Page 77 of Empire's Curse

Nikator picked at the salt-coated nuts and collected a few in the palm of his hand, all the while staring at the dragon-masked mage, who was leaning back on the couch with his hands folded across his abdomen casually. “I just find your pairing very strange and unexpected.”

“There’s been stranger allies,” Daiyu said in what she hoped was a jovial tone, but came out slightly strained. She cleared her throat when Nikator gave her another strange look. It was true that it might have been weird that she was acquainted with Feiyu, and that he was likely her only friend in the palace, but surely it couldn’t bethatstrange? “He’s the head mage of the royal palace, so of course we were going to cross paths at some point.”

“I … suppose.” Nikator chewed and swallowed. “But Feiyu rarely, if ever, shows his face anywhere.”

“Do you mean that literally or metaphorically?” Daiyu eyed the dragon-mask Feiyu currently donned.

The mage chuckled, and his whole chest shook from the small movement. “I think he means it in both senses. No one has seen my face in years, and I intend to keep it that way. But yes, in a way, I do keep to myself. I don’t like involving myself in the politics and drama of royal court life, so I avoid it as much as I can. So long as I do everything His Majesty wants, I hardly see why it matters where I am.” He waved a dismissive hand. “Anyhow, let’s talk about something other than me, shall we? Nik, Iwanted to get your input on a few things, since this also pertains to you.”

Nikator bobbed his head. “Sure, what is it?”

“We were just discussing Lady Daiyu’s safety—or lack thereof.” Feiyu wove his fingers together and nodded his masked chin in Daiyu’s direction. “Maybe you can explain the rest?”

She frowned at the mage. There wasn’t much to talk about since she just broached the subject. “Well, I had just asked you whether you had any information about who poisoned me and if it’s related to the kidnapping a few weeks ago.” She then turned to Nikator. “I was poisoned early on in my stay here and Feiyu was actually the one who saved me.”

“I, regretfully, haven’t been able to find out much of what happened,” Feiyu answered. “I was actually going to suggest that you ask around yourself. There are some suspicious people in the palace who might know something. Or might be involved.”

“Who?” Daiyu asked quietly, not liking the turn of the conversation. She didn’t want to personally be snooping around in other people’s business, but if that’s what it took to keep herself safe, she would do just that. “And I’m assuming it’s something you can’t do? Even though you’re a powerful mage?”

“Unfortunately, with the emperor’s recent expedition to the north for war, I’ve been stretched very, very thinly here. So as much as I would love to help you get to the bottom of this, I haven’t had the time.” His voice lowered an octave and he sounded genuinely concerned for her, but then he clapped his hands together and said cheerily, “So I think it’s best if you got to the bottom of it since you have so much time. I’ll provide assistance from time to time, but I’m a bit too busy to help out.”

“I should have expected as much,” she grumbled. “But all right, I can’t expect you to do everything, anyway. Do you have any leads on who might know a thing or two about what happened?”

“Youcouldask the princesses.”

Nikator stilled and one of the nuts slipped from his hand anddisappeared underneath the couch. Daiyu hesitated as well, gaze flicking to where the almond had skittered off to, and then to the painted mask Feiyu wore. “The princesses,” she said slowly. “Who are currently locked away here? What do they know?”

“I’m not sure if they know anything.” He lifted his shoulders. “But it’s worth a try, isn’t it? They’re allowed afternoon walks in the garden once a week on Tuesdays. You can try to catch them during that time to see if they know anything. I wouldn’t be surprised if they were plotting against His Majesty and everyone related to him—including you.”

“We can go this week,” Nikator offered, lounging back in his seat with a thoughtful frown. His sapphire blue eyes narrowed and he seemed lost in thought for a moment. “The two princesses are a bit suspicious, but do you really think they know something? It wouldn’t benefit them to have Lady Daiyu killed, would it?”

“I’m not sure, but it would be unwise to rule them out simply because we don’t know.” Feiyu drummed his fingers on the armrest. “You can also ask a noble lady or two if they know anything or have heard anything? Make a list of people of who might be jealous of you.”

“I don’t know any—” The words died on Daiyu’s tongue just as she was saying them. “Wait, I do knowonenoble lady. Have either of you heard of Lady Jia? I don’t remember her family name?—”

Feiyu tilted his head. “General Liang Fang’s wife? Li Jia?”

“I … would assume so?” The first time she had met Jia, she had been with General Liang Fang, and the second time she had mentioned that her husband had a meeting with Muyang. It should have been clear to Daiyu who her husband was, but she hadn’t connected the dots. And quite frankly, she had been too concerned about escaping to care too much during that time. It was embarrassing to think that she had met the wife of ageneralbut hadn’t even realized it. “Is there any way I can arrange a meeting with her? Like for tea or something small.”

Nikator nodded. “I can arrange it. I know her pretty well since I’m well acquainted with General Fang.”

“Perfect.” Daiyu clasped her hands together. At least this way, she’d be able to find more information and hopefully, more allies. And it gave her something to do while Muyang was away. Or at least, that’s what she told herself. It wasn’t like she cared whether Muyang came back early or not—her priority was on surviving his court. She only needed to marry him to secure her family’s futures. That was it.

“Do you think someone might still be after my family?” She blurted the words without thinking too carefully about what she was saying, but once they were out, she couldn’t hold back the flood of nightmarish anxiety that came with those thoughts. “I mean, His Majesty won’t be able to protect them until we’re married, right? His protection won’t really be sufficient enough until?—”

“His Majesty has already sent word to your family that you were chosen as his bride,” Feiyu interrupted, his hand hovering over the platter of nuts, but then resting back on his lap. “But I’ll be sure to put a spell in the area that will inform me if anything goes awry. Your family should be fine, though. I doubt anyone would actively try to kill them—especially not with magic, which can be traced depending on the type.”

“Why are you so sure?”

“Because I’m the head mage at this palace, and I know more than most people.”

“But then why can’t you trace who burned our rice fields?”

“Well, that’s a bit more complicated, since fire magic is so basic. But any spells that will kill someone does leave a trace, and I’d be able to track that. And, of course, if someone did try to murder your whole family, with or without magic, that would be highly suspicious and His Majesty would definitely open an investigation. I don’t think any noble family would want to be under the emperor’s ire. They probably just wanted to scare you enough to get you to back away from all of this.”

“I hope you’re right.” She squeezed her hands together until her fingers blanched pale. If something happened to her family, she wouldn’t be able to forgive herself for such a miscalculation because at the end of the day, she had two choices she could have made: run with her family and start a new life, or marry Muyang for a better life for her family. She prayed she was making the right decision.

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