Chapter 74 The Truth About Zira, Rafe
THE TRUTH ABOUT ZIRA , RAFE
I put away my IC, content with how Jin Kol’s death has been handled.
News of the duel reached me before Lorian’s ship even cleared hyperspace.
The IGC feeds were already spinning it as “an ancient Imperial rite, tragically revived.” But I have to congratulate Zira, as House Serath moved fast—her lawyers filed that Jin Kol had accepted the Rite of Restitution challenge, making the outcome a ritual execution rather than murder before anyone could say differently.
But it came at a cost; the Ascendant Alliance paid a fortune in silence. But it was worth it. After what Lorian showed me, I also wanted Jin Kol dead. But unlike Lorian, I would have done it quietly. I would have waited for the opportune moment, even if it would have taken years.
I walk into our pseudo-shared suite in the Spire. "It's done. The last signature has been signed, and everything's in place."
Zira sits up in bed. “Are we talking about Lorian being cleared of Jin Kol’s death or the personhood laws and Eve’s new sentence?”
"Both. Dealt with done. Passed. Ratified. Legal." I sink onto the bed—the bed we all shared for appearances once, but never for intimacy. "Six months of planning, of this sham marriage, of careful political maneuvering, and it's all finally done."
Zira scans the documents on her IC. "We actually did it. The marriage served its purpose exactly as designed. And Lorian got to kill Jin Kol. I must admit, the footage from Ariel Station almost made me regret we never consummated our marriage.” She smiles.
“Almost,” I repeat back. “But thankfully we didn’t, so you can file the annulment document tomorrow. Non-consummation makes it automatically void under Reima Two law—"
"Why wait until tomorrow? I’m awake and will do it now. And then you and Lorian can finally go get your Eve."
“Thank you, Zira. I’ll tell Lorian to prep his ship." I get out my IC and send him a quick message.
“Where is he anyway?”
Then we both say together, “In the shrine.”
“I could call him up,” I offer. “He’s been there for a few hours. He went there right after they returned.”
“No, let him bleed out his gratitude properly if he wants.”
I pause, gratitude overwhelming me. “I don’t know how we will repay you.”
"You can thank me by proving that humans are worth saving and paying me that ten percent from the Spire’s revenues on time every year.
This is the beginning of a long campaign, but I’m happy to fight it with you.
” She gets out of bed and walks over to the closet.
"You know, Marcus’s brother sends encrypted messages to him every week.
He’s free because of Eve… Alive because Eve risked everything during the Championships.
" She pulls out travel bags—already packed. “Now, I’m sure you want Eve out of that situation with your father as soon as possible… before she never forgives you. Our marriage is officially over, Rafe. You may go.”
“This isn’t Reima Two. You can’t dismiss me, you know,” I remind her.
“Rafe, you have already been dismissed.”
I kiss her forehead—the first genuine affection we've ever shared. "When Marcus is yours—"
"I'll marry him properly. In daylight. With the whole galaxy watching thanks to the personhood law. But Eve needs to accept the new offer for that to happen.”
Without another word, I bow to my former wife and leave.
I run through the Spire's corridors. When I arrive. Lorian is already standing by the Nocturne’s Edge’s entrance. I notice there’s fresh blood on his collar from whatever punishment he's given himself, but I don’t mention it.
"The marriage?" he asks.
"Zira will file the annulment within the hour."
“Good. I worry about Father's reports—"
"Father exaggerates. We know that. Eve will understand why we did what we did, and she will forgive us.” We board and the hatch seals behind us.
“And if she doesn’t?”
“She will,” I say.
“What if she's become like Autumn? Empty and decorative. Everything we swore we'd never let happen?"
"Then we spend the rest of our lives trying to bring her back to who she was before she became an IGC prisoner," I say.