Page 85 of Empire's Curse

“What—” Her voice cracked and she cleared her throat. She turned to the other two, who paused in what they were doing. “What ever happened to Prince Yat-sen? Atreus told me he was sent to the palace, but I haven’t seen him anywhere. Is he in the same place the princesses are kept?”

“No. The princes are kept in a separate wing than the princesses.” Nikator spun the now-sharpened daggers in the air, caught them, and slashed the air. Seemingly satisfied, he tucked them into their black-scaled sheaths. “Prince Yat-sen is currently locked away in the eastern tower as punishment for using magic.”

Daiyu cringed at the imagery. She had heard the eastern side of the palace was where the royal mages frequented, so it was likely he was being held captive and watched by those same mages. It only made sense since he harbored powerful magic, she supposed, for him to be guarded by those who practiced even more potent magic than he did.

“It’s my fault he’s even there. I … I had hoped His Majesty would show him more grace.”

“His Majesty is strict with his rules,” Feiyu said quietly.

“Yes, but Prince Yat-sen was only helping me and now he’s …” She balled her hands together. “How long will he be trapped there?”

“Until His Majesty says so.” Nikator shrugged, not seeming concerned at all.

“That could be … years, couldn’t it?”

“I doubt it. Probably a few weeks.”

“You think so?”

Nikator nodded. “Yes, but if you want my honest opinion, it doesn’t really matter if he’s in the eastern tower or his bedroom. Because either way, he’s still a prisoner here.”

That deflated what little hope she had left of the young prince and she sagged against the couch. It was all her fault that he was being punished and there was nothing she could do about it. Sure, she could try to sneak into the eastern tower to help him, but she was sure that would only make his case even worse. And besides, with the mages frequenting that place, she doubted she would make it far.

“Is there any way you can help?” she asked Feiyu.

He was already shaking his head as if he knew what she was going to ask. “Forgive me, but I’m not going to go against His Majesty’s wishes. Although I might help you from time to time, and one can even say we’re friends, please don’t forget that I work directly under His Majesty.”

She sighed, her shoulders dropping even further as she sank into the cushions. “All right, I understand.”

“You’re not going to do anything stupid, are you?” Feiyu asked, his tone sharpening.

“No. I think I’d just make it worse for him.”

“Good.”

“But—” Daiyu’s tone lifted. “Do you think there’s anything Icando to help him?”

“Ask His Majesty to forgive him, maybe?”

Nikator sniggered. “That could also backfire and make His Majesty keep him thereevenlonger. In my opinion, you should just stay away from the prince. It’ll be better for you both.”

Daiyu scowled but couldn’t deny that. Maybe it was better for her, like Nikator said, to keep from meddling, but it was hard to sit there and do nothing when she was the reason the prince was being punished so severely. But maybe that was what she needed to learn how to do—to be a member of this court and to mind her own business.

She didn’t like the thought of that at all.

30

The months passedby and the weather cooled. During that time, Daiyu wasn’t any closer to figuring out who was after her than she was on the first day. She did, however, meet Vita, whose stoniness was a stark contrast to Nikator’s cheerfulness. She was a beautiful young lady with bluntly cut hair down to her chin, sharp moon-like gray eyes, and a tall frame. She hardly talked, and Daiyu found herself blathering to her in a one-sided conversation most days.

In the middle of the night, with the crisp, autumn air filtering in through the ornamental, slated windows above her framed bed, the soft sound of cheering and revelry woke Daiyu from her slumber. She pushed herself into a sitting position, only to find Vita, who slept on the couch in her room, was awake as well.

“Do you hear that?” Daiyu whispered, pushing the silk covers off her body and swinging her legs around.

“I do.” Vita folded her blanket neatly and placed it beside the seat she had been lying on earlier that night. Rising to her feet, she moved toward the doorway connecting to the living chambers. “Would you like for me to find out what the commotion is?”

“Yes.” Daiyu was already combing her fingers through her hair and heading toward her dresser. By the time she had pulled on arandom dress—a deep purple with sapphire waves along the skirts and cranes embroidered on the sleeves—Vita popped back into the bedroom chambers, a rare smile on her face.

“His Majesty has returned.”

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