Page 40 of Poisoned Empire

“You really do know how to clear a room,” the prince sighed.

“One of my many fine talents.”

“Lucky me.”

“And here I thought you’d be grateful. They looked like they were ready to sink their teeth into you and strip your bones clean. Who knows? If I’d left you to them, you might’ve found yourself enjoying a stable of concubines twice your age.”

He hid his laugh with a more dignified cough.

“Would you accept a dance as thanks?”

“Certainly.”

As their dance commenced, the other nobles seemed to take their cues. The men had been removed and the mess cleaned, so there was little left to gawk at. Except the woman who’d caused it, having just sent a group of magistrae running, now twirling in a prince’s arms. Point to Selene.

“Do I need to know what you did to those nobilissimi?”

“It was no less than they deserved. They almost hurt my feelings.”

He gave her a look which clearly indicated his doubt. She gamely ignored it.

“So how is Lord Renfreid? I didn’t see him. Did you forget to invite him?”

The prince almost—almost—sighed.

“I’d almost forgotten about him. As it is, our resident griffin is busying himself exhausting every courtesan in Nadioch, male and female, all at once. At this point, they’re plying him with wine to try to slow him down. Does everything you’re involved with turn into some twisted, chaotic circus?”

“Only the fun things.”

The prince bit down on his smirk.

“So, where did you say this orgy was being held?” Selene asked.

Chapter 16

Belisariuswatchedwithsomedismay as the poison mage dug into her dinner with extreme enthusiasm. He’d only just managed to convince her that attending an orgy would be considered beyond the pale, even for the now infamously eccentric Domina Milena Amethyst. It did irk him that she’d seemed so keen on it. She’d grudgingly resigned herself to a dinner with him instead. So much for enlightening conversation or even refreshing banter.

“Please feel free to show some eagerness. Your sense of decorum is overwhelming.”

She rolled her eyes.

“Noble etiquette is performance, Belli. Is there really any point to pretending around you? Even the servants have made themselves scarce.”

They’d done so because he’d insisted on having a very private dinner with the woman in front of him. At least for this part of his ruse, he needn’t make a fool of himself in public.

“Was your life before this so very different? Surely even a commoner eats with some propriety.”

“Says the man who has never known hunger. Look, can I be honest here?” Selene asked, exasperated, gesticulating with a piece of meat speared on her fork as she pointed at him.

“When are you not?”

“None of us dirty commoners bother to eat tiny morsels one at a time, nor do we waste time eating slowly. First, a meal like this is one I’ll never see the like of again. Second, if I ate like a noble, the food would be cold before I even finished it. You only pick at your food if you don’t like itandaren’t grateful that it’s there. As far as people like me are concerned, it’s noble etiquette that’s got the whole business wrong.”

Though he’d never seen the hungry masses, it stung that she might think he didn’t know there were plenty out there. He’d set up public baths and charitable centres to distribute oil, bread and watered wine on a regular basis to those in need for this very reason. She could cast stones all she liked, but she’d never been tasked with solving issues of this magnitude.

“Are the charitable centres not to your taste?”

She rolled her eyes—again. He gripped his fork harder than was necessary.

---