“This is a terrible idea,” Ako whispered as she and Jakub shimmied over the last wall leading into the Royal Gardens.

The gardens themselves were beautiful. There were flowers of every sort and color in neat rows for what seemed like forever, going through the back and curling around the corner of the palace. Some footpaths were there to navigate to the back door, which fortunately did not have a guard right now due to a shift change.

“Yes,” Jakub whispered back, huffing as he began climbing down the other side of the wall. He landed in the garden, barely making any noise. “A terribly good idea, that is.”

“Ugh,” Ako muttered, joining Jakub on the ground. They were beside a bush, which would’ve been a bad idea to land as a royal guard shuffled by on the nearest footpath with a lit lantern. He looked dead-eyed and nearly asleep on his feet.

“Is one vase worth all this?” Ako muttered to Jakub, who seemed almost giddy with excitement.

“I don’t ask questions,” Jakub said, trying and failing not to sound giddy as he rose into a crouch.

“Great,” Ako huffed, waiting for Jakub to make his crossing before it was her turn.

The plan itself was simple: Jakub and Ako were to go in, steal a vase from the Royal Palace, and leave. It sounded simple, and when Ako had pressed for more information, she had received not much: they were to dress as servants beforehand and go through the gardens to the back door. Inside the entrance, there would be a table tray with a pot of coffee waiting. They were to take it up to the Empress’ Quarters, hand it to a guard to take to the Empress, and then take the vase on the way out.

How we are supposed to climb a wall with a vase and return with it in one piece is beyond me, Ako thought, rolling her eyes as Jakub made his way across the lawn and toward the door, avoiding any light and sticking to the shadows.

Ako emulated him as best she could, avoiding the pair of guards on patrol and anyone else watching with relative ease. She made her way to the door—which Jakub had left open—and stepped inside.

Ako’s jaw dropped at what she saw. Never had she seen such luxury: rich carpets on the floor, tapestries adorning the walls, and massive candles hanging every few feet off the walls, giving the room a pleasant glow. There was also leather furniture further down the hall that was probably worth more than her entire village. Ako really wanted to sit on it, but before she could, she jumped as Jakub closed the door behind her with a soft click.

“This is for you,” Jakub said, passing her the tray with the ornate coffee pot. Ako almost dropped it, cursing. “Why do I have to hold it?” Ako grumbled. “You are the one that juggles!”

“Are you asking me to juggle a pot of coffee?” Jakub asked in a weird accent, and Ako frowned at him.

“What are you doing?” Ako asked, gesturing vaguely. “You sound different.”

“You are my unfortunate charge as I have been tasked to teach you the ways of the lowly servant,” Jakub said poshly, lifting his nose in the air like her very presence offended him. “Since you make such a poor urchin, it is by the Empress’ will that you have been clothed, fed, and now learn how to be useful to her Eminence.”

Ako blinked. “Okay,” she said, shaking her head. “I am a servant, and you are a…?”

“Butler,” Jakub said, pulling out a pair of white gloves and putting them on. They were flawless and in perfect condition, and Ako had no idea where he had gotten those. “I am a butler, and since you have an unfortunate habit of… clumsiness, you are to be trained in the early hours the morning as to bother as few people as possible.”

“Except when I drop the tray and wake everyone up,” Ako said dryly. “This is not going to work, Jakub.”

“Nonsense,” Jakub said airily, placing his hands behind his back and folding them. He stood alarmingly straight and rigid as if he were imitating a statue. “You are one of the best archers I’ve ever seen. Your hands are more than steady enough to hold a tray.”

“Fine,” Ako huffed, nodding her head down the hall. “Lead the way, Jakub.”

“Do not presume to call me by my given name,” Jakub said, grinning cheekily and winking at her. He turned neatly and began to walk down the hallway, speaking as he went.

“The Royal Palace of Esai was built about two hundred years ago,” Jakub said, gesturing around himself grandly. It was built as many decided to stay after the Divinity Wars and build a life in the Huzha Desert. The Empress comes from an unbroken line stemming from Dracon the First, one of the heroes of the Divinity Wars.”

