Aimilia finished readying herself. If she was going to be made a spectacle of, she was going to dress the part. Her cloak was clasped over one shoulder and arranged to show off her and her peplos in a tasteful manner. The peplos was a fine white, almost shimmering in the light, belted at the waist, giving her a bit of figure, falling to the ground with a small part where one could see her calf and the gold ties of her sandals lacing up her leg. It was her favorite piece, and if it was her last chance to wear it…
With one last deep breath, she gave herself an approving nod before turning on her heel and sweeping out of the room to go meet her fate.
She slipped into the courtyard as the sun was setting and the runes began to light up the air. Most of the court had already arrived, mingling around the tables that were spilling over with food. Aimilia supposed she should partake of her last meal, but her stomach was turning so much she couldn’t even think of it.
Instead, she scanned over the crowd. Queen Clelia stood by one of the larger tables, arm wrapped through Nikias’ as they spoke with a few Runai from House Salum. Thankfully, they hadn’t spotted her entrance. Mostly because, despite dressing to impress, she came in through the side of the peristyle, hoping she’d at least get a few minutes with Gavril and Marcella to warn them about what would occur.
They wouldn’t believe her, but she still wanted what little time she had left to be with them.
It wouldn’t stop it, but hopefully being armed beforehand would help keep them out of trouble themselves.
Only one of them needed to go down for this crime.
She didn’t see them, and she couldn’t blame them for wanting to arrive late and spend as little time in the palace as possible. The fact that they were coming at all was more than enough.
She did see Commander Cyprian, whom she called her uncle, but they weren’t that closely related. They were more distant cousins several times removed, but he’d always acted as her uncle and was favored by her grandfather. Being another mage favored by her grandfather, it had thrown the two of them into each other’s paths, especially after Aimilia’s father had died. His post was in Areator, so seeing him was normal.
What she didn’t expect to see was her mother standing with him.
What was her mother doing in Areator?
Her mother hadn’t left the Mitis estate in years.
Not even to see Aimilia in her graduation tournament.
Not since Aimilia’s father had died.
Only an order by the king, or his regent, would be able to move her. Aimilia immediately looked back over at Nikias, still enmeshed in the conversation his mother was having with House Salum. Had he done this? Was he trying to give her at least the chance to say her goodbyes before meeting her fate or had he summoned her to make this even more painful and humiliating?
Aimilia could never tell with him. He was a masterful manipulator. At least, Aimilia had fallen for it before, and now she could never tell what was real with him.
Aimilia cut through the crowd, still staying on the edge and in the shadows as much as possible. Thankfully, over the last few months Aimilia had made an art out of avoiding Nikias. She knew how to best avoid his notice as much as possible.
She made it over to her mother and Cyprian, thankfully on the opposite side of the courtyard as Nikias.
“Oh, Aimilia, there you are!” Mother said, stepping back as Aimilia approached. She put a hand on Aimilia’s shoulder, and Aimilia returned the fond gesture by reaching up and wrappingher hand around her wrist. The scars of her religo lines were rough beneath Aimilia’s fingers.
“Mother, I didn’t expect you here tonight,” Aimilia said, keeping her voice low and ensuring she stood so her mother and uncle shielded her from being seen from the other side of the courtyard. “You didn’t reply to my last letter. Grandfather, is he?—”
“I wanted to surprise you!” Mother beamed, squeezing Aimilia’s shoulder. Her voice had more life in it than Aimilia had heard in years. Her strawberry-blonde hair shone with pearl pins in the light. “I received a very compelling invitation from Prince Nikias himself. How could I refuse?”
Oh no. She thought Nikias was going to propose. Wait… there was no earthly way Nikias hadn’t heard the rumors flying about him allegedly proposing to Aimilia. He also knew they would have reached her well before reaching him.
In order to get an invitation to Aimilia’s mother in time for her to attend, Nikias would have had to send it at least a month ago. He’d had her figured out for that long and had been letting the rumors fly to cover up his actions? Drawing this out just to make an example of her?
Right. Just like Queen Clelia had demanded.
She snuck a glare at him through the gap between her mother and uncle. Although she wasn’t as sneaky as she thought, since the second she did, she caught Nikias’ eye. He smirked at her, and she ripped her gaze away.
This had all just been a game to him, hadn’t it?
And he’d won. Again.
“Mother, I assure you, whatever you think that invitation meant, it did not.”
Cyprian lowered his drink and narrowed his eyes. “What are you talking about? Aimilia, everyone with eyes knows what’sgoing to happen tonight. I’m sure Prince Nikias understands it’s not a surprise anymore.”
Aimilia opened her mouth, but her mother was already speaking. “Oh, I can’t believe it. I didn’t know what to think when I heard the rumors, given how you’ve always spoken about him and how you’ve always preferred Prince Gavril. But I suppose with that she-wolf stealing him, that brought you and Prince Nikias together?—”
