Page 14

AERI

CITY OF RAHWAY, YUSAN

T he western count is a strange man. Sora said he is a sadist, and I see it, but he’s also refined, smooth, and surprisingly charming.

He’s handsome in an older-man way, and he smells like desert blossoms and cedar.

But there’s cruelty in the line of his mouth and amorality in his eyes.

He’s like those beautiful venomous snakes that dance to music that Royo and I saw in Rahway during the night carnival.

Good gods, that feels like a lifetime ago.

As highest-ranking royalty, I sit at the head of an absolutely enormous table.

I think it’s one piece of wood, but, if so, they built this room around it.

Fallador is to my right, and Count Rune’s seat is to my left.

Mikail is next to him, and then Royo. Gambria and Sora are on Fallador’s side.

There’s still room for like forty more people.

Mikail has shared what happened in the throne room at Qali and then the banquet hall in Khitan.

We have lost so much—Mikail most of all.

He hesitated some as he described Euyn’s death, the pain echoing in his pauses.

I don’t know what the victory will ultimately cost, but I’m beginning to wonder if it will be worth the price.

It’s interesting to see what Mikail discloses and what he hides, though.

He’s allowed Rune to believe that Fallador is royalty, and he hasn’t mentioned the Water Scepter.

The story he’s told has been vague on the timing so that our appearance in Rahway isn’t suspicious, but otherwise, he’s mostly told the truth.

He did leave out the amarth, but they were quite unbelievable as a whole.

The story sounds like a lie, even without the prophecy from a bird. It seems impossible that we made it through so much, yet here we are.

“So, you now have three relics,” Rune says as a servant pours him another glass of liquor. “And the rulers of the realms, if they are still alive, are all aware that you have them.”

None of us have eaten or drunk anything despite a lavish display on the table. Servants place even more desserts down. The little plum cakes are so cute that I reach for one. Sora discreetly shakes her head no . I pull my arm back. She hasn’t had a chance to try them for poison.

“Two relics,” I correct.

Rune points to Mikail’s walking stick. “Three with the Water Scepter of Wei. I’m impressed you were able to take it, Mikail, even if Fallador is the one who should be holding it.”

No one moves, but my breath catches. How does he know? What has he heard?

All eyes shift to Mikail, who shrugs one shoulder, confirming what the count said.

Well, I suppose we were never going to fool him for long. And he still believes Fallador is the royal.

Rune smiles. “I remain your steadfast ally even as the realms unite against you. But Crown Prince Euyn has passed, gods guide his soul, so who will now take the throne? I recall he was our initial replacement.”

“We think we have a man,” Mikail says. He means Tiyung, but again he’s as vague as possible. If Seok is king, that would mean that Tiyung is free, unless…

“That wasn’t a real question,” Rune says. “I am your answer.”

The room falls dead silent.

“Now, with me as king and the Prince of Gaya as an ally, Yusan can reach new levels of greatness.” Rune inclines his head to Fallador, and then his eyes lock on me. “With you as my queen, of course.”

What? His queen? My cheeks tingle as blood leaves my face.

Royo starts coughing. He swallowed the wrong way. His face turns red, and he reaches for a glass of water, but then he thinks better of it and continues to cough into his sleeve.

“Sorry,” he mutters.

I’m glad I didn’t eat the cake, or I’d be choking, too. Did I just hear the western count correctly? Does he really intend to marry me? Someone young enough to be his daughter? I freeze, my fingers icy.

Sora’s violet eyes are wide as she stares straight ahead. Gambria’s face is skewed like she smells something foul. Fallador reacted quickly, but he’s back to pleasant and unaffected.

“I think the countess might have some objections to that plan,” Mikail says smoothly.

Rune traces his finger on the rim of his glass. “Ah, but she cannot, as she has walked the Road of Souls since I saw you last.”

Oh good. He’s single.

Of all of the conditions I thought the count might have, I didn’t see this coming. Neither did Mikail, judging from the quick shift of his eyes. I know Royo definitely didn’t.

But Rune has just named the starting price for his assistance, and it’s the throne. He knows how much we need his help, and he wants the realm in return. We should’ve expected this.

And now he wants an answer.

“I’m quite astonished and flattered by your affections,” I say. I do my best to sound like Sora as I also try not to run out of the room.

“It would be a marriage of convenience, Your Majesty,” he adds, then lowers his eyes. “Although you’d come to enjoy it.”

The corner of his mouth lifts as he sips coju.

I can almost feel the vein on Royo’s neck throbbing from here.

“I’ll have to consider it, my lord,” I say. I catch Mikail’s eye, and he tips his chin quickly. It was the right answer.

“In return, you would align with us, give us the men and mun to kill Seok?” Sora asks, leaning forward.

Rune nods. “How else would I get him off the throne, my beauty? He won’t simply abdicate. People like us, we don’t back down.”

In the history of Yusan, there has only been one abdication. From what everyone’s said, I doubt Seok would make it two.

I’m thinking about what Rune wants, all of what he wants, when a servant appears in the doorway. Rune’s eyes slide to the left, and then the servant disappears. Someone else has arrived here at nearly midnight. Someone Rune doesn’t want us to see.

“I’m sure you are all exhausted from your travels,” he continues.

“And apparently famished.” He gestures to all of the untouched food.

“You have my vow that you are safe and welcome here. Rest, and we will begin our plans tomorrow, assuming my terms are acceptable. In the meantime, I will have my servants prepare your baths and take your trunks.”

“We seem to have misplaced our luggage again,” Mikail says. “Lousy porter service.”

Rune sighs like it’s the most distressing thing he’s heard tonight. “I’ll send my tailors and seamstresses in the morning.”

“That’s very generous of you,” Fallador says.

Rune smiles. “Of course. We are friends here, and I treat my friends and lovers well.” He eyes me as he says lovers , and I think Royo might pass out. I’m not far behind him, but I’m determined not to let it show.

The count sips his drink and remains seated even though I feel like he’s rushing us out.

It’s strange for him to quickly end the audience, given how badly he wants the throne.

Perhaps he wants us to sleep on it, but that doesn’t feel accurate.

It most likely has something to do with the exchange with the servant earlier.

When none of us move, he finally stands. “I’ll bid you good night, then. We will iron out details in the daylight.”

Just as we’re pushing back from the table to rise, an absolutely gorgeous woman in a gold dress appears under the archway to the dining room.

Seriously, this woman might be prettier than Sora—which I didn’t think was possible.

She’s an inch or two shorter than Sora but with a sands glass–shaped body and warm brown skin.

Her ebony hair falls in gentle waves that remind me of the South Sea, and her eyes are emerald green.

We all look from the woman to Rune. Ah, this is who he didn’t want us to see.

He clears his throat. “My distinguished guests. May I introduce Misha of Jeul, my newest courtesan.”

Sora knocks over her water glass. It rolls off the table and shatters on the floor.