After Alexander's departure, we live a few days of peace.

After all, we deserve it after all this hard work!

The Princess starts to relax, seeing that the enemies won't fly here to kill me as soon as my husband left. Her visits stay frequent, and she always has something to talk about. But she's not nervous and wary.

It's good, as living in fear isn't healthy for anyone.

More than a week has passed, and the Princess invites me to have tea with her and her friends. They're all young, unmarried girls, but they meet in the gardens. I don't need to walk far.

I'm not required to talk too much, and the girls are used to my silences. I just follow the conversation half-heartedly while playing cards.

In the end, it wasn't all an excuse of my Duke to get me out of clothes. Noblewomen play cards for real, but only when they're alone and in a casual atmosphere. And they do not bid with pieces of clothes but money or accessories.

I have to admit that playing in a group is way more fun than just in two. The possibilities are so much more! I managed to lose a precious hairpin, but no big deal. I can't win too often, or people won't like playing with me anymore.

This ladies-only afternoon is interrupted by a male servant that announces an unexpected guest.

«His majesty, the Sun of the Empire, the Emperor, is here to visit her highness, Princess Lyland, and her friends.»

His voice is steady and spreads in the gardens almost as clear as in the throne hall.

The Emperor walks in a minute later, the royal guards behind him together with an army of maids and servants. Not to mention his counsellors and some nobles that serve him.

All the ladies at the table get up, so I'm forced to do so. We curtsey, greeting his majesty with our silence.

«We're glad to have you here, your majesty,» the Princess says with a cold, insincere tone.

«It turns out I have to walk till here to meet my dear cousin,» the Emperor replies.

And here I thought she just stuck with me because of the pregnancy. It seems the two cousins are at odds, as of recently.

«I would have prepared for such an event, your majesty, if only I was noticed beforehand.»

«I decided a few minutes ago. I came here on a whim; I hope it's not a bother...»

«How could a visit from your majesty be considered a bother?»

The Princess nods her head, and the ladies disperse after greeting both the royals with a curtsey. Should I do the same? I wasn't asked out loud, and I am not to be commanded by a lazy gesture.

«Please, sit Duchess Kyre,» the Emperor says, resolving the doubt for me. «You shouldn't be bothered to get up, in your state.»

I follow his suggestion, now wondering whether I should have left when I had time. Gesture or not, I would be relaxing on a bench or in my chamber if I took the right decision.

«Won't you visit the court, Martia?» the Emperor asks, dropping the honorifics as soon as he's seated. His delegation is a few steps from us, pretending not to be listening to the conversation.

«I'm busy,» the Princess replies. «As you see, I had a table surrounded by my friends. Is there a reason for his majesty to interrupt the tea party? What could be so urgent?»

Ouch, she's merciless. Talking like this to the most powerful man on the continent.

«Boredom, I guess. And nostalgia.»

«I can't return to court until I've fulfilled my promise to my brother,» the girl shrugs, rolling her eyes. «Your majesty, I can't abandon my sister in law and the baby to be born until Duke Kyre comes back.»

«I need your help, Martia,» the Emperor whispers, leaning forward. His elbows are on the table, his eyes are solemn and focused.

I ask myself again: why am I here? This sounds like a private conversation; do they need me as a witness?

«There will be a foreign delegation from Myrya, and they want to meet with you...»

«I already said what I had to. I'm not marrying out of Ethiro. I prefer to stay single for life,» she whispers back, her lips tightened in a stern line. «I won't accept anything in return. What need do I have for titles and riches in a place where they don't count anything?»

«I haven't asked you that, for the gods' sake! All I want is for you to greet and spend the day with the delegation!»

«For what purpose? I know they've been trying to establish an alliance with us for ages. Having the only imperial Princess as their Queen will make them believe... Ah, I don't even know!»

Oh, from what I remember of the dreams, the only thing that silent girl wished for was to stay in Kyre. With the different situation in this life, she is satisfied with the promise of staying in Ethiro. And I'm sure Alexander made such a promise.

«Duchess, can you explain to the Princess how things work in the world?» the Emperor says, turning to me all of a sudden. «One is required to follow the duties of their role.»

I turn my head abruptly, a bit surprised that my opinion counts. Oh, well, this Emperor here is expecting me to follow his wishes just like this?

It took the Lord of Kyre several months to tame this Duchess; what makes him think he has a chance in the world? Just the symbols he's been entrusted with and the repeated doctrine that an Emperor has the right to decide what one shall think or say.

There is much work to do here. Not having received a proper education during his younger years, the Emperor is easy to convince about what is good for his country and what is not.

Yet, he has to trust his advisors completely, lacking the knowledge a ruler shall embody. All he can do is find capable people, able to give him different views on the same problem.

I have to admit he's trying his best to find all kinds of counsellors, including a merciless second-in-line cousin and a fallen queen.

And he doesn't need someone that will mindlessly nod at his every word.

«I can't imagine the Empire without her highness,» I say. «It would be a loss for all of us if she were to marry someone from outside. And it would be a waste to send her to a kingdom as small and meaningless as Myrya.»

It's shameless from my side to state that Myrya isn't relevant, given that the place where I come from has less than half the population and a fifth of the territorial extension.

The Princess smiles at me, content that someone is defending her. If Alexander was here, there wouldn't be even talks of marriage. Hence, I can't let her be traded like this.

Don't they have other girls for this purpose? Like the second Grahm girl, for example...

«Ah,» the Emperor scoffs. He leans back on the chair with the same expression I've seen on Alexander when something doesn't go the way he wants. «All right... I will start from the beginning...»

He scratches his head and chooses the words from scratch.

«Martia, will you help me by meeting the ambassador for Myrya? The King asked us to lower border customs to let our countries exchange the kind of goods each lacks.»

«I'm not qualified for such a task, your majesty,» the Princess replies.

«You're more than qualified. Also, think about it: would a kingdom like theirs look forward to a queen that stands her ground for Ethiro? Such a fierce woman wouldn't be accepted by the court... It would make them change their mind if they have that intention. Even though they never did say nor make me understand they wanted such a deal.»

«I won't go. I'll run away and live in the woods if you sell me off,» the Princess adds, crossing her arms.

«It won't happen. I couldn't survive your brother's fury if I did something like that.»

Oh, I agree.

«So, no wedding or engagement of any sort.»

«That's right.»

«Then, I can help,» the Princess replies, moving a lock of hair behind her ear.

I hide a silent chuckle and look to the side. It's difficult to believe that the Emperor would send his favourite cousin and the only person in the continent that doesn't want him ill away.

«I'm also here to explain to Duchess Kyre how justice can be slow, but it always reaches the culprits...»

Is this a threat?

«If you want to hear me out, of course.»

«I'm listening, your majesty.»

He observes the Princess's attentive gaze, and he then turns to the servants and advisors following him everywhere.

«Do you mind if we take a stroll in the gardens, Duchess?»