“Interesting,” Ako said with more than a hint of sarcasm, making sure to keep her strides even and her tray balanced. It was harder than it looked, even though there was only a single cup and coffee pot on it. “Tell me more.”

“See if I don’t,” Jakub grumbled as they made their way to the stairwell. “Here I am, trying to educate you, and all I receive is sarcasm and scorn.”

“That is what you wish to receive anyways,” Ako said, frowning in concentration as she took a tentative step upward. “You thrive on it.”

“And don’t you forget it, lowly servant,” Jakub said, looking and sounding pleased with himself as he arrived at the second floor, tutting down at Ako as she lagged behind him. “Do keep up, servant. I am grading you, you know.”

The door to the second floor opened to reveal a royal guardsman. He wasn’t wearing mail armor or a helm, but he was armed. Thankfully, he wasn’t one that Ako and Jakub had met as of yet.

“Who are you?” the guard demanded, peering at them curiously. He was tall with bulging muscles and was fingering the mace attached to his belt. He didn’t seem overly suspicious, but given that it was two in the morning anyone up and about was suspicious.

“You weren’t told?” Jakub asked, projecting a level of surprise that made Ako envious. I wish I could act even half as well as that old man.

“Told? Told what?” the guard said, parroting Jakub and sounding incredibly slow. “What are you doing?”

“What does it think I am doing, man?!” Jakub said, raising his voice. The guard started and placed a hand on his mace, but Jakub ignored it, waving his hands around as if he were extremely annoyed. “I am training this helpless servant to be a worthy tool for our Empress to use, may Noam watch over her. It’s late, and I was certain that the guards on duty would be told that so a fuss wouldn’t be made.”

“I haven’t seen you around before,” the guard said, frowning. “Who are you?”

Jakub bowed flamboyantly, making a complicated gesture with his hand that somehow fit the bow perfectly. “I am a butler, my dear man. Our entire job is to be unnoticed.”

“I see,” the guard said, although it was clear that he didn’t. “I will let you… complete your training.”

“My thanks,” Jakub said, bowing again. He looked down the stairwell and faked a glare at Ako. “Come on then!” Jakub barked. “I have many more things to teach you. Move along!”

Ako, who had been frozen two-thirds up the stairs, started and almost dropped her tray. She gathered herself at the last second and made her way up the stairs. She had been able to see the guard the entire time, but she had been standing in near darkness, and the guard had been lit by the hallway behind him. The guard’s hand twitched back toward his mace hanging at his belt, but he did nothing as he stared at Ako, who finally arrived on the second floor.

“Where are you going?” the guard asked suddenly. He didn’t look as though he was about to leave. Noam, please give him a reason to go away and not follow us around, Ako prayed.

“Third floor,” Jakub said. “Coffee for the Empress.”

“At two in the morning?”

“Why don’t you go to tell the Empress that she can’t have something because it’s late,” Jakub asked, making a shooing motion toward the stairs that he was still poised to ascend. “Go on. I’m sure she’ll be pleased with you for telling her what to do.”

“I—” the guard began, stuttering. He flushed and shook his head. “No, thank you,” he finally said. “I will tell the others on the second floor to watch out for you.”

“My thanks,” Jakub said again, making another bow. There was a pregnant pause as Ako and Jakub stared at the guard, who finally got the idea and edged his way back into the second-floor hallway, closing the door behind him with a sheepish look.

“Come, the Empress awaits,” Jakub said as if almost getting caught by royal guards was a hobby of his. Probably was, Ako thought darkly. He needs at least one near-death experience a day, or he counts it as a day wasted.

Ako climbed the stairs slowly, minding her steps carefully as she made it to the third floor. Jakub was waiting there wordlessly, his hand on the door. “What we are looking for should be just around the corner,” Jakub said. “Remember, it’s a dark blue with funny little patterns on it. It’s unmistakable.”

“I understand,” Ako said. She grunted as the pot almost tipped over even though she was standing perfectly still. “Open the door.”

“So uncivilized,” Jakub said pompously, affecting his Butler persona as he opened the door and stepped in, holding it open for her.

