Wicked Steps

Morning came, and with it answers, pain, and information. Emberlee was grateful for two out of the three. Her last conscious memories as the Fairy Magic broke at midnight had been pain and surprise. Despite repeated warnings from multiple people, she ignored the time limit and felt the consequences for it immediately. And now she got to face the results of all the actors taken; Ainsley was dead, she'd heard that confirmed the previous evening and it felt almost anticlimactic to simply hear about it after the fact.

It wasn't that Emberlee wanted to witness someone's demise, or that Cinderella had to be appeased by blood, it just didn't feel real yet. Emberlee searched her soul for a hint of guilt or regret but found more. Maybe the pain medication she'd been given was helping blunt those sensations too.

It was easy to assume the sequence of events that occurred after midnight. Her Fairy Magic had broken, she'd blacked out from the pain and energy loss, and the Imperial Prince had somehow brought her to a guest room and had her tended to. She was currently in a light nightgown that was not her own, and she could feel the press of bandages on her beaten back, and Emberlee tried valiantly to feel no embarrassment over both but her cheeks burned hotly.

Several people have now likely seen her injured, undressed, and unconscious. A Physician had been called to treat her wounds, and likely a maid to wash and dress her, but a horrible likelihood existed where Imperial Prince Damien had seen it too. Unfortunate.

Emberlee spied the bell chord to pull and summon a maid, but for now, she was alone. Truly alone, she felt no trace of Cinderella in her mind or reflection. It was peaceful and restful, and so lonesome it added to her blunted pain. It felt too much like when she'd lost Mother and Aubin, and been left alone by the War Father was General of. Her relationship with her Fairy was unhealthy, but all she had left. Emberlee couldn't lay all the blame for her actions at Cinderella's feet as all her Fairy self had done was finish what Emberlee had started. And maybe if Emberlee has been a little more brutal at the outset all the rest of this nonsense could have been avoided.

Before she could be bogged down in ruminations, a light knock at the door drew her attention. "Enter," she was as decent as it was possible to be as an infirm guest.

She should have anticipated it being a rather amused-looking Imperial Prince, but the pain medication which helped ease her malaise also slowed her mind. "Good morning Marchioness, I'm pleased to see you finally awake." He looked unbothered by the previous night's events and didn't wait for her response, coming to sit in a chair that had been set next to the bed. And as if holding an award aloft, the Imperial Crown Prince presented a glass slipper to her; the remnants of last night's Magic. "At the stroke of midnight, if you may recall," he sounded unbearably triumphant, "your Fairy Magic shattered on you and I was left with a bloodied, unconscious, and naked Marchioness." He spared her pride no remorse.

"That could prove inconvenient given any witnesses," she tried to ignore the part of her that was so mortified she could cry.

"I was more concerned by how badly abused you had recently been," now he at least sounded more empathetic, "My jacket concealed as much as it could but I did carry you inside to seek aid." Oh sweet gods it was the worst-case scenario. And despite her facial control, the Imperial Prince seemed to read her reaction, "Most were not on hand to see, we had been witnessed entering the restricted section

together but only my Knight and the Physician saw you after that. The rest of the guests were more than occupied by the various other spectacles occurring. And before you are too concerned, both my Imperial Knight and the Physician are women. Sir Eloise had been my Knight since I was young and the Imperial Physician was the one hired to tend the Imperial Princess."

"So you're the only pervert to see an underage girl naked, without her consent?" she fell back on acting like it didn't bother her at all, waiting until a private moment to try and process it properly.

"More like you exposed yourself to me without my concert Marchioness," he retorted but didn't continue heckling. "Oberon came seeking you out after the midnight tolls. He helped provide a flamboyant distraction so none could witness your rescue." He sighed as if caught between exasperation and admiration for Oberon's attention-claiming ways.

"I'm grateful," she didn't specify to whom, "as it is not in my nature to seek rescue, or normally require it," she was glad for the medication's blurting effects now.

"When you claimed to have paid blood, sweat, and tears," Prince Damian was serious again, "I had no idea the literal cost of your words. So if it provides you with any comfort, know that at least two of your tormentors fell victim to wildly tragic and unpredictable fates. Imperial Knight Ludwig was escorting Ainsley on a refreshing walk," polite phrasing for try to sober her up outside, "where it seems that a component of her perfume caused a hive of bees to swarm her. Several witnesses attempted to assist and intervene, but even Sir Ludwig was blinded in one eye and your stepsister Ainsley was unfortunately killed. Her body is being tended to by the Imperial Physician's College and prepared for a funeral." He explained it all as if he didn't know she had played a role in that fate somehow.

