“Your belly has grown so much.” Francesca smiles at me while drinking her tea. I just sit there quietly. I am approaching the due date. I merely hope that Michael is back in time to see his child. “You shouldn’t think such gloomy thoughts.”

“And how do you know what I am thinking?”

“I have been spending the past months keeping you company. It would be heartless of me to not start to understand my friend even a little bit.” I narrow my eyes at her. Who said that we were friends? I do no remember saying such.

I motion for Cecilia to bring in some pastries. I have the sudden craving for sweats and I will start to be very cranky if I do not get them soon. I guess I have been spending a lot of time with her recently.

I can tell by her smile that she knows exactly what I am thinking. I forgot how smug she can be at times. Cecilia walks in and places down a plate of pastries before taking a couple of steps back.

“You shouldn’t worry as well.” I say as an offhand comment. She may not show it but I know that she is worrying as well. Luca isn’t as strong as Michael. Part of the reason she is reassuring me is because she wants to reassure herself as well.

She just shakes her head. Something else seems to be on her mind. While she may be worrying about Luca I have a creeping suspicion that she is thinking about something else. “Well... I don’t know if I should be telling you this.”

“Do you need privacy?”

“That would be for the best.” She sighs and lowers her head. She has clearly wanted to tell me this for some time. I motion for Cecilia to leave because I am interested in what she wants to tell me.

“It is about Matteo... I brought this up with Michael but he seemed to already know about this so...” She begins slowly. I can’t think of anything about Matteo that would be suspicious but quietly listen to what she is saying. “... He is-”

“Lady Casttica, you should be more careful. The walls have ears.” Francesca jumps up from where she is sitting. I can see her visibly in shock at his appearance. “Excuse me, do continue. What were you going to say about me?”

“You want me to tell her?”

“She is already interested. It would be a shame for you to leave her hanging.” He smiles at me but I feel a weird aura from him. I don’t think he particularly wants to tell me but sees no reason not to at this point. “Or would you like me to explain to her?”

Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.

“I-I...”

“Very well. My empress, I hate to say this but my real name isn’t Matteo De Ante.” He bows down before me. I am disappointed at this, I already figured out that his name wasn’t Matteo De Ante. This is hardly news. “My real name is Antonio De Ante.”

I drop my tea cup and it shatters upon the ground.

I don’t even register moving my legs but I am suddenly farther away from him. I do not believe my own ears. There is no way this can be true. Matteo was around when Antonio was killed. He was the one who killed him!

I step towards him and take his sword from his holster. He doesn’t move from the spot in which he bowed down. With shaky hands I raise it to his face and make a small cut. It takes a little bit but eventually the cut begins to slowly heal.

I don’t know if it is on purpose but Matteo performs the same actions that Michael did when I first found out about his healing abilities. While it took longer it still is the same effect. “Take off your shirt.” The words are barely above that of a whisper.

“My empress, I am a married man. It would be sham-”

“I Said take off your shirt.” I cut him off. I do not have time for his teasing and light heartedness. I need to see the answer in front of me. I need to see if he truly possesses the imperial sigil.

“Very well. Lady Casttica, may I ask you to leave.” Without a word Francesca bolts out of the room. She seems to be flushed but I don’t know if it is due to embarrassment or surprise. Knowing her it may be both.

Upon hearing the door slam shut he takes off his upper uniform and shirt. I look over his back. His imperial sigil is deformed, nothing as beautiful as Michael’s. Part of me begins to pity him. This is clearly a curse for him, a twisted form of blessing.

“Why?”

“Why what?” He just stares at the ground. He seems to be ashamed of himself but I do not know for sure because I cannot see his face. I hesitate before explaining.

“Why are you serving Michael? Do you not want the throne for yourself?”

“The throne is cursed. Michael thinks it is the blood that curses him, he is wrong. The throne cursed him to be isolated. To not know love. To not know family. Many evil things have been done for that throne and many more will be done.” He pauses to breathe for a second. To think a little bit before continuing on. “People who possess the imperial sigil are seen as tools.”

“Michael willingly invited you here?”

“Yes, it was him who suggested it. The thing he wishes for most is family and therefore I presented a good excuse for him to create a family.” He begins to put on his uniform. I just stand there blinking at him. I think I dropped the sword but I do not realize when I did so. “That is why he is so conflicted.”

“Conflicted?”

“He never wanted children but then you come along. Part of the reason I support your marriage is because I suspect he wanted to give me the throne.” I feel myself losing all strength. I don’t know what happens after because I black out.