‘You know I can’t do that.’
‘You can do anything,’ I insist. ‘You’re theemperor.’
‘Which is precisely why I can’t do what you’re asking. What sort of message would that send – to my enemies, to my allies, to the entire realm?’
‘That you’re merciful.’
‘No, that I’mweak,’ Hal corrects. ‘Not to mention delusional and spineless. An assassination attempt by a serf? It’s made me into a laughing stock.’ He sighs. ‘Look, I take no pleasure in it. But what she tried to do – that’s not something I can just let slide.’
‘So don’t,’ I say quickly. ‘Don’t pardon her. Say that her execution took place privately to avoid turning her into a martyr. Say that you killed her yourself, if you must. Then we can smuggle her out.’
There’s a pause, and for a moment I almost manage to convince myself that he’s considering my proposal. Then he takes a step back. ‘No.’
‘Hal –’
‘Elva, listen. I can’t … Iwon’tpardon the person who plotted to kill me. I won’t do it.’
‘You said you wanted things to change. That you wanted to be better.’
‘I did, and I do.’
‘Thenproveit.’ I take a step towards him. ‘I know you intend to free the serfs. What’s one more?’
Hal scrubs a hand over his eyes.
‘Please,’ I urge. ‘She’s my friend.’
A muscle pulses in his neck. ‘I understand, and I’m sorry. I am. But, Elva, she committedtreason.’
‘No, she didn’t.’
I barely register the words until they are out of my mouth, suspended in the space between us. Hal stares at me and I feel my face flood with colour.
Don’t be a coward, I tell myself.
I clear my throat and stand my ground. ‘It’s only treason if you’re betraying your own country, your own sovereign. Ingra is Veridian. You may be a ruler, but you are nothers.’
Hal looks as if I’ve just reached out and slapped him. For two years there have been certain subjects we’ve tried to avoid, thinking that never talking about whatmakes us different – what separates us – would mean we could go on pretending. I was a serf and he was the Crown Prince, but sometimes I could convince myself that it didn’t matter. That he was nothing like his family and that I was more than what had happened to me. Because when we’re together, the rest of the world seems to fade into the periphery like a bad dream. But it’s time to wake up now.
‘Do you remember how we met?’ I ask. ‘You saw me cover for a boy who spilled wine on your cousin. Well, that boy’s name is Pip. He’s twelve years old, and he’s currently locked in a damp, dark hole called the Pit, all because he asked to take Ingra some food.’
Hal’s eyes shutter in horror. ‘Have you … ever been …’
‘Thrown in the Pit?’ I finish. ‘Yes. For the crime of speaking in my native tongue.’
He swallows, pained. I’d never really thought about it before – how we fell in love inhislanguage.
‘I was forced to learn Ostacrian,’ I continue. ‘Like the rest of the serfs.’ My heart pounds. ‘Don’t you see? Youownthem, Hal. Just as your father owned me. They are yourproperty, not your subjects. Is it really any wonder Ingra wanted you dead?’
The silence is heavy, almost suffocating. It squeezes the air from my lungs.
‘You say you won’t spare her, but I won’t let her die,’ I whisper. ‘Not when I’m the reason she’s in that cell in the first place.’
Hal frowns. ‘What’re you talking about?’
I inhale jaggedly. ‘If anyone committed treason, it’s me. Because I betrayed my friends – mypeople– to saveyourlife.’
Confusion twists his features. ‘I don’t understand.’
