Chapter 14
Fourteen
“Goodbye, Enforcer,” Juliette says as she practically shoves Brevan out of her room. “I’ve got it from here.”
“I’ll be right outside, Princess.” Brevan looks reluctant as he steps back into the hallway, but Juliette doesn’t care as she hurries to close the door.
As soon as we’re alone, she spins away from the entry and starts unlacing her dress as she walks. I linger by the door, brow furrowed.
A moment later, the silver fabric is in a puddle around her, and she steps out of the pile in her undergarments.
She pulls on her corset strings while walking toward her vanity, tossing it to the floor after it’s unlaced.
Then she grabs the robe from the wall and tugs it on.
“There’s another robe in the bathing chamber if you want out of that gown.
I swear to the gods my ladies lace me in so tight I can’t even walk normally. ”
“Thankfully, there’s no corset for me today,” I say.
She lets out a breath. “I think they want to punish me. Corsets every day. Something about trying to make me proper. Tell me, Sabina, how am I supposed to be proper when my boobs are spilling out of my dress?”
I cover my mouth to stifle a giggle. She has a point.
She walks over to the small table in front of the windows. The teapot, cups, and plates of sweets I saw in the kitchen are already waiting for us.
I follow her and sit in the chair across from her, and she pours us each a cup of tea. “So, how are you tolerating being in the same room as my cousin?”
“The prince?”
“Yes, that cousin. My most famous cousin, for sure. I do have another, but he’s only three. If he were older, I rather think Caiden would have had him killed because of his proximity to the throne. But lucky me, I’m just a woman so I’m not a threat.”
“He does seem to hate women,” I say.
“They all do. That’s why I’m here,” she says. “I scared away another suitor. My father is running out of options.”
“And how exactly have you managed that?” I ask.
She laughs. “Taking notes to see if they’ll send you back to Iskvaland?”
“I don’t think that’s an option,” I admit. “I’m just curious.”
“Well, they don’t like it when you bed their sisters, I’ll tell you that,” she says.
I can’t mask my surprise.
She takes a sip from her tea, then sets it down. “So here I am. To spend time with my cousin and my uncle and learn some manners. Really, I think it’s so when I return, my father can brag that I was with the emperor in order to convince some other idiot into marrying me for the illusion of power.”
“I’m sorry,” I say.
She shrugs. “You probably know what it’s like more than anyone I’ve ever met.”
I’m starting to understand it, even though I’m not actually a princess. “It’s not easy, is it?”
“No.”
“Can you marry someone who will let you be? Someone who just wants your title?” I ask.
“Is that how he convinced you to stay here?” she asks.
I take a sip of my tea so I don’t say something that might get me into trouble.
“They all say that, you know. That you can take lovers. That you can have your own freedom as long as you’re discreet. But they don’t really mean it. It never worked that way for my mother, at least.”
“Is your mother…?” I let the question fade. It’s not a polite thing to ask.
“Yes, she’s dead. Even her relation to the emperor couldn’t save her.”
“I’m sorry.” I bite down on my cheek to prevent myself from telling her that I also lost my mother. Sabina’s mother is still alive. My heart feels heavy when I realize there’s a mother who is without a daughter and she may never know. I hadn’t considered that part of this before.
Then another thought strikes me. “Wait, if you’re the emperor’s niece, does that mean your parents are also immortal? Are you immortal?”
She laughs. “I’m not immortal. And my mother was not the emperor’s sister.
Nobody in my family got immortality,” she bites out the last word.
“She’s his sister’s great-granddaughter.
Apparently, the emperor had a soft spot for his sister, so he’s considered her children and grandchildren to be his kin.
Calls us all niece and nephew. Sends us expensive gifts.
My father is more than happy to trade my life for luxury. ”
“That’s terrible.” I blurt.
She leans forward and pats my hand, then returns to her tea, wrapping her fingers around the cup. “I knew you’d understand. I think we’re going to be great friends.”
“I think so, too.” I smile at her, then take a sip of my tea.
“I hate that our friendship rests on your marriage to Caiden. Between us, I wouldn’t want that for anyone I like.” She bites into a small cake, then groans in appreciation. “At least there are some perks to our situation.” She pushes the plate toward me. “Nobody makes sweets like Elizabeth.”
I pick up one of the desserts but hold it for a moment while I consider her words. She’s going to be very helpful, even if she might not know about the magic that keeps the emperor alive. “What can you share with me about Caiden?”
She pops the rest of the cake into her mouth, then chews slowly before swallowing. “Aside from the fact that he’s even more power-hungry than his father?”
I nod encouragingly.
“He’s been spoiled and terrible since we were kids. They used to keep dogs here, you know. But they kept finding them dead. Caiden was testing his magic on them. Torturing them.”
My jaw drops, and I set my hand over my heart. “How could someone do such a thing?”
“He’s worse than his father. And I suspect that if the emperor wasn’t immortal, Caiden would have already found a way to obtain the crown for himself,” she says. “Be careful around him.”
I want to ask a hundred questions, but I don’t want to scare her away or reveal my hand. Yet, there’s something about her that makes me open up. “I think I’ve already pushed him more than I should.”
“You’re still alive, so you must be doing something right. You aren’t his first betrothed.”
