Chapter 22
AIMILIA
Aimilia slipped through the door, waiting until it shut behind her before hurrying down the hall, cups rattling slightly until she found the spot. She hadn’t used it since the day she’d sedated the king, but she would never forget its location.
She set the tray on the ground, casting a quick illusion to hide it and as long as no one kicked it, they’d never know it was there.
Her hands flew in a new rune and she pressed them against the marble.
The runes were the key to the hidden lock and the marble shifted slightly, parting just enough to reveal a tiny, narrow passageway.
Aimilia slid inside, using the same runes to close the passage behind her as she started making her way down the hallway and back to the king’s suite.
She could hear the murmur of voices as she approached and she took care to soften her footsteps and breathing as she came to the end of the passageway.
Gavril had told her it had originally been built in case any intruders reached the king’s suite, a place for the king and queen to hide or escape. Only the royal family knew the runes necessary to enter and exit, until Gavril had taught her.
It was the perfect way for a woman to slip in and pour a sedative tea into the king’s nightly wine without being seen.
Gavril had told her that in order to ensure the king was the only one in the room, there was a loose stone she could remove to see through. As long as she was careful to cast an illusion beforehand, no one would notice it vanishing.
So Aimilia knelt on the ground and watched as much of the room as she could see through it.
She could see Nikias was still in his seat, but only barely. All she could see was his arm on the chair’s arm. Clelia was at the door, sending a servant to bring them dinner there. She could see the back of Nero’s head where he sat lounging on the sofa.
Once the door was shut, Nikias’ arm shifted slightly while Clelia’s feet echoed loudly as the only sound in the room.
As she returned, Nikias cleared his throat. “I was… Right, the current timeframe is a month to get the stadium back in working order. That ought to give enough time for the novices to recover—”
Nero clearing his throat silenced Nikias.
Then Clelia spoke. “What do you think you’re doing?”
A chill went down Aimilia’s spine. Even his mother who adored him was furious with him.
Just what had the two of them wanted with her that he’d ruined?
“You invited the woman I intend on marrying and tried to hide it from me. Of course I came. Anything you want with her, you will do in front of me.”
“You can intend all you like, son, but she has made herself clear and made a laughingstock of you. She will not marry you,” Clelia snapped.
“What are you?” Nero’s voice, stronger than she had ever heard it before cut through the air.
Nikias’ voice was weaker than Aimilia had ever heard it before. “Your son.”
A knock on the door interrupted them. Clelia rose again, snapping her fingers at Nikias. “Help your father to his bed.”
Aimilia didn’t fully understand why as Nikias and Nero came into her view.
Nero looked better than he had even at his appearance at the exams. But Nikias still had an arm around his back and let his father use him as support as he walked him back to his bed while Clelia sent the servant at the door away and brought in the tray herself.
As soon as Nero was settled, Nikias practically sprinted away toward the window where the curtains were drawn shut.
Clelia set the tray up for Nero before stepping back, hands clasped together.
Why did they only have one tray? Aimilia imagined Nikias wasn’t actually all that interested in eating, but Clelia had made it sound like they would all at least be forced to go through the appearance of dinner.
“Tell me, son, you’ve had more than enough time,” Nero said. “Why has there been no arrest of those who attacked your king?”
Aimilia’s breath caught in her throat. Had they figured it out?
Nikias stared at the curtains like he could see through them.
“I suspect it was a group of Stonai Elemens, given the nature of the attack and after an inspection of the tunnels dug under the stadium. More tunnels were found in Areator and the scholars’ consensus is that it was the work of the Stonai.
Unfortunately, they were all blocked off by the time we found them this morning, so the Stonai who created them and who set off the collapse have escaped. ”
Aimilia pressed her hand to her mouth to muffle her soft exhale. Queen Clelia wasn’t thinking about any poison at all right now.
Nero’s voice cut through the air. “You let the savages who tried to kill your king escape?”
Nikias bowed his head, hands clenching into his arms.
Aimilia bit her tongue. If the Stonai had just wanted Nero dead, there were much easier ways to go about it. But all Nero could see was the end of his own nose.
“I apologize for my failure.” Nikias’ voice was completely devoid of emotion. “I won’t let it happen again.”
“Why didn’t you catch the culprits while they were in the vicinity?”
