“Oh, my son,” Pandora said, her tone morose. “I hope I can trust you not to sully that woman’s reputation.”
He spun on his back heel. “Pardon me?”
“Her staff can’t question why she maintains her position or wonder if she’d earned it through dubious methods.”
“Like fucking the future king?”
Pandora’s chin notched a touch higher. “Yes.” She stood and took his hands. “I can hardly believe I’m saying this, as I’ve waited a long time to see you show even a little interest in someone new. I was starting to wonder if you had thoroughly died with Sophia.”
He flinched at the sound of his wife’s name. “I assure you, I haven’t.”
“Well, can you blame a mother for worrying? You should attend Court more often. There are many suitable Ladies?—”
“You worry needlessly.” Dimitrios kissed her cheek. He didn’t want to get into another conversation about Perean’s eligible women and how he was expected to produce heirs. The topic inevitably led to nightmares of his bloody, cold wife and their stillborn son. “I will not sully the help while you are gone. I swear it.”
“See that you don’t. Milonia won’t be easily replaced. She was one of only a few who even wanted this position.”
Orestis and Alexandra had built such a stinging reputation that no one with any sense volunteered to work here. As such, much of the palace staff were slaves, and those who weren’t had been put into place specifically to report back to Apollon Rodelis, the High Priest who died in the mountain with Orestis and dozens of others.
Releasing the indentured would be one of his first acts as king, and Pandora had already replaced much of the latter. Roya had been the first of a very long list to go. Too bad she couldn’t do anything about the Council.
Everywhere he turned, Dimitrios was being clobbered by a history ofpeople in power who lacked dignity and care. Above all, and at the very least, the King’s Council should have Perean’s best interest in mind, but…
What was Primakos up to?
Dimitrios dropped into the nearest chair and rested forward on his knees.
“What is it?” Pandora took the nearest seat to his. “The blood just rushed from your face. Are you unwell?”
As succinctly as he could, he relayed the conversation he’d overheard, including his concerns with the inquisitor. He’d meant it when he’d told Stavros that their time was limited, but in truth, he worried it was already too late.
“What a mess,” Pandora said once he’d finished.
“I’m at a loss as to what should be done,” he admitted. “Selene helped me enter this foreign world to understand what’s happening beneath the surface. She highlighted some of the corruption that’s been allowed to grow untethered for decades. Not once did I think to look even further. What could Titos Demakis possibly be after?”
“The simple answer is Perean. The complicated one is Perean’s maritime trade. The agricultural export. The ioprese mines. The lure of our local artisans and their renowned craftsmanship. Perean has long been a center for cultural exchange, bringing the country great wealth.”
“Clearly not if the coffers are damn near dry.”
Pandora tapped her fingers on the arm of her chair, staring toward the bay. “Yes. That is a wonder.” With a sigh, she returned her full attention to him. “I should stay.”
“No.” Dimitrios shook his head. “As things grow more unstable, I want you as far from here as you can get. Besides, the rest of our family needs you.”
“Youneed me.”
“I—” He didn’t know how to respond to that. What and who, exactly, did he have without her? He wasn’t precisely overloaded with allies here. “I’ll be fine,” he finally said. “I’ll figure it out.”
Pandora perched on the front of her seat. “I’ll reach out to my family again. You need allies, and who better than your own blood?”
“The Nicoleas have known of our presence for months, and none have returned to Court. Have any responded to your letters?”
She frowned, and her gaze dipped to her lap.
“They don’t care and, like the rest, won’t acknowledge me until I’m made king. Then, I’m certain they’ll come flocking in a grand hurry.”
“You don’t have to sound so condescending. They’re not like that. The history between your grandfather, King Minos, and my father— Let’s just say they had no love for each other, and my father has let it carry on for a bit too long.”
“It’s unlike you to leap to excuses for others. Don’t start now.”
