Page 21 of Bred By the Emperor
“I...” She looks genuinely bewildered. “I didn’t know any of this existed.”
“I believe you,” I say immediately.
Every head in the room whips toward me. Kenton glowers.
“With respect, Majesty—”
“Shut up,” I snarl.
“You haven’t even heard—”
“I’ve heard enough.”
He blinks.
“...Enough?”
“My wife says she didn’t know.”
“Majesty, that’s impossible.”
“Bullshit.” I glance at my trembling wife. Another advisor clears his throat.
“We aren’t accusing Her Majesty of anything,” he says.
“Good. Because that would be spectacularly stupid.”
“But you understand that at a minimum, she must be interviewed. Surely you can see that she cannot be allowed to continue to control Kellimar. You must take a firm hand—”
“No.” I promised Lili that she would retain control over her own homeland. Now, I’m being forced to break my word. Sweat rolls down my back. This could ruin the peace I fought so hard to secure. I know I don’t have any choice. Yet every part of me screams, no.
This can’t be happening. Kenton smirks. Smug little fucker. Bet he feels pretty damn good right about now. Toppling his own father and ruining my newfound happiness in one fell swoop.
The legal minister folds his hands and says, “Your Majesty...”
“Fuck off.”
“—under the Imperial Security Act—”
“I wrote the Imperial Security Act.”
“Which is precisely why you know that any ruler whose territory willingly shelters rebels is subject to annexation—”
“I will not allow it!” I roar. Lili glances at me sidelong. I squeeze her fingers. I’ve got you, I want to say, but I’m not sure I really do. I feel like I’m losing control of my own empire, and it’s terrifying.
My sweet young wife is braver than I’ve given her credit for. She took one look at me and said, I want that one. She chose me. Now, she drops my hand and steps forward. “I swear I knew nothing about this, and if I had, I would have taken measures to destroy the rebels. I will cooperate with your investigation.” She glances quickly at me, reading my reaction, and I curse under my breath. Her beautiful blue eyes are filled with fear. She doesn’t think I can stop them from crucifying her.
She might be right.
Kenton steps forward. “Dad.”
“What?” I bark.
“You need to act like the emperor. Not her husband.”
“Fuck you. What would you know about marriage?”
Kenton stares at me in disbelief. “You’d really throw away everything we’ve built, for a woman?”
