Then Clelia spoke. “What do you think you’re doing?”
A chill went down Aimilia’s spine. Even his mother who adored him was furious with him.
Just what had the two of them wanted with her that he’d ruined?
“You invited the woman I intend on marrying and tried to hide it from me. Of course I came. Anything you want with her, you will do in front of me.”
“You can intend all you like, son, but she has made herself clear and made a laughingstock of you. She will not marry you,” Clelia snapped.
“What are you?” Nero’s voice, stronger than she had ever heard it before cut through the air.
Nikias’ voice was weaker than Aimilia had ever heard it before. “Your son.”
A knock on the door interrupted them. Clelia rose again, snapping her fingers at Nikias. “Help your father to his bed.”
Aimilia didn’t fully understand why as Nikias and Nero came into her view. Nero looked better than he had even at his appearance at the exams. But Nikias still had an arm around his back and let his father use him as support as he walked him back to his bed while Clelia sent the servant at the door away and brought in the tray herself. As soon as Nero was settled, Nikias practically sprinted away toward the window where the curtains were drawn shut. Clelia set the tray up for Nero before stepping back, hands clasped together.
Why did they only have one tray? Aimilia imagined Nikias wasn’t actually all that interested in eating, but Clelia had made it sound like they would all at least be forced to go through the appearance of dinner.
“Tell me, son, you’ve had more than enough time,” Nero said. “Why has there been no arrest of those who attacked your king?”
Aimilia’s breath caught in her throat. Had they figured it out?
Nikias stared at the curtains like he could see through them. “I suspect it was a group of Stonai Elemens, given the nature of the attack and after an inspection of the tunnels dug under the stadium. More tunnels were found in Areator and the scholars’ consensus is that it was the work of the Stonai. Unfortunately, they were all blocked off by the time we found them this morning, so the Stonai who created them and who set off the collapse have escaped.”
Aimilia pressed her hand to her mouth to muffle her soft exhale. Queen Clelia wasn’t thinking about any poison at all right now.
Nero’s voice cut through the air. “You let the savages who tried to kill your king escape?”
Nikias bowed his head, hands clenching into his arms.
Aimilia bit her tongue. If the Stonai had just wanted Nero dead, there were much easier ways to go about it. But all Nero could see was the end of his own nose.
“I apologize for my failure.” Nikias’ voice was completely devoid of emotion. “I won’t let it happen again.”
“Why didn’t you catch the culprits while they were in the vicinity?”
“The novices—” Nikias turned, but whatever he saw on his father’s face silenced him. Aimilia couldn’t see Nero anymore with the headboard in the way. “It was an oversight on my part. I prioritized incorrectly and due to my poor judgment, the Stonai escaped. Forgive me.”
If Aimilia could hear just how insincere and fake each word out of Nikias’ mouth was, surely his parents did as well.
“How do you plan to rectify your errors?”
Nikias took a deep breath. “If the Stonai managed to get to Areator, it means they came through the clan mages’ lands. I was already sending Gavril and Marcella to gather information, but now I will be going with them to personally investigate this matter.”
Aimilia had the sneaking suspicion she would be going as well. Which she wasn’t complaining about, but Nikias was going to willingly see Hypatia?
Clelia inhaled sharply. “Absolutely not! The last thing we need is to send you farther away and into danger.”
“The clan mages are bound by our treaty. I’ll be in no danger.”
“And if the Stonai target you? What if this was just an attempt to draw you out? The Sordes using the Stonai to do their dirty work to kill the only heir to the throne. The Mitis brat has had her chance. It is time for you to find someone else and marry now.”
She knew the last thing they wanted was for Gavril to take the throne, but to act like he didn’t even exist?
“Mother—”
“Do you know what people are saying about you? She has made you a laughingstock—the things the court are saying about you—and yet you continue to humiliate yourself by being seen in her presence. I cannot fathom why. The only thing she has to recommend herself is her skill in magic, which is substantial, I’ll admit. But that might make her a good commander, not a good wife.”
