Page 15 of A Reign of Embers

At the sight of me, they stall in their tracks.

“Your Imperial Highness,” one says, and seems to falter.

I draw myself up with all the fortitude I have. “What is it?”

Her stance stiffens, but she forces out the words. “A convoy’s just arrived from Lavira. Tribune Valerisse is declaring war on you as a false empress, on the grounds ofineptitude and that… that you faked your confirmation rite for Sabrelle. They say they have evidence to prove it.”

My guards’ heads tick toward me, even Marc’s, probably expecting me to deny the accusation as ridiculous. A queasy chill sweeps through me, pooling in my gut.

I can’t deny it, not honestly. Ididfake my completion of Sabrelle’s confirmation rite.

How could Valerisse know that?

Chapter Six

Aurelia

The warble of conversation filling the audience room only diminishes a little when I step onto the dais with its thrones. I hold my head high and adjust Coraya so she’s nestled even more deeply in my embrace.

She peers up at me for a moment with her perfect blue eyes and nuzzles my breast, but the gesture is half-hearted. I fed her just before heading in here; she’s sated enough that her eyelids drift shut a moment later.

An ache closes around my heart. I hate using my daughter as a political prop… but she was conceived as one. It was inevitable that there would be moments like this, wasn’t it?

It was simply easier to accept that fact before she was a living, breathing, fragile human being I could hold in my arms.

If I’ve ever needed a reminder of my full claim to theDarium throne, it’s now. The discussions buzzing through the room center on Valerisse’s declaration of war and her claims of my unworthiness.

“Silence!” Marc hollers from his place amid my personal guards. “Her Imperial Highness will speak.”

His altered voice still carries the unshakable authority he cultivated as emperor. The nobles swarming the room hesitate, perhaps recognizing the familiar tone with a shiver down their backs.

If they had any idea that the emperor who often terrorized them still walks among them, if in his less sadistic form…

I gather myself and gaze out across the many dozens of tense faces, keeping my own tone as calm and steady as I can. “You’ve all heard the accusations and the threat one of the empire’s tribunes has made toward me. I stand before you as both the chosen wife of the last emperor of the imperial line and the mother of his heir, prepared to act as regent empress until she is of age.”

Before I can go any farther, a voice breaks out from somewhere in the midst of the swarm. “Is it true? Did you fail Sabrelle’s confirmation rite?”

Another noble joins in. “The messenger said Valerisse has proof. The traitor you were supposed to execute still lives!”

Someone else makes a scoffing sound. “It could be all lies.”

Pressure coils at the base of my throat. I’d like to believe that Valerisse has no real evidence of her claims, but I know they’re true. The proof could exist.

Not even the imperial advisors gathered at the edge of the platform look confident. Axius keeps his usual foreboding stance, but Etta’s expression is dour and Severo’s hands twitch where he’s clasping them in front of him.

In their own cluster near the platform, the foster princesshift on their feet. Bastien’s face is drawn. Raul glowers at the crowd, and Lorenzo meets my eyes with a subtle flick of his fingers:Stay safe.

I can’t, though, can I? If I deny the claims now and Valerisse presents her evidence, I’ll lose far more trust than if I face the accusation head on.

My only comfort is that the Lavirian rebel whose life I spared can have no idea that my lovers were involved in his escape. All he’ll know is that he woke up still alive far beyond Vivencia’s walls.

I’ve been preparing to give this statement since the moment I heard the messenger’s proclamation a couple of hours ago. That doesn’t lighten the words as they pass over my tongue.

“When Emperor Marclinus set out to perform the confirmation rites, I joined him as an additional show of my devotion to this country and my role in the empire. I’m the first imperial consort to carry out the rites at all. Nonetheless, I did complete all of them to the satisfaction of the presiding clerics.”

I pause to fill my lungs, the ache between them expanding. “It is true that I did not fulfill Sabrelle’s rite in the traditional way. The request that I commit murder conflicted with my dedication to Elox, who has always guided me well. So yes, I found a compromise that allowed me to fell the prisoner without ending his life. I believe I still proved that Icouldhave ended his life if I’d wanted to, which is the most important aspect of the rite.”

A renewed wave of murmurs passes through the crowd.

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