Sarnai’s maids. “It’s marvelous,” they whispered to one another.
“Have you ever seen anything so spectacular?”
“All the ladies in court will want one just like it.”
I leaned on my cane, drinking in their praise. For the hundredth time, I tried to look at my dress objectively and find a reason for Lady Sarnai to reject it. I couldn’t think of any.
My dress was a soft pearlescent blue, one of the many shades of the sea Sendo had taught me to see as a girl. The outer layer, a short robe wrapped under a sash fastened by a silver cord, was a richer sapphire, the long sleeves embroidered with tiny rose blossoms and soaring cranes with magnificent white wings. On the skirts were opal-petaled water lilies and golden fish swimming in a silvery pool above the hem embellished with seed pearls and layers of lace, like ripples of water.
For an empress, I was sure all would agree mine was more appropriate than Norbu’s. Certainly, more beautiful by far.
I exhaled, sure I had finally beaten him.
“Very fine work,” Lady Sarnai murmured. “Master Tamarin, truly you’ve outdone yourself.”
Her face was soft, almost kind. Was she in a better mood now that Lord Xina was here?
“Alas,” she said, “this trial must come to an end. Both Master Tamarin and Master Norbu are skilled beyond measure, but I feel one would serve me better than the other.” The softness dissolved, and she sent a sharp glance at Minister Lorsa.
The eunuch clasped his hands and announced, “Master Norbu has won the position.”
My knees buckled, and blood rushed to my ears, making my heart pound in my head. What? After everything that had happened, it couldn’t be. I couldn’t fail Baba and Keton, not like this.
“H-he can’t win,” I stammered. “Master Norbu’s dress is an illusion.”
Before anyone could stop me, I reached for Lady Sarnai’s pot of tea and splashed its contents at Norbu’s dress.
The dress wilted, the rich burgundy fading as the texture of the silk thinned and roughened. Slowly, the fur and beading disappeared, and the gold phoenixes shriveled until they were threadbare, leaving behind little more than a sheath of white silk sewn into the form of a dress.
“Well, there we have it,” Edan said, a beat after Minister Lorsa sniffed with disbelief. “Magic, and a rather poor display of one at that. Master Tamarin is the more skilled tailor. That is clear to all.”
Lady Sarnai crossed her arms, her lips curling into a tight grimace. “Regardless, I prefer Master Norbu’s service.”
“But, Your Highness,” Edan said thinly, “we all know how strongly you feel about the use of enchantment.”
“This is my decision,” she insisted. “The emperor and I agreed upon this in the truce.”
“His Majesty and your father agreed you could select a tailor,” said Edan sharply, “not a spy. Master Norbu, I take it, was more compliant than Master Tamarin in accepting your terms.”
Lady Sarnai’s jaw locked, and she glared at me.
Meanwhile, Norbu made no move to leave. “Master Tamarin?” he asked calmly. “Don’t you mean Mistress Tamarin?” He was fast for such a large man, and I moved too late. He ripped at the buttons on my tunic, exposing the straps over my chest.
Lady Sarnai gasped, and the maids covered their mouths with their hands.
A cold tide of alarm seized me. For a moment, I couldn’t breathe. I stood immobile—in shock, as the world spun.
“She’s a girl, Your Highness,” Norbu said. “She lied to you all.”
“No—” I started.
Lady Sarnai raised a hand, silencing everyone. “Lord Enchanter,” she said, beckoning Edan to her. “Is this true?”
I wasn’t sure whether it was an accusation that he’d known, or whether Lady Sarnai simply wanted him to inspect me. Edan looked at me unflinchingly.
“Yes,” he said. “It’s true.”
My chest squeezed tight. I met Lady Sarnai’s eyes, waiting for the chilly dismissal I’d come to expect from the shansen’s daughter. But for once, her brows unfurrowed, and her lips eased out of their usual frown. Time stretched. There was something in her stare I’d never seen before: compassion.
I dared hope that she might take pity on me. After all, I was a girl—like her. One who’d risked everything to break free of the roles this world expected of her. She would understand better than anyone.
Then Lady Sarnai fluttered a hand, and my heart sank. “Take her away.”
“Please, Your Highness!” I shouted. “Please—don’t.”
Her bodyguards grabbed me, and I turned to Edan. But he spoke not a word in my defense. Nothing, as Norbu smirked and the