The sun had just risen when it came to tickle Kalos' face. He squinted and opened his eyes. He rediscovered the red room. The sunlight made it seem warmer and Kalos felt a sudden energy come over him.

He got up from the bed and looked around the room. He saw that the bay window was open. He decided to go outside and smell the morning air.

He did not expect to see a huge garden with flowers on all sides and a fountain in the center. He saw a black shape at its edge. He did not dare believe what he was seeing. He approached without making a sound.

It was indeed her. Marshal Mei was lying on the ground with an empty bottle of rum beside her. Although the sun's rays were spreading over her body, she was fast asleep.

In the light of day, he realized that Marshal Mei was extremely beautiful. Her sleeping features gave way to a soft and tender face. Her smooth and diaphanous skin was covered here and there by a few strands of her blond hair.

When he had finished his contemplation, Marshal Mei opened her eyes.

“Good morning Kalos," she greeted him.

“Good morning Marshal Mei," he replied.

She burst into laughing.

“Marshal? Not so early. Call me Duna when we are alone.”

She tried to stand up but was seized by a sudden pain and clutched her head in her hands.

“Are you okay?" Kalos asked.

She picked up the bottle of rum to answer him.

“The military doesn't drink alcohol. It is a fatal mistake if they are attacked.

She finally got up and headed for the bedroom. Kalos followed her, totally distraught.

Marshal Mei had already opened the door she had entered the day before. The door opened into a dining room with walls covered only by wooden cupboards. A round table surrounded by four chairs sat in the center.

“Sit down. We'll have breakfast.”

Kalos did so. He watched her bring out dishes, bread, butter, jam, ham, and a bottle of juice.

“Take all you want.”

She sat down and made herself some toast. While spreading the butter, she gave some explanations. ” My apartments consist of three rooms: an office, a dining room, and a bedroom. I also have a private garden. You can move freely in all corners and use all the utensils or tools in this apartment. Think of it as your home.” 

Kalos was suspicious, however. This generosity was too good to be true.

“I do all the housework in my apartment," she continued. “Please be careful what you do.”

“What?" exclaimed Kalos, choking on his own toast.

“I don't trust anyone. I do not want to be poisoned. Besides, being in the military, I have done many military campaigns. I was not used to luxury.”

Kalos finally understood why everything was so simple, but he would never have imagined it.

“You are my paramour. I advise you to eat or drink only what is in this room. Your life has been in danger since last night," she finished.

“I had more or less guessed it," Kalos said.

“Very good.”

The rest of the meal passed in silence. Kalos devoured everything on the table. He had not properly eaten in days. While watching him gorge on all the ingredients, Marshal Mei murmured, “Lord Agathos did well to kill her.”

Without knowing why, Kalos began to blush.

“You have nothing to be ashamed of," Marshal Mei reassured him. “Eat as much as you like today. You will really start exercising tomorrow. Since I don’t work today, I'm going to turn you into a real paramour.”

Kalos raised his eyebrows. He did not like that last sentence. It did not sound good to him. He decided to deflect the conversation:

“What do you do for a living?”

“I am the Minister of Defense and Security.”

Kalos' eyes widened. He had never thought that Marshal Mei was also in government.

“I was born an archduchess," she enlightened him. “I participated in the coup d'état carried out by the current empress seventeen years ago. I became a minister at that time. Then, we led wars of conquest where I commanded the armies as a general. As a result of my exploits, the empress appointed me marshal.”

Kalos could not believe his ears. He had known for a long time that his condition was miserable, but he could not imagine that anyone could be so successful.

“You really don't know anything about the world," Marshal Mei sadly remarked.

“But I know everything about life!" Kalos angrily retorted.

They glared at each other.

“It is true. You're right.”

Marshal Mei stood up and cleared the table, indicating the locations of each item to Kalos.

“Well, we're ready for the day," she announced.

She was about to open a door to the right of the bedroom door but stopped before turning to Kalos.

“Insults and humiliation towards paramours are commonplace. Don't be surprised if I disparage you outside.”

“What?" Kalos exclaimed again.

“I used to do that. I admit I have changed recently, but no one knows, and I do not want anyone to know. Keep it to yourself.”

She opened the door and as she saw a servant walk by, she said:

“Come on puppy, let's get some things to cover your ass.”

