A side article showed a set of messages from Taam, though heavily redacted, since even the Consult was wary of the palace and the law. But Hani had done

her legwork: there were confirmations of the events Jainan and Taam had attended, a physician’s record, a barely diplomatic quote from the Thean embassy.

Why now? Hani asked, in the last column. Count Jainan seems more intense, as if he’s been expecting this. “Because it’s over, and justice can now be done,”

he says. “Prince Kiem has been a hero. The Emperor has pledged a full investigation. She has looked at the Thean treaty and promised further concessions to make up for this. Iskat is trying to bridge the gap.” Both the Emperor and Prince Kiem, his current partner, were unavailable for comment at the time of publication.

Kiem couldn’t bring himself to read through to the end. He swept his hand compulsively across the desk. The press clippings spun and winked out, but the burst of uncontrollable energy didn’t dissipate, just propelled him pointlessly to his feet. He leaned over the table and had to press on it to stop his arms from shaking—with what emotion, he wasn’t sure. He wanted to hit something. He wanted to fix the universe so the last five years had never happened. He wanted to find Jainan and kiss him.

He didn’t do any of that. Before he could get any further in his thoughts, the door gave a perfunctory chime and opened to admit Agent Rakal.

“Your Highness.” Rakal’s stride didn’t slow as they threw their wristband projection onto the small screen on the wall. “Her majesty wishes for an audience with you.”

Any similarity that had to a request was purely superficial. Kiem only had a couple of seconds to try and tug his crumpled shirt straight before the Emperor’s face was on the wall.

He bowed. Rakal, somewhat unexpectedly, went to one knee.

“Oh, get up,” the Emperor said. Rakal rose. Their jaw was tightly locked in an expression that, Kiem realized, looked a lot like shame. “Assigning responsibility will come afterward. Clean up this mess first. Kiem!”

Kiem jumped. “Ma’am?” Suddenly Rakal’s salutation didn’t seem like an overreaction. Rakal had definitely made some mistakes, but from the Emperor’s point of view, Kiem was the one standing by the blaze with a gas canister and an innocent expression. He was probably heading up the Least Favorite Relative list right now.

“Did you tell him to do this?” the Emperor said.

Kiem’s first instinct was to say, Do what? But Jainan had flung this up like a flare in the dark, and the time for cover-ups was over. “No,” Kiem said. “But

aren’t you glad he waited until Taam was dead before he did? Did you volunteer to give Thea more concessions in the treaty, by the way? You’ll have to draft them fast.”