In the eastern half of what was the United States, an empire now resides. The heroine journeys to the capital of that empire to "provide insight" on a bread shortage. She quickly learns that the lengths she will go to for those in need are nothing compared to what the system will do to preserve itself.
Genre and tone:
A political drama, masquerading as a murder mystery, masquerading as a future fantasy. A dialogue-driven slow burn. This story takes place in opulent drawing rooms where great lords decide what's best for the starving masses. Their courtly manners are juxtaposed with brutality so normalised that no one remarks on how horrific it truly is. The heroine tries to represent those who cannot represent themselves in verbal chess matches where checkmate means death.