Lady Maris hurried toward the guest chamber, intent on speaking with the emperor.
But she had made no prior appointment, and despite being King Valentin's lover, she held little official standing at court—essentially a commoner.
And commoners needed special permissions to gain an audience with someone as powerful as the emperor.
"You may leave your message with me, and I shall relay it to His Majesty," Sir Roderick said, standing before Emperor Kaan's chamber. Was he welcoming her or subtly blocking her path?
"You were at the palace yesterday, weren't you? You must know what happened. Did His Majesty truly halt the battle?"
Lady Maris's question carried urgency. She didn't necessarily need to hear the answer from the emperor himself. A witness would suffice. Confirmation of what Emperor Kaan had done was all she sought.
After a brief silence, Sir Roderick nodded. "He did."
"Why did he do that? How?"
