“She expects you, Lord and Lady DuPont. If you will take your horses up here,” the servant indicated a house boy waiting at the far side of the manor’s entrance. “Roland will take them to the stables.” Khloe scrunched up her face and stuck out her tongue.
“Lord and Lady DuPont are our parents.” She grimaced. “M’lord and M’lady, if you please.” The servant ducked his head as Anaiah rolled his eyes and urged Falchion forward.
“You do realize that you’re heir to the DuPont house, right Khloe?” Anaiah asked over his shoulder as she followed. “People will call you ‘Lady DuPont’ all of your life.” Khloe shook her head.
“Not if I have anything to say about it. I’m going to do myself a favor and get married to a firstborn son to fix that problem.” Anaiah shrugged.
“Have it your way. It isn’t the worst name in the world.” Khloe snorted.
“Speak for yourself. The burden of what will happen to our noble house lands on me, and everything that I do. You could run off and defrock a servant and nobody would care. I have one kiss at a winter formal, and everyone is up in arms about what a covetous tart I am.”
They guided their horses over to the young house boy and disembarked. The wan stick legged lad took their reins and meandered towards the stables hidden behind the leeward wall of the palace. Anaiah gave a long look up the flight of stairs awaiting them, his heart quickening in his chest. He took a breath to steady his nerves.
“Khloe, whatever happens, please just be polite, nod, whatever it takes. Just don’t insult the emperor.” Anaiah trembled, wringing his hands in an unconscious gesture.
“Correct me if I’m wrong but, aren’t we already guilty of that and isn’t that why we’re here?”
“Exactly so please-” Anaiah begged, the emotions he’d been holding back bubbling to the surface. Khloe put up her hands.
“I know, I know, -not be me for a few minutes, relax.” Her assurance didn’t calm the rising terror in her brother’s countenance. He inhaled and raised his hand before his face, making a circular motion in the air in front of his head. Anaiah closed his eyes and the discolored patch of skin on his face darkened to resemble his natural skin tone, the lock of silver hair following suit to match the rest of his mane, his sharp protruding ear vaporizing like an illusion in distant hot air. He blinked his eyes open and they were dark and uniform once again. Khloe gawked.
“Anaiah a glamour? You’re being a tad dramatic, not to mention you’ve never had luck holding those for long.” He shook his head.
“I’m being realistic. We’ll apologize; we make it right per whatever request the emperor makes, we get home. I’ll be able to hold it that long, at least.” Khloe wore her disbelief on her face.
“I’ll believe this when I see it for myself. You’ve never been good at the delicate stuff.” She mumbled as they trekked up the stairs. The servant led them to the vestibule and turned left down a long corridor. The walls lined with gold candelabra were otherwise sparse in decoration, the white marble contrasting the gold still provided richness to the summer palace.
“This is not the way to the throne room.” Khloe said as her eyes trailed the servant’s feet.
“Correct m’lady, the emperor will receive you in her study.” The long hall ended with double oak doors clasped shut. “Please wait while I go in and announce you.” The servant said, turning to one of the doors and unlatching the gold handle as quiet as he could muster, the willowy man slipping inside closing the door behind him. A few minutes of anticipatory anxiety passed while they dreaded what was to come. When the door handle clicked again Anaiah jumped. The servant poked his head out of the door. “She asks that you come in through the library to the balcony.” He drew open the door and stood off to the side, bowing as they entered. If Anaiah didn’t have his heart dragging at his feet, he could’ve enjoyed the beauty of the sweeping library.
Like the rest of the castle it was a large marble structure with shelves carved out of the porous stone, the high ceiling bejeweled with gold chandeliers casting light over the stock of books and scrolls hewn to their racks in the walls. The servant cleared his throat.
“Go straight ahead to the staircase; she awaits you on the second floor balcony.” Straight across from the entrance a circular staircase wound up to another impressive collection of books. Khloe let out a hmph.
“You don’t suppose she’s read all of these, do you?” Anaiah didn’t answer. His vision tunneled his focus the ornate spiral staircase as they drew near to it. Every step was heavier and each thud of his heart shook him down to his feet. He couldn’t screw up this time. It was his last opportunity to make things right. They ascended to the second floor, more long marble shelves stuffed full with volumes old and new. If this had been any other place Anaiah would’ve been face first in the ancient history section and dead to the world until he’d finished reading. Right now it was the last place in the world he wanted to be.
He followed the long carpet between the rows of shelves to two glass doors opened out to the balcony until he stood in the doorway, his sister by his side. Seated at a table to the right of the door, was the emperor. Anaiah couldn’t bring himself to glimpse the emperor, terrified of meeting her gaze.
“Majesty, are we intruding?” he croaked. Anaiah might’ve been afraid to glance at her but Khloe wasn’t. Emperor Zavaan sat before a breakfast spread, a book in hand her eyes wandering the page. Rather than her finery she had her long white-blonde hair braided back and was garbed in a simple long sleeved day dress not unlike anyone in the valley would wear, its color an icy blue matching her piercing eyes. Emperor Zavaan placed her bookmark and set her book on the table.
“Don’t lurk at the door. Sit.” It was said with no warmth, just a demand that compelled them to obey. She indicated two chairs situated at her small round table.
“Yes majesty.” Anaiah said with a quick bow. They were both cautious but nonetheless they had to seat themselves. Khloe sensed that they were slipping into the jaws of a lion.
“If I am to understand your presence here based on your letter, you’re both here to apologize, am I correct?” Anaiah, eyes locked on the table, nodded.
Unlike her brother, Khloe beheld emperor Zavaan’s face. She surveyed Anaiah with a cool interest, though there was no smile or frown to give away her thoughts.
“Are you not capable of speech?” she jabbed at Anaiah, her brow creasing. Anaiah jumped, wincing.
“I-I didn’t know if I had permission, majesty.” He rasped.
“Then you should ask for it, shouldn’t you?” she pressed. Anaiah shuddered.
“Y-yes your majesty, may I offer my apology?”
“Only if you look me in the eye when you give it.” She said in her brisk way. Khloe watched as her brother gathered his strength to do as their sovereign asked, his hands on his lap balled into fists, obvious tremors running up his arms. She cringed on the inside as he mustered up his courage.
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