Page 74 of Alien Prince's Fake Bride
“Isn’t there some unfortunate serving girl you can harass instead of Umbra?” I growl. “She’s had enough terrible experiences for one day. And you are completely wrong. If he were to denounce me, there would be no chaos. There would simply be a new heir apparent. Remind me, Nerox, who would that be?”
“Probably me,” he says cheerfully, “as the second oldest son of the Empress and the Emperor’s second oldest adopted son. But the armies of the Empire really wouldn’t like that, as the Emperor well knows. He actually does care about the Empire, despite what it looks like. It’s just that he’s become too weak to rule it right. See you around, Umbra.” He gives my fake wife a grin, turns with a flourish of his cape, and saunters away.
“Silly brat,” I mutter after him. “Don’t worry, Umbra. The worst is over. We’re almost done here.” I go in to embrace her, and she hugs me back.
“I think the Emperor’s really sick,” she says. “Why is nobody helping him when he coughs?”
“Help him with what? There’s not much anyone can do. He’s dying, and he has banned doctors from doing anything when he’s in the throne room. It takes away from his dignity, he says. Anyway, let’s go to our home while we’re here.”
Three Calanians go in front of us, and three behind, as we make our way to the Baresiux tower and ascend in an elevator. Sending the elite Calanian Guards to escort us shows how seriously Imperial Security takes the assassination attempt. And yet I can’t help thinking that the more guards there are around us, the more likely one of them is a bad one who will try to kill us.
Caret’ax seems to have the same idea, because he follows us closely and keeps glaring at the Calanians.
“These purple ones are Calanian Guards,” I explain to Umbra as we walk. “Selected for their loyalty to the Emperor and their skills in combat. And their height, of course. They have all taken part in battles and done well. They are only responsible for the Emperor’s safety, expected to die to protect him, if necessary. It’s an honor that he’s sent them to guardus,as well.”
“I’m very honored,” Umbra says dutifully. “And I do feel safe.”
We reach the door to our apartment in the palace, and the guards open it.
I lead Umbra inside and tell the Calanians to stay out. Caret’ax can’t be kept out, so I let him do a quick sweep of the place.
Umbra walks over to the windows. “That’s amazing!”
I come up behind her and lay my arms around her shoulders. “One of the best views of our capital anywhere. I could stare at it forever.”
The white cityscape stretches out to the horizon and into the mist on each side, except straight ahead. There, Carelacca Bay shines in blue and turquoise, with the bright green gem that is Sleagun Island right in the middle. Beyond the island, the vast,shimmering expanse of the open ocean loses itself in the hazy, distant sky, a seamless blend of azure and pale light.
“It’s a big city,” Umbra says.
“A bigpalace,” I gently correct her.
“The palace is big, but so is the city.”
I gently squeeze her, enjoying the feeling of being close. “They’re one and the same. The city is the palace.”
“What? The wholecityis a palace?”
“It grew slowly, then fast until everything around it was part of the Emperor’s residence. Everything you see is the palace. In fairness, it does work much like a city would.”
She leans forwards to get a better look. “Everything I see? The bridges and the island and the ocean?”
“The bay is part of the palace. The bridges, too. It looks like a city, but it is all different parts of the palace. We call it the ‘city’ sometimes, but it all belongs to the Emperor. Those who live here rent from him or live here for free. Most of them work for the Imperial Government. With an empire as large as ours, it needs a lot of people to run it.”
She points up. “That’s a big tower. Is it for space traffic control?”
“That would be a natural use for it,” I agree, following her gaze. “It is the tallest tower on Khav. But it’s empty. It’s the Mad Emperor’s Needle, also called Aderianux’s Folly.”
Umbra cranes her neck to see the top of the slender tower that’s more than three times the height of any other tower in the palace. “The view from there must be incredible.”
“I think that was why it was built.” I point in another direction. “That thing over there is the real spaceport. See the bright lights?”
“It’s very beautiful,” Umbra says after I point out more landmarks. “The whole palace. It all looks both old and new and pristine.”
“It’s not pristine,” I chuckle. “There are some rough parts of this place, but you will never see them.” I bury my face in her hair. “You’ve done very well so far,” I whisper. “I do believe the Emperor likes you. But we are being watched everywhere. Even here. You must keep acting sweet and in love. It’s just for a couple of days. Laugh as if I said something naughty.”
Umbra laughs and squeals when I lightly pinch her. “You’re so crazy!”
“Sir, the apartment seems clean for now,” Caret’ax says, returning from his tour of the apartment. “There are no secret entrances that I can find. These windows are a weakness. I doubt they would stand up to a large explosion on the outside. Or to artillery fire. There are three bedrooms, and I recommend that you rotate through them without any particular pattern. I assume there is equipment for recording sounds and visuals. My scan shows none, but I don’t believe it. I will have these plants removed.” He points to a cluster of artfully arranged palm-like trees, about the same height as Umbra. “Their bark keeps changing color, depending on touch or pressure. Some listening devices work on that principle. But still I recommend to be aware that you are always being listened to and watched. Everywhere.”
