The adrenaline of the fight had long since faded, taking Yeijiro’s energy with it. He’d lived through a number of very long hours in the last month, but these two might have been the longest.

The Emperor’s estate had been cordoned off after Vivek’s death, for reasons Yeijiro now understood, and Soon-mi had used the tainted nima here to kill the few legionnaires on duty.

She’d also done something to make it so he couldn’t get any reception to call out, but he’d made his way to the main house—freshly disturbed every time he came across another body—and was able to call up the AI network on the central computer to get a message to Elena.

Then he returned to the lodge, taking up a station at the front door, and waited.

Finally, he saw ships fly low over his head, landing out of sight further towards the main buildings. Ships bearing the Imperial crest.

Yeijiro had spent most of his waiting time composing what he was going to say to Elena. There was no point trying to lie. He would confess to the stolen files, to the investigation he’d been keeping from her. He didn’t know what that would lead to, but it was important that someone else see the whole picture he’d put together. If they wanted to make certain this didn’t happen again, he had to tell her everything.

But it was Elena that came striding across the grounds at the head of a mixed group of marshals and legionnaires. Roderich himself was approaching Yeijiro, a scowl on his face. And even worse, just behind, Miyōshi Tōru had come as well.

With them was another face Yeijiro recognized. Kosuri Kristoph. No doubt here to witness and report back to the Emperor.

“What is this?” Roderich demanded. “What happened here?”

There was no keeping this secret, so Yeijiro simply answered. “Ambassador Asher. She was part of the conspiracy uncovered at the end of Shadow Court. She was attempting to open another breach as she had on Pax. She was going to bring through another demon.”

“Another demon,” Kristoph murmured. “Is this to be an ongoing threat?”

“No.” Yeijiro was able to answer the question with confidence.

“How can you be certain?” This from Tōru.

Yeijiro bowed his head, but stayed silent. This part was not for the ears of everyone. After a moment, Roderich caught on and irritably waved the other marshals and legionnaires back. “Form a perimeter,” he said. “No one in or out of the estate without my order.”

When it was only the four of them, Yeijiro answered. “I had assistance in this matter. Nita Corinne. Without her, Ambassador Asher would have been successful. These rifts were opened and the nima surrounding them corrupted using ancient magic that belonged to the Dragon. Corinne has collected all the materials about that magic and returned them to her clan, where she assures me they will be kept safe.”

In short, Yeijiro had let Corinne remove evidence.

Unexpectedly, Major Kosuri offered support. “The Emperor trusts Nita Corinne,” he said to Roderich. “Believes her judgement can be relied upon.”

“Thank you, Kristoph,” Roderich said. But no more.

“Where is Ambassador Asher?” Tōru asked.

“Her attempt to summon a demon failed, and she was pulled into darkspace.”

“I want to see,” Tōru said. Yeijiro stepped aside to let him pass. Kristoph and Roderich followed. Without orders to do otherwise, Yeijiro went as well.

None of them actually went into the room where Soon-mi had made her circle. They all three stood at the door, staring in, Kristoph and Roderich looking grim. Tōru, as ever, was unreadable behind his mask.

Roderich was the first to turn away, walking partway back to the stairs. Yeijiro followed, and when Roderich stopped, he dropped to his knees and bowed his head. “I know my lord declared the investigation over, that I was acting in contradiction of his orders. In pursuit of this matter, I sought outside help. I…I accessed files I should not have. And I didn’t keep Marshal Lindsay appraised of my work. I apologize and will accept whatever punishment my lord deems necessary. But I couldn’t—”

Roderich raised a hand. “Stop. Please…stop.”

Yeijiro waited through an eternal silence. Roderich had placed his arm against the wall, leaned his head in. Yeijiro wished he had the first idea what Roderich was thinking.

Until Roderich said, softly, “I owe you an apology. For not listening. After Vivek’s death, when you asked…I should have listened.”

Yeijiro wasn’t comforted by Roderich’s admission. “My lord did what he thought was best. I would never question his judgement.”

Roderich was silent again for a time. Then, “This is the second time your initiative has rooted out a traitor. The second time you’ve put yourself in danger to do so. While it is my sincere hope the necessity won’t present itself again, I want to be certain you’ll be able to carry out your duties if it does.”

Yeijiro didn’t understand what Roderich was getting at. “Lord Marshal?”

Roderich put his hand on Yeijiro’s shoulder. “You’ve served me better than I have you. I’m going to do better. You are to start training with me personally. I want to know you can defend yourself. And I’ll expect you to keep me informed of whatever investigation, however insignificant, has come to your attention.”

This was more than Yeijiro could have hoped for. Training personally with Roderich. The promise of support for whatever questions he might run into. This was the future with the marshals that Yeijiro had dreamed of.

This was something, it seemed, Elena couldn’t sabotage.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Tōru was watching him. As always, Yeijiro had to wonder what Tōru might be thinking. What his opinion on Roderich’s offer might be.

You can’t serve us both.

Roderich gestured for Yeijiro to stand. “I don’t believe we need you here. Go back to the palace. Get some rest. We’ll discuss this in full when I return.”

Yeijiro bowed, happy to leave this in the hands of others.

But as he walked away, he could feel the weight of Tōru's gaze. He knew that Roderich’s praise, his attention, this success wasn’t the whole of what he wanted. But neither was it something he was willing to turn away from.

What Yeijiro wanted was everything.

It seemed he had a new puzzle to solve.