The banquet is grand as befits someone of the calibre of the late Empress Grandmother. There are many types of food on the table and both white and red wine.

I sip water, not to endanger Lavinia through my milk. And to keep my head clear.

Alexander is on my right. Then, there's the Princess and his majesty. On the Emperor's right, the Dowager Empress.

On my left, there are a few empty places.

No one is in the mood to talk, for a reason or the other, at our table. The rest of the hall is quite chatty. They don't seem to care about the situation, and it's not that surprising for a funeral.

After all, the family and closest friend mourn, but the rest... They're not that touched, and it's not bad that it works like this. It wouldn't be good if every funeral was full of sadness and silence. People need distractions.

«Thea, are you all right?» Alexander asks, squeezing my hand on the table.

«Like usual,» I murmur. I haven't eaten much, and I'm not hungry.

Even the Dowager Empress isn't attacking me, so I don't have any need for energy right now.

Once finished the meal, told the final prayers, his majesty gets up from his seat. The hall falls in silence in a matter of seconds.

«Her majesty, the Empress Grandmother will leave a void in our hearts,» he states, visibly unaffected by his words.

The court is shaken by a few whispers, but silence rules again after a few moments of concern.

«But she left us to fulfil her last will before moving on with our lives...»

Other wills? The Empress must have been busy then.

«One of her desires was to bestow a title over her first great-grandchild. It so happens that she could witness her great-granddaughter with her own eyes, and it's only fair to reward the child for bringing so much joy to an elder's last days.»

What? My daughter?

«So, from this day, Archduke Kyre's first daughter will be bestowed for life the title of Princess Saffron. The title won't be passed down, and it won't be linked to her parents either.»

My daughter, a Princess? Now, I wasn't expecting this.

«Lavinia, Princess of Saffron?» I spell in a whisper.

It does sound good. She'll have two names to choose from.

Oh, three. Alexander won't stop calling her Vinnie.

When I glance at my husband, I find him as surprised as me. He didn't know about this either.

«We're parents of a princess, now,» I murmur, smiling when he turns to me.

«I didn't know my grandmother was so attached to me,» he comments. «Have you done something?»

«Oh, not at all. And it's not for you. It's for Lavinia, remember? You won't be able to give her a more resounding name even if you wanted.»

«Don't hurt my pride like this, wife.»

«We're still at a funeral,» I remind him, and he leans back on his chair and smiles at his majesty.

«I'd also take the chance to officially announce the birth of my first niece,» the Emperor declares. «It's a mourning day, but we shouldn't forget that life is like this. Some are born while others leave us.»

We can't toast now since it's a funeral. Ah, what do these people have in their mind?

«Her chosen name is Lavinia,» his majesty continues. «And, from this moment on, she'll have a place in my court right next to my cousin.»

Princess Lyland nods, happy to hear the news.

«I invite you to congratulate the Archduke and Archduchess another day, though. I've already prepared my gift for the baby, but this sad circumstance prevented me from delivering it. I suggest we have a celebration in a month or two, the time this sadness lets us continue our normal lives.»

A month or two? So, we're not going back to Kyre after shortlisting the ladies for the selection?

My timid smile hides my murderous thoughts, and I sip some water imagining it's blood. Why does this Emperor always have to order us to attend his wild parties?

«It will be time for the Autumn Hunt in a couple of weeks,» he remembers, all of a sudden.

No, my husband isn't going to hunt wolves for you this year.

I clench the armrests and prepare an emergency speech in case his majesty has the same trick up his sleeve.

One poisonous party every year is enough.

«It won't be as grand as last year,» he sighs. «Due to many reasons.»

Grander than a wedding is a bit tough for a hunt.

«That's why the price won't be as rich. But we'll have several guests from other countries. I hope you won't be impolite to the young ladies. Most of them are experimenting their first journey abroad.»

Oh, that's what he's planning.

Fine. Awesome! My hubby will be safe, looking after Lavinia, while I assess the candidates.

«You all might have heard about it, but there will be an official selection to choose an Empress for Ethiro. Any of those ladies could rule one day, so be careful who you offend,» he continues. «The rules of the selection shall remain confidential, but the names of the ladies will soon be announced to the court. The debutantes of this year are in the list, as well as those of last year if I'm correct.»

He turns to me and waits for a nod before continuing.

Well, goodbye to my secret identity once more.

«We'll use the Autumn Hunt as a chance to get to know the ladies,» he continues. «It won't be used as a parameter to judge their capabilities, so please refrain from overstressing them.»

Is it a warning for the young noblemen or me? Whatever, I wouldn't be doing my job right if I didn't stress the ladies.

«You might be wondering why there are so many announcements one after the other,» his majesty says, swiping his gaze over the hall. «I will retire for a week, and I'll spend the rest of this mourning period without public appearances. The next occasion will be cheerful, hopefully.»

Oh, royal absence for a week? That might become chaotic.

I better find a way to protect Lavinia from wild beasts.

Alexander doesn't seem surprised or concerned, so I guess he'll stay nearby for this period. I'm not sure I can manage to last a week without him in a savage environment.

Especially after seeing the Dowager Empress's shining gaze. She glanced at me only once, but she showed me her grin at that moment.

«It will be all right,» Alexander murmurs.

Princess Lyland is sitting in her place with her back straight, eating as if nothing is happening. Oh, well, for her, it isn't. She's been in the Palace for so long that these small events don't trouble her anymore.

Will she stay nearby until his majesty comes back from seclusion?

I hope so. Even if she's just a child, her presence is comforting. And her name is enough to scare away any dumb insect flying in my direction.

Now, when I look at the hall, I don't see refined noblemen anymore. All I can see is a bunch of wolves waiting for the right moment to seize some power. Is it all a bait to lure out those from the rebel faction?

If that's the case, then I shouldn't worry so much. There must be a plan to cover any possibility.

Pericle walks through the lateral door, reaching our table. He stops a couple of steps from us, not daring to come closer to his majesty.

Half a step more, and the royal guards would have intervened.

Alexander gets up and goes to him. They whisper for a while, and my husband comes back with a dark face.

I knew it. It couldn't pass like a peaceful event. They don't stop even in the face of death.

«We have a bit of a situation,» he comments. Princess Lyland hears his words and nods.

She can't leave just like this, not without a good excuse. Her place is next to the Emperor and will be as long as he wants her there.

«Your majesty, my wife and I would like to leave,» Alexander says, a bit louder. Not enough to make everyone hear, but a few heads still turn.

«Already, Archduke?»

«We have a daughter to tend to. But we will tell her about the news. I'm sure she'll be happy in her heart.»

«I'm looking forward to seeing my niece,» he comments.

«It will come the day, for sure,» Alexander chuckles, grinning proudly.

Hey, it's time to go! Not praise your daughter in front of everyone.

I tug his sleeve, and he wakes up from his fatherly daze.

«Might we leave?»

«You may,» his majesty says, nodding his head.

Alexander and I get up. My husband bows his back, and I remember to curtsey. This tension made me forget my manners for a moment.

Then, we head out to look for our daughter. Since Pericle and Alexander are calm, she should be all right.

But I won't stop worrying until I see her.