Kalos could not move for a few seconds. Everything seemed unreal.

Then he started to walk. He followed Marshal Mei who did not give him a glance.

He crossed another maze of corridors that he did not take the time to contemplate. 

He came out of his reverie when he bumped into Marshal Mei. He began to look at the scene to see what was going on.

Before him stood a woman and a man. He saw Marshal Mei kneel instantly.

“Stand up Duna.”

The woman had spoken these words in a light tone, but Kalos perceived the habit of ordering and being listened to.

“I see you haven't had time to teach your paramour the protocol yet.” she continued.

As she stood up, Marshal Mei discovered to her horror that he had not knelt. She grabbed his neck and kicked him behind the knees for good measure.

The woman waited until he was well on the ground before declaring, “Welcome to the palace of Akar, young man. It would be good if you would kneel before me and my husband the next time we meet.” 

“Is that a threat?”

He understood that he would be subject to humiliation. However, he was unwilling to stand by and take it without reply.

“That's right," the woman replied, her eyes flaring with anger, "you'll have to endure Duna's rebuke and mine afterwards."

“I am not...”

“That's enough, Kalos!" shouted Marshal Mei.

The atmosphere had incredibly become tense. Kalos could see his mistress was angry and he was pleased. He joyfully kept quiet.

“Well, have a nice day," the woman whispered.

She and her husband continued their way, passing them by. Kalos thought he saw a brief smile come to the man's lips.

“How dare you behave this way?" Marshal Mei began to chastise him.

Kalos shrugged.

“Who the hell is she anyway?”

“Who the hell is she anyway? Who the hell is she anyway?” repeated Marshal Mei, exploding. “She is Empress Louise Five!”

“So what?”

“So, you have got enough enemies already, no need to alienate your allies, idiot!”

“My allies?”

“I am one of the Empress's closest friends. So, you benefit from her protection by being under mine. Are you so ignorant that you do not recognize royal members? Besides, if I kneel, you shall do the same!”

Kalos looked detached. Marshal Mei did not insist.

“We'll go to the tailor at the palace and get you some decent clothes. Let's go.”

She put her money where her mouth was and started walking. They spent a few more minutes wandering through the corridors until they reached a door that was relatively small compared to the imposing marble columns that punctuated the walls of this last, strangely purple corridor.

Marshal Mei knocked on the door. Kalos heard a voice answer positively. Before entering the room, he received a warning, “Stay polite.”

He did not answer because he was taken by the light that bathed the sewing room. Large windows let in the sunlight that reflected off the white fabrics scattered on the left side and the luxurious finished garments waiting for their owner on the right side looked even more brilliant.

A man was leaning over a large desk in front of the windows, obviously drawing. He turned and bowed, saying,” Good morning, Marshal Mei, what can I do for you?”

“I would like you to make a basic set and an evening wear for my paramour Kalos.”

“It will be a pleasure.”

The tailor stood in front of Kalos and measured him in every possible way, going back and forth to his desk to record the dimensions. When he had finished, he presented Kalos with a booklet.

“If the gentleman would like to choose the model he would like for his evening wear”, he asked him.

Kalos hid the bitterness of this politeness with a smile. He looked at the remarkably well-drawn outfits in the booklet. Although they were elegant, Kalos noticed that they were highly sexualized. He chose the one that showed only his arms and knees, even though it had a low-cut front.

The tailor thanked him politely. Marshal Mei, who had chosen to watch the scenery through the windows the entire time, asked him to make the matching female outfit and requested that both be delivered the next day.

On the way out, Kalos finally learned the reason for this request.

“Tomorrow night is the Summer Solstice Ball," Marshal Mei said. “It is a party where all the nobles of the Empire are invited.”

Marshal Mei's face darkened.

“I am not going to the ball to have fun and dance. I am going there to bait my murderers. Unfortunately, it is known that my paramours are my weakness, that is why I am going to use this opportunity to let people know that you are my new paramour and wait for one of these lovely people to appear.”

“Your murderers?”

“I have been subjected to numerous assassinations attempts in the last few weeks. Even if I managed to escape, my previous paramour died last week.”

Marshal Mei's voice slightly trembled.

“I want to find those responsible and make them pay.”

Duna Mei the Cruel stroked the handle of her sword.

“Dearly pay.”

 To be continued