"Blessings and glory upon the brilliant light of the Caelthra Empire."
Zarah curtsied deeply, her head bowed in respect as she greeted the Empress.
She wore a light yellow dress and her hair fell loose down her back.
Moonlight spilled softly over her bowed figure.
Ines raised a hand, signaling Zarah to rise before walking past her and taking a seat on the sofa.
Zarah followed quietly behind, her head respectfully lowered, and sat by the Empress's feet.
Ines glanced at her and furrowed her brows.
Where is the other lotus pin? Ines wondered.
Zarah felt Ines's gaze resting on her and visibly stiffened.
The events of the previous night had not left her mind, no matter how hard she tried to suppress them.
She had spent the entire day forcing herself not to think about it, but now she was sitting before the very woman who had ravaged her the night before.
A pale flush crept up her neck, though she kept her gaze lowered.
"Where is it?" Ines finally asked.
Zarah blinked in confusion.
"Where is what, Your Majesty?"
Ines leaned forward and gently held Zarah's jaw, tilting her head upward until their eyes met.
"The hairpin," she said simply.
Zarah's breath hitched.
Her skin seemed to burn beneath Ines's touch, the memory of last night sending warmth rushing through her body.
"The hairpin?" she echoed, forcing herself to maintain eye contact. "It's in my chamber, Your Majesty."
She wanted to ask more.
Why was Ines asking about her hairclip?
But she knew better than to question the Empress.
So she remained silent, waiting for Ines to speak again.
Ines hummed as she leaned close to Zarah's face, her breath fanning softly against Zarah's skin.
Zarah flinched slightly, her pupils dilating as she forced herself to focus.
Ines was close… too close.
It made her head spin, the rosemary scent clinging to the Empress filling her senses.
"Wear it tomorrow," Ines said before releasing Zarah's jaw and pulling back as she stood up.
Zarah was baffled.
What did Ines mean by tomorrow?
Was she going to summon her again?
Or was she simply giving fashion advice?
If Zarah didn't wear the hairpin, Ines might never know… unless they saw each other again.
So… was the Empress planning to summon her tomorrow as well?
From where she sat, Zarah watched Ines walk to the dressing table. The Empress opened a drawer, took something from it, and returned to the sofa.
"Hand," Ines said.
Zarah obediently extended her hand, though curiosity twisted in her stomach.
What was Ines going to give her?
Ines took Zarah's hand and placed a lotus hairpin in her palm.
Zarah's eyes widened.
She looked up at the Empress, wondering where she could have gotten it, but before she could speak, Ines said calmly,
"I found it near the pond. That is how I identified you."
"Oh… thank you, Your Majesty," Zarah muttered quietly as she closed her fingers around it.
It was the missing one from the pair.
So she had dropped it near the pond.
That was how the Empress had recognized her… and chosen her.
Zarah stared at the hairpin in her palm like it was a traitor that had gravely betrayed her.
"Zarah," Ines said, looking at her. "Put it on."
Zarah glanced at the Empress once, then at the hairpin in her hands before raising it and sliding it into her hair.
By now, she had realized something
.
What had happened near the pond had not made the Empress suspicious of her. Instead, it seemed to have sparked some curiosity… perhaps even interest.
If that was the case, Zarah would play along with it.
If she could gain the Empress's trust, then someday — when the moment was right and Ines was in a favorable mood — she could ask her to investigate the brothel and shut it down for its human trafficking and other crimes.
"Is this okay, Your Majesty?" Zarah asked softly, one hand resting over her hair where the hairpin now sat.
Ines reached out and gripped Zarah's jaw again, lifting her face slightly as she studied her.
Zarah truly was pleasant to look at.
"Wear the other one as well tomorrow," Ines said.
She wanted to see how the pair would look together in Zarah's hair.
Zarah lowered her eyes.
"Will Your Majesty summon me tomorrow as well?" she asked hesitantly.
Ines raised an eyebrow.
"Do I need to make it an official decree for you to understand?"
Zarah shook her head gently.
As Ines's hand slipped from her jaw, it moved instead to the back of Zarah's neck, her fingers lightly tangling in the soft strands there.
"No, Your Majesty," Zarah answered, her voice slightly strained. "I understand."
Ines nodded once.
"Good."
Then she pulled Zarah up and kissed her.
"Do you have it?" Melody asked as Susan approached and lowered her head respectfully.
"Yes, I have brought what you asked, my lady," Susan said, handing her a ruby bracelet
.
Melody took it and turned it over in her hands.
"Did anyone see you?"
Susan shook her head lightly.
"No one saw me, my lady."
Melody hummed softly before pushing open the doors to Zarah's chamber.
"Where are the two men His Grace said he would send?" she asked, glancing around the room.
"They are coming, my lady," Susan replied.
She hesitated before adding nervously,
"If I may… what if someone finds out it was you, my lady, who did this and not Lady C—"
Melody turned sharply, glaring at her.
"Servants who speak too much rarely keep their tongues for long," she said coldly.
Susan immediately fell silent.
"But since your curiosity seems unbearable," Melody continued, lifting the bracelet slightly, "no one will discover the truth. That is precisely why I asked you to bring Celine's bracelet, is it not?"
Susan quickly lowered her head.
"I am sorry, my lady. I did not mean to doubt your words or your authority."
Just then two men dressed in rugged clothing entered the chamber.
Melody dismissed Susan with a sharp glance.
"Do not repeat this mistake again, Susan," she warned quietly. "Or there will be consequences."
Melody nodded toward the men and they entered the room at once, bowing respectfully.
"The Grand Duke has sent us," the man on the right said.
"Then you must be aware of what you are to do?" Melody asked as she walked toward the dressing table.
"Yes, my lady, we are," the man on the left replied.
"Then go ahead and begin," Melody said, resting her hand against the base of the mirror.
"I am sorry, Zarah. I truly tried to be civil," Melody murmured to herself. "But now that you are spending your second night with the Empress… you are ruining my plans."
Her eyes darkened.
"How can I possibly let you walk away without giving you a taste of what happens when someone interferes with Melody Zepher?"
With that, she hurled the ruby bracelet at the mirror.
The glass shattered loudly, fragments scattering across the dressing table.
The men had already begun their work. Furniture was overturned, drawers were pulled out, and dresses were ripped from the wardrobe.
One of the men approached the dressing table, but Melody raised a hand, stopping him.
She picked up the jewelry box lying among the shards of glass and opened it.
Inside lay the lotus hairpin.
Melody took it out and handed the box back to the man.
Walking over to Susan, she placed the hairpin in her hand.
"Go place this in Celine's jewelry box," Melody ordered.
Susan hesitated for a brief moment before bowing and leaving.
Melody turned once more and watched as the men continued tearing Zarah's chamber apart.
A satisfied smile curved her lips.
That ought to teach Zarah to stay out of her business.
She had already instructed Susan to let the men leave once they were finished.
With that, Melody turned and calmly walked back toward her own chamber.