Ako walked in and stopped as three guards—who were wearing mail armor and a helm along with spears that were pointing right at them—approached.

“Halt!” the leader said. His voice echoed menacingly from his helm. “Who are you? I haven’t seen you around before!”

“Who does it look like we are?” Jakub snapped, sounding incredibly irritated. “I am training this servant to bring a pot of coffee to the Empress!”

“Or you could be assassins trying to kill the Empress, may Noam guide her,” the officer said. His head moved to look at each guard on either side of him. “Search them.”

Azmar damn it, Ako thought, just managing to keep herself from shaking in fear. I have nothing incriminating on me, but who knows what he has stuffed in his pockets.

“Gentlemen,” Jakub said, a strained note entering his voice. “There is no need for this. I would happily test the tea in front of you right now if that would appease you both. All of us know the Empress—may Noam watch over her—likes to stay up late. Would it then not be reasonable to assume that she may want coffee occasionally if she is working on something important?”

Both guards hesitated, halfway to Jakub. They looked back to the officer, who was still, as if considering what Jakub had said. Eventually, he shook his head.

“You can try the coffee after you’ve been searched,” the officer said. “As I was not made aware of this before, it’s you that must now follow protocol.” The officer nodded to the guards, who stepped up to Jakub. “Search him.”

“Quite understandable,” Jakub said through gritted teeth. His fists clenched, but immediately afterward, he unclenched them, visibly trying to calm himself as the guards began to pat him down.

“You appear nervous,” the officer said in a tone that was not quite accusing. “Guilty conscience?”

“I’m an old man trying not to make too much of a fuss, and now I’m being searched like I’m some kind of criminal!” Jakub snapped. “Wouldn’t you be nervous in my place?”

One guard reached into Jakub’s pocket and immediately felt inside of it. “Careful now, I’m an old man, but there’s still some feeling down there,” Jakub quipped. The guard ignored him and pulled out a handkerchief with a gem inside of it. It was a pretty sort of blue and reflected the light from the candles hanging in the corridor. It was also clearly not Jakub’s.

Jakub, Ako mentally groaned. When did you even have time to steal it?!

“Nice trinket,” the officer said dryly. “Do you have an emerald in the other pocket?”

Jakub was turned around roughly and shoved into the wall, where he was patted down much more vigorously. The guard pulled out another handkerchief from the other pocket, which was mercifully empty.

“Endangering yourself and the girl over a gem,” the officer scoffed. “You should know better, old man.”

“The girl had nothing to do it!” Jakub said, struggling against the guard’s hold. “She’s a girl off the street, brought in to help make my theft more convincing!”

“I’m sure she was,” the officer said, his voice thick with disbelief. “We’ll have to find out, won’t we? Take him down—”

“You will take him nowhere, Officer Renthal.”

Officer Renthal snapped to attention as a handsome woman in her mid-fifties stepped out of a side corridor and into the main hall. The other held Jakub against the wall while the other guard stepped toward her, his spear pointing at her throat.

Ako managed to ignore the threat of imminent death by observing the Empress. She had long dark hair that was mostly grey and wore a green gown that accentuated her figure in ways that made Ako envious. She had never seen clothes that nice, let alone someone wearing one. She also wore a necklace of the same size and type of gem that Jakub had.

“Who are these people, and what are they doing here?” the woman demanded. Her voice was airy but also full of sharp command that made Ako want to do something other than hold her tray uselessly. “It is far too late for anyone other than guards on patrol to be out and about.”

“My Empress,” Renthal said, bowing slightly while still facing Jakub and Ako. “We found these intruders about to enter your chambers claiming that you wanted coffee.”

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“Coffee,” the Empress said, her voice strangely wistful. “It has been many years since I’ve indulged in coffee.”

“Yes, my Empress,” Renthal said tonelessly. He then opened his hand and showed the gem that Jakub had stolen. The Empress showed emotion for the first time, placing a hand on her lips. “Where did you get this?” the Empress said shakily. She took the gem from Renthal and clenched it tightly. “It has been missing for decades.”