And the fact that Sir Ludwig had lost an eye during it was an unexpected benefit. An eye for an eye, Cinderella whispered.

You're back, Emberlee tried not to feel too relieved.

Our Bond is not broken, if that is your concern, she sounded amused by the idea. But I do not relish the concept of repeating the last night's adventure. It had hurt her too then.

The Imperial Prince remained unaware of the internal dialogue, but he had given her a moment to process his pronouncement of Ainsley's death. "And in a strange symmetry of fate, her twin Deirdre also passed away last night. Unfortunately, it seems that after your stepsister's outburst at the Banquet, she and your stepmother Jimena returned to your Capital House to recover. And shortly thereafter, a fire broke out." That was a plot twist neither Emberlee nor Cinderella had anticipated.

"A fire?"' she sounded incredulous.

"Your Stepmother Jimena survived and there's no harm to her babe, but Deirdre perished in the fire and many possessions were lost. I'm truly sorry for the travesty," he seemed to be testing her reaction to this part of the news.

"I was not expecting a fire, did the servants make it out?" she would have to adjust for the losses of the Capital House assets, but ultimately to her people were more important than things. Besides, the Steps had already ruined everything she'd loved in the Capital.

"The servants had been kicked out by Jimena upon her return to the House, and before long reports of

the fire started; my Father has already set an Inspector to determine if this was arson." He answered and Emberlee couldn't help the surprise from showing.

"Jimena burnt my House down?" she demanded and tried to find the logic of it. The compound Deirdre was dying of wouldn't have been pleasant, and instinct should have drawn the women into a bathtub, not to set a fire.

"The Inspector will determine the most likely scenario, and will interview Jimena once she's no longer a patient at the Physician's College, until then she is allowed no visitors." It seemed that even if the night had ended with Emberlee's humiliation, it had also seemed to end with her task of vengeance all but accomplished. "Shortly I'll leave and send a maid to assist you in preparing as my Father wishes to speak to you. As far as the Court is concerned, you were here as a guest since your chaperone left you unattended. Your Uncle Albert has agreed as the Emperor has offered you temporary housing here at the Castle." It was a generous offer from the Emperor and it curtailed nicely into his plans to use her as a political pawn against the Empress.

"Thank you," she said simply but meant it for more than just the information.

Things had not gone to plan at all, even if the result worked in her favour ultimately. Too many unpredictable things had occurred, Emberlee had depended too much on being clever and assuming passive meant being unable to act. And when she was pushed past reasonable, her arrogance had caused her the humiliation she now endured. It was a hard lesson to swallow, but she didn't shy away from it. Mother always said failure was the best mentor.

"I'll send a maid to you shortly, when you are ready please join us for the lunchtime meal," he didn't linger, giving her a brief respite to think.

"Can you show me what transpired in the Capital House last night?" she enquired of Cinderella.

"Only what the Mirrors saw," she admitted, "and only until they were destroyed." Emberlee looked around the guestroom, seeing no vanity but a table with a simple hand Mirror. She didn't fancy how terrible it would feel to move about, but it would occur regardless so she persevered. She had limited time to witness it, and thankfully Cinderella didn't delay.

Jimena and Deirdre had made it back to the Capital House. And even if Deirdre was in screaming hysterics and looking to be in agony at this point Jimena was trying to insist on Deirdre just having to deal with it privately. So much more concerned with her perceived reputation than the welfare of others that she quickly kicked the few night servants out even as Deandre wailed and tore off her clothes. None of the servants would likely recognize the compound for what it was anyways, so they wouldn't have been able to help regardless. And Cinderella's retribution would ensure that her instinct to resolve it would only exacerbate her injuries, knowing that it would do more harm than good to use the bath in Jimena's room. With the modernized plumbing of the city, no servant was needed to fill it, so Cinderella anticipated Jimena filling it to rinse Deirdre off and just stripping the skin right off her daughter in the process.

It was only fair, Jimena had stripped Emberlee's House of everything that had been hers and destroyed all the reminders of her Mother and Aubin. She'd even claimed Aubin's nursery. One day Emberlee had planned to fill it with children herself but like her Mother's wedding dress they had befouled everything.

