Zarah stood outside the Imperial study, glancing at the servant stationed by the door.
Before she could speak, the servant noticed her presence and bowed.
"Lady Zarah, Her Majesty is awaiting you. Please, enter," he said, opening the door.
Zarah inclined her head. "Thank you."
She stepped inside.
The Imperial study was quiet. Ines sat behind a polished wooden desk, her black hair pulled into a neat bun as she signed a stack of documents.
Zarah lowered into a curtsy.
"Blessings and glory upon the brilliant light of the Caelthra Empire, Her Majesty, the Empress."
Ines looked up, her gaze settling on Zarah.
A frown touched her lips.
She did not like the way Zarah had concealed the marks she had left on her neck the previous night.
"Come here," Ines said, setting her quill aside.
With a small gesture of her hand, she dismissed the servants.
They bowed and quietly exited the room.
Zarah straightened, her eyes lifting to meet Ines's.
Eyes blue as the sea, ones she always felt she was drowning in whenever she looked at them.
Zarah stepped closer as Ines pushed her chair back.
The moment she reached the desk, Ines's hand slid around her waist, pulling her forward. In one smooth motion, she lifted Zarah onto the desk, scattering papers across its surface.
Zarah barely had time to react before Ines stepped between her legs, parting them as her hands settled firmly on her thighs.
"How are you feeling?" Ines asked, her voice low.
Zarah looked up at her. "I am fine, Your Majesty."
"Define fine," Ines murmured, her lips brushing against Zarah's jaw as she drew her closer.
"I am well, Your Majesty. I am not upset… nor troubled," Zarah replied, her voice soft as she tilted her head, exposing more of her neck.
Her fingers curled against the edge of the desk.
Ines lifted a hand, cupping Zarah's cheek before capturing her lips in a deep kiss.
"Zarah," she murmured against her lips, her tone edged with a faint scold, "why must I always remind you to touch me?"
She kissed her again, slower this time.
"Do you enjoy making me ask?" Her lips trailed along Zarah's jaw.
"Do you like making me feel as though I must beg for your affection?"
Zarah stiffened instantly.
Her hands came up, shaking her head as she gently caught Ines's face, halting her.
"No, no, it is not like that, Your Majesty," she said quickly.
Ines frowned slightly.
"Now you refuse to let me kiss you?" she asked, a teasing lilt threading through her voice.
Zarah shook her head again, her gaze dropping.
"Your Majesty, you know it is not so… why must you always tease me like this?"
"Because," Ines smirked, her fingers wrapping lightly around Zarah's wrist, "you are adorable when you look so flustered."
She leaned in again, claiming Zarah's lips.
This time, Zarah did not hesitate.
Her eyes fluttered shut as she leaned into the kiss, returning it, her hands sliding to Ines's shoulders and gripping tightly.
Ines pulled back, pressing a soft kiss to Zarah's forehead. Zarah smiled faintly.
Gently, Ines took hold of Zarah's wrists and lowered her hands from her face.
"Your Majesty… may I ask a question?" Zarah asked.
She needed to know what would happen to the children in the brothel, and the women who lived there.
"You may," Ines replied, releasing her hands as she moved downward.
Zarah's eyes widened.
She immediately tried to slip off the desk.
"Stay," Ines said sharply, her gaze cutting through her.
Before Zarah could protest further, Ines took her foot into her hands and began removing her shoe.
"Your Majesty, what are you doing?" Zarah's voice wavered, panic rising.
What was she doing?
She was the Empress, for the heavens' sake—
How could she kneel and touch Zarah's foot?
Something like this felt dangerously improper… almost like a sin.
"Please, Your Majesty, don't—this is not—"
Her words broke off.
Ines's fingers brushed gently against the sole of her foot.
"Zarah. Stay," Ines said again, her voice quieter now, her attention fixed.
Her eyes narrowed as she studied the faint burn marks scattered across Zarah's skin.
A flicker of fury passed through her.
Her blood heated, but she steadied herself with a slow breath.
The Madam would arrive by morning.
