“Oh no, I wouldn’t say that at all,” Janta said, her silver eyebrows winging up. “As I mentioned, the ar’Rhea family prides itself very much on the purity of their lineage. If it were found out that you were his daughter, it might not only ruin his social and political status, but also that of his children. The loss of reputation, the lack of integrity and judgment he demonstrated, would taint the entire family. Lady Aria herself would be humiliated and furious beyond belief, her family eager to avenge her. No,” Janta concluded, shaking her head, “I don’t believe your father would risk claiming you, if he even knows of your existence. He does live across the ocean, after all.”

“True,” I agreed. “I’m glad he lives so far away—we’ll probably never run into each other.” There was little chance of the two of us meeting so long as he stayed away from the Federation and I stayed away from Castalis. I put that country on my list of places to never visit, which was a shame because I’d heard it was very beautiful there.

“That does not mean there is no cause for concern at all,” Janta warned. “Of course I will not tell anyone about your heritage, but as technology continues to expand, we have exposed ourselves to more eyes around the world. It is entirely possible that someone may see your face in the paper and notice your strong resemblance to Haman. You should be aware of that, and perhaps try to minimize the number of photos taken by the press until after you are married.”

“All right,” I said, though I had no idea how I was going to do that. Sure, I could refuse to take photos at interviews, but there would be celebrity photographers lying in wait on the streets, hoping to snag a shot of me.

“I’m afraid that is all I have for you,” Janta said, closing the file. “I daresay you will want to discuss it with Lord Iannis, who may know more of the ar’Rhea family. Would you like to take this with you, or shall I keep it?”

I hesitated, my fingers hovering over the file. “No,” I decided, pulling my hand away. “You keep it. That information is probably way safer under lock and key here, than it is in my rooms.” I stood, then inclined my head to her. “Thank you very much for your assistance, Janta. Once again, you have proven to be an invaluable ally.”

“You’re welcome, Sunaya,” Janta said, a twinkle in her pale blue eyes. “I could say the same about you, considering the success of your recent mission. Do let me know if you need anything else.”