“Off this scoundrel, my Empress,” Renthal said, pointing to Jakub. “Shall we take him and the girl downstairs for questioning?”

“A moment, Renthal,” the Empress said. She walked to Jakub, who was still being pressed against the wall. “Kindly release him, please,” she told the guard, who looked extremely reluctant to do so.

“My Empress,” Renthal protested. “He could be dangerous.”

“Perhaps, but you and your guards will obey me all the same,” the Empress said. “Release him.”

The guard released Jakub at once, who turned to the Empress and bowed grandiosely as if his face hadn’t been crushed into a wall for the past few minutes.

“Empress,” Jakub said with a smirk that made Ako close her eyes in frustration. “It has been a long time.”

“I know that face,” the Empress whispered. “Jakub?”

“The one and the same, my lady,” Jakub said. Ako’s eyes shot open as she stared between the Empress and Jakub in disbelief. “What did you do, Jakub?” Ako said softly, but her voice carried in the silence and was heard by everyone.

The Empress’ cheeks reddened as Jakub laughed. “That’s a long story, full of many comings and goings,” he said, grinning.

“Guards, leave us,” the Empress said, taking back control of the conversation. “I assure you that I will be fine with both individuals.”

Before the Empress could even turn to Jakub, the old man was nodding. “You can trust Ako,” he said, pointing at her rudely. “She’s more than trustworthy.”

“I’m sure that means much coming from one such as you,” the Empress said, making Jakub laugh.

“You haven’t changed a bit,” Jakub said, winking at the Empress. Renthal made a scandalized noise and stepped forward.

“My Empress, I must protest!” Renthal cried. “Even if this Jakub is a long-lost friend of yours, he stole from you and arrived late in the evening! Surely, he can bunk down somewhere else and meet you properly in the morning.”

“Your concern is noted and appreciated, Officer Renthal,” the Empress said. “It is also unneeded. Please return to your duties.”

Renthal stood still, most likely in disbelief, before he bowed low. “By your will, my Empress,” he said. He then sharply turned away, and the guardsmen followed, who made deep bows of their own before leaving.

The Empress waited until they left before speaking. Emotions crashed over her face like a wave as she turned to Jakub. She eventually settled on anger as she put her hands on her hips and glared at him. “And what are you doing here, strolling back in my life like the past three decades haven’t occurred?”

“I missed you,” Jakub said. The Empress slapped him across the face, and he stumbled back. Jakub raised a hand to where she slapped him, wincing. “I deserved that.”

“Oh, you deserve much more than that,” the Empress seethed. “I was heartbroken when you left, you—” she took a deep breath and turned to Ako, who looked down at her tray and back at the Empress.

“Empress?” Ako said, wincing when it came out as a question. Excellent work, Ako.

Jakub laughed. “Very well done, Ako. Oh, leave her be, Catherine. I owe her my life when she rescued me in the middle of the Huzha.”

“You must have a reason to come here so late,” the Empress mused, staring off into nothing before she seemingly made up her mind. “Come with me into my rooms, Jakub, Ako. We have much to talk about, it seems.”

----------------------------------------

Ako walked timidly behind Jakub, who chattered away like he had nothing in the world to worry about. The Empress paused to make a quip that made Jakub scowl before she threw open her huge wooden doors to her own private chambers. Ako stared at the made bed curiously while still holding her tray full of now lukewarm coffee. She had never seen such a big bed before. It also looked absurdly comfortable, to the point where she found herself desperately wanting to lie down on it and see how long it would take to fall asleep.

The rest of the chambers were lavish, just like the rest of the palace Ako had seen so far. There was gold trimming everywhere, and the light green carpet was incredibly soft. Ako bounced on the balls of her feet, feeling the fabric beneath her feet. Ako frowned at it, wondering how carpets could be made that soft.

There wasn’t much else in the Empress’ chambers. There was a massive bed, carpets, some decorations like a jeweled sword that hung on the walls, and—

Ako nearly jumped at a loud clatter, and she looked up to see the Empress hauling two chairs—trimmed with gold and extremely expensive—as if they were ordinary chairs that should be handled roughly if needed. To her, they probably are only normal chairs.