And when she did… Ines would show her what true punishment meant.
She lifted her gaze to Zarah.
Zarah looked stricken, as though she had committed some unforgivable offense.
Ines sighed softly.
Still holding her foot, she raised it slightly.
"What was your question, Flower?" she asked, pressing a gentle kiss to the sole of Zarah's foot.
Zarah's face flushed deeply.
"Y-Your Majesty… you… you…" she stammered, unable to form the words.
"Yes, I am quite aware of what I did," Ines chuckled softly. "Will you not ask what you were about to?"
Zarah lowered her gaze to her lap, her face burning.
Ines was insufferable…
"What will happen to the others in the brothel?" she asked at last, her tone turning serious.
Ines glanced up at her before pressing a light kiss to her ankle, drawing a sharp breath from Zarah.
"The children will be placed in orphanages, where they will be educated," Ines said calmly.
"As for the older women, they will receive medical care and assistance in settling into new lives, work, housing, stability."
"Oh…" Zarah exhaled, relief softening her expression. "That is good."
Ines studied her for a moment before taking her other foot and pressing a similar kiss to it.
Before Zarah could respond, a knock sounded at the door.
"Your Majesty," a servant's voice called from outside,
"Duke Sterling and Lady Sterling request an audience. Lady Peirce accompanies them."
Ines sighed and rose to her feet.
"Let them in," she said, leaning forward to press a brief kiss to Zarah's cheek, still keeping her loosely caged between her arms.
Zarah's grip on Ines tightened unconsciously.
Sterling…
Jia was here.
A soft, unguarded smile curved her lips. Her friend had returned.
It had been years since she had last seen Jia. She wondered what had become of her, and of the other women who had escaped the brothel back then.
Ines frowned.
"Why are you smiling like that at the thought of their arrival?" she asked. "You never smile at me that way."
Zarah blinked, startled. "I do smile when I am with Your Majesty," she replied.
"But not like this," Ines retorted. "Is it because Lady Sterling is your old acquaintance?"
"I see Your Majesty every day," Zarah said, a hint of logic slipping into her tone.
"Of course my smile would differ from when I expect to see someone I have not met in years."
Ines pinched her waist.
Zarah yelped softly.
Ines immediately made a guilty face, her hand moving to soothe the spot she had just hurt.
"So you are not happy to see me, is that it?" Ines said, her voice laced with exaggerated hurt.
"Do I hold no value to you, Flower?"
Zarah stared at her, utterly flabbergasted.
Ines was emotionally blackmailing her.
"Your Majesty… you are very…" Zarah exhaled, searching for a word that would not offend.
"Dramatic?" Ines supplied with a smirk. "I inherit it from my maternal side."
Zarah let out a soft laugh.
Ines's gaze softened. She drew the younger woman into an embrace, cradling her head against her chest.
At that moment, the doors opened.
The three nobles entered.
Jia and her father bowed and curtsied in unison.
"Blessings and glory upon the brilliant light of the Caelthra Empire, Her Majesty, the Empress."
Zarah startled, immediately trying to pull away, but Ines only tightened her hold, keeping her firmly against her.
Marceline walked ahead, one brow lifting in open amusement.
Ines shot her a sharp glare.
It would not save her from the teasing later.
"Rise," Ines said coolly.
Jacob straightened, adjusting his cuffs.
Jia rose more slowly,
And froze.
The Empress stood there, holding Zarah close. Not loosely. Not formally.
Possessively.
Zarah struggled for a moment, flustered, trying to pull back,
Then stilled.
Then… stopped resisting.
Jia's blood ran cold.
Her heart dropped.
A roaring filled her ears as her knees threatened to give way.
'No… no, no, no—'
This had to be a mistake.
A cruel illusion.
The Empress, distant, untouchable, utterly indifferent to all, was holding someone like that?
And not just anyone.
Zarah.
The girl who had helped her escape six years ago.
Her first friend.
Her first love,
Unspoken. Unclaimed.
Her breath hitched.
This—
This was a nightmare.