That night, after Vivianne had finally fallen into a deep sleep, Roxanne slipped from the bed and moved slowly toward the balcony. The moonlight washed the room in silver as she crossed the chamber, each step careful so she wouldn't wake her wife, and the cool night air felt like a small mercy against the heat of the day's wounds.
When she stepped out, Marvessa was already waiting on the balcony, shadow-still and alert. The previous emperor's shadow knight bowed at once, an instinctive salute that spoke more of devotion than formality.
Roxanne watched her for a long moment, the sharp lines of the day still visible around her eyes, and then she spoke in a flat, steady voice. "You heard what my wife said?"
Marvessa's hands tightened for a beat; the answer came soft and measured. "Yes, Your Grace." Even in the hush of night, fear and a sense of being overwhelmed trembled beneath her words, as if the truth she had heard weighed heavier than any command.
