Page 72 of A Reign of Embers

Evando opens his mouth, closes it again, and appears togird himself before answering. “High Commander Axius is investigating now. The people we believe are responsible have abandoned their rooms here. But… it doesn’t appear to have been soldiers.” He lowers his voice so only I can hear. “Vicerine Saldette, Marchion Syrus, and all of their respective households departed rather hastily at a very early hour of the morning.”

Ah. Understanding curdles with gloom in my belly.

Saldette and Syrus have both resented me, however much they’ve attempted to suppress the indications. They both had daughters who died in the trials that allowed me to become empress.

Syrus had an additional reason for animosity, considering Linus sent him off to tend to his estate rather than enjoying court several months ago. He only returned in the past couple of weeks, and I wanted to take that as a promising sign that he’d recognized siding with me was at least a better option than war.

It’s difficult to imagine the stately vicerine or the pompous marchion slathering paint across the walls themselves. Although who can say what they’d be moved to do, given how long their resentment has been simmering? No doubt their personal staff at least helped to carry out so much vandalism in so short a time.

And soon if not already, the rest of the court will know that two of their own have rallied against me.

I have to dosomething.

I dip my head to Evando. “I appreciate all the work going into cleaning the room as quickly as possible. Let’s not waste much manpower trying to track the culprits down when we can be reasonably sure they’ve gone to Valerisse.” I shift my attention to my guards. “I believe it should be time for breakfast?”

As they escort me to the dining room, the clot of curiousnobles follows behind us. I walk straight in and take my place at the head table.

Counsel Etta catches my gaze from farther down the table and tips her head with a somber expression. No doubt I have a long meeting with my advisors to look forward to this morning.

There may be no princes I can turn to for comfort today, but at least Bianca is nearby, a few seats down from mine. The tightness of her smile tells me she’s aware of the latest attack on my rule.

No one’s taken the seat right next to me yet. I’m allowed some control over the table arrangements, aren’t I?

I beckon her closer. She blinks at me with a hesitation I didn’t expect, but then gets to her feet and glides over.

As she takes her new seat, I stay standing by my high chair, watching the tables fill up with my court. When the last few stragglers have entered, I clear my throat. The guards poised behind me stomp their feet to emphasize my call for attention.

The entire room goes silent.

I lift my voice, keeping it calm and steady. “I want to say a few words before we enjoy our breakfast. How sad is it that someone among us took out their grievances on this treasured palace that’s held the imperial family and its court for many generations, rather than expressing their concerns to me directly? I hope if any of you have matters you’d like to discuss, you’ll do so and let me address the issue rather than acting out.”

With that, I sit down and accept the plate a server sets in front of me.

I’ll need to be even more careful what tone I set over the next few days, but I think that was a good start. Framing their peers’ actions as a childish temper tantrum rather than alegitimate act of protest should diffuse some of the power of the display.

A buzz of conversation rises around me. It’s hard to concentrate on any strand of it when my thoughts are still whirling in my head.

Bianca lets out a quiet huff. “Idiots, the both of them. Sabrelle isn’t the only godlen who watches over the imperial family anyway. I’d say Creaden would be proud of how much you’ve built here, as much as I know of him.”

My lips twitch with half a smile. Something in her words niggles at me, like a spark gusted out before I can see what it’s lighting. If I looked at it in the right way…

I can’t quite put my finger on it when my mind is already so cluttered.

I speak wryly instead. “At least I’ve never known you to have much interest in painting.”

I mean the remark as a joke, but Bianca’s expression twitches.

“Indeed not,” she says hastily. “And certainly not anything so garish as well.”

She pauses, looking down at her plate with her forehead so furrowed I start to worry she thinks I was actually accusing her of plotting treason. When she speaks again, it’s in a softer tone. “I’m glad we know each other so well. To be honest, you’re the only person in court I’ve ever felt I could trust. I can’t imagine wanting to give up something so priceless. You can always count on my support, however I can best offer it.”

“I know that,” I assure her, with a pang through my chest.

How much have I done to supporther? Surely there’s more Bianca would want out of the rest of her life than tagging at my heels? I believe the words she just said to me, but she’s also seemed out of sorts these past few weeks.

Perhaps there’s more I should do for my friend, as she’sdone for me. When I have a break from godlen-driven traitors to focus on that problem too.

After breakfast, the court heads out to the gardens, but I veer up the stairs toward the imperial quarters instead. “I’m going to meditate briefly with my godlen and clear my head,” I tell my guards, and ask a page we pass to have the nursemaid bring Coraya to me.

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