Page 45 of A Pact of Blood

She wishes her daughter were in my place. Why wouldn’t she?

Before I have to find something to say to her, a footman stops in front of me and bows. “Your Imperial Highness, I’m to inform you that your first combat lesson will commence in the palace gymnasium at the next bell. His Highness Prince Raul suggests you make sure you’re clothed fittingly.”

Ah, I knew the lesson had been arranged for this afternoon, but not exactly when. My husband does still like me to know that he controls my life more than I do.

I smile at the footman too, because we only rise to greater heights with the support of those below. “I’ll see to that now.”

I can only imagine what attire Raul would consider “fitting” for a sparring session—and what clothes he’d prefer to see me in if he had the choice. Most likely none at all for the latter.

Since I obviously can’t arrive nude, and the wardrobe I have consists exclusively of gowns of various opulence, I paw through my options for the plainest dress I own. The sky-blue silk still boasts gold embroidery along the neckline and waist, but the short sleeves are billowy enough to allow easy movement. The skirt is at the lightest and airiest of typicalDarium fashion, leaving my legs with plenty of room to maneuver as well.

It'll have to do.

As I step out into the hall, I fold my arms over my chest, abruptly aware of how the purple blotches on my scarred lower arms are now in view. I didn’t worry about showing them back home during the warmer months, but the court isn’t used to them yet.

Oh, well. It’s a reminder that thereismore to me than they regularly see in the palace common rooms.

I take a few steps before realizing I’m not entirely sure where I’m going. Swiveling around, I spot two of my ever-present guards shadowing me from farther down the hall.

One of this afternoon’s number is the curly-haired man Lorenzo described to me, whose name I’ve gathered is Kassun. My skin itches with even more uneasiness.

I haven’t seen any outright hostility from him so far, but since I started watching him more closely, I have noticed that he generally appears more tense than my other protectors, his expressions darker.

Suppressing my doubts, I beckon them over. “As much as I appreciate your usual discretion, I could use more direct help at the moment. Could you show me to the gymnasium?”

Both Kassun and the square-jawed woman who’s his companion today bob their heads in agreement. I catch a flicker of a grimace across Kassun’s face, sharp enough that it might almost be a sneer.

Hmm. Perhaps this would be an ideal time to address that particular problem as well.

Whatever his issues with me are, he mustn’t have revealed any threatening inclinations when High Commander Axius carried out his investigations. I don’t think he wants me dead.

He simply doesn’t like me very much.

The knowledge combined with his military bearing and the sword at his hip makes my nerves jangle, but I have to remember that he isn’t one of the soldiers who’s maimed and murdered my people back home. Every member of the Darium military is their own person.

Many of them awful people, but if I don’t give this one the benefit of the doubt, how can I expect him to give me the same?

We set off with the guards marching on either side of me rather than trailing behind as usual. As they guide me to a staircase that leads down to the first floor, I glance over at Kassun.

“How long have you served at the palace?”

Under my scrutiny, he draws his posture straighter. “This is my eighth year, Your Imperial Highness.”

“You must be quite familiar with the court and the doings of the imperial family, then.”

He makes a hesitant noise of agreement, probably uneasy about where I might be going with this line of conversation.

I keep my tone mild. “I hope you would tell me if you feel I’m acting in any way out of place with them, then.”

Kassun’s head jerks toward me. His voice stiffens. “It would never be appropriate for me to criticize you, Your Imperial Highness.”

“Not even if I asked you to?”

“There is nothing to criticize,” he insists, a little too late. His fellow guard scowls at him.

I let out a light laugh. “It’s important to me that I’m fulfilling my role here as well as I can. I certainly wouldn’t be offended.”

Now Kassun simply stares at me. “Why wouldn’t you be?”

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