But king? Kamori had long forgotten their royal family. A mere twenty years had passed, but the Tree Lords and the holy groves were practically legends now. The Kamori of old was as extinct as Mersia. So, what was he supposed to become king of?
Difri’s shouts returned him back to the present.
“Filledwith people? And was the squareemptywhen you were shot during your speech?”
“The center of the city is different from the poorer quarters! Would you have me do nothing to find out who tried to kill me?”
But Difri was adamant. “Why must it be my prince who makes that effort? And what would happen to you if you really do find the assassin? No, it is the patrollers’ job! I cannot let you take one step out of this house until they do.”
Emere, annoyed, tried to snatch his coat from the butler’s grasp. “Do I still look like a child of ten or twenty to you?”
But the grasp of Difri’s wrinkled hands was unexpectedlystrong. “The princess is old and has returned home, and the crown prince has given up the world. If you were to meet tragedy, who would be left to inherit the throne? How would I be able to enter the Dark Forest and lift my head up before the king and queen?”
At Difri’s plea and his mention of Emere’s parents, Emere almost changed his mind to wait another day or two. But unlike in the forests of Kamori, where nothing remarkable happened in a day or five, things moved swiftly in the Imperial Capital, and everything could change between breakfast and midday. So, if he wanted to find out about the assassin, he had to move fast. He had already wasted days.
“Difri, just let me go, please!” he pleaded.
In that same moment, there were two loud knocks on the front door. Emere glanced toward it. Difri, startled by the knocks, let go of the coat. There were two more knocks, and then a woman’s low voice.
“Is anyone inside?”
Emere looked at Difri. Difri looked back at him uncomprehending, then quickly went, “Ah,” and hastened to the door.
When he opened it, there stood an Imperial heartlander woman in her thirties wearing a black cloak and her hair neatly pinned up. Difri looked her up and down, raised his chin a little, and said, “Good day. May I ask what your business is here?”
“Is this the house of Councillor Emere of Kamori?”
The woman’s gaze had already moved on to Emere, who walked up to the door. Difri took a step back and bowed his head.
“I was about to leave,” said Emere, seizing his chance. “Please come back tomorrow. No, the day after! Difri here will take note of your inquiry.”
Trusting Difri not to make a scene in front of a visitor, he made to exit, but this time, it wasn’t his butler but the visitor who stepped in his way.
“I am here upon request of Councillor Ludvik.”
So Ludvik did jump through the hoops to get him Intelligence protection. But if Difri couldn’t stop him, nothing could.
“I see. But as you can see, I am busy at the moment, so regretfully—”
As he tried to slip past her, she took a half step and blocked him again. Emere looked up with a slight frown, but she seemed impervious to disdain.
“I am Subdirector Septima. From the Ministry of Intelligence.”
He had heard of this name before. But from where? He thought she had been commended for having done something heroic during the fire two years ago. Fighting off rebel forces that had infiltrated the Senate or some such. Yes, her name had been Septima, a ranking officer in the Ministry of Intelligence.
“An official! I shall prepare tea.”
Emere raised his hand, thwarting Difri’s attempt to use this visit as an opportunity to keep him at home. “No, as I said, I am on my way out. I cannot receive visitors right now, so please excuse me.”
“I heard you were in danger of being assassinated,” Septima said. There was a hint of irritation in her voice, as in her expression. There were probably many things she would rather be doing than watching over a figurehead politician from a province.For example, torturing rebels,Emere thought wryly.
He forced a smile. “Nothing to concern yourself about. Please convey my thanks to Ludvik.”
“If only it were that simple,” said Septima dryly.
Difri frowned. “My prince, how could you refuse an offer of help when your life is in peril? As the last servant of the royal house of Kamori, I beseech you, please accept this help.”
“Difri, please, I told you not to call me a prince in front of others!”