Fairy Magic ensured that only Emberlee could hear the screams Deirdre wailed, fear and pain-filled. The cries of helplessness. Like nothing else those sounds stirred a strange panic within Emberlee, too similar to how she had felt while Sir Ludwig and the sisters had held her in place for Jimena's abuse. She wasn't regretting it, but Emberlee knew that you didn't leave an animal alive when it was suffering like that.

Deirdre's shrieks had been so loud, and so constant that Emberlee hadn't even heard Jimena's agonized wails, but when Emberlee saw her stepmother she saw the skin of her hands badly burnt along with the thing that had been Deirdre. "Shut up! Shut up shut up shut up!" Jimena shrieked at the bloodied mess that was Deirdre. There were no servants in the house to aid her, and by the looks of it, it was far too late for anyone to help Deirdre. Especially when Jimena grabbed the scissors off of the vanity; "May whatever demon that possessed you spare me and my babe," Jimena snarled and began to stab her child with the scissors.

Finally, the horrendous screaming stopped. Emberlee didn't feel sickened by what she witnessed, but only because she helped orchestrate it. But she was a bit repulsed when it seemed that to hide the evidence of her killing her child, Jimena then saw fit to burn the House down. She splashed oil over Deirdre's repulsive corpse, her raw skin looking tender. Accelerant poured, Jimena left to collect a few precious items she didn't want to lose to a conflagration and then as if it meant nothing to her at all, Jimena threw a candelabra onto Deirdre's body and walked out. Emberlee felt nothing as she watched her Capital House fill with flames.

The heat, smoke, and fire couldn't touch her but she still felt Cinderella pull them out of the reflected world before all the Mirrors could break. She'd already lost everything she'd loved or would have wanted to save, so Emberlee just resigned herself to its immolation. Though she was a little curious about how Jimena was going to explain the fire, Deirdre's death, and her survival. It was something to think about as the maid arrived to carefully wash and dress her for lunch with the Imperial Family. Given the entirety of events, and the corresponding ripple of rumours from last night, Emberlee expected it was going to be quite the tense and awkward atmosphere.

Last night Jimena had made a play for power by imprisoning Emberlee in the Capital House so she'd miss the Imperial Princes' debut. Cinderella had helped Emberlee counter it with brutal efficiency but the Empress only knew that she'd been dancing with the Imperial Prince. Not that that was any less of a reason to hate her in the Empress' eyes, it was just vaguely amusing to inspire loathing without Clara even knowing the entirety of it.

"Marchioness, join us," the Emperor invited, "you have endured so many unexpected things in a short time, so please allow me to be your stand-in guardian until you debut in Firemarch."

"First my coming of age, now my guardianship, your Majesty is too kind." She could see the Empress glaring but Princess Vivian looked heartbroken for Emberlee.

"All noble daughters are my daughter by tension so it is my pleasure to see you taken care of," The

Emperor didn't hesitate to demonstrate what a political creature he was. Like forcing Emberlee to stay in the Capital, he was deliberately stating his favour while the Empress did nothing to disguise her hateful glare.

Throughout a single night, the Game had drastically changed. As a noble, Emberlee didn't expect love in a marriage but this was her first time seeing hate so dearly demonstrated. The Emperor's first wife had been from the Erding Grand Dukedom, and they still supported Imperial Prince Damien but the Empress had very little political support within Xutia. Andrion had only taken her as a wife so he could use her familial ties to bolster Xutia into Imperial status. The Emperor hadn't married the Empress out of anything but the need to expand his power base. Of course, he wouldn't take kindly to the obligated wife trying to pressure him into semi-incestuously marrying his son to her daughter. They both knew that once the Emperor passed away she'd lose all political Power. The Crown Prince would become Emperor, she'd be moved to the Dowager position and Imperial Princess Vivian would be all but useless for a political marriage. And now there was this. The expression on Empress Clara's face was pleasant enough but her eyes promised murder.

None would guess that Emberlee truly didn't want the attention and honour, or that she'd participated in the production of the tragedies that the Stussicans had all endured. She'd been dancing with Prince Damien, in full view of High Society, so the Court may whisper about a possible affair but not a single person would believe Emberlee was responsible for the deaths that occulted while she danced. Only the Crown Prince watched her as if he could see the blood on her hands, and until he publicly declared her to be a murderer Emberlee had no intention of stopping. Though she also had no intention of being executed for it either.

