“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.
