Chapter Fifty-Two
CHAPTER FIFTY-TWO
Scarlett
From the balcony of my chambers, I watched the gilded carriages make their way from the docks to the palace. There were so many that they resembled a golden snake, each carriage packed with officials and aristocrats.
The palace was filling fast, and still, there were more to come – provincial governors and royalty from the countries beyond the Azure Sea, all eager to witness Cassius and Mira’s wedding. To strengthen their relations with the Ravalian Empire.
They were fools, believing that distance and political promises would protect them. But I knew my father. He would see their fine clothing and jewels, would hear stories of their lands and their luxuries, and plot to take those things for himself.
Which was precisely what I planned to do. Only my target was closer to home.
And I would need to act fast, because the Maesteri delegation had already arrived. I’d met with their ambassador this morning, who took great delight in presenting me with a portrait of Prince Adomas. For once, the nobles were envious of me; the prince was undeniably handsome, with turquoise eyes, nut-brown skin and hair the colour of volcanic sand. But I had no intention of marrying him – or allowing Mira to marry Cassius.
If it had been up to my mother, I had no doubt that Cassius would have met a convenient end already. But Cassius would be expecting me to try something – and if I failed, he would tell the emperor about my relationship with Severin.
No, I needed to be smart. Careful.
‘You summoned me, Your Highness?’
Lillian joined me on the balcony, which was bathed in bright sunshine. No doubt she believed I had chosen the location to enjoy the nice weather.
I wondered how she would react if she knew the real reason. Probably with the horror Aella and the other servants had tried to hide, marching in like grim-faced soldiers each time they had to remove the cages of dead animals from my rooms. But with the windows flung open and a breeze carrying the sweet perfume of flowers through my chambers, there was little danger of Lillian smelling the underlying scent of decay.
I took a seat on a carved chair, and watched Lillian do the same, arranging her skirts primly around her ankles. Her elegance would have impressed the court ladies, but it didn’t endear her to me. Quite the opposite.
And I was impatient, too. Eager to discover the answers I needed and deal with Cassius once and for all.
But I smiled, matching Lillian’s demureness. ‘Shall I call for tea?’
‘No thank you, Your Highness.’
‘Down to business then.’ My smile widened as Lillian folded her hands in her lap, a tiny indication of her unease. Perhaps it was petty of me to take delight in such things, but I had such little power within the court that I had learnt to savour it where I could. ‘I’ve grown quite fond of your brother,’ I said, tilting my head to enjoy the warmth of the sun on my face. ‘And, I suppose, of Mira as well. Though I haven’t spent as much time with her.’
Lillian shifted uneasily. ‘I’m sure they feel the same.’
‘I must admit,’ I said, ignoring Lillian’s comment, ‘I was distressed to hear about Mira’s engagement to Cassius. I had the impression that she and Aric cared for each other.’
Lillian’s nimble fingers plucked at the stitching of her gown. It was white and gold, like all house servants’ attire. ‘They’re friends. That’s all.’
I had anticipated Lillian’s reluctance to talk. But it still irritated me.
‘You can speak openly,’ I told her, leaning forward. ‘My only concern is Aric. I was close with your eldest brother, Kain, and I suppose I feel a sense of protectiveness because of that. If Mira wants this marriage, I won’t stand in her way. But if she and Aric do care for each other, perhaps I could intervene on their behalf. Speak with the emperor.’
‘You would do that?’
‘I would,’ I lied, holding Lillian’s gaze. ‘I couldn’t tell my father the real reason, of course – the emperor would never agree to a marriage between Aric and Mira. But there would be hope for their relationship, at least, without Cassius between them.’ I smiled, allowing my face to soften even further as I confided, ‘A secret relationship isn’t ideal, but it’s better than nothing.’
‘It sounds like you speak from experience.’
‘Perhaps I do.’
Lillian considered me thoughtfully. ‘You’re not what I expected, Your Highness.’
‘I’ll take that as a compliment,’ I said, with a slight laugh.
‘You’re right,’ Lillian said suddenly. ‘My brother loves Mira. He always has.’
‘And Mira? How does she feel about him?’
‘She loves Aric.’ Lillian lifted her chin. ‘I’m certain she does. She just refuses to acknowledge it.’
No matter how certain Lillian seemed, it was still just her opinion. But I had observed Mira and Aric’s interactions for months, and all I really needed was confirmation of my own suspicions.
‘I’ll see what I can do,’ I said, standing.
Lillian followed suit. ‘Thank you, Your Highness.’ She hesitated. ‘But I don’t want to put you in a difficult position with your brother—’
‘Don’t worry about it. I have little love for Cassius, and he has even less for me.’
Lillian frowned, like she found this difficult to comprehend.
‘Mira is lucky to have you both,’ I said, wondering what I might have been like, if I’d grown up with friends like Aric and Lillian. ‘She seems to inspire nothing but loyalty – the Kalurians haven’t even met her and they’re willing to lay down their lives in her name. Even you and Aric are willing to sacrifice everything for Mira after knowing her for – what? Two years?’
Lillian said nothing.
I released a sharp breath as I thought of the Governor of Kalure, so determined to die for a girl he barely knew. Even the court, who regarded me with nothing but scorn, had come to respect Mira. And she had won herself enough influence that even my father had been forced to take her seriously.
‘How does she inspire such loyalty?’
Lillian’s eyes were intent on my face. I wondered how much those eyes saw. How much they guessed.
‘Mira has the fiercest heart of anyone I’ve known. She fights for the people she loves – for what she believes is right.’ Lillian’s mouth twisted. ‘At least she used to.’
‘Perhaps she will again,’ I said, seized by a strange impulse to clear the bitterness from Lillian’s face.
Lillian smiled, but it was polite and unconvincing.
We walked through my chambers in companionable silence. I watched Lillian take in the sparseness of the space. There were no colourful cushions or embroideries to be seen, and no personal items on display. The one indulgence I allowed myself was the potted plant in the corner of the drawing room – a rare carnivorous variety that I had bred myself. I followed Lillian’s gaze to the window above the plant, which was obscured by vines.
‘I wanted to let it grow wild,’ I said, in response to her unspoken question. No matter how unruly the vines became, I refused to allow the servants to touch them.
Lillian tilted her head, buttery curls cascading across her face. She looked at me curiously – as if she was reassessing prior assumptions. And I realised that I had underestimated the seamstress, too. I could see why Mira liked her. Perhaps, under different circumstances, I could have grown to like her as well.
But if I cared for nothing, then nothing could be taken away from me. I had learnt that lesson and learnt it well.
And I had already made that mistake with Severin.
I dismissed Lillian curtly, my focus returning to the plan solidifying in my mind.
It was time to deal with my brother.