"I'm so sorry for the loss of your stepsisters," Princess Vivian was her easily lovable self, taking Emberlee's hands in hers. "I can only imagine how distraught I'd be if Damien were to fall to such a fate and you lost both siblings and a home."

Subconsciously it seemed that Princess Vivian was over her crush on the Imperial Crown Prince, even if she hadn't realized it yet. That or Oberon's charm was that captivating, Emberlee wasn't certain which yet, "Thank you, Princess Vivian, you're a true friend to me in my time of need."

Despite helping her last night and seeking her out earlier, Prince Damien acted like he was only just seeing her now, "Marchioness, how are you feeling? I heard you fainted after learning of Ainsley's accident."

"Thank you, Prince Damien, I am feeling much better after a good night's rest," she carefully curtsied. Only the pain of them knew her back was as black and blue as her gown had been last night. At least the bleeding had stopped, a few stripes were likely to scar. From the scene she'd witnessed in the Mirror, Cinderella had scarred Jimena right back. She'd heal, physically and mentally, but Emberlee wouldn't give Jimena the chance to do the same. And thanks to Jimena's incautious acts, Emberlee didn't have to do anything at all; though a part of her wanted to go see Jimena in person at least one more time. "Your Imperial Majesty, I understand that an Investigator is determining if Jimena caused the fire; I would like to attend the interview that is to occur," she requested formally, the vial with Méabh's blood likely lost to the fire and so she couldn't use Mirrors.

"You want to revel in her grief?" the Empress snapped.

"I want to understand," Emberlee carefully stated, "she'd been so excited to deliver her baby that she'd

readied the nursery, and yet she burned it all down?" She still found herself not lying but delivering the truth in a calculated way. Because although she'd neutralized the Steps, the Emperor was still using her as a Shield against the Empress, so the Game continued.

Over the last three days, every plan she'd made over the previous three months had crashed and burned, and she'd had to react on instinct. Nothing now looked like how she wanted it to, but Emberlee would make it work. Originally she'd wanted to avoid the Empress' direct retaliation, now she had to deliberately draw it on the Emperor's request. She could somewhat predict what would be the next few maneuvers but wanted to proceed carefully. Being fuelled by rage and hubris had left her bloodied and surrounded by broken magic once already.

"I could go with her Father," Prince Damien supported the idea surprisingly," make it an official hearing so the matter is resolved swiftly. That way their funerals are not delayed needlessly."

"If you both insist, I will not deter you," the Emperor allowed it.

"Lady Emberlee, if you're lost everything to a fire, can I please offer my closet to help attire you?" Princess Vivian was generous and Emberlee knew that at least one dress in that wardrobe would fit her perfectly.

"I gratefully accept your generosity, Princess Vivian. You demonstrate all the best attributes of Xutian Nobility." Living in the Imperial Castle meant operating with eyes always watching her, leaving her within the Empress' scheming grasp, and would require her to be on endless high alert, but she was also going to be given quite a few unique opportunities she'd otherwise miss out on. And the uncomfortable lunch was only the first.

The Emperor's obvious favour would result in an increase in business for Ortega at the very least. Add into it the new cooperation's with Adaba also promised a boom in trade going through Ortega to the southern Empire. And the more she used the Imperial castle to meet with other Nobles, the larger her network of support could grow. So Emberlee went along with the Emperor's manipulations in the same way she had Cinderella's; aware that it would leave her forever altered.

And it had already happened before she'd realized it.

The reason Prince Damien had tried to diminish her role before it was too late; no matter that things had resolved with her Steps, Emberlee now had to contend with the Empress' ire. If he'd successfully convinced the Emperor to replace her as Envoy, she wouldn't have been introduced with Oberon last night, or been in a position to be Prince Damien's dance partner in place of Princess Vivian. Even if she were to return to Ortega and go to Adaba after, the Empress would still see her as an obstacle to her plans. At best Empress Clara would likely send assassins after Emberlee, at worst she'd target the whole of Ortega March. To counter that kind of power Emberlee was going to have to find her own. Not Fairy Magic or Blessings, but pure political power was required to survive this enemy. A Marchioness against an Empress, in a battle that would never end but could at best be brought to a stalemate.

