The Veneer of Injustice

Part 15

Snow Moon 10, 1527 C.Q

Just as they had been before the war, my chambers were silent except for the soft chinks that came from my armor as I buckled on each piece. Yet much was different now – unlike the day on which the notice of an invasion had come, I wore now my parade armor. Each piece of this set was washed in gold and painted with green enamel, which formed a subtle and intricate design of scrolls and curls that cascaded down my chest-plate and my armored arms and legs. The loop of each scroll and curl was inlaid with a tiny emerald, which glittered in the sunlight. The armor was slightly heavier than my usual dress but still provided ease in movement and was suitable for battle if absolutely necessary. The set was the most ornate one I possessed, second to my coronation armor, and was an heirloom of Emerstones from before my grandfather's usurpation. It was meant to be worn at military parades, and so I wore it, despite my slight distaste for such finery.

Having slid on a set of silver gloves, I buckled a strong yet delicate-looking gold belt around my waist and affixed the sheath of my sword. Though everything about this set of armor was ornate and golden, I kept my own gray sheath and gleaming sword, the one that I had helped forged myself shortly before my coronation. I only wielded this one sword, both as the Just Knight and as the prince. It bore some distinctive marks, but those marks were subtle and not visible to most, so I did not consider the exposure of one persona to be likely because of my use of it while wearing the other persona. My people, as I had heard, thought that the Just Knight's sword was distinctive in its shine, but its shine was distinctive, as I thought, because of the dark armor with which it was carried.

Once I was certain that my sword was secure, I swung my emerald-green cape over my shoulders and latched its ornate gold clasp around my neck. I then placed my ceremonial crown, a thick gold circlet studded with large emeralds and adorned with small curls of silver, lined with tiny emeralds, atop the gold band, on my head. Though I wore the cape, another heirloom, with every session of my court, I had last worn the ceremonial crown during my coronation. I normally wore a thin gold circlet studded with small emeralds instead of this ceremonial one. The weight of it reminded me of the many burdens on my heart from ruling in a way that was not consistent with my deepest beliefs.

My head crowned, I took a final look at myself in my dressing room mirror. I personally thought that I looked more regal in the ceremonial finery than my father ever had, but, then, I was not sure, if I admitted my deepest fears to myself, that I was too different from him. Even though my commanders had acknowledged that I had protected the villages where my father had not and that I had shown some care for the lives of my people, everyone around me had spent many more years considering me his copy, a monster just as he was. I could not help but think the same – I was still cruel, though my thoughts were different.

As satisfied as I could be with my appearance, I exited my chambers and strode through the bustling castle towards my study. Around me was pandemonium – Emerstones' military parades were the most complex public festival that the princedom had, even more so than coronations, and, though I had given more time to prepare than my father had after the last invasion, many things had to be readied for the event and in a very short time. Because of the vast amounts of preparation involved, Arras and Hannes had placed all the soldiers and guards who would take part in the parade at Melts' disposal, with my tacit consent.

I was tempted to chuckle – the staff, the soldiers, and the guards barely registered my passing! Other than a few absent-minded bows, I received no acknowledgment, no performance of obligatory reverences, as I walked through the hallways. I actually enjoyed it – I enjoyed not having to see the fear in their eyes when they looked at me.

I had nearly reached my study when Corisa, looking harried, almost stumbled into me. Hurrying down the corridor perpendicular to the one through which I walked, she careened around the corner and almost fell against my person. Her eyes widened as she noticed who I was, and she caught herself just in time. Her cheeks flaming, she glanced almost shyly up at me.