Prologue
“You know the importance of this mission.” Emperor Bron’s elevated throne appeared higher than usual. Darkness engulfed the ordinarily bright and glowing throne room, and even the emperor was dressed in dark colors, instead of his traditional gold and red.
His words echoed down to Veta, as they did when he gave a direct command. Such theatrics didn’t threaten her. Still, the way the emperor looked at her, she knew he was serious. Like he was trying to intimidate her today.
It didn’t work.
“Yes, Imperial Majesty.”
“And if anything goes wrong, you do what you must in order to protect the Terran Empire.”
She nodded. “Of course. My loyalty will always be to the Empire.”
He nodded. “Those atrocities tried to destroy us once, but their efforts brought the Terran Empire closer together than ever before. Their terror can only make us stronger.”
“Yes, Imperial Majesty.”
Veta kept her face dead of emotion, though she could not help wondering why the Emperor was sending a mission at all.
The Rhimodian had maintained this war for decades now. They wouldn’t stop, and they wouldn’t give in. It didn’t matter what the Terrans did, the cyborgs never surrendered, and they never gave up. They would rather die than be captive.
Made very few prisoners of war, which was handy, but still.
Emperor Bron stared at her.
“You think I am foolish to send a mission of peace to their homeworld.”
Veta didn’t respond.
He made a gesture with his hand. “It is merely you and I, Veta. Speak.”
“If you do not believe peace is possible, then I question the necessity of sending a mission at all. It seems a pointless gesture.”
He sighed, and looked away from her, into the darkness. “Peace is merely a ceasefire to regroup. You and I both know that.”
She couldn’t disagree.
Growing up always knowing war, it was natural for Veta to turn to military service. And at a young age, she quickly learned how to get what she needed, when she needed it, using any skills necessary to accomplish her goal. The military took notice of her talents.
Now, a decade later, she was one of the Imperial House’s most loyal officers and performed missions that occasionally required a kind of touch that many male soldiers would not be able to accomplish.
Including becoming close with the imperial princesses.
Two young women with far different ideas about reality.
However, it wasn't Veta's job to teach them the truths of reality. That was for their governess, Bianca. Veta kept them safe.
At whatever the cost.
The Emperor looked back at her, his cold eyes piercing. “But my daughter believes like her mother.” He ran his hand over his robe, his finger tracing the intricate embroidery on the lapel. “And that belief cost my wife her life. I cannot let the Rhimodian take my daughter, as well.”
Veta nodded.
“Either of them,” he said, gesturing with his hand, like it was an after-thought that he had more than one daughter. “Protect my daughters on this fool’s errand.”
“What if peace can be reached?” Veta asked.
“With them?” He laughed. “Those machines will never quit fighting. My daughters will then return home, realizing the error of their ways.”
