months’ time?
She shouldn’t judge them so quickly, especially if she didn’t want to be judged in return. “Nero was praying at the temple. He was swearing rather loudly and disturbing the other patrons. I went to quiet him down. Since then, we’ve been fast friends.”
“He bought you.” Viktor’s tone was as forgiving and carefree as a lump of metal. “The symbol you wear around your neck on that chain is his. Not Hera’s.”
“I—” Nero started, already angry, by the sound of it.
Hope raised her hand and silenced him. Nero, shockingly, fell silent. “With all due respect, Cardinal, I understand that the ways of this Dominion are strange to you. But allow me to try to explain. First, it would be untoward for him to be seen romancing a priestess of Hera. We are required to be celibate unless we are married. His reputation is well known, so even despite any actions or lack thereof on his part, the rumors would fly, and I would be disgraced.”
She spun her wineglass in her fingers as she talked. “Secondly, such scandal aside, he could not seek my attentions—I, as property of the temple—without express permission of those who own me. And, as I was the property of the trust itself and no single individual, securing such permission would be a lengthy and painful process requiring the approval of several committees. I do not know how you do things in the East, but there is nothing more painful here than bureaucracy. I would likely die of old age before they decided anything at all. However, the Mother Arkhiereus has been given rights over all financial decisions to be made under a certain capital value. I clearly fell under that bar.”
She paused to let Viktor speak. When he didn’t, she continued. “And lastly, with all due respect, Cardinal? It is simply none of your business. I am here. I wear his sigil. I am the same as the others who have served you food this night and will fetch your car before you leave. If you do not take issue at their state of being as you do mine, it is more your distaste for Nero that is to blame. I recommend you do not bring up the matter again. I would also like to say that the rumors of how you run your country would make a poor slave like me look at your citizens with pity for their lack of freedom. Including the means by which you secured your charming wife.”
“Ouch.” Nero was snickering into his glass. The word was quiet and meant only for her.
“It isn’t that bad,” Rose tried to smooth things over. “But I’m sorry if we’ve offended you. None was meant.”
Tap. Tap. Tap. The sound of a cane on the stone heralded Viktor’s approach. He walked with a cane. Interesting. He moved to sit by Rose. “I apologize, Hope. My words were not meant out of anything other than offense at whatever liberties Nero has taken against someone who has no legal or physical ability to stop him.”
That’s ironic, considering what I’ve heard. But he was apologizing, and she decided not to spit in his face over it. “Apology accepted.”
“Don’t you worry about her. She can take care of herself just fine. She hits like a champ,” Nero said blithely. “Great right hook, this one. I think I might try her out as a boxer in the fall.” He laughed. No one else did. “I hate you all.”
“We know,” Hugo said.
“I’m funny. I’m perfectly funny. See? Hope is smiling. She thinks I’m funny.”
She was, wasn’t she? She sipped her wine before answering. “I think I’m required by law to laugh at your jokes.”
That got a laugh out of Rose and Hugo, and even Nero joined in. Viktor didn’t laugh. He was probably physically incapable.
“Well, I, for one, am less concerned now,” Hugo said as he reached out, likely to pluck more food off the table. “I was worried sick about what was going on after you told me of your terrible scheme. But she knows, does she?”
“That I plan on making her my wife? She does. And see? She sits here, dressed like that, and hasn’t run sobbing away from me. She even let me—”
She turned to shoot him a vicious expression. Nero swallowed his words. “No slapping me in public, dearest.”
“Then don’t give me a reason.”
Someone chuckled. It might have been Viktor. Gods on high, the man could laugh.
“Tell me, Ms. Hope,” Viktor began after a pause, “are