I brought the gowns from Polis to a tailor and ordered a few new dresses. I reminded them a few times that everything had to be ready in a couple of days.

Then, I talked with the maids to prepare a room. I sent Pericle to the kitchens to make sure they cooked chicken for Thea the evening when she was supposed to be presented at court.

Also, I bought a set of bath salts for her. She liked bathing, so it could have been a good idea to make her relax before the official debut.

I inquired with Bertha about what women need to survive a couple of days, and she delivered me a never-ending list.

Somehow, I managed to retrieve all of that. I didn't even know what the use of most of those objects or creams was, but it didn't matter. If my wife could have needed it, it had to be there at her disposal.

I visited Thea's future bedroom to check that there was all she could need. I instructed the servants to bring wood logs in case Thea felt cold.

When night came, I was tired like never before. I had ridden in the capital for the whole day, running towards a solution every time something came to mind.

That night, I couldn't sleep well. My brain was flooded by images of my wife. At first, all I could see was how she let the soldiers chain her wrists, her shoulders drooping, and her eyes dim. Still, she wasn't afraid. After all, she was a Queen.

Then, I started dreaming of my past life. I could recall every small detail of our first night together. It was like reliving it.

The day after, I dreamed of her again.

I would wake up suddenly, my body stiffening and my muscles cramping. My stomach twitched for the need to embrace her, and my brain was excited by the idea of meeting her again.

It would have been difficult to wait two years before marrying her. I was convinced that destiny would have brought us together, that I would have ended next to her, eventually.

Waiting twenty-five years hadn't been so difficult compared to the challenge ahead of me. I was going to live next to Thea, to have her within reach yet far from me.

As soon as I got up, I returned to my job. I bought jewels from all over the capital, with different colours and shapes. Even a sapphire necklace that reminded me of Elias's eyes. I would have bought even more, but it would have brought the risk to frighten Thea.

This time, I could try spoiling her instead of receiving her care like in the first life.

His majesty summoned me the day when the army was supposed to arrive in the capital.

«Tomorrow, I'll declare the Queen of Polis one of our citizens,» he informed me.

I nodded relieved. It could have been a good idea to stay far from the Palace for a few days. There were mountains of work to do, and my wife could use my room until she started feeling safer at the court. For that, though, I had to stay away from the room.

«I can solve the tax problems that are troubling your majesty,» I proposed.

«Sending you off to work the day after a great victory?» the Emperor chuckled. «That would send a clear message to the court.»

«We already agreed on that,» I shrugged. «Your majesty's messages need to be convincing for the plan to succeed.»

«Indeed,» he nodded. «I can make the messages even clearer if you agree.»

«As long as my part of the deal is fulfilled, I don't mind.»

«Glad to hear that. You can go now.»

«The army already arrived, right?»

«Right,» he nodded. «They already marched through the main road and now are resting.»

«Where is the Queen?»

«In the prisons,» he pointed out. «You can meet her tomorrow.»

«What?» I murmured. «Why in the prisons?»

«Clear messages for those that oppose us.»

«But we had a deal,» I reminded him.

«Indeed. And I will do my part. Tomorrow. You may go.»

I turned my back and walked out of the room with haste, heading to those damn prisons. I asked many guards to be allowed to see Theodora. I contacted the general that was forced into retirement the moment he arrived in the capital. He would have been given a medal the day after, and then he would have been forgotten by the crown.

«There is no need to keep her in prison,» I said to the captain of the royal guards.

«War prisoners are kept in the royal prisons until his majesty decides what to do with them. It's the rule.»

«At least, bring her something to warm up. And good food!»

«Any kind of contact is forbidden: the law is clear about that.»

«Tomorrow, boy,» the general said, grabbing my shoulder and pulling me back. «We'll ask his majesty to spare her. Our combined achievements must mean something to Ethiro.»

Even if his words were encouraging, he didn't believe in what he said. I hadn't noticed how much he respected the Queen that battled against him for years.

Indeed, he was one of the rare people that would acknowledge when an opponent was better than them.

«I don't like the way you handled all of this,» he added once we were alone, «but at least we agree that it would be a problem if she was executed.»

«She won't be executed,» I mumbled. Why did the general think so? Should I start worrying about that?

«Let's hope you're right about that as well.»

«I am right,» I shrugged. And if by chance someone decided to kill my wife, I would have destroyed the whole Palace before letting them do so.

«It's only a night, she will survive this too. Go and have some sleep, your highness. Tomorrow will be a long day.»

And he was so damn right.