Elara, a minor noble from the frost-bitten Northern Marches, stood among thirty other women in the Great Hall. Each held a silken ribbon; hers was the color of a bruised plum. They weren't just there for their beauty; they were there because the Emperor, a man rumored to be more dragon than human, required a consort whose magic could stabilize the crumbling Heartstone of the realm. The trials were brutal:
: Navigating a labyrinth that shifted according to one’s deepest fears. Elara, a minor noble from the frost-bitten Northern
While there isn't a single "official" story with that exact title, the phrase usually refers to the subgenre of "Selection" novels (similar to The Selection by Kiera Cass). Since you're looking for a story, here is an original short tale written in that style: The Jade Rose Selection The trials were brutal: : Navigating a labyrinth