought of sharing her bed, but there is talk that her lovers eventually get expansive estates and marriages to suitably aristocratic wives. Of one such lord, it is said that his advancement owed as much to "the sword in his pants" as to "the sword in the battlefield."