Something that she’d not been accustomed to with men the last decade or so. Since she had returned home, she had been able to speak to him, if only briefly, through the communicator. Though each night, they seemed to talk a few minutes longer than the night before.
It was, well, it was sweet.
She liked talking to him. Just thinking of when she could speak to him again brought a smile to her face.
“Are you well, Bianca?” Eleanor asked.
“Hmm?” she said, turning away from the window and looking back at Eleanor.
“I’ve called to you three times,” Eleanor said. “I know that formal missions like this are no big deal for you, but this is my first time, and I don’t want to mess this up for Caoimhe.”
Bianca smiled. “Child, you will not ruin anything. The fact that you’re so concerned about every detail proves you will only do what is best for the mission. Your mother would be very proud of you.”
Eleanor sighed. “I wish I remembered her more.” She gestured to her dresser, where a hologram of Empress Fallon glowed, waving at a crowd. “I have images and recordings, of course, but it is not the same. None of it feels like mine.”
“I understand,” Bianca said.
“No, I don’t think you do.”
Bianca sighed. Because she did know Fallon, she knew her mind, her voice, and her movements. Eleanor had only other people’s images of her. Very little of the poor girl’s memories remained—so much had been blocked out from the trauma of the event.
“You are right, I do not know how you feel, but I do empathize. Your mother was my closest and most trusted friend. She loved you girls so much.”
Eleanor waved her hand. “I know. I’ve heard it all before. I still wish she were here, guiding me, instead of—” Eleanor stopped, her eyes wide. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it like that. I just meant—"
Bianca nodded. “I know. And honestly, I wish she was here too. She would have loved this. In the Beyond, she is likely looking down on you girls and is so proud of you.”
“You think so?”
“Oh, child, I know she is. You girls have grown into incredible women, and the Terran Empire is lucky to have—”
“Lucky to have what?” boomed Emperor Bron’s voice.
Bianca immediately lowered herself into a curtsey.
The Emperor, tall and lean, appeared in his favorite royal robes. He never went anywhere without some kind of robe on. He barged into the room, his voice loud and demanding as he entered.
As his usual mood.
Bianca waited for a beat for the Emperor to allow her to rise.
Instead, he glared at her, a smile on his face.
She held the pose.
Arrogant, masochistic bas—
“Father, that’s enough,” Eleanor said.
He glanced at Eleanor, like he was about to say something rude, but stopped. “Fine.” He gestured for Bianca to rise.
Bianca stood and glared back at him. “I was saying, when you rudely interrupted, that the Empire was lucky to have two lovely and intelligent Imperial Princesses for the future of the Terran Empire.”
“I am the Emperor. I can be rude whenever I want. It is the prerogative of being the leader of the Terrans.”
He took a step toward Bianca, like he was on the move, coming in to attack her. Ready to strike.
Like he had done many times before.
