Page 7 of Cold Heir

We both fell silent after that name was mentioned. If I had to guess, it wasn’t lost on Elle how heavy my heart had been in the weeks past. Yes, the fact thatIwas still alive meant she and Leviwere still alive—per the laws of the blood bond—but it wasn’t enough. The woman my heart was undeniably bound to, and my brother, were still out there somewhere. Yet, despite my best efforts, I still had no clue wheresomewherewas.

“So, it must be nice having your mother home again,” Elle piped, unknowingly touching on another sensitive subject.

I only nodded, not wanting to call attention to the fact that her absence during one of the most trying times of my life had been beyond strange. Granted, she had duties of her own as empress of this quadrant, but her presence here at home would have been appreciated. I wouldn’t go as far as my father had, suggesting she’d been selfish, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t feel a bit slighted.

Elle studied me while I drove. I felt it.

“You’re upset she was away for so long, aren’t you?” she asked.

There was no need to confirm what she already knew.

“Well,” Elle continued, “she and the Emperor have been together many, many years. It’s not uncommon for a woman to step out of her marriage if she’s feeling unfulfilled.”

The statement was made so casually—like Elle was merely stating a statistic—that I had to laugh.

“I—thank you for that,” I stammered. “While I do think there’ssomethinggoing on, I doubt it’s an affair.”

Elle shrugged, reminding me of Corina when she did. That was a gesture she made often, hence the reason Elle had picked up on it.

“Well, if not an affair, then what?”

A deep breath left my mouth as I considered keeping what I’d seen to myself. However, Elle was more than just a member of my staff, she’d been a good friend.

“Well, as you know, I went to the main palace to greet her when she arrived. Everything seemed normal enough, aside from her incessant apologies for being away so long. Though I’m sure you can guess my father wasn’t exactly open to hearing the excuses.”

Elle giggled a bit, likely imagining it.

“About halfway into their argument,” I continued, “I made myself scarce by taking her bags upstairs, instead of waiting for someone else to grab them. I took them to the closet where her handmaid would unpack her things, but, as I was turning to leave, something caught my eye.”

Elle was nearly on the edge of her seat, waiting to hear more.

“It was an envelope,” I revealed. “And had this been like all her other trips, had she not come back with this air of … secrecy surrounding her, I might not have looked, but—”

“You went through her things?” Elle gasped. When I glanced over at her, there was no missing how much she disapproved.

“I did, but only because I was concerned.” With good reason …

That judgmental stare was set on me a few seconds longer before Elle’s curiosity got the best of her.

“Did you at least find something that justified your snooping?”

Envisioning the discovery in my thoughts, I still didn’t have an explanation.

“It was a purchase agreement,” I shared. “For two harvesting camps. One not too far outside the Capitol, the other in the North Quadrant.”

“But I don’t understand. Why would she lie about her business in Wakeshire?”

I believed I knew the answer to that. “Because my father would never approve. The man supports and agrees with the idea of the camps, but he’s done his best to stay out of the day-to-day process of the system, opting to stay on the lawmaking side instead. The clean side that just reaps the benefits,” I added, noting the disdain I carried in my own voice.

It shouldn’t have surprised me how much my views were beginning to shift, considering the amount of communication I’d had with Corina’s team. Considering how much more in-tune I’d become withherdespite her absence.

“So, what do you intend to do with this information? Tell your father? Confront your mother head-on?”

Before she even finished asking, I shook my head.

“None of the above. I only intend to mind my business. I’m in enough hot water as it is, without sticking my nose in my parents’ business where it doesn’t belong.”

There was silence as Elle studied me again.

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