The story begins with Eliss Tranchesta, a reclusive young lady from a marquis's family, being forcibly brought before the tyrannical Emperor Adelbart. Despite her efforts to remain unnoticed, Eliss finds herself in a private chamber, her hands bound, facing the notoriously cruel emperor. To her astonishment, instead of a death sentence, the emperor presents her with a stack of her own romance novels, written under the pseudonym "Elistra," and demands her autograph. Overwhelmed and mortified that her secret hobby has been discovered, Eliss complies, signing each of her books.
The emperor, pleased with her compliance, then reveals his true motivation: he is an avid fan of Elistra's work and is desperate for more. He learns that Eliss is to begin her bride training, which would halt her writing. In response, he orders her to reside in the imperial palace, effectively placing her under house arrest in the luxurious Ruby Palace, previously prepared for the empress. His secretary, Jeffrey, explains that the emperor's obsession stems from his own loveless childhood, and Jeffrey's attempt to foster his emotional growth by gifting him romance novels backfired spectacularly, leading to his current fixation on Elistra.
Eliss, initially terrified and bewildered, soon finds herself in a peculiar arrangement. The emperor spends his nights in her room, engrossed in her writing, while she, fueled by his presence and the stimulating environment, writes prolifically. This routine leads to exhaustion for both, but also a growing, albeit unconventional, bond. The emperor, initially driven by his desire for more stories, begins to show genuine concern for Eliss, particularly when she suffers from tendinitis, a condition that prevents her from writing. He calls for a high priest to heal her, and during the healing, he experiences a surge of possessiveness and jealousy, realizing his feelings might be more than mere obsession.
This realization leads to a proposal, where the emperor attempts to force Eliss to sign a marriage contract. However, Eliss, ever the pragmatist and writer, is more inspired by the dramatic situation than by the proposal itself, and postpones the signing to write about it. The emperor, though initially frustrated, is ultimately swayed by her creative drive.
Later, Eliss's father, the Marquis Tranchesta, visits the emperor to retrieve his daughter. The emperor, unable to reveal the truth about Eliss's writing, deflects the Marquis's concerns, leading the latter to mistakenly believe Eliss has become the emperor's concubine. This misunderstanding, coupled with the emperor's insistence that he needs Eliss and her talents, convinces the Marquis to consent to Eliss becoming the empress.
Meanwhile, Jeffrey observes the deepening connection between Eliss and the emperor, recognizing that the emperor's feelings are genuine love, not just obsession. Eliss, however, remains hesitant, fearing the burden of being empress and the potential heartbreak if she fails. She acknowledges her growing feelings but requests more time to decide.
The story culminates at a grand ball. Eliss, persuaded by Jeffrey to remove her glasses to be more presentable, attends with the emperor, her true beauty revealed. The emperor, openly affectionate and possessive, dances with her, captivating the court and solidifying their unusual relationship, while Eliss, still grappling with her feelings and the implications of her new role, finds herself increasingly drawn to the emperor.
