“Eminence,” I said. She was dressed in a simple tunic with only light embroidery at the collar. Her sash was the same color, blending in. Her hair was pulled back in a tail, a few strands having worked their way loose in the wind. And then she fixed me with those dark eyes and I felt lost all over again.

“Jovis,” she said.

I was angry with her and she was the Emperor – I had to remember both these things, because part of me wanted to apologize for my harsh words. “You look nice,” I said, and cursed myself for speaking. Never could just let a silence sit.

She looked down, as if unsure what she was wearing that warranted such attention. She grinned. “In this? Should I meet the governor of Nephilanu this way?”

“Why not? You might start a new trend. After all, if the Emperor does it, it must be fashionable.”

“Ah, fashion. The only power one really needs to rule an Empire.”

Ruling an Empire. Yes, that’s what she was trying to do. Even if that meant putting people at risk.

Something of my thoughts must have shown on my face, because she went still and formal once more. And, curse me, I wanted to make a joke, to make light of the situation, just to feel that ease between us once more. But that would be the coward’s way out.

“The witstone mines…” I said, trailing off. I wasn’t sure what more to say. I’d stopped using witstone after Mephi’s poor reaction to it. The thought of more mines being developed filled me with a terrible dread. “You should close them. At least until we know for sure what’s causing the islands to sink.”

“Are you my adviser or my Captain of the Imperial Guard?”

I didn’t bother answering, because I knew a trap when I heard one. She glared at me and I glared right back. “I am a concerned citizen,” I said, wishing I could have instead kept my mouth shut.

“I’ve told you already: this was the best solution. I have a whole Empire to consider, not just individual islands or people. Do you think I should always do the righteous thing? The righteous thing isn’t always the right thing. So until you come up with something better…” She waited, giving me full opportunity to provide a solution. And – Dione’s balls – I had none. She nodded. “Then I will continue to do as I see fit for our Empire. As is my right and my duty.”

She swept past me to the cabins below.