The Lady Justice

Chapter XXXVIII: To Defend, And Be Defended

Lady Katherine Harrington of Johanne

30 November, Year 1 of Sebastian VI, Emperor of the Longbournian Nations' reign

Longbourne Military Academy for Women, Amöneburg

The Longbournian Nations

"A very good morning to you!"

At dawn the next day, the dormitory doors flung open. I jolted awake in my bed at once at the noise, and on instinct, reached for the dagger on my bedside table.

Who was it -

When I realised it had only been Corporal Montgomery, I tossed the dagger aside and collapsed against my pillows once more. I closed my eyes, and pulled my blanket over my head in a vain attempt to block out her voice.

Why must she do this every damned morning -

"I would suggest you cease dallying, Mistress Harrington. You need to leave for the Palace right away," her suspiciously chirpy voice cut through my thoughts, "Her Majesty has summoned you."

My blankets were ripped from me. I opened my eyes, shocked.

Corporal Montgomery was looming over the foot of my bed, and her eyes – despite being filled with exhaustion due to her night-long guard duty at the Palace - were now glittering with barely suppressed glee.

I forced myself to rise, and groaned loudly. "What does the Dowager Empress want from me now?" I mumbled, yawning, "'tis too early in the morning to have an argument with her - one that we both know I am bound to win."

At that, her grin only widened, and it was beginning to frighten me. Before she could open her mouth to answer, however, she was interrupted.

"She is not talking about the Dowager Empress, Mistress Harrington."

The Princess walked into the dormitory, dressed in a deep-blue morning gown for a change, as opposed to her army attire. Her eyes were still rimmed red with all the crying from yesterday, and her countenance was pale. She stood beside Corporal Montgomery now, the very portrait of misery.

"I was supposed to tell her," Corporal Montgomery grumbled, annoyed.

"We do not have time for games, Michelle," the Princess sighed, "Mistress Harrington must reach the Palace before the cooks finish preparing breakfast."

I stilled, as dread filled me. "Then I assume it is Queen Eleanor who wants to see me," I confirmed sourly, "what I would like to know, is why the hell – "

"You are not in trouble," the Princess hurried to assure me, "I think." She added as an afterthought.

A wonderful relief that was.

"You think," I repeated, unamused.

"Well, I suspect that the Emperor is to blame for the Queen's interest in you," Corporal Montgomery informed me, snickering, "His Imperial Majesty was talking about you all throughout dinner yesterday."

I tried not to sound too interested. "Oh, what about me?"

There was a knowing glint in the Princess' eyes. "Hmm, he was telling Queen Eleanor about how well you teach your students," she was maddeningly calm, "and the difference you have made in their lives - especially in that of Cadet Hartmann."

"And?"

"And...oh, of course, he informed her of the role you played in finding out who Fräulein was," her face scrunched up, as she tried to remember, "and protecting our students when Prince Heinrich lay siege to the Academy..."