Page 81 of Empire's Curse

“Maybe you can figure it all out later.” He lifted his shoulders and she could tell he wastryingto be helpful, but it fell flat. The sheepish grin he shot her told her as much.

Daiyu picked up one of the embroidered, tasseled pillows and hugged it tightly as she leaned forward. All of this was so confusing. Marrying Muyang, the villainous emperor of all people. Finding the person trying to take her life. Managing courtly affairs. Even thinking about the future … These were things she would have loved to talk to Lanfen about and bounce ideas so she knew she was doing the right thing. But she had no council here, no one whose words she could trust as being in her best interest.

“When do you think His Majesty will be back?” she asked.

“War takes time.”

“Sometimes. But what would you say?”

“When did His Majesty say he would be back?”

“He didn’t—” She paused. He had mentioned it at some point, didn’t he? “I think he said he’d be back by the Autumn Festival?”

“Then he’ll be back by then.”

“That’s not help—” She sighed and shook her head. “Never mind, Nikator.”

Daiyu rubbed her head where the hairpins and hair jewelrywere pulling her hair tightly back, the tension loosening with each circular massage. “Can you give me some privacy for about twenty or so minutes? I’d like to freshen up before we head out.”

“Certainly.” He gave a small bow and left the room swiftly, leaving her alone to her tumultuous thoughts.

Daiyu traipsedthrough the garden for what felt like hours but must’ve been thirty minutesat most. She peeked over trees and rose bushes, trying her hardest to catch a glimpse of the mysterious princesses, but despite it being their day to stroll through the gardens, she and Nikator hadn’t come across them yet. She was even allowed to enter the parts of the garden that she wasn’t allowed to before—all because Nikator was escorting her, and the guards seemed to want nothing to do with him—but her efforts seemed to be futile.

“Maybe they weren’t allowed outside today?” Nikator pondered as Daiyu stepped toward a greenish-blue pond with red and white koi fish and silver scaled carps swimming beneath its softly rippling surface.

Daiyu crossed her arms over her chest and stared into her reflection. The muggy summer heat was a contrast to the weather she had become accustomed to in the wintry northern state of Geru.

“Maybe,” she said at last, turning away from the pond. “But these gardens are huge. Are you sure we’ve looked everywhere?”

“Noteverywhere.” The wind tousled Nikator’s scarlet hair and in the sunlight, his eyes appeared like sparkling blue gems. “These are the only parts of the gardens they’re allowed in.”

“And these are the south gardens, correct?”

“Yes.”

They passed by statues of dragons and cranes surrounded by clusters of tall lavender shrubs and an old, moss-ridden statue of a half-crescent moon. Daiyu paused by the statues to inspect thesmall details on the crane’s feathers and the shiny scales on the dragons, when something brushed against her ankle, startling her. She jerked to the side, only to find a slate-gray, short-haired cat rubbing against her feet with its tail held up high.

“Oh, my.” Daiyu breathed a sigh of relief—it was only a cat. Kneeling down, she ran her hand over the cat’s head, and it obliged, pushing its soft face and whiskers against her open palm. “You scared me there! I thought you were some sort of monster.”

Nikator eyed the cat with a strange expression. “It has a ribbon around its neck.”

Sure enough, a purple silk ribbon was tied around its neck, accentuating the sharp green of its feline eyes. Daiyu continued to pet the animal, a small smile tugging on her lips. “Back home, we have a few farm cats that keep the rodents at bay. None of them let me pet them, but that didn’t stop me fromtrying.” She tapped the hanging pouch on the cat’s stomach. “I can tell that someone is taking care of you.”

Nikator’s frown deepened. “There’s only one person who?—”

“Jade, Jade! Where are you?”

The cat’s ears perked at the distant, female voice, and Daiyu turned just in time to see a young woman barreling through the lavender bushes, leaves and flower petals sticking out from her long, wavy hair. She nearly stumbled at Nikator’s feet, the braids framing her face swishing forward and the streaming, lilac-colored ribbons brushing against his leather boots. She raised her head while he stared down at her, both of them appearing dumbfounded.

The moment was broken when the cat meowed softly, and the woman turned to the cat, her eyes widening in obvious relief. “Jade!” she cried out, scrambling toward the cat.

Daiyu smiled at the woman’s unexpected entrance. “Is this your cat?”

“Yes! She escaped from my arms just seconds ago, and I was worried she’d get lost,” she said, her voice soft and wobbly as she scooped the cat into her trembling arms. She cast a quick glance atNikator, swallowed, and lowered her head. “F-Forgive me if I’m interrupting?—”

“Biyu! Biyu!”

“Princess!”

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