“Really?”
Her brow furrows. “I thought you’d know. I heard your father required a blood oath saying that they’ll honor their agreement with him even if you end up dead… after what happened to the last woman.”
My fingers shake, and I quickly set the cake down, then tuck my hands on my lap to prevent her from seeing. If he’s got that oath, all his threats about killing me are valid. He really doesn’t need me. I am even less protected than I thought. “What happened to her?”
“He found her with another man,” she says. “I wasn’t here, but I heard he kept her alive for days while he tortured her.”
“Was it Brevan?” I ask, remembering the gossip from my ladies.
“Oh, no. It was my brother.”
“No.” I cover my mouth with my hand, then lower it. “I’m so sorry.”
“It was a long time ago. And he did me a favor. Since I’m a woman, I think they put up with my disobedience. I’m still available for an alliance, but I’m not a threat since I can’t inherit the throne myself.”
“Was your brother a threat?” I ask.
She chuckles darkly. “You’re starting to figure things out, aren’t you?”
“Did he even actually sleep with the woman?” I ask.
“I suspect he did. But I’m not sure either of them had much of a say in it. There’s a lot of magic in this castle that we’re not aware of. Things that happen that shouldn’t. Missing memories, people’s signatures on documents they never remember signing… Just be cautious.”
“It doesn’t sound like it matters if I’m careful or not,” I point out. “If my father has a blood oath that’s good whether I live or die, what protection do I have?”
“I suppose Caiden must find you useful somehow,” she says. “Otherwise, he could have just arranged for some kind of accident.”
“I guess it’s not too late for that.” I make myself take a sip of my tea. It’s cold so I finish it before setting it back down.
Juliette picks up the teapot and refills my cup.
“Thank you.”
She smiles, then refills hers. “True. But I heard the emperor gave you his blessing.”
He came to dinner,” I say. “He looked…old.”
“He is old.”
“Really old,” I say. “Is that how he always looks?”
“No.”
“Is he losing his magic?” I try to sound concerned.
“Yes.” She sips her tea.
“Oh, that’s terrible.” I aim for concern, but it comes out almost sarcastic. I fight against wincing at my mistake.
“Is it?” she asks.
I’m silent while I try to determine her tone. She must have caught my mistake. But she doesn’t seem happy about her life here. Is she testing me? Is it possible she’d be on my side? “If Caiden is as bad as you say, I’m not sure I want the emperor going anywhere.”
She seems satisfied by my answer and picks up a little flower-shaped cake. “I’m not sure any of us will have a choice.”
“What do you mean?”
She chews slowly, then wipes her fingers on her napkin. “His last visit to the temple didn’t reverse his aging process like usual. Either the gods are angry at him, or he’s reached his limit. If he doesn’t regain his youth this Darkfall, I’m not sure he ever will.”
“He’s been aging for the last five years?” My heart is racing again, but not out of fear. This could be the confirmation I need. “Does that mean he’s not immortal anymore?”
She shrugs. “Nobody knows for sure. But I do know he stays very hidden and protected. He’s got a lot of enemies, and he certainly isn’t giving any of them a chance to test his immortality.”
I focus on eating a pastry that’s been dipped in chocolate.
I know it’s sweet and indulgent and beyond anything I’d ever eat as myself, but I can’t taste it.
My mind is buzzing. The rapid aging has to be why the emperor is in hiding.
He’s mortal. I was right. Now, I just need to find out where his quarters are and then I could get out of here before Darkfall.
I finish chewing, then swallow. “What is Darkfall like around here?”
“Oh, you’re going to love it. The balls, the feasts, the men…
Though, I suppose you can’t take any lovers.
But let me tell you, it’s the best two weeks of the whole year.
Everyone turns a blind eye during the week of the temple visits.
It’s like a hedonistic ritual. I was barely past my majority for the last one.
My chaperone got drunk and proceeded to spend the whole week in a state of semiconscious undress while she guzzled wine.
When it was over, nobody talked about it. ”
“That sounds intense,” I say.
“It is.” Her eyes light up as she tells me stories about the things she saw and participated in during last Darkfall.
“What about the men who return from their ceremony? Do they join in the revelry?” I ask.
“Oh, no.” She shakes her head. “They’re usually too tired. Or too haunted by whatever they went through. I only saw two who were high-ranking enough to stay in the castle. Both looked like ghosts. They retreated to their rooms for two weeks after the celebrations ended and never spoke of it.”
“How many usually go for the ceremony?” I ask.
“It varies. Sometimes there’s ten or twenty. I’ve heard that some Darkfalls only have two or three.” She picks up the teapot and refills both our cups. “What you really want to watch out for is the absinthe. I swear there’s an entire night I can’t remember after I tried the stuff.”
I listen and laugh as she recalls the funny moments and happier parts of the celebrations. For those not going to the temple, it sounds like it’s a joyous occasion. I understand why everyone is so excited.
We finish the tea and most of the cakes by the time there’s a knock.
“Enter,” Juliette calls.
Brevan steps inside the room. “Your Highness, the prince has requested your presence.”
“Thank you for the tea and the company,” I tell Juliette.
“I’m glad you’re here,” she says. “Maybe being stuck in this castle won’t be such a terrible thing for either of us.”