The search terms you provided— (Imperial, Selection, Flibusta)—point toward a popular trope in Russian-language romantic fantasy: the "Imperial Selection" (where a ruler chooses a bride or groom through a series of trials). These books are frequently discussed or sought after on the Flibusta digital library.

"You don't need a wife to decorate your throne," she whispered, her palms glowing with the cold, steady light of the North. "You need a pillar to help you hold up the sky."

: Navigating a labyrinth that shifted according to one’s deepest fears.

When Elara finally stood before Emperor Valerius, she didn't curtsy. While the others offered flattery, she pointed to the hairline fracture in his crown—a physical manifestation of the Heartstone’s decay.

: Predicting the Empire's future using only a bowl of still water.