After feeding Lavinia, I return to the Hunt. I've been away less than an hour, but the atmosphere changed.

And not in a way I like.

I thought that, without control, the ladies would storm towards his majesty, looking for a way to attract his attention. He's right there, and he's supposedly interested in them.

However, the Emperor is talking with some nobles about some boring topic, and he doesn't even glance at any of the ladies.

The misses, on the other side, are looking around in search of potential suitors. The Emperor is one only, and he can have a single wife. At least, officially. They know the odds are not in their favour, so they look around in search of a backup plan.

And I hate to admit that the only potential backup plan is my husband. If only he wasn't already taken.

What are they looking here for? He won't divorce me, so they're wasting their time. And they should look for someone closer to their age, for goodness.

Alexander is oblivious to all this interest in his direction. I guess he's always been like this: surrounded by women and admired by them without a clue.

Oh, it made it possible for me to be married to him. I like this side of him.

But the women have to chill down. I'm here, aren't they the least ashamed?

I glare at every glance I can catch, and I pull Alexander's sleeve to signal to him that he can go back. I'll take my original place, now.

He had to stay here in my stead as a representative of our family. In order to avoid offending his majesty with our absence, one of us always has to stay here.

«I go back, now,» Alexander murmurs, greeting Duchess Prim. «My daughter must be waiting...»

«She's sleeping now,» I point out. «But don't let her spend the rest of the day snoozing. She'll keep us awake tonight if you don't play with her during the evening.»

If she's tired, she can sleep almost a night without bursting out crying.

«Yes, wife, as you command!» he says, chuckling. He pecks my forehead, in front of all the indiscreet glances, and he leaves without turning back.

I sit back next to the Duchess, and she smiles with her usual, calm grin.

«Is his highness, Archduke Kyre, really taking care of your daughter?»

«Yes, he is.» Even more than what I can admit to the court. He's done more than me in bringing her up.

Every time Lavinia wakes up during the night, he jumps out of bed so that I don't need to. He knows how to change her clothes, how to cuddle her to sleep or to calm her down with his voice.

But this part of him is only for me to witness. The court won't see my baby, there is no need. Hence, they won't see their cruel war commander acting like a lovely father.

«We don't want to leave our child alone for too long, these days,» I sigh. «It's a difficult time, and many things are happening.»

«I suppose you have your reasons to be this wary.»

Oh, more than she knows.

Lorene strolled away when I came back, but I'm sure she was talking with Alexander. What were they discussing?

Should I ask my husband later?

For the moment being, I continue with the assessment of the ladies. All those that looked here are out of the shortlist, making my job easier by many degrees. An Empress that will look at other men isn't desirable. We need one that can at least resist a couple of days before devouring handsome men with her eyes.

Most ladies have already lost but they don't know it. At least, my favourites are still in: Caroline and Eliza. Plus Georgia who didn't glance at my husband twice. She's still a riddle. So unrefined and with high self-esteem, yet sometimes she knows to make the right decision.

Lorene was already out before, but now she won't even make it to the second phase. I can't let Asteria's candidate stay, it would endanger my position as their primary link to Ethiro.

Not because she talked with my man. Because of politics, it's clear.

«Lady Caroline Grahm is unexpectedly calm today,» Duchess Prim comments. «I'm surprised you allowed her to become a candidate after what happened with her older sister.»

«She doesn't have anything to do with those incidents,» I sigh. «Her name, status, and education are more than enough to ensure her a place here.»

«What is the schedule of the selection, your highness?» the Duchess inquires. «Oh, only if it's allowed to be known...»

«It's no secret. Next week, his majesty will meet the girl formally and have a chat to get to know them better. Then, there will be some challenges for the candidates, boring stuff to test their reactions, education, real purposes...»

«It seems interesting, your highness. Do you need help to note everything down?»

«I don't know if I'm allowed to talk about it...» Then, I remember a little detail. «But, there might be a way...»

She waits for my explanation. I'm not sure, though, whether to tell her. She's a Duchess. Offering her to act like a lady in waiting is a bit too much, even for a member of the royal family.

«You know that my lady in waiting hasn't followed me here,» I try. «She stayed in Kyre.»

«Oh, right. There are many pieces of gossip involving her, but I guess none is true if you accept her as a lady in waiting.»

«I have no clue about the gossip, but lady Lyana has helped me a lot. She's one of my closest friends in Stoneyard.»

«Knowing the Archduke, there must have been a reason if he invited her to live in Kyre.»

Oh, yes. There is.

I've dreamt about a banquet, dark and eerie. Alexander was alone, there, and he listened to what people were speaking about. It didn't trigger any reaction in him, but I remember because I paid attention.

Lady Lyana wouldn't be alive now. She was supposed to die during her twentieth year of life. It's my age! She would have passed away so young.

I don't know how nor why, but I'm glad Alexander saved her life.

I've never misunderstood her position. Maybe just at the beginning, but it soon became clear the lady's status in Stoneyard.

She was something like a guest until she became my lady in waiting, and hence an employee.

«I have no intention of offending you, Duchess,» I say. «But you're the one that spends the most time with me outside of my family.»

She's been useful today.

By pointing out some qualities of the ladies, not for guarding my husband while I was away.

«I'd like to ask you, if you're willing, to be part of my entourage for the days of the selection,» I finish.

«Part of the entourage?» she chuckles. «It would be my honour, your highness.»

She leans back on the chair with a proud and satisfied expression.

«Who else is in the entourage?»

«No one else,» I confess.

«Do you need some help to find the right people? I'm sure her highness, Princess Lyland, can suggest you the right names.»

«Oh, no. I prefer it like this.»

She nods, already analysing the girls in the garden.

«Now that I'm officially employed,» she starts in a whisper. «Can I know who your highness's favourite is?»

I sigh. I won't get out of here without admitting it, will I?

«There isn't a single favourite, but I like the thirteenth Myrya's Princess's character. And Caroline Grahm's aura.»

«And... your cousin?»

«She's not fit,» I cut the discussion.

«I think you should pay attention to her. She's quick at socialising, and she already had a word alone with the Emperor. And also with your husband, now that I think about it... She doesn't fear any topic of conversation. And she's able to bring the point of speaking where she wants without making anyone notice.»

«Without making anyone notice? Then, how did you notice, Duchess?»

«Because I wasn't involved in that conversation.»

Oh, she's talking about what Lorene said to Alexander.

«I'm afraid his majesty will fall for her tricks,» the Duchess murmurs.

I'm starting to feel the same.

What if her unplanned presence becomes heavier than expected?

«We have to give the other girls a chance to get close to his majesty as well,» I say.

Duchess Prim nods, agreeing with me.

«My daughter is still a child, so I'll take this chance to train how to find a husband for her,» she laughs.

Oh, dear. This is exactly what I need right now. Small tricks and firm intentions.

«Soon after the challenges, when we have enough data to determine who's worthy of the position of Empress, we can proceed with making his majesty know better all the other girls.»

«You were already planning it, your highness, weren't you?»

I shrug. Is there a need to answer this?