I accept it and step down onto the stone entry. There’s guards milling about but most of the legionnaires who’d been traveling with us didn’t come to the front.
There’s no sign of Caiden or Brevan. “Is the emperor not joining us?”
“He rode ahead with the enforcer. I’m not sure where they went.”
“Please tell me that means Ludis went with them.” I walk toward the open doors and servants bow as I approach.
“No, he’s just behind us,” Nate replies.
I resist the urge to get back into the carriage and demand they take me somewhere very, very far away until Ludis is in Iskvaland where he can’t reach me anymore.
“Your Majesty,” a woman in a stiff black dress addresses me, her head still bowed.
“You may rise,” I say, hoping it’s the correct response. “All of you, please. No need for such formality when it’s just me.”
They look bewildered and I know it’s not how an empress should behave but I’m so tired of all the pretending.
“Speak for yourself, sister.” Ludis slaps me on the back and I jump away from him. “When the emperor isn’t here, I’m the highest ranking as the next king of Iskvaland. None of this feminine uncertainty. You will all treat me with the respect my station deserves.”
The woman bows and all the other servants follow. “Of course, Your Highness.”
“That’s better.” Ludis offers his hand. “Shall we, sister?”
I glare at him. “No, I need to discuss some things with the head maid.”
His jaw tenses and I know he’s deciding how best to order me around.
“Women’s matters,” I whisper.
His checks flush. “Very well. You,” he points at a pair of servants, “make sure our bags are taken to our new quarters and have a hot meal and a bath brought to my room.”
“Of course, your highness,” one of them says, still in his low bow.
Ludis marches up the steps, a few of Caiden’s guards following behind him. Once he’s out of sight, I take a full breath. The servants stand slowly and when I don’t interfere, they rise completely.
The woman who’d addressed me earlier approaches. “You wished to speak to me, Your Majesty?”
“I wished to make my brother disappear,” I confide.
She looks like she’s trying to hide a smile. “Of course. Would you like me to escort you to your rooms? Your ladies are awaiting your arrival.”
My heart leaps. “Yes, yes please.”
While it’s smaller than the castle, there’s still several floors and lots of long hallways. Nate follows but I don’t say anything to him. I’m still trying to figure out the best way to approach what I overheard. For some reason, I feel like he’s good to have around. It’s probably a false sense of security. I have no reason to trust him, but I allow him to accompany me nonetheless.
I pay attention to the turns we take and the stairs we climb so I can find my way out easier. Hopefully, with all my ladies. Somehow.
When we stop in front of a large door, the woman curtseys. “These are the empress’s rooms. The emperor had them updated a few weeks ago. Told me to tell you it’s a wedding gift.”
“That is kind of him,” I manage.
“Would you like me to fetch you some dinner?”
“Yes, please.”
“I can take over from here,” Nate offers.
The maid eyes him suspiciously, but when I don’t intervene, she hurries away. Nate rests his hand on the doorknob but I stop him.