“Put that tray down somewhere, will you?” the Empress said, grunting as she moved while holding a chair in each arm. Ako swallowed and found a small table nearby and set the tray down.

The Empress dropped the chairs in front of Jakub, and they clattered again even more loudly.

“Be a gentleman for once in your life and set the chairs,” the Empress said sternly. At this, Jakub huffed and placed a chair behind Ako, who sat down uncertainly at the Empress’ nod. She was already sitting in her own chair by her desk, watching as Jakub flopped into his own chair. Immediately, he folded his legs and waited with a visible amount of impatience.

There was a long pause as the Empress raised an eyebrow at Jakub, who was now tapping his leg and doing everything he could to say ‘get on with it’ without saying it. Eventually, the Empress huffed and rolled her eyes.

“Now talk,” the Empress said, wagging a finger like Jakub. Ako choked down a laugh at the sight of the Empress—one of the most important people in the Huzha Desert—doing anything like that. This entire situation is insane.

“How do you two know each other?” Ako blurted out. Both turned to stare at her, and it was all Ako could do not to tear her hair out. “Jakub is just an old man, and you are the… well, you are the Empress of Esai!”

Ako then remembered who she was shouting at and started blushing and breathing heavily, unsure of what to do. “I-I,” she stuttered, trying to salvage the situation. How do you even talk to an Empress?

Jakub grinned, and even the Empress was smirking as she raised a calming hand. “Calm yourself, child,” the Empress said. “It is a legitimate question. After all, anyone sensible who looks at Jakub now would never grace them with their company.”

“Hey!” Jakub said, and even Ako felt some meagre sense of irritation as well. I am perfectly sensible, Ako mentally grumbled. She pushed the thought of where she was and what she and Jakub had planned to do as far back into her mind as she could. Perfectly sensible.

“First, call me Catherine, Ako,” Catherine said. “It’s far too late for me to be uppity about protocol. And as for your question, well, Jakub is old. I’m old too, but not nearly as old.”

“You don’t look a day over thirty,” Jakub offered.

Catherine rolled her eyes again, but there was a hint of a smile on her face as she did so. “Indeed,” she said. “Well, Ako, I was once a young woman who had dreams. I was the Princess of Esai, the second least powerful city-state in the Huzha Desert apart from Javen. I was born into privilege, but I always wanted to see more. To know more. I had recently turned eighteen when Jakub arrived at court.”

“So, Jakub was not lying about being a bard,” Ako mused. Jakub, for once, didn’t say anything, seemingly content to lean back in his chair and observe.

“Oh no,” the Empress said, that hint of a smile appearing again along with the beginnings of a blush. “Well, I saw him and fell for him immediately. He was handsome, could play almost any instrument, and he was exotic. Not too many white men travel through the Huzha now, but there were even fewer then. I devoured him with my eyes long enough that even a blind man could notice, although, to his credit, he recognized what I wanted almost immediately.”

“And what was that?”

Jakub’s eyes sparkled as he began to answer but was silenced by Catherine’s flippant flip of her hand. “A taste of the world that I thought I was missing out on,” the Empress said, and Jakub settled back in his chair, looking almost unbearably smug.

“Eventually, my father found out, and Jakub was exiled from the city. I, of course, couldn’t help him escape, so I sent him to some associates that I knew. I suppose one of the same associates helped you tonight?”

Jakub cleared his throat and nodded, his expression clear of any mirth or mischief. “Yes,” Jakub said. “Ako and I were tasked to steal a vase, but what I was ultimately trying to achieve was a meeting with you.”

“Oh?” Catherine asked, looking intrigued despite herself. “And what did you desire as a result of this meeting?”

“Can’t I have just missed you and wanted to recollect on old times?” Jakub said with a charming smile, but before Catherine could verbally bite his head off, he should his head wryly. “I need money,” Jakub said bluntly.

“That’s… surprising,” Catherine said after a moment’s pause. “You never were without, Jakub. Most bards arrived at Esai’s court looked bedraggled at best and like beggars at worst. You showed up wearing the latest fashions and as if you had always been a part of the court. I always wondered how you managed it.”

