Empress Alexandra Trevino has a problem. After inheriting the throne to the largest empire in the world, her court wants her to marry, but she is unwilling to share her crown so early in her reign. Solution? Institute a harem. After all, her male predecessors had consorts, why can't she? Four men handpicked from around the world enter her home with the sole purpose of bringing her pleasure. From a prince to a merchant, they are everything Alexandra ever dreamed of. Each has his own motivations for being there, and strong personalities to match their perfect faces. As Alexandra gets to know them better she begins to realize, why should she have to choose at all?

After instituting her own harem, the first empress to ever do so, Alexandra Trevino thought her marital problems were solved. Ready to take the next step and start trying for an heir, Alexandra believes she and her consorts are ready to face this together. But nothing is ever that simple, and personalities are clashing between the consorts as they deal with their complicated feelings for each other. Love, betrayal, and jealousy are ripping them a part, throwing The Red Palace into chaos. They must find a way to sort out their conflicts, or risk losing Alexandra forever. For her throne is not secure, and enemies continue to move against the empress. The crown's men must either step up, or risk it all falling to ruin. As things go from bad to worse, Alexandra comes to realize that the past is never really dead, only lying in wait to come back and haunt her.

Empress Alexandra Trivano is not having the birthday week she expected. A foreign king is on his way to negotiate an alliance, the empire’s greatest enemy is on the run, and Alexandra’s dearest friends have departed the palace. Of course, there is also her unexpected pregnancy she must now keep secret from her court. It’s all a bit much. The consorts are thrilled at the impending expansion of the family they have built with Alexandra, but insecurities are not so easily brushed to the side. Jealousy towards Alexandra’s former lover and bodyguard poisons the harem and two of the consorts who have been denying their feelings for each other can no longer deny what lies between them. When it all comes to a head, Alexandra must decide what it means to be a ruler, and the sacrifices she is willing to make for the good of her empire and her family.