I unfurl one, and hold it up to the window to read.
Honorate Sixmen,
I am certain your behavior has Neveah rolling over in her early grave.
Let’s ensure the rest of Virdei never finds out how despicable you truly are, shall we? You vote against the order that will increase the number of decurio around Ophera, and I’ll keep my mouth shut.
It’s signed from the Shadow Queen but, as before, I didn’t write this. There are five more letters. All from my imposter, all that Selva kept from me.
Six letters total. I could stay here and read them all, but that’s foolish. The longer I stall, the higher the likelihood I’ll be caught. If I take them, Selva will know they’re missing, but considering all the efforts he took to keep them secret, it’s not like he can tell anyone they’ve been stolen.
Mind made, I shove the notes in my pocket and put my ear to the bedroom door, listening for approaching footsteps. Nothing.
I hold my breath as I creep out and back down the stairs. I don’t risk the kitchen a second time. Instead, I steal into the empty drawing room, unlatch the window, and climb out before anyone sees me.
You’ve followed the rules well. If only your fellowHonorate were so obedient. There is another order on the agenda tomorrow. If it passes, there will be two dozen more soldiers sent to the Opheran border. You will ensure it never passes. Vote in opposition. Convince your fellow Honorate to follow suit.
If it passes, I do not care who is at fault, I will blame you. I know what happened to Neveah. If this order passes, the rest of the Republic will too.
With each note, my heart sinks lower. They each demand Selva oppose an order, each vaguely mentions something awful he did to his wife, and each commands Selva to block an order that would provide more security to Ophera. Any attempt I’ve made in the past few months to send soldiers to the Opheran border, my imposter has forced Selva to oppose.
That in and of itself is concerning. But there’s something else weighing on me. The imposter never explicitly states what terrible secret Selva is carrying, but they each imply that perhaps Neveah didn’t simply die—perhaps she was murdered.
Honorate Sixmen,
That title will only apply until the next council meeting.
The next time theHonorate convene, you will announce your intentions to retire the position. I have decided you are no longer fit to lead.
Feel free to argue, Sixmen, but we both know the consequences if you fail to do as I say.
Stars in hell . . .
I wasn’t expecting that.
Months of threatening Selva, all for the imposter to force him to resign anyway. It doesn’t make sense. What’s the point in gathering secrets of a man who doesn’t have the power todoanything?
If Selva truly murdered his wife, he’ll have no choice but to do it. It will cause a stir. He’s only in his forties. Far too youngto quit. No one is given power only to throw it away. Especially the Honorate.
I smooth out the final note.
Honorate Sixmen,
Tell me, did they ever find your wife’s body? A shame.
I know they found the body of Arliss Vale. If you refuse even one of my demands, I assure you, they will find yours exactly as they did his.
If you don’t believe me, I can tell you how he died. Arliss Vale was killed by a poison called kishori. If you aren’t careful, so will you.
Tell anyone, and you are next.
The parchment flutters to the floor.
I hardly notice, too wrapped up in my own horror.
My imposter has been busy. Blackmailing Selva Sixmen, blocking all my attempts to provide more security to Ophera, and—most terrifying of all—murdering Arliss Vale.
CHAPTER TWENTY
