The whole ride to the capital was quiet, with minimal conversation. It looked like everyone had something in mind. Even Liora in the carriage was not as chatty as before. Despite that, the trip was very smooth compared to yesterday, and they didn’t encounter any assassins on their way. Lily was grateful for her brother and the archduke’s care for her, as they had sacrificed their previous evening to make sure there was no hiccup and that she could travel well.

It suddenly dawned on Lily that by dusk they would be at the capital, and within a week the wedding ceremony would happen. Realising how close it was, her breath constricted. She felt unable to breathe and fidgeted with the hem of her dress, trying to calm her mind.

“Lily, are you that eager to see the emperor?” Liora said, trying to lighten the mood.

“Oh yes, this one can’t wait to see the emperor,” she replied, her voice dripping with sarcasm, making Liora laugh. But they both looked at the curtain when they heard a second chuckle from outside, and Lily blushed red when she heard Lucien’s voice.

“Your Highness, we have reached Karnak. We will be stopping to have our midday meal at the imperial villa at Karnak before we proceed,” he said.

“Thank you, Archduke,” she said, then buried her face in her hands, mortified. “Why did he have to hear that?” she asked to no one in particular.

Luckily, that prompted Liora to continue her chatter as she told Lily about the first time she saw the emperor. “It was during my first days after arriving in this part of the world,” she said. “I was lost and didn’t know what to do, so I just followed other female ghosts and ended up in the palace,” she said.

Unlike her other chatters, Lily was very interested in this one, listening carefully.

“I wondered why they always went to the palace and just followed them until I ended up in the audience hall. He was seated on his throne, and the room was full of nobles. He really stood out. That was the first time I felt happy coming to this side,” Liora said.

Lily frowned, but her question was answered before she could voice it.

“You know, seeing handsome men makes me happy,” Liora said matter-of-factly, and Lily’s jaw dropped at the level of shamelessness.

“But I only went there for a few days,” Liora added.

“Why?” Lily asked, recovering from Liora’s previous statement.

“Because he attracts too much attention. He has a lot of women around him, ghosts and humans alike. And I prefer to be the only one looking at the men I’m attracted to… like your brother,” she said, and that stunned Lily again.

Before she could ask a question, the carriage stopped, and her ladies-in-waiting were already at the door waiting for her.

“We’ll talk more about this later,” Lily whispered as she opened the curtain to alight.

The butlers welcomed them and ushered them into the dining hall, where they were brought warm water to wash their hands. Soon after, the meal was served. Despite the full table, Lily was unable to eat much. Like the past few days, she only took some bread and soup before putting her utensils down.

Despite the looks her brother and the archduke gave her, they didn’t say anything. Even though they ate little, and after a cup of tea, they all left the hall to board the carriages.

This was the last stop before the capital, and once Lily boarded the carriage and her brother gave the command, the horses galloped forward toward the capital.

The sun was about to set, and they had been moving for some time. Lily tried sitting still, but she couldn’t; curiosity got the better of her. She lifted the carriage curtains and looked out. She shivered as the biting cold wind brushed her cheeks, and her gaze caught both her brother and the archduke staring at her. She nodded and turned to face the front.

Despite the white snow covering the ground, she could see the towering capital walls in the distance. Her brother moved his horse closer to the carriage.

“Go back inside, Lily,” he commanded. “It’s cold. We are almost at the capital,” he added.

“Okay,” Lily said, drawing her head back into the carriage. She inhaled deeply, rubbing her trembling hands together. She didn’t know whether she was shaking from the cold or from nervousness.