«My wife and I,» Alexander says. With those few words, he reminds everyone of our link.

We are married, and nothing that has been brought up is illegal between husband and wife.

Don't all couples like to experiment, from time to time?

I was so embarrassed that my mind was clouded for a whole minute, but those the Empress used to hit me aren't valuable accusations. What if I tie my husband, and if he ties me?

It's our own, private thing.

No one has the right to meddle into our bed duties and check whether we're doing it properly. Especially since we are having children and continuing the line of Kyre's.

Regarding the letter, that can be solved easily as well. The Empress doesn't know what's written. Once decoded, the Emperor will understand what kind of husband I cope with every day.

There are some harsh comments in there, but nothing that can be considered treacherous. Alexander told me his opinion about Count Grahm's work. The only critique to his majesty was that he sent Alexander far from me.

That can be pardoned, can't it?

«Now,» Alexander continues. «Do I have permission to clean the room?»

«Not yet,» the Empress rebukes.

Her face is red, but not for embarrassment. She's been in this game for too long. She's furious.

«The Archduchess colluded with Asteria! I have the proof,» she declares. «This isn't something you can explain, dear Archduchess. You even involved your husband in this.»

She walks to the Emperor with her back straight, and she sighs with more emphasis than necessary.

«I'm afraid our only hope to save the Empire is to execute them both. The spell this witch threw reached the Archduke's heart. There's no other way to save him. But we can at least have mercy on his soul and stop him before he stains it with a grave sin...»

This bitch. She's trying to kill my husband the same way she used to kill his parents. But the Emperor in front of her isn't poisoned to madness.

And I have evidence of my own. Or at least, something that resembles evidence.

«Your majesty, may I talk?» I say out loud. «There is something that everyone ought to know!»

«What is it, Archduchess?» his majesty sighs.

He doesn't know how much of this was an incident and how much provoked by me, and whether I'm keeping control.

It's a confusing position, his own. But I already knew he wouldn't intercede to help me when I started. Not unless he sees the chance to get rid of his principal enemy.

«My husband's parents were accused of treason. And now, the same person that incited his majesty, the late Emperor, to execute the Lord of Kyre... That same person is trying the same schema again. Isn't it such a coincidence?»

«The coincidence is that two generations rebelled against the throne,» the Empress points out. «Isn't it a sign to get rid of the Archduchy? Influential nobles, so close to the line of succession... It will only bring chaos in the future.»

«On the contrary, Kyre is the only part of this Empire that is at peace. Even the barbarian stopped attacking when my husband took control of his own lands. The only incident happened when someone else was administering the border. Is there any other inch of Ethiro that is as stable as Kyre?»

Everywhere one looks, there are problems to settle and potential rebellions and war fronts. Thankfully, some of them are a consequence of this harpy's plots.

She lost control quite a few times, causing incidents that can't be overlooked. Too bad no one dared to investigate, or her name would have been brought up sooner.

«The few parts of this Empire that aren't causing problems, right now, are those that the Archduke took care of. Indeed, you're right,» the Emperor admits. «I can't myself believe the accusations, mother. Where are the proofs you mention?»

«First of all, the Archduchess broke the law and visited her birth city regardless of her exile. The Archduke helped her: he's an accomplice.»

«Proofs?» his majesty repeats, losing patience.

«On the way from Polis, they used a carriage that was attacked by bandits in the woods. It's on the other side with respect to Kyre. Why would they pass through there?» the Empress starts. «But on that same side, a few days of journey further, there's Polis.»

«Is that the only proof you have?» I murmur, crossing my arms.

Alexander was careful. He kept our identities secret as much as possible, and his men took care of erasing all traces from Polis.

The first time we used our name was with Viscount Prothus. It's there that the letter was found, the incriminating letter for my grandfather.

No surprise, the Empress connected the dots. She wouldn't have caught the missive if I wasn't there when the guards arrived.

«Polis is... how much? A week of travel from there?» I point out.

«Two weeks, wife. It's not possible to be faster with a carriage,» Alexander corrects me.

«Oh,» I moan. «That much?»

I widen my eyes, feigning surprise.

Of course, I do know how much it took us. But these people will now be more inclined to believe I don't. This isn't proof, but they'll subconsciously give some weight to my reaction.

Alexander nods, and I turn back to the Emperor.

This isn't all, is it?

«What were you doing there?» he asks, shaking his head in disbelief.

«It's a place where I spent some time in my youth. I wanted to show it to my wife,» Alexander explains. «It's one of my achievements, after all.»

«And you prolonged your journey and brought your pregnant wife there to show her that?»

«Yes, your majesty.»

«Well, a man's pride is indeed unpredictable,» the Emperor murmurs, rolling his eyes.

He knows the truth. There's no way he hasn't figured it out. But that part will remain a secret among us three.

«So, the Dowager Empress isn't wrong on this,» he adds. «She just misinterpreted your motives and movements.»

I nod, smiling politely to hide my annoyance.

It's almost over. The fatal blow will come soon.

«What about the exchanges with Asteria? The Palace's servants are loyal to their duties, and they caught plenty of messages between the Archduchess and the Ambassador.»

And every single one of them is fake. I didn't send messages to my uncle.

«I also have something to say regarding this,» Alexander adds. «And I have witnesses in my favour too.»

«We'll hear everyone, Archduke,» the Emperor says.

The mistake of eleven years ago won't be repeated. No one will execute the Lord of Kyre just because this harpy wants it. She didn't have proof back then.

But now, she needed to forge plenty to convince his majesty.

«Here you are,» the Empress declares, delivering a stack of papers and small messages.

In there, a rebellion must be planned.

«Is there anything else before proceeding?»

«I am good,» the Empress replies. «Delivering the witch to justice, I upheld my duty and rested my heart in peace.»

She walks behind the Emperor and stands there, proud and mighty.

All done? Just this?

I can just prove those messages are not original, and my job is done. No one will ever again believe a single word of this witch. But that's too little of a punishment.

She needs to pay for her sins.

«These are pretty convincing. And some of the messages reflect the events... Seems like you were plotting, Archduchess,» the Emperor murmurs. «All those encounters with Lorene Zolokis as well... They were the fruit of your information. I didn't ask you to help Ethiro just so you could place your cousin on the throne.»

«In fact, that never happened, your majesty. If I wanted my cousin on the throne so badly, she wouldn't have been crossed from the shortlist as a first thing. I would have argued to have her back in the selection.»

«You might have failed.»

«Let's hear what the officers have to say,» the Empress murmurs.

She nods her head, and her proxy in the council starts telling how fierce my defence was for Lorene. I tried everything but couldn't bring her back on the shortlist... I even threatened that poor officer to help me.

«There were eight of us in the council, including my aide and I,» I point out. «Where are the other five?»

I can't ask Duchess Prim, said aide, to witness in my favour and be exposed to danger. And her word wouldn't weigh much given that she was working for me. But the other officers won't lie just like that.

Where are they?

«What a coincidence. Only one out of six is here,» I sigh. «And it happens it's the first one not minding to expose the council's inner deliberies to the whole court.»

I shake my head, displeased.

«It was supposed to be a state secret, yet someone is exposing details... False information, at that. I can't accept being judged on this one's basis.»

Among the others, there should be someone brave enough to tell the truth. Not just my own proxy, but the other officers too. They were doing their best for the Empire, and they won't accept to see it fall because of the Dowager Empress aiming at the throne.