The Empty Ones (Fantasy Romance)

28. Crybaby

Like Seaheaven, my former home, the imperial palace of Windheaven, my current home, is also a maze. There is the residence of the Emperor and the royal family in the very middle at the highest point of the building complex, then there is the inner palace, more like a little town inside the walls where the inner circle and hight courtiers reside and the outer palace housing the smaller courtiers and servants. In other words, it's huge.

Paisa is walking leisurely, pointing to this and that and telling me who resides there, or what happened in that corner.

"How did you said your parents died?" she asks at some point. I ws certain that this walk would contain uncomfortable questions.

"They were murdered in the coup five years ago," I answer and sink my gaze. I still don't know what's wise to share and the previous night left me even more confused.

"Oh, I am really sorry." I am not the best at judging people but her tone seems sincere. Not exaggerated or condescending like the one of my two handmaidens, who walk a few steps behind. "And what house do you belong to? I mean, were other relatives caring about you after that?" she continues. In the end she tries to get to know the new wife of her husband...

I don't know what to answer so I go with a half truth.

"The house of Wayatashir." Nobody told me to lie about this so I won't. Still that's vague enough.

She looks at me very interested.

"No way!" Her reaction is too spontaneous to be calculated. "That explains why he married you. Since the former Alsayid died, he tried so hard to replace him. Muhnir is the third that occupied this office in the last six years. And where were you till now?"

"With my mother's relatives. They are minor nobles. Their estate is quite secluded in the province of Averth, close to the mountains and the border to northern Tajir."

That isn't quite a lie either. My mother was supposedly from around there, but I never knew her house or her relatives or a lot about her. Hara never said it out loud but now when I think about it in a more mature light, my mother was probably common born but possessed powerful healing magic. My father married her likely to harness the power but it worked as I see...

"They died recently too and I spent some time with a maid servant till I came of age."

This is a convincing story; I did as good as possible. This lie being established, I need to talk about this with my lord husband too. If he wants me to say the truth about the priory, which I don't think but who knows, then this might earn me a punishment too.

"I am really sorry, Zaretha. My parents died a few star circles ago and I still miss them, mostly my mother." Her fine features become a bit more stoic. She touches her small belly. "I hope this child will make me have a bit of my family back." Her pink eyes become watery and I grab her hands. We don't know each other but if I learned something far it's to understand the display of suffering.

"I am sure it will be a lovely, healthy and... powerful child."

"You are concerned about this too, aren't you?" she says and her mimic seems so candid.

"I am," I confess. "You are the second consort, right?"

"Yes, but unlike Laini who has a powerful family that makes her more or less untouchable, my family is dead. My value is my fortune and the power I can give a child. From what you are saying we are in a similar situation."

Yes, we are indeed. I nod.

"How is your relationship with the Empress?"

She grabs my hand and runs. We stop in front of a particularly nice rose bush.