“I had friends,” Jakub said simply. “My friends are all but gone, now.”

“You don’t have to tell me you’re old,” Catherine said impatiently with narrowed eyes. “I only have to look in the mirror to see how much time has passed.”

Jakub looked as though he was ready to flirt again, but for once, he seemed to read the mood of the room and nodded instead.

“And you still kept the gem,” Catherine said. She opened her hand and looked down at the blue gem resting in the palm of her hand. “I thought you’d have forgotten or sold it.”

“And forgotten about you?” Jakub scoffed. “Never. You were young, naïve, and foolish for pursuing me, but I could never forget you. If I had been allowed, I would have stayed. Who knows what would’ve happened, but I would’ve stayed.”

“It’s been a long time,” Jakub continued quietly. “Too long. The moment your father died, I wanted to return, but by at that point, I had found a wife.”

“Someone married you? That poor woman,” Catherine said, although her tone was light. “Who was the lucky woman?”

“Sara,” Jakub whispered. He bowed his head. “She died a decade ago from fever. She was pregnant with our first child.”

“Azmar’s grave,” Catherine swore. She reached across the gap between herself and Jakub and placed a hand on his arm. “I’m sorry, Jakub.”

“It’s not a problem,” Jakub said gruffly. He scrubbed at his face roughly. “It still hurts, but not as much as it used to.”

Catherine nodded, giving Jakub’s hand a squeeze before she settled back in her chair. Ako watched as the charming woman she was coming to know was replaced by the Empress of Esai, who sat back in her chair rigidly straight and looked at them both regally.

“Is that all you’re here for, Jakub?” the Empress asked. “You desire money?”

“Yes and no,” Jakub said. “Ako and I would like mounts, food, supplies, and money. She saved my life, nearly killing herself in the process. She has professed a desire to travel the world, and I would go with her.”

“Interesting,” the Empress said, and Ako was impressed by how much disinterest the Empress put into a single word. That was just her words, though. By the glint in the eye, Ako could tell that she was intensely interested. “How did she save your life?”

“I was attacked by bandits a week’s ride from here,” Jakub said. “I wanted to try something new, so I started a business of transporting silks and spices.”

Catherine snorted. “You, a trader?”

“Well, I was getting too old to be dealing in flesh,” Jakub said. He leered at the Empress in a way that made Ako want to leave the two of them alone. “It was all too easy for me, and I’m getting old.”

“Getting?” Ako interrupted.

Catherine’s calm mask broke, and she snickered as Jakub whirled on Ako. “That is enough out of you,” he said in a high voice, speaking and wagging his finger in an almost uncanny impersonation of the Empress of Esai.

“But yes,” Jakub said, settling back down and launching back into his story. “I wanted something different. I also liked the stability of it. I could still travel, which I love doing, but there was less uncertainty involved.”

“When you put it like that, your reasoning makes sense,” Catherine allowed. “How did Ako save you?”

“She found me hiding under the remnants of my cart,” Jakub said. “I had hidden there, and the bandits were content with stealing my mounts and everything I owned, thinking that the Huzha would kill me. It nearly did. Ako was traveling alone. She found me, fed and nursed me back to health, and shared her supplies until we made it here.”

“I did what everyone would,” Ako said, embarrassed. “He needed help, so I gave it to him.”

“No,” the Empress said, shaking her head slowly. “Most would have left him there to die. You were tempted, weren’t you?”

Ako found herself unable to lie under the Empress’ intimidating stare.

“Yes,” she said softly, not looking over at Jakub to see his reaction. “I was.”

“And yet, you risked yourself to save an old man anyways because it was the right thing to do,” the Empress said, smiling. “You didn’t know if Jakub would have attacked you or made away with your mount while you slept or done anything to you on the way to Esai. Instead, you took the chance and were rewarded for it.”

Ako was tempted to say something like ‘some reward,’ but instead, she nodded, keeping her mouth shut. I have been with Jakub for too long if that’s the first type of response that comes to mind, Ako thought.

