«What's the meaning of this?» the Empress repeats, this time almost neurotic.

«I have no clue, your majesty. I didn't know there have been changes,» a man replies. I recognise the voice.

It's one of the advisors. He did press some of the candidates with difficult questions while keeping others unoccupied, but that didn't influence the decision much.

The other counsellors are all experienced people. We didn't fall into such obvious manipulation.

«The last time I checked, the list was the same.»

«You're useless!» the Empress shouts.

And here we go. This harpy will now rail against her helper and blame him for her failure. Now that I know who he is, I can play another trick...

Will I even need a trick to trigger the harpy? She's so enraged that it's a surprise she doesn't attack on the spot.

«What should I do now, your majesty?» he squeals.

«Now? I made a fool of myself! Everyone believes I know nothing about the selection, now!» she shouts.

Well, it's not that everyone believes it. It's the truth.

«It's that slut, isn't it? She messed with the selection...» she murmurs while starting to bite her nails. The walls are so thin that I can hear that sound too.

Alexander leans on the cold bricks and lets me accommodate in his arms. We should be careful not to be heard and to move the least possible.

«I have to get rid of her. The sooner, the better.»

«Your majesty?»

«Listen. Find out other details of this new change. You can ask her directly, for what I care. She won't be able to fight back when I hit her this time... I can't even say anything about her bias towards the Asterian girl since the brat wasn't chosen.»

I know, right?

«She did it on purpose, didn't she?»

«Archduchess Kyre?» the advisor murmurs.

Are there other women in the council, for goodness?

«Who else?» the Empress spits out.

Alexander's arm, gently running my back, stops for a moment, and he looks up with a dark gaze.

Oh, he won't ruin all my plans just because of a few words said in a moment of fury. He won't, right?

Before he can even think of cracking the wall and getting out to kill everybody, I grab his face. My palms are on his cheeks.

I look him in the eye before landing my lips on his.

I can't kiss him properly because I would lose track of the rest of the conversation, but I can let him hold me like he always does. To this, I'm getting used.

«I need to know what she's planning,» the Empress declares, now calm and rational. «I need my place back.»

«Yes, your majesty. What should I do?»

«Approach her with an excuse and ask her for details. Report to me about the reasons for such a change. And, also, look for any weak points of that hag.»

«Your majesty, I am not sure the Archduchess is involved. She didn't press too much towards some of the girls on the list. And two of her favourites haven't been chosen.»

«It's a trap, you dumbass. What about Asteria? I wasn't counting on it, but the brat could have made the Ambassador lower his guard around me. Now, he doesn't have any reason to collaborate, with a niece a step from the throne.»

«The Archduchess didn't spend too many words for the girl from Asteria.»

«Hmm? Weird. I thought she would insist that Lorene wasn't chosen.»

«She didn't.»

I didn't need to. The council wasn't formed by idiots. They all know how difficult of a position ours would become if an Empress was chosen from Asteria.

«Then, contact the Ambassador. Tell him that I will get his niece back into the selection if he helps me out with a little thing.»

«I will, your majesty. However, if I might say, Asteria's delegation is a difficult ally to handle. It may be better to avoid getting involved with them.»

The Empress chuckles, amused by her underling's remark.

«Your orders are over; you can go,» she says.

A couple of steps bring the advisor far apart, but the Empress stays there for a few minutes more. Is she thinking? Planning? Cursing in her mind?

Alexander doesn't seem to have noticed that she's still here, and he sighs. He leans over and kisses me.

Instead of moving away from the wall, he presses me against it.

He roars in my ear, and I wonder if even such a low sound can be heard.

«Is there someone?» the Empress asks, looking around in search of the source of the noise.

I glare at Alexander. He could contain his instincts for a minute more, damn it!

Instead of bowing his head in shame, he grabs my bottom and squeezes hard. I try to pinch his arm as a protest, but a moan escapes my mouth.

He then grins before sticking his tongue in my mouth, making me groan a couple of times more.

Among all the situations we could be in, he chose to do something like this now? When there's our enemy listening on the other side of the wall?

The Empress seems to understand what's going on, and she snorts noisily before leaving.

«Shameless youth,» she murmurs.

Once alone, this time actually alone, I sigh and lean on Alexander's chest.

«You could wait some more,» I scold him, but I'm not that convincing. My voice isn't all that angry.

«Shall we get back?» he asks, his eyes happy and shining. «Wife?»

I nod, looking right and left, trying to remember where we came from.

I need a couple of moments to remember where to go. I hold his hand and guide him out of the cellar.

«How did you know she was going to meet her spy there?» Alexander inquires while we walk back to our wing. We use the servant passages all the way to avoid suspicious and sudden appearances.

«I have my own network of information,» I tell him. «I knew she meets someone here, but I couldn't be sure who. I suspected it was someone from the council. Or, at most, a servant working for us. Well, several servants.»

I paid attention that the maids overhearing our decisions were always different, to minimise the possibility of the Empress having complete access to the information through the servants.

She had to bribe more people in that scenario. Too bad that her spy was indeed someone from within.

«What are we going to do, now?» my husband continues. He's curious about my plan. I hope he will collaborate.

«I think you should talk with your faction,» I reveal.

«And say what?»

«Say not to attack the Emperor. Try converting them back to the loyalists' faction. After all, they're just a fragment of that one, original side. There's no real meaning in being split into two since you're serving the same master. You don't aim at the throne, do you?»

«No, I am not. I'm not suited to be Emperor.»

«Why so?» I chuckle. He's more than suited, in my eyes. He knows when to let things slide and when to take action. He's not cruel, and neither merciful.

«I would give in to my wife's desires,» he sighs. «That is the most undesirable quality for an Emperor.»

«But it is very desirable for an Archduke,» I reply with a pout. «Especially for my Archduke.»

«I'm glad you think so.»

«Do not stray from the topic, though. I'm trying to be serious, here»

«I don't want to be Emperor,» he declares, his tone serious and calm.

«Good,» I sigh. «It's easier this way.»

«Would you have talked me out if I wanted the throne, Thea?»

I blink, wondering if it's a test. Is he testing my loyalty or what? But most of all, my loyalty to whom?

«I think there are very few things I wouldn't help you get to,» I reply. «The throne is not among those.»

«So, we're on the same side regardless of the situation. I don't dislike being married.»

«It's not just marriage,» I point out. «It's less related to the official acts than to our private relationship. I love you, and I will help you no matter what. Especially if you're trying to do something good.»

«I will talk with my followers, and I'll report back to you as soon as possible. Are you happy about my obedience, wife?»

«Very happy,» I sigh.

«What will happen once we're all on the same side?»

«We'll kill a monster,» I murmur.

«Shall I bring my sword along?»

«No need, Alexander. I won't make use of your strength to get rid of our enemies.»

«All right. And when are you going to strike?»

«I don't decide. I'm not the one forcing the events. I'll react when they attack.»

He nods, his expression considering all the new information.

«Any more questions?» I ask, tilting my head alluringly.

«Just one more thing.»

«Yes?»

«What is it that you wouldn't help me with?» he asks, this time curious for real. He wants to hear it, doesn't he?

«A second wife,» I reply. «Or a third.»