relatives? That’s something we could give the press.”

“You would not invite a scandal across half the royal family,” Rakal said.

They looked like they had bitten something sour. “The Emperor would—”

“Exile me to a monastery again?” Kiem said. “Already went, three years ago.

I’m a world-class meditator. I don’t mind being in the newslogs.”

They stared at each other.

“Denying us access to evidence will not stop Internal Security’s investigation,” Rakal said eventually.

“I don’t want to stop it,” Kiem said. “I want you to find out what happened; all I’m asking is that you don’t take our lives apart. And you can reinstate Jainan’s security clearance while you’re at it,” he added. Jainan was looking at him with something like disbelief. “I want you to tell me he can call anyone he likes, please.”

Rakal stared at him further, now not bothering to hide the flat dislike. “I will remove the flag.”

“If you harass him, expect a bunch of newslog articles to show up on Hren Halesar’s desk with your name all over them,” Kiem said. “Let me put this diplomatically: you have done an absolutely shit job of being balanced and proportionate in how you treat Thea’s formal representative in the palace, and I don’t trust you.”

“So you have made clear,” Rakal said. “Were there any other points you wished to raise?”

“No,” Kiem said. “Thanks for reinstating his clearance, though. I really am grateful. Jainan, anything you want to add?”

He looked at Jainan properly. He didn’t know what reaction he’d hoped for, but Jainan barely ever reacted in public, and his poker face was intact. “No, thank you.”

Kiem offered his arm—which Jainan took—gave Rakal a courtly nod, and said, “Thank you for your time.” He steered them out.

The righteous anger was fading, all the more so as Jainan’s grip stiffened on his arm. Kiem managed to confine himself to “You okay to head back?”

“Yes,” Jainan said.

Kiem recognized that tone: it was the one where yes only covered ten percent of what Jainan might have said. Kiem didn’t know what to do about that. When they were in a completely empty corridor, Jainan looked over his shoulder and to either side, and said, “May I ask you something?”

Kiem wasn’t sure he had any answers. “Go ahead.”

“I will, of course, back you up in anything,” Jainan said. There was a meticulous air to his words, as if he were laying them out very carefully on a tray. “I am at your disposal. But—I do not mean to cast any aspersions on your judgment—if there is any way to avoid a public scandal in the newslogs before the treaty renewal, I would…” He stopped, and for the first time Kiem realized the strain it was taking him to keep his voice even. “I would rather do anything else,” he finished, losing the edges of his calm. “Anything. Please.”