Logically Emberlee already knew what she had to do to protect Ortega, but emotionally she was holding out on actually accepting it. The Empress felt her to be an obstacle to her attempts to marry Princes Vivian to Prince Damien, and backing down would still only result in retaliation so then it would be smarter to take action. She was going to have to marry the Imperial Crown Prince. Being the Imperial Crown Princess would offer her that political power she needed; guaranteeing that the Emperor would stay on her side, as well as Prince Damien's supporters. It would be the best way to fulfill her role as Xutia's Shield, and her duty to protect her March.

The knock at her guestroom door felt almost inevitable, the Imperial Prince once again showing a disregard for propriety as he entered without waiting. And she could tell by the way his gaze assessed her that he'd drawn all the same conclusions she had. But hadn't decided to forewarn her of it at all.

"This will not be a relationship like in the 온라인카지노게임books," she decided to skip the small talk if he were going to bypass etiquette.

"True love's kiss breaks no curses but loneliness," Prince Damien agreed obliquely with a fairy-tale reference.

She stood in a guest room, wearing borrowed clothes, and aching from a beating only a day old, but she did not falter in the face of it as Prince Damien walked closer to her. "You desire a bride that's capable of terrible brutality?" She didn't deny her villainous aspects.

"If it is required, yes," he agreed and walked with her to sit in the chair while gesturing for her to rest in the bed. It would feel more invalidating if she didn't already hurt so much. "From what I have witnessed, you are precise, adaptable, and care deeply for your people. I could do a lot worse for a partner to lead with me. Because that is what I'm asking of you Marchioness; you are Xutia's Shield so help me protect all of its people." He didn't appeal to her sense of romance, knowing it'd be useless, so instead he appealed to her possessiveness. Because they were her people, and woe become whoever threatened her people.

"You're a manipulative dragon, "she accepted his proposal.

"And you're a malevolent Fairy," Prince Damien smiled, "at least we see each other for all that we are."

"Do not officially propose until after the funeral," she knew how High Society could turn on her if she rushed the relationship so closely after such tragedies.

"I had intended to wait until you were officially an adult," he protested lightly.

"Acceptable," if she thought of it as a negotiation only it was easier. "Better even if it means my Father is back from the war."

"He is due to return before your departure to Adaba," it wasn't what she wanted to hear, but Emberlee was realistic.

Her birthday and corresponding debut would be in a month, and her departure to Adaba as Envoy would be in three; that meant they expected a declaration of victory sometime between. "Best to get the investigation, judgements, and funerals over with expeditiously then, that way High society can focus on the positive developments to come."

"Why do you want to go to the interview with Jimena?" he changed topics on her now that the matter was settled.

She noted the lack of honorific and realized that her guilt was already assumed. "One can see an entirely different perspective when on the other side of the Mirror, and can even see the events of a night gone by. But what it does not allow is for the guilty to know their wickedness has been witnessed." The Empress had accused her of going to revel in Jimena's grief, but that was too simple for what Emberlee needed.

Emberlee had been forgiving and kind; she had been ready to support her Father's new wife and find suitable spouses for her new stepsisters. Their intrusion into her life had been unexpected and unwanted by all parties, but a good Marchioness finds a way to turn any obstacle into an opportunity, so if they'd been at all cooperative she'd been willing to welcome them. The Manor had been so empty after Aubin died, a little part of Emberlee had been excited to have companionship if not a family. But Jimena, Deirdre, and Ainsley had burned that to ashes as readily as Jimena had the Capital House. With that hi온라인카지노게임 between them, Emberlee now had to ensure Jimena realized the truth of it. She'd tried to steal everything from Emberlee and leave her alive in the wreckage. Emberlee had simply been more successful first; though she hadn't anticipated Jimena's filicide in reaction to Deirdre's pain.

Right now Jimena was in the Physician's College being tended to, but as soon as her condition had stabilized, Emberlee knew she'd be brought to the Ivory Tower where Nobles awaiting Judgement are held. She'd be questioned about the fire and Emberlee wanted to be there as Jimena realized that she's been found out for murdering her child.

"What can you tell me of Stussica's religious beliefs?" she was the one to change topics now. She knew the basics, they were technically Sun Worshippers, their goddess Okita the source of all life, but Jimena had referenced demons when killing Deirdre. Her Focus had been on mastering the Stussica language, she hadn't had the luxury of time to indulge in learning their superstitions.

