Latin Vulgate, Esther: Liber Esther

In the dazzling courts of ancient Persia, a ruler named Ahasuerus presides over an empire that stretches from India to Ethiopia. To display his wealth and power, he summons all the nobles, princes, and officials for a lavish feast that lasts a hundred and eighty days, filling palaces with tents of gold, silk, and precious stone. The banquet is a spectacle of music, wine, and splendor, meant to impress both subjects and foreign dignitaries.

Amid this celebration, Queen Vashti hosts her own gathering of women within the royal palace. When the king, in high spirits, commands her to appear before the assembled guests, she refuses, rejecting his decree. Angered and seeking counsel, Ahasuerus turns to his advisors, setting the stage for a crisis that will test loyalty, authority, and the fate of an entire nation.