Eris kept Zoe’s smile. “Yes, I’m afraid you’ll find the vast majority of the Eirenes to be quite useless, General. Good only for selling scrap and whatever slop the servants eat. I aspire to provide goods with actual use for the Empire’s expansion.”

“How intriguing,” Damocles said, gently taking her offered hand. “If you’ll excuse me, Commander, I’m going to steal her.” The commander bowed as Damocles led Eris away, with Ariadne trailing silently behind. Clo and Nyx paused halfway across the ballroom, one with the wine and one with the cheese plate.

Damocles led her to a quieter corner. “My weapons tester speaks very highly of you. He tells me, Negotiare, that you have a solution to a particular problem of mine.”

“Please,” Eris said with a laugh, “call me Zoe.” If she knew one thing about her brother, it was that while he obsessed over tradition, he preferred women who were more straightforward. The real Zoe had been exactly his type. “I’m so glad I finally have the opportunity to meet you in person. I’m often so deep into research, I can never seem to come to such glittering events like these.” She shrugged. “Nature of my business.”

Clo and Nyx showed up with her wine and cheese. Eris didn’t miss the way Clo edged away from Damocles and handed Eris the wine with her lips pursed. In contrast, Nyx remained rigid, her back straight. A soldier’s stance.

She wasn’t playing a soldier.

Eris couldn’t risk one of them blowing their cover. Eris had to distract him. Now.

She handed her plate to Ariadne and waved off the other women. “For gods’ sake,” she said, a touch too loudly, “don’t just stand there and gawk at me.” She glanced at the Prince. “Unless you’d like them to fetch you wine. That’s the only thing they’re good for.”

Eris had to hide her breath of relief when Damocles shook his head. “No need.”

“It’s better that way. They’d probably drop it on your feet,” she said, waving them off. “Leave me be.” Clo passed her an inscrutable look as she left with Nyx.

Damocles’s lip quirked up in amusement. “Actually,” the prince said slowly, “I’ve changed my mind. I believe I’ll have that wine after all.” Before Eris could signal the women to return, Damocles gestured with a nod. “Let’s have a bit more privacy.”

Eris tried to calm her breathing. It had been years since she’d been alone with her brother. Playing Zoe around other people was easy because none of them knew her well enough to see through the performance. Her brother did. Eris was going to have to be very, very careful.

She smiled, flashing her teeth. “Of course.” To Ariadne: “Find the others, and for god’s sake, try to look like you’re enjoying yourself.”