Tōru noted that Kristoph had quietly doubled the guard around Alexia’s inner palace, and Kristoph himself opened the door to Alexia’s private suite. “Will she see me?” Tōru asked.

Kristoph’s answer was to stand aside and let Tōru in.

Alexia was on the balcony off her parlor. She stood at the railing, looking out over the gardens below, her back to Tōru. Tōru quietly knelt and waited.

After a time, Alexia said, “That position doesn’t suit you, my friend.”

“I didn’t wish to interrupt.”

She waved a beckoning hand and Tōru joined her on the balcony. The night was silent and still, as though the wind and the birds and the palace itself were in mourning. Which, given the Emperor’s connection to the world around her, was possible.

“I held Audra’s hand while she gave birth to Naveen,” Alexia said. “Tariq and I played chase together in my grandfather’s court. Audra promised she was going to take me around to all the hot springs at this coming Shadow Court.”

There was nothing for Tōru to say, and so he said nothing.

“When I was still just the heir, Tariq and I used to sneak away in the middle of the night to go riding. That was back when Suri Jarod was Lord Marshal. It used to drive him crazy. He’d try to put guards on both of us, but we always found a way to sneak off.”

“I’m surprised you didn’t give him a heart attack. If ever there was a man more uptight that Roderich…”

Alexia gave him a weak smile that quickly faded. “I’m not old enough for this. I’m not old enough to be nostalgic, to have to mourn my lost friends.”

“Would that it worked like that.”

Tōru studied her. His emperor. His friend. She would be feeling responsible, as she did for everything that happened in the empire. It was an extra burden she didn’t need right now. “Given the level of demon activity this interval, a disaster was inevitable. The true surprise is that it took this long.”

Alexia raised an eyebrow. “Is that supposed to be a comfort?”

“It is a fact. The Wolves have done exceptional work in unprecedented circumstances. This was not an issue of negligence. There was nothing more anyone could have done to prevent this.”

“Wasn’t there?” Her voice took on that distant, defeated tone. “The Griffon fought so hard against Wolf escorts, and I stood by and allowed it. I prioritized the politics, not…” She closed her eyes; her knuckles whitened as she gripped the rail harder.

Tōru said nothing, giving her the moment she needed. All the while thinking—yes, the Griffon did fight hard against Wolf escorts. And now this.

It wouldn’t do to speak his suspicions to Alexia. Not at this moment. She had enough on her mind, and he didn’t want to add to her burden of guilt without proof. Still…

After he had offered what remaining comfort he could, he returned to his office, where Shō waited. “I need to speak with Danillo. I need to know if it’s possible to create this sort of disaster.”

Shō nodded, making a note. “If we are to investigate this, might I suggest that, in this matter, we should be able to trust Oshiro Hamilton?”

It would be an opportunity to watch Hamilton’s work first-hand. And an assignment that Hamilton would be grateful for. Tōru nodded permission and Shō made their quiet exit to put things in motion.