"Monotheistic; divine mother figure, demonic ice-filled underworld the source of all evil. Their nobility believes that fire is their goddess' gift to humanity to keep the demons at bay. Their folklore tell of a time when the ice will consume the land and not even the sun's light will warm the world, and then their demons will be free to enslave humanity. To them, the cold and darkness of winter symbolize hell, which is part of the reason why their Empire remained uninterested in expansion." And that would explain why they'd been willing to split the Guita Provinces as they had; Xutia took all the coldest parts.

It also added a deliberate insult to injury for Jimena; she'd been sent to Xutia's coldest territory during winter, so to her Ortega truly was hell. A smile bloomed on her face as a wicked idea occurred to her. "In that case, I have a rather fitting punishment for the murderer and liar," Prince Damien was watching her as if looking for Cinderella. "Lifelong imprisonment in the Peaks' Garrison, where she can pay her dues to the Xutian Empire by working as a maid," the Peaks Garrison was in the heart of the mountains separating Xutia and Adaba, and was astronomically cold in winter, and there it was three seasons long. Even if Jimena ran away, the mountains would claim her before she'd ever achieve freedom.

"That's a magnificent idea," the Imperial Prince caught on to her intent.

But that would only be her scheming stepmother dealt with, next they would have to contend with his. Jimena was far easier, she had no political support from Stussica, and there would be no ultimate backlash from that Empire for the actions taken against her. Especially once it was announced that

she'd murdered her daughter. Clara was another matter entirely; supported fervently by Stussica, and still beloved by its people. The Empress was not the kind of opponent to make the same mistakes Jimena had; Emberlee would have to dismantle her supports before she could topple her.

"I have another idea," No need to waste time, "when will Sir Ludwig return to duty?"

The Imperial Prince frowned, not yet knowing the connections, "he lost an eye to one of the stingers but otherwise is in full health. The Physician's College has already released him but he has been granted a week of recovery before he'll be assessed. If he passes assessment he may return to duty as an Imperial Knight; if he fails assessment he'll be awarded a Baron title and gifted lands to retire on."

"As your impending bride, how likely am I to face assassinations?" she must seem to be jumping topics again but Prince Damien didn't hesitate to follow.

"Let's just say I came here to give you this," it wasn't an engagement ring; instead it was a singular earring with a deep red stone that Emberlee hesitated to call a ruby because it was the colour of blood. And it radiated power. "It's one of my treasured hoards and has strong protections worked into it."

"A Shield?" she wouldn't say no to protection, but this was unexpected.

"A blood sword called to your hand should you ever need it," he corrected with a smile that felt as wicked as her own had been. It was far better than a shield.

"Thank you," she took the offered treasure and didn't hesitate to pin it in place. Nothing happened, but she didn't currently need a blade in hand. "But what I was going to propose is that you assign Sir Ludwig as my Knight if he returns to duty."

Now Prince Damien frowned, needing the context to understand the maneuver. "It would be appropriate given his disfigurement and failure to protect your stepsister, that your other step-sister was his fiancée, but may I ask why?"

And if this man before her was to be her husband, Emberlee decided he should bear the truth with her, "He held me down while Jimena beat me, all because Clara ordered him to obey her."

In the larger scheme of things, this was a negligible offence, not a priority to be dealt with, but a part of Emberlee could still feel the weight of him pushing her down while she failed to fight him off. All her training and she had still relied too much on the niceties of etiquette to guard her; a lesson she wanted the Knight to see for himself had been learned. He was an Imperial Knight, a loyal dog, and she would ensure he understood that his blind obedience over moral obligation would have consequences. Cinderella has joked about an eye for an eye already, but the true repayment would start soon.

"I want him assigned my Knight so I can take him into Adaba with a when the time comes," and every step of that trip Sir Ludwig would have to wonder when the axe would fall on no neck, right until she took him to the heart of Méabh's territory. She might even put a bow on him before gifting him to the Fairy Queen.

"He won't be making the return trip, will he?" Prince Damien could at least follow her reasoning.

"Would you like him to?" she probed to see just how morally gray her future husband was.

"No," he surprised her by taking her hand and kissing the back of it. "If he is already that blindly loyal to Clara's will he needs to be resolved." He didn't let go of her hand, holding it lightly as it rested back on the bed, testing her again. "You'll be at greater risk of Clara's assassins as you travel back towards Ortega."