“Where do you plan on going?” the Empress asked. “I imagine you have never been outside of the Huzha?”

“Velaire,” Ako said timidly but gathered confidence when the Empress didn’t immediately laugh at her. “I want to go to the magic city. I want to see Velaire.”

The Empress didn’t laugh at her. Instead, she looked somewhat alarmed. “I… don’t think that’s a good idea,” the Empress said.

“Why?” Jakub demanded. “Why shouldn’t she go to Velaire, Catherine?”

“Because Velaire is undergoing changes,” the Empress said guardedly. “The Seladarians are preparing for something.”

“What, war?” Jakub began to laugh, but stopped when the Empress didn’t join in. His face paled.

“War?” Jakub repeated weakly. “Why?”

“Because they want to,” the Empress said. “I may not have much of an empire, but I have spies, and they are telling me that something is going to happen between Velaire and Seldalar. It won’t be immediate, but by the time Ako and you both arrive, you could become embroiled in it.”

“So you won’t help us?” Jakub asked, looking grim. “I go where Ako goes, Catherine. She needs guidance, and I owe her my life. She wants to go to Velaire, so it is Velaire we will go. We need supplies.”

“Yes, I’ll help you, Azmar damn it,” Catherine said, cursing. “But you will need to be careful. Her eyes went from Ako to Jakub but lingered on Jakub. “Both of you.”

“I don’t understand,” Ako said. “Why were we sent here to steal a vase?”

“Is that what you were told?” Catherine asked, looking over at Jakub. “Lying to her, are you?”

“Well,” Jakub began, and swallowed as Ako glared at him furiously. She felt like a fool. Of course, we weren’t here to steal a vase. How would that fund our trip? How stupid am I?!

“Yes,” Jakub said with some contriteness. “I lied. How would you have taken something like “we’re going to break into the Royal Palace and try to speak with the Empress at two in the morning? Oh, and we’ll probably die, so you might as well get your prayers over with now?”

“I would… not have been happy,” Ako said, but she picked up steam as Jakub nodded knowingly. “But I would still have gone with you!”

Jakub peered at her before he slowly nodded. “You would’ve?” he questioned. “Huh.”

“You’re corrupting her,” Catherine accused. Before Jakub could answer, she brushed her dress and stood. “I will call for an actual servant,” she said. The Empress shook her head at Jakub. “You were lucky, Jakub, but you’ve always been lucky. Go to bed, and we will speak more tomorrow.”

The Empress made it to her desk and grabbed a bell, but before she could ring it, Jakub cleared his throat.

“You know, it would be a shame if I made Ako carry coffee up here for nothing,” Jakub said, looking over to where the coffee was sitting meaningfully.

“I have not forgotten,” the Empress said primly. “I will soon enjoy it. Alone. Good night, Jakub,” she said, picking up her bell and ringing it.

Jakub nodded in acceptance and stood, yawning. “I will see you soon,” he said before bowing low.

“It was a pleasure to see you again.”

The Empress of Esai smiled at Jakub warmly. “It is good seeing you again, Jakub,” she said. She nodded to Ako as well. “Good night, you two.” She smiled at them coyly. “Separate bedrooms?”

Ako made a face. “Yes, please,” she said, shaking her head and trying to dismiss the image of herself and Jakub in the same bed. Ugh.

“I see her as a granddaughter,” Jakub said, agreeing with Ako. “She sees me the same way.”

“She could do worse,” the Empress allowed. The doors opened right after to see a sleepy-looking servant wearing the exact same type of clothing that Jakub was wearing. To the servant’s credit, he didn’t bat an eye at the fact that the Empress had visitors at two in the morning, and they were both garbed like servants. I wonder how many of these late-night visits she has, Ako wondered.

“Two rooms for them, third level,” the Empress said to the servant. He bowed, his bald head reflecting some of the glow of the candles in the room.

“By your command, Empress,” the servant replied. At his wordless beckon, Ako and Jakub followed the servant out of the Empress chambers. A few minutes later, Ako was lying on the most comfortable bed she had ever felt, falling asleep almost immediately.