“The novices—” Nikias turned, but whatever he saw on his father’s face silenced him. Aimilia couldn’t see Nero anymore with the headboard in the way. “It was an oversight on my part. I prioritized incorrectly and due to my poor judgment, the Stonai escaped. Forgive me.”
If Aimilia could hear just how insincere and fake each word out of Nikias’ mouth was, surely his parents did as well.
“How do you plan to rectify your errors?”
Nikias took a deep breath. “If the Stonai managed to get to Areator, it means they came through the clan mages’ lands. I was already sending Gavril and Marcella to gather information, but now I will be going with them to personally investigate this matter.”
Aimilia had the sneaking suspicion she would be going as well. Which she wasn’t complaining about, but Nikias was going to willingly see Hypatia?
Clelia inhaled sharply. “Absolutely not! The last thing we need is to send you farther away and into danger.”
“The clan mages are bound by our treaty. I’ll be in no danger.”
“And if the Stonai target you? What if this was just an attempt to draw you out? The Sordes using the Stonai to do their dirty work to kill the only heir to the throne. The Mitis brat has had her chance. It is time for you to find someone else and marry now.”
She knew the last thing they wanted was for Gavril to take the throne, but to act like he didn’t even exist?
“Mother—”
“Do you know what people are saying about you? She has made you a laughingstock—the things the court are saying about you—and yet you continue to humiliate yourself by being seen in her presence. I cannot fathom why. The only thing she has to recommend herself is her skill in magic, which is substantial, I’ll admit.
But that might make her a good commander, not a good wife. ”
Clelia’s words cut through Aimilia even though she also didn’t understand why Nikias was so determined to win her.
“That is not—”
“Aimilia is not half as beautiful as Faustina was, so her looks cannot have bewitched you, nor her personality considering how different the two are.” Nikias’ jaw clenched at Faustina’s name.
The queen wasn’t saying anything Aimilia hadn’t heard or thought before, but why did it hurt so?
She didn’t want to be worthy of Nikias. She didn’t want to marry him, so why would it matter that there was no world in which he found her beautiful or liked her personality after he’d had everything he could ever want in another woman?
Aimilia wasn’t Faustina. She never could be.
Clelia continued, “She—”
“That is enough!” Nikias’ voice tore through the air as he stepped away from the window and glared at his mother.
“Aimilia is worth far more than just her skill as a commander. I have not selected her lightly. I am not concerned with gossip or what anyone else thinks about her beauty or personality. Her beauty is more than enough for me, and her personality well suited to mine. She is worth your respect, whether she accepts my hand or not. Which she will.”
Aimilia wrapped an arm around her stomach. She didn’t know what to focus on. All the ways she was second best to Faustina, the fact that Nikias was defending her to his parents, or that he was certain she’d accept him.
More than enough.
What was that supposed to mean?
“When? When will she? You should have married the second you returned. You need an heir, and yesterday. Of course if Faustina had given you one, then this wouldn’t even be a discussion!”
Nikias said, “Even if I get married today and got said wife pregnant today, there would still be nine months of waiting and hoping she carries to term. Nine months I’ll still be having to deal with our current situation. My marriage is irrelevant.”
Nero spoke again, “Son. Are you backing out of our deal?”
“Not at all. I will remarry.”
“But the girl will not have you, and you do not seem to be in any hurry to fulfill your end, so until you do, I will not fulfill mine. The boy and his she-wolf will not set foot in Areator until it is to attend your wedding.”
Nikias moved toward the bed while Aimilia sat back on her heels.
This whole time… Oh. This made so much more sense. Nikias would only remarry if his hand was forced. He was doing it to keep Gavril around. And who, other than her, would do anything for Gavril?
But why hadn’t Nikias told her?
“Father, I just need more time—”
Clelia scoffed, halting Nikias in his tracks as he shot her a pointed look.
King Nero said, “Do you know why I had her brought before me today?”
“No.”
“I wanted to see what was so special about her that you insist on embarrassing yourself and the crown by continuing this pursuit.” Nero straightened up, lifting his glass to his lips and taking another sip. “Come here, son.”
Nikias didn’t move. He just stared at his father, taking slow deep breaths while Clelia took a step back.
“Son.”