Royal Torment - Viola Grace Page 0,17
tired.”
“Why?”
“She had to kill the killers. Sure it is what she is good at, but running after a toddler during the day and defending one at night was rough on her.”
“She is an assassin?”
“She is a Kaduran Of course, she is.” Tydella urged Brekker down to the palace grounds, and he landed with tremendous grace.
“So, the emperor’s consort is a Kaduran assassin.” Ador slid to the ground, and then, he lifted her and set her on her feet.
“Sure. There’s a funny story behind it, too.”
He took her hand and kissed it. “I would like to hear that story.”
His tone indicated that she would be telling him the tale as they were twined together. He turned her hand and kissed the palm. She blushed, and her father cleared his throat.
She didn’t pull her hand back. He pressed another kiss to her palm and slowly lowered her hand, kissing her on the cheek. She blinked and smiled at him as he backed up and started giving orders to the gathered and astonished staff. Her parents were assigned to the golden suite, and she was given the rosewood suite. Her guards were in the rooms next to hers.
She smiled when he turned to her. “What do the Kai-len eat?”
“They are omnivorous, but they can be fed on grain until they are able to hunt. Grain, hay, fruit, vegetables. It will be fine.”
“Do they need to be confined?”
“Oh, no. They will roam on their own and come back when we call for them.”
Ador nodded. “Good. I will have staff put out food for them on the grounds.”
“Thank you. Do you know what kind of tests your mother has planned?”
His lips tightened. “I do. They usually involve deportment, historical knowledge, and physical grace.”
“Ah. Right.” She smiled slightly. “I think I have blown the first one out of the water.”
He smiled. “It is a good thing that testing only begins tomorrow.”
The staff was waiting, and she nodded. “Right. Tomorrow then.”
She got a maid for her, and her crew, her parents were escorted by a male member of the household who seemed to manage to walk and bow every few steps. Impressive.
The maid was flustered. “Your Highness, we weren’t expecting you until later and certainly were not expecting your entourage.”
Tydella nodded. “My appearance in the palace was a bit of a surprise to me as well, but my father will not be gainsaid. He decided this is where he wants me to be, and this is where I shall be.”
“Who was that woman with him?”
Tydella smiled. “The imperial consort.”
“Oh, one of the harem?”
Kimal coughed, and Tydella gave him a glare to stop the laughter.
“No. She is the only consort and grandmother of the next imperial heir. When the emperor realized that she could never be empress, he swore to never marry. They have worked well together for a few decades.”
“That is so romantic.” The maid gushed.
They arrived at the rosewood suite, and Tydella was settled in and left alone. Her guards were going to be situated around her.
She lay down on the bed and sighed as she relaxed. A wardrobe that her mother had had packed was arriving in a slow parade of wide-eyed servants. Lithia arrived and took charge of the clothing, organizing and sorting the clothing for everything from combat practice to a platinum-and-gemstone encrusted gown. The second room of the suite was taken up with her wardrobe.
Lithia smiled. “Do you really want him?”
“I am willing to dress up like an imperial princess for him, so yes.” She sighed and stood in the room with her horribly expensive clothing and accessories surrounding her. “Are there any comfortable shoes in here?”
Lithia laughed.
Tydella smiled, and the smile faded when Lithia tested the food that had been brought to her. Oh. Right. People were trying to kill her. She had had her time off. It was time to go back to being her father’s daughter.
Chapter Eight
There was a soft noise in the corner of the room, and Tydella woke and slithered out of her bedding with her dagger in her hand.
The panel in the corner of the room opened, and she caught his scent before she saw him. “Ador, what the actual fuck?”
He walked to her, pressed his fingers to her lips, and then replaced his touch with his mouth. She let the hand with the dagger droop, and she lifted her arm and held the back of his neck with her free hand.
He grabbed her waist and pressed her against the wall. “Don’t make a sound.”
She blinked