Quite a different approach from your previous stories but nonetheless entertaining. I did find the story's perspective interesting. Not the usual mainstream twist or approach. If I had anything to dislike about the short story, it would probably the part where it is a short story.

A lot of things could be expounded like how the setup and the Emperor knew. But I understood that those parts are both limits and strengths of the story, I think? The Emperor being feared for seemingly omnipotent and all.