Chapter 308: v4 - 9: the life they had built

Chapter 308: v4 Chapter 9: the life they had built

Marian returned to the palace in the late afternoon.

The carriage passed through the palace gates, and the familiar sight of the grounds came into view.

The day had been good.

Better than good, perhaps.

She had spent hours with Clara, held her goddaughter in her arms, laughed over old stories, and, for a little while, forgotten the things that usually occupied her thoughts.

Even the subject of children had felt different with Clara.

There had been no judgment in it.

Only understanding.

And Clarisse—

Marian smiled to herself.

She could still hear the little girl’s solemn insistence.

Princess.

She would have to tell Adrian.

The thought amused her.

By the time she entered the palace, she found herself looking forward to seeing him.

An attendant informed her that the Emperor had returned to his private apartments some time ago.

Marian thanked him and continued on.

She found Adrian in the sitting room adjoining his study.

He had changed out of his formal coat and was seated near the windows, several documents spread across the table before him.

He looked up when she entered.

His expression changed almost imperceptibly.

Not enough for anyone else to notice.

Marian noticed.

"There you are."

Adrian set aside the document in his hand.

Then he glanced toward the clock.

"You are late."

Marian stopped.

"What? The sun has not set yet."

Adrian gave her a look.

She smiled as she crossed the room.

"So I am not late."

Adrian sighed.

Marian laughed.

"Clara kept me."

She reached him and, without hesitation, leaned down to kiss his cheek.

"Besides, you knew I was going to stay a while."

Adrian set the document aside.

"So?"

Marian sat beside him.

"So what?"

"How was your visit?"

Her expression brightened immediately.

"Wonderful."

Adrian watched her.

Marian settled comfortably against him.

"You know Clarisse has grown so much."

Adrian nodded.

"She can speak more now. Not very much, but enough to make herself understood. She ran to me the moment I arrived."

A faint smile touched his mouth.

Marian continued.

"And then she looked at me very seriously and said, ’Princess.’"

Adrian looked at her.

Marian laughed.

"Clara corrected her, of course. She told her, ’Auntie Marian is the Empress.’"

She shook her head.

"But Clarisse wouldn’t have it. She kept insisting."

"Princess," Adrian murmured.

"Exactly."

Marian smiled.

"Apparently, princesses are more beautiful."

Adrian’s gaze rested on her.

Marian’s smile became more mischievous.

"Or perhaps she simply doesn’t believe that someone as beautiful and young-looking as me could possibly be an Empress."

Adrian said nothing.

Marian waited.

Then she nudged his arm.

"Well?"

He looked at her for a moment longer.

"You seem very pleased with yourself."

"I am."

She laughed.

"And you should be pleased too. You’re very lucky, you know."

Adrian’s mouth curved slightly.

"Am I?"

"Very."

She turned toward him.

"Your wife is beautiful, young-looking, and apparently still capable of being mistaken for a princess."

Adrian simply looked at her.

Marian lifted a finger.

"And children don’t lie."

That finally earned a quiet smile.

She smiled triumphantly.

"See?"

Adrian reached for her waist and pulled her closer.

Marian laughed as she settled against him.

"There."

He kissed her.

When he drew back, Marian looked at him with a small smile.

"You never change."

"Neither do you."

"I certainly hope not."

She rested her head against his shoulder.

For a while, she was quiet.

Then her expression changed as another thought came to her.

"Oh."

Adrian glanced down at her.

"The Milician delegation."

He waited.

"I heard about it from Clara. She said the Milician Kingdom is sending an envoy for peace negotiations."

She looked up at him.

"Tell me about it."

Adrian remained silent for a moment.

Marian continued before he could answer.

"They’re arriving in three days, aren’t they? I saw all the preparations when I was coming back. The banners, the activity along the streets. I knew something was happening, but I didn’t know exactly what."

She studied him.

"When were you planning to tell me?"

"Today."

Marian blinked.

"Today?"

Adrian nodded.

"The arrangements were not yet finalized."

"Ah."

She considered that.

"Then I suppose you were waiting until you actually had something to tell me."

"Yes."

"Very well."

Marian turned toward him expectantly.

"Tell me."

Adrian leaned back slightly.

"The delegation arrives in three days. King Lorenz will be traveling with them."

Marian’s eyes widened.

"The king himself?"

Adrian nodded.

"I will receive him at the capital gates. There will be a formal procession to the palace afterward."

Marian immediately smiled.

"Oh."

She could already picture it.

"You riding through the capital with the whole city watching."

Adrian said nothing.

Marian’s smile grew.

"That will be quite a spectacle."

"It is the proper protocol."

"I know."

She thought for a moment.

"Does King Lorenz have a wife?"

"Yes."

Marian nodded.

"And children?"

"Two."

"Will they be coming with him?"

"No. His queen and children will remain in Milicia."

Marian considered that.

"That makes sense. If this is only the beginning of the negotiations, he wouldn’t bring his family into what was, until recently, hostile territory."

Adrian gave a slight nod.

"So I won’t need to welcome them alongside you."

"No."

Marian glanced toward the windows.

"Then perhaps I shall watch from the palace’s balcony."

"The balcony?"

"Of course."

She smiled.

"I want to see it."

Adrian raised an eyebrow.

"The procession?"

"That too."

She looked at him.

"Mostly you."

There was the faintest change in his expression.

Marian noticed.

She smiled wider.

"I want to see you riding through the capital while everyone watches."

Adrian looked away.

Marian laughed softly.

"Don’t pretend you don’t know what I mean."

He remained silent.

She continued, entirely amused.

"Imagine it. The Emperor arriving at the head of the procession, everyone in the streets looking up at you."

Her eyes softened.

"And the sunlight catching your hair."

Adrian finally looked back at her.

Marian smiled.

"See? Even the citizens are going to have something beautiful to look at."

He reached for her hand.

"You’re shameless."

"Only with you."

Adrian’s fingers closed around hers.

Marian leaned back against him, then suddenly seemed to remember something.

"Oh, and the banquet."

Adrian glanced at her.

"There will be a welcoming banquet that evening, won’t there?"

"Yes."

"Then I need to prepare my dress."

"For what?"

Marian gave him an incredulous look.

"For the banquet."

"You have dresses."

"I know."

She smiled.

"But this is different."

Adrian waited.

"The King of Milicia will be there. And I will be standing beside the Emperor."

She gestured toward him.

"Look at you. You’re so handsome."

Adrian’s expression remained unreadable.

Marian continued, completely serious in her teasing.

"What would King Lorenz think if he saw the Emperor looking magnificent while his wife looked merely adequate?"

"Merely adequate?"

"Exactly."

She nodded.

"I have to do myself justice."

Adrian’s mouth curved faintly.

"You’ll be fine."

"Fine?"

Marian laughed.

"No. I intend to be beautiful."

She squeezed his hand.

"After all, if you’re going to make such an impressive entrance, I have to make sure the Empress is worth looking at too."

Adrian looked at her for a long moment.

Then he pulled her closer.

"You already are."

Marian smiled.

"Good."

She settled against him again.

"Then I’ll just have to find the perfect dress."

--

Tbc