Page 30 of Conspirators' Kingdom

Which he wasn’t. Theodore was truly smitten.

Damn. Damn. Damn it all to the deepest of hells!

Taisiya could hear the grin in Vasilisa’s voice and scowled.

“She’s too young for him,” she protested mulishly.

“She’s of legal age to wed, and knowing your brother, he won’t make any moves until she does. Besides, a decade age gap is nothing. Maybe if it were four decades, but it’s not.”

Rationally, Vasilisa was right. Once mages physically became adults in their early twenties, it was difficult to spot the difference between them and any mage under the age of seventy, unless hard living or illness stripped them of their natural vitality. At least it was until you spoke with one. Then the years of experience tended to make clear the difference.

“I don’t have to like it.”

“No, but look at Theodore. Doesn’t he look happy?”

He… did.

“You’ve always said he should marry for love.”

Taisiya groaned. She did say that—often.

“Let’s get this over with. I don’t want to be hearing gossip about the investigation later, I want to be telling it.”

Vasilisa released her grip. Taisiya moved to interrupt the two.

“Magistra Amber.” Taisiya curtsied. “The emperor requests your presence. I’ve come to escort you to the training grounds.”

Both Theodore and Alexandra jumped at the sound of her voice, so blind they’d been to the world around them.

Only Taisiya could hear the scream inside her head.

“Taisiya! I haven’t seen you since you became ambassador. You look beautiful.” Theodore rose from his seat and hugged her.

“Thank you, Theo. But what are you doing here?” Taisiya asked as politely as she could.

“The praetor asked for someone to teach Alex—Magistra Amber—about her new role. I’ve been showing her what I can whenever I have a moment to spare,” Theodore said, blushing at the misstep of referring to the magistra so casually.

“That’s very sweet of you Theo.” She smiled. “Will you be attending this evening’s ball?”

He shook his head.

“Likely not. The logothete has me working like a dog.”

“Take care then. And remember that Milena is getting married in a few days. Family only.” She kissed him on his cheek and turned her attention to the magistra, who had risen from her seat and smoothed the silk of her sunset orange dress while they spoke. “Shall we proceed, Magistra?”

Alexandra nodded. She looked shyly to Theodore.

“Thank you, Illustrus Spark. Please let me know when you next have the time to spare for me.”

With a few more polite farewells, they were headed back to the sparring ring.

“My brother is a very kind man, Magistra,” Taisiya said, her tone censorious.

“I agree,” Alexandra replied, her posture stiffening.

“It would be a pity if someone were to break his heart.” She eyed the silver-tongue tellingly. “On a completely unrelated note, were you aware that a bolt of lightning travels further and faster than the sound of, say, a scream? No? Just a bit of trivia.” Taisiya caught Vasilisa out of the corner of her eye, pursing her lips to keep from laughing. “As I said, the emperor requires your gifts in the sparring ring. There’s been an incident with a cursed sword that we’d like to get to the bottom of.”

Chapter 16

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