The Emperor spoke to Bridgette d’Lyre. “If you provide positive proof of the Urgan Despotate’s crimes and the Despotess’s complicity in them, then we will agree to your terms concerning Urgan and League space. Your demands concerning Royal Commonwealth skies will have to be worked out between you and the Commonwealth.”
Bridgette found her shoes and stepped into them, then straightened her dress before turning to us, still undressed andon the bed. “That is wonderful news. My government will be so pleased to hear it.” She bowed, still smiling flirtatiously. “Thank you, both of you, for such an enjoyable evening, and for an even better morning.” Looking back over her shoulder at me, her mouth quirked into a victorious smile, she left.
Astrid released my ankle, and I scrambled away from her. I wanted to yell at her, wanted to calmly explain my position to her, but the words did not come. I couldn’t even look her in the face. I was too angry, and I knew I would say or do something I’d regret, just like I had when she’d left.
Silently, my back to Astrid, I began collecting my uniform.
“Levar,” Astrid said. “Levar, look at me.”
I pulled on my pants, then my trousers.
I heard Astrid slide off the bed. A moment later, her hand gently landed on my shoulder. I shrugged away from it and continued dressing.
Astrid exhaled in frustration. “I’d have thought you’d be happy about last night.”
“A night of passion is not enough to convince me to betray my country,” I said, fastening my shirt buttons.
“You’re my Consort. The Empire is your country now,” Astrid said.
I whirled on her, my temper flaring. “Are you joking? How long would I last in your Empire without your Champion watching over my shoulder? No. I’m not welcome in your Empire, your personal wishes notwithstanding. To your court, I’m a foreigner, and in my own mind, I’m still a loyal Royal Commonwealth citizen.”
Astrid looked more hurt than angry. “Then why are you upset? The Commonwealth came off rather well, I thought.”
“Came off well?” I said. “Losing the colonies and League frontier is coming off well?”
“Considering that your other option is a partition betweenthe Empire and the Federation, yes, I think a territorial contraction is coming off well indeed,” Astrid replied.
I shook my head as I struggled into my rumpled dress tunic. “I should have known the Royal Commonwealth would receive no respect from the victorious Empire.”
Astrid began to shout. “The Royal Commonwealth will be fine! Your nation will continue to exist because you fought so well. Would you rather I treat you like the Despotate, or the conquered League nations? Because I could.”
“And there it is, the truth laid bare. To you, we’re just another defeated enemy,” I said.
Astrid withdrew from me. “That’s not fair.”
“No, what’s not fair is the Noble Federation’s gains from this war. They did the bare minimum and gain everything, while those nations which suffered most must lose everything,” I shouted.
“That’s how the galaxy works,” Astrid said, trying for a conciliatory tone. “The Noble Federation has more to negotiate with than you, so they receive more. The strong do what they will, and the weak suffer what they must.”
“So you think the Commonwealth is weak?” I demanded.
“It is because you are strong that you survived so long, but Bridgette is right. Your military is broken. You could not resist me if you wanted to.” She reached for me, trying to soften the news. “Don’t worry. You’ll be taken care of. You’re my Consort. Even if the Royal Commonwealth completely dissolves, I won’t let anything happen to you.”
“I don’t WANT the Commonwealth to dissolve,” I screamed, slapping her hand away. “I want it to thrive, not be consumed by greedy, self-centered Federation exceptionalism or destroyed by violent might-makes-right Imperial brutality.”
Astrid quietly said, “I thought you loved me.”
I softened, pausing in the act of buckling my girdle. “I dolove you, but I also want your Empire to lose this war.”
“I am the Empire. In saying that, you say you want me to lose.”
I shook my head. “I do not. You may be Emperor now, but I can’t help but see you as my Astrid whom I lost twelve years ago.”
“Do you think I don’t want to be?” Astrid hissed. “Do you think I enjoy hurting you? Because I don’t. I hate it, I fucking hate it!” Astrid lashed out, striking the full-length standing mirror in which Lady d’Lyre had so recently admired herself. It flew into the wall and smashed into a thousand glittering shards.
Her rage spent, Astrid turned and sat on the bed, lowering her head into her hands. “I hate this. I hate being Emperor. I hate the games, the fights, the assassinations. I want to go back to being a nobody, to live in a foreign land, and learn things that are forbidden in the Voidskies and spend my life pleasantly doing nothing of consequence with the human I love, but I can’t. I have responsibilities now. I can change things for the better.”
“By giving the quadrant to the Federation? Not bloody likely. They rule purely through wealth. The poor have nothing, no rights, no say in their lives. But I guess that makes sense to an Imperial, who knows nothing but the rule of might,” I snarled. “I’d have thought you, of all people, might think that’s a bad idea. I guess you’ve changed.”
