"This is fantastic," Medea gasped, holding up a swath of lotus silk to her chest. I smiled blandly. That entire roll of fabric cost twelve thousand gold coins. Enough to support a small noble family for six years. Even if my heart was melancholy, at least I still had money.
"It's a very luxurious and sought-after item." I said. "Lotus silk is made laboriously, with farmers needing to snap off lotus stems one by one for hours on end. A day's worth of lotus silk farming can produce at most a thumbnail sized piece of fabric." I waved up a maid, and she opened a beautiful gold-encrusted box. I took out several samples of lotus silk in different colors with different embroideries. "It's breathable, light, soft, and beautiful." The silk shone under the shafts of sunlight, glittering like moonbeams on water. "Moreover, as compared to the unscrupulous practice of producing threads traditionally from silkworms, young noble ladies find the manufacturing of lotus silk a lot more tasteful."
"I want it." Empress Medea smiled, her eyes and smile as glittering and extravagant as the large topaz jewel affixed to her hair. "I want my entire wardrobe to be made out of it. How fabulous it is." She ran her hand along the lotus silk, admiring its subtle sheen.
"I'm afraid our production rates cannot provide that for you just yet, but we will do our best." All the workers would receive a bonus today! Even if Medea's personality was somewhat despicable, at least she was laden with gold! "We'll send you the prices shortly, and get to work."
"Yes, yes," Medea waved her hands. "Request however much you want. More, even, if that means my dresses can arrive sooner."
Even the most beautiful item can rot in the hands of greed. Like a child with sticky fingers, Medea left a mess by following her avarice. But that didn't mean much to me. I had little sentiment for her.
"Of course," I bowed my head.
As we drank the last dregs of our tea, I prepared to leave.
"Valerie." She smiled, sharp eyes turned in my direction. I stiffened but nodded, awaiting her words. "You'd do best to stop by the imperial gardens, hm? Ieuan is waiting for you."
Cold sweat ran down my back but I smiled and swept my skirts in a deep bow.
"I am honored."
As she said, he waited for me, sunlight scattering across his hair like shards of glass. He sat alone at a garden table, swirling a cup of tea aimlessly. I stopped when I caught sight of him, my breath catching in my throat out of fear. With nobody watching him, he wore no smile. His face was cold, hard, angry. His skin and features were untouched, flawless, but his expression curdled as if there was an angry scar drawn across it. Even if Roman failed to take the crown and Ethan died - I'd be glad that he wasn't following Ieuan.
I drew closer and he turned sharply, before breaking out into a wide smile. He angled himself the right way, as if knowing how the sun would look filtering through his hair. Back against the sky, his face was shadowed, hiding the way his smile hesitated. I swallowed and stood before him, next to one of the garden chairs.
"Valerie Aedile," he smiled, eyes cold and unflinching. "Please sit."
"I am honored." I sat down uneasily, fingers tense as a maidservant handed me a cup of tea. "For what reason does the first prince seek me out?"
His smile fell for a fraction of a second. Was he upset that I hadn't called him the sun of the Empire? How predictable.
"I simply wanted to see your lovely face." Set amongst a backdrop of roses, he looked as if he had just stepped out of a painting. Soft golden hair, lovely features, clear green eyes. He was perfect. Even his expression was perfect - gentle, affectionate, as if he had caught sight of a girl he'd unexpectedly fallen in love with. Like a dollop of sun-kissed honey on a white napkin, waiting for the butterfly to land.
"I see your brother has been busy these past few days."
I sipped my tea, eyes not flicking up once.
"Visiting Roman. I'm a little hurt by that, since he accompanied my troops first."
His first bit of authenticity so far.
"And now he's following my little brother."
I put down my cup. "I apologize, prince. As you know, Ethan is fickle."
"Fickle indeed." He smiled without it quite reaching his eyes. "Funny how he would do that, when the Aediles have historically been neutral." I watched him, wary. "Your father must be in quite the bind."
"Yes. Arthur's followed our traditions, but Ethan certainly has not. However," I smiled gently. "Roman was Ethan's savior, so perhaps this much was expected."
His hand paused. "You have yet to call me by my first name, princess."
I covered my mouth and laughed gently. "Please, prince, I wouldn't dare."
He lowered his eyelids and glanced at me past golden lashes. "The pleasure would be all mine, Valerie." He sipped his tea, which must have gone cold a long time ago. "Don't hesitate when uttering my name. Your father worries about the loss of Aedile's neutrality. The two of us soon might be closer than you think."