If only she could save time and take the Mirror. Geopolitically, she was in the Dekorte Dukedom once out of the Capital city, meaning she had no allied families until they crossed into the Abeita Dukedom's lands. Both Fedde and Poinsette Counts were politically allied to Ortega so she'd be nominally safer right up to the Adaba's border. Her March had faced off with the Peaks since the Founding, none could claim to know it as well, and the Garrison there was known for dealing with all manner of dangerous beasts.

And once within Adaba Emberlee would be free of any of Clara's plots, but then well within Méabh's. "Or risk waiting until I come back from Adaba before there are any public eyes on me," she doubted Empress Clara would want to wait once the Imperial Prince officially proposed.

"You'll be returning from Ababa with a political alliance in counter to Stussican influence, and to wed the Imperial Crown Prince so she can't force a marriage with her daughter; do you truly believe she will wait?"

A different knock at the door interrupted their brainstorming, a polite aide on the other site awaiting acknowledgement. "Enter," Prince Damien commended but didn't release her hand.

"Your Imperial Highness, I apologize for interrupting but word has one from the Physician's College that Jimena has gone into labour," the messenger relayed the information professionally, but Emberlee could see him watching their closeness with curiosity. Spy on gossip?

"The child is fathered by the current Count Piiklani," she spoke to Prince Damien as if uncaring of the audience. "He has been informed of its expectancy so we can register it under Stussican customs." If the aide was a spy, no word of this would get out but if he were a simple scuttlebutt then the news would spread far and wide. If she could turn the Nobles' sentiment against the push to have a Stussican spouse, she'd use it. Jimena was supposed to be the Empress' exemplar of how good it was to do things her way, now Emberlee had turned her into the pariah of two Empires.

"I shall ask my Father if an entry request has been submitted," he finally released her hand to go. "Rest well Marchioness, I expect we shall be very busy until your coming of age." As he left the aide exited as well and Emberlee once again had a moment alone.

"You do not comment on me taking the wretched lizard as my husband?" she carefully probed Cinderella.

"At least he's useful," it was almost complimentary, "though Oberon will be heartbroken to not play matchmaker in the Adaban Court."

Emberlee sighed, apparently the only one who'd thought she'd get to choose her spouse had been her. But she had to focus on the next step only; the babe about to be born could be easily used in the Game. It'd be an heir to the Piiklani County from both sides and give the Count a legitimacy he currently lacked despite being the younger brother of the original Count. The narrative could go from the man who exiled his brother's widow and daughters usurping the title, to a Father holding the position until his child was of age. After Jimena had killed Deirdre and Ainsley accidental death, there were no

other legal Heirs. That meant not giving the Count title to his firstborn, but that too could be utilized. Where this became useful to Emberlee was that she had possession of the child; it'd be a ward of Ortega until its legal parent claimed it. And by now he'd likely bought the knowledge that she'd been the one to inform him in the first place, so he'd know to negotiate the caretaking of his child until that retrieval with her.

"We can appease the Pretty One by letting him play matchmaker for Imperial Princess Vivian," it was almost a joke but held the potential for a useful union. "Does Méabh have any cousins?"

"You are truly indomitable, a proper Empress in the making," that was a real compliment.

Emberlee smiled, not needing to see her reflection to know Cinderella reflected it, "I was once promised that I would become something more impressive than a mere monster, so I decided that if I will be Xutia's Shield, I may as well be an effective one." She paused, knowing the next part needed to be said, but uncertain of the consequences for doing so, "Xutia is mine; I will not let it fall to Stussica, or be claimed by Adaba."

"So we will not let it, after all, Cinderella, I am yours," it relieved something to hear that her Fairy reflection wouldn't abandon her for obedience to Méabh. It seemed their years together had built a stable enough foundation.

"You are mine," Emberlee agreed solemnly, "and I will protect you and all of my people by becoming the Imperial Crown princess."

That hadn't been her initial plan, but the Emperor's manipulations had led to it and Emberlee knew when to use another's momentum to her benefit. It occurred to her that she had a rather complicated message to write to her Father. His stepdaughters were dead, the Capital House was destroyed, his new wife was under investigation for the likely murder of one of those stepdaughters and the arson, and Emberlee was now technically betrothed to the Imperial Crown Prince.

Complicated indeed.