“U’il.”
U’il-šanad stood up, then kneeled next to the girl.
“Yes, father Emperor?”
“We wish to speak to you later.”
The Emperor stood up and left without saying another word.
U’il-šanad waved for a servant when he stood up. “I have a spare cloak in my palanquin.” The servant bowed and then hurried out. He looked to his most trusted guard who only now entered, seeing that the Princes were leaving.
Çuiren recognised him as the one who had slapped teacher Žul, as well as the one who had looked to be in much distress when she saw the Prince a few days earlier. Her brown eyes studied him with an intense gaze that made him uncomfortable, but unless she did something to harm His Royal Highness, there was no reason for him to make her stop.
Not that he got more comfortable at that thought.
“Nür, I want you to stay with her,” U’il-šanad said as he motioned for another bodyguard to step forth. He looked back at his trusted guard with a smile. “Keep her from getting ill. I have plans for her.”
When U’il-šanad turned back to Nür for confirmation, the guard nodded his affirmation and watched as U’il-šanad left with the Imperial Bodyguard he trusted most.
He looked back at the slave girl, then removed his cloak and covered her shoulders. She looked at him with wide eyes.
“If my master tells me to keep you warm, then I shall keep you warm,” he explained.
“His Royal Highness said he had a spare cloak.”
“Maybe so, but my mission was given to me just now, not when the cloak arrives.”
Çuiren looked down at the green cloak, and then up at him again. She wondered what he planned to do to her.
Could it be that the Prince had given him an order but meant another?
Were they going to take her to some other place, now that she was “used”?
Were perhaps the guards going to receive her?
The guard noticed the strange expression on her face and inexplicably put his hand on her head.
“What’re you thinkin’ ‘bout?” he chuckled. “You