Her father and brother came out together. Dressed in the full imperial regalia of blue-and-white robes, gold chains and rings, and velvet trailing mantles, they made their way to the landing. A wind whipped down the Grand Marchway, snapping the banners, robes, and Farilane’s hair. It rustled leaves on the trees of the square and clapped the rope of the flagpole. Everything else was completely silent, and for a moment—just that moment—the princess felt as if the world had stopped. Inside that vacuum of time, Farilane asked her question.

“Why?”

The soon-to-be Emperor Nyrian refused to look her in the eye as he stood with his arms hanging limp at his sides. He replied in a decidedly weak manner, “I had no choice. None of us did.”

Farilane held back a laugh. If the situation before her were not so sad or so dire, she would have guffawed until she was out of breath. Instead, she punched out with words. “Really? No choice? You’re the absolute ruler of the known world, and you had no choice but to order my death? To have a bunch of filthy thugs murder me in a miserable field and have my body weighted down and tossed in the river? There you go, Nordyan, now you know where my tomb was to be. At the bottom of the Bernum.”

“Lanie, please,” Nordyan said.

She couldn’t stop this time and laughed, then swept out her arm to indicate the ranks of blood-covered knights behind her who filled Imperial Square, each standing inhumanly still. “These men have formally asked that I assume control of the empire.”

Expressions on her family’s face took a dramatic shift from guilty frowns and consoling eyes to high-arched brows and open mouths.

“They argue that by unjustly ordering my death—and commanding that my execution be carried out by criminals and the act subsequently hidden—you have dishonored yourself and the throne upon which you sit. As such, you have abdicated your right to rule, which releases them from their oaths to serve you. Being that I am the only remaining and untarnished member of the imperial bloodline, the crown falls to me, as does their loyalty.”

Farilane moved up a step.

“You wouldn’t dare,” Nyrian said. “I’m your father.”

“When mother died, you told me, ‘Don’t care too much for them.’ I assume you mean family.” She took another step.

“Such a thing would mean civil war. It would rip the empire apart.”

“I doubt that. The legionnaires clearly aren’t as particular as the Teshlor Knights when it comes to who they will serve. I honestly don’t think the empire would experience a hiccup, much less a rip. No. If I asked Kolby to execute the two of you right now, I think that would end the whole affair.” She dusted her hands before her. “Problem solved for everyone.”

“Execute? How dare you!”