Page 53 of Betrothed to the Emperor

“Prince Airón and I will marry in two weeks, on the full moon. The dragon soothsayer has declared that the day,and she has blessed our union.” Tallu looked over the court. “Preparations have already begun.”

“Our most enthusiastic congratulations, cousin,” Rute said, his voice carrying over the court. He bowed low, triangling his fingers, then turned to me and did the same.

The rest of the court immediately followed, each congratulating both of us. General Kacha’s absence was even more notable as General Saxu bowed and offered his support.

As the line of well-wishers diminished, I could hear the whispers in the rest of the room. From his position, Tallu could as well. The room had been designed so that, when sitting on the throne, an emperor could hear any number of secret conversations.

“Two weeks!” Pito whispered. “He still looks like such a savage!”

“Well, in two weeks, perhaps he can at least looklesslike a savage. Should we ask if he wants our services?” Topi asked, and I couldn’t see the twins, but I could hear Pito’s lengthy response as she considered what an opportunity it would be to get close to the royal consort.

“So, we’re getting married in two weeks?” I asked, trying a smile I’d used often to get out of chores. “Hopefully, the wedding is less exciting than the engagement appointment was. Is there a limit to the number of assassination attempts before we’re declared married by default?”

“Three,” Tallu said. “Although I do find them tiring, so perhaps we’ll declare it two to avoid the exhaustion.”

“Yes, tiring, and they result in injuries that make life difficult.” I watched his expression, waiting for the spark of curiosity. But he didn’t even blink, and there was no reaction to my hint about his leg.

Instead, his eyes roamed over the room, head tilted as he listened to all the whispers that no one wanted him to hear.

He didn’t ask about his leg. He didn’t ask, and my mind spiraled:why didn’t he ask?

“There are some people I think we should add to the invitation list,” I said.

“There is not enough time for anyone from the Northern Kingdom to attend,” Tallu said, turning his head. Now I had his full attention.

“No. Not the north,” I said. “General Saxu said you disbanded the council.”

Tallu’s eyebrows twitched, and he glanced toward the high general, still lingering in the corner of the room.

Despite his rank, no one approached him, and I couldn’t help but wonder if it was fear or disdain. Had General Kacha turned opinion away from Saxu so effectively?

“Yes. I did.” Tallu spoke precisely, his eyes still fixed on my face, and I met them; I needed him to see my reasoning, to agree with it even though it was foolish.

“I think you should invite any exiled council members or whatever heirs of theirs are living to the wedding,” I said.

“Why?” Tallu asked. Some in the room had noticed Tallu’s fixation with me, and I heard a whisper, as though it was made directly in my ear, thatof coursehis preferences would be toward animals; after all, everyone knew what his father liked.

“We have no idea who was behind the assassination attempt. Rute and Kacha, possibly, but who has closer access to Krustavian soldiers than those living in the conquered lands?” I forced myself to keep his gaze rather than look away. “And it will prove who in this room is still loyal to them. Your ministers are divided. Is that because of real disagreements, or do some of them still bear affection for the council members you exposed?”

“You want to turn our wedding into a rat hunt?” Tallu asked. From the tone of his voice, he might as well have been asking about the weather.

“I want to turn our wedding into an opportunity to show who is loyal to you. You need to know. And maybe one of the heirs wasn’t guilty of their father’s sins.” I looked down, then up, through my lashes. It was a move that Eonaî had perfected, pure innocence. And I had her face, I had her eyes. I should be able to pull it off as well as she could.

Tallu’s face twitched, as though struck, and that was good enough. He nodded. “Perhaps some of them did not deserve the punishment my father meted out. And if one of themwasbehind the attack, it will be easier to know it when they’re here. Anyone hiring Krustavian mercenaries wouldn’t have the courage to kill me themselves.”

I relaxed. Tallu was accepting the reasons I put forth and not realizing who he was inviting back into his palace, even if I did. I was from the Northern Kingdom. The Northern Kingdom knew how grudges grew when nursed with bitterness and hopelessness.

“Is that the wedding gift you ask of me?” Tallu asked, his voice so quiet that I read his words on his lips more than heard them in my ears.

“No. It is advice from your future consort,” I said. “For a wedding gift, I want something very expensive. I hear you like metal things here in the south. Give me something pretty. Metal. Something that will remind me of you when you’re busy elsewhere.”

Tallu turned away, looking back at the court, but I saw the slightest smile on the corner of his lips, there for half a second before it disappeared into his standard neutral expression.

“Something expensive and metal,” he said finally.

“That will remind me of you,” I agreed.

“If I get you that, what will you give me?” Tallu asked. “In the south, gifts are given from both parties.”