“He must think he’s above greeting the emperor.” Charlotte rolls her eyes.
“Well, whatever the reason, I’m glad.” I start walking, my ladies on either side of me, Nate taking up the rear. Alan and Landon are with him again today, following along wherever he goes. It’s been the same few most of the time, and they seem to defer to Nate whenever something comes up. I want to know if they’re aware of his goals but I haven’t had a moment to speak to Nate alone since the day at the queen’s temple.
Ludis and Genevieve are waiting at my door. I suppress a groan. Genevieve gives me an apologetic look.
“My darling sister, we need to talk,” Ludis announces loud enough for anyone even remotely close to hear.
“Not now,” I pass him and reach for my doorknob.
He sets his hand on mine. “It’s important. Something I want to alert you to before you hear it from other sources.”
My brow furrows, and I look toward Genevieve in the hopes that she can give me some kind of signal. She looks as confused as I am.
“Whatever it is, just out with it,” I say.
“You aren’t going to invite me in?” He gasps, then clutches his chest dramatically.
“You’re the worst.” I pull my hand away from his.
“You wouldn’t want me any other way.” He grins, as if it’s all some kind of playful sibling banter.
I might hate him more than anyone else. With a sigh, I nod. “Fine. But make it quick. I need to prepare for dinner with my husband.”
“Of course, we all know how important that is. How glad you must be that he returned in one piece.” He reaches for the doorknob. “Allow me.”
“This better be good,” I mutter under my breath as I step into my room.
I’m greeted by a team of people I don’t recognize and back away toward the door. Ludis is there to prevent my exit.
“What is all this?” Antonia asks from behind me.
“Empress, do you need me to call someone for you?” Nate asks.
Ludis glares at him. “You can wait in the hall. This is a family matter and well beyond your rank.”
“Do not speak to my guards that way,” I warn.
Ludis chuckles. “Are you fucking this one, too?”
I slap him across the face, and Charlotte makes a surprised squeak. I’m pretty sure Antonia is trying not to laugh. My hand stings, and the only thing preventing me from throwing him to the ground is the fact that Antonia and Charlotte grab me and pull me away.
Genevieve screams and darts between us, making sympathetic noises as she comforts Ludis.
“You’re lucky you’re my sister,” he snarls.
“I am the Empress of Pendralia, and you are a disgraced prince with no power unless I help you win it back. You sayanother disrespectful thing to me or any of my friends, and I will make sure nobody can find your body.”
“You wouldn’t,” he seethes.
I glare at him. “Try me.”
“We can come back another time,” one of the strangers says.
Our attention shifts, and I notice that there are bolts of fabric, trunks, and other random things scattered around the room.
“No. She needs everything ready in a fortnight for the journey.” Ludis returns his attention to me. “They’ll ensure you have a properIskvalandianwardrobe so you don’t freeze to death. Gods know, we don’t want that to happen.”
My stomach rolls. “We can’t go yet; the snow hasn’t melted enough.”
