That aside, where was this? The ceiling was a view I had never seen. Her Majesty leaving the palace in the middle of the night was unthinkable, so it had to be somewhere inside the palace.
"Um, where is this?"
I asked, and Anouk leaned in from the side.
"It is a reception room near the entrance of the rear palace. Her Majesty cannot go outside the palace at night, so this is the room where Her Majesty and the consorts meet with men. Please do not concern yourself."
Then Her Majesty added,
"You may stay lying in this room until morning. Lord Marie still cannot move his body, can you?"
I tried to lift a hand. It would not move. My fingers would, though. Eyes, mouth, and fingers. That was all.
"My fingers can move now."
Her Majesty said,
"No. Take the safe course. Page, you will not move Lord Marie. You will stay with him tonight. Leave him be."
"Understood."
Lily answered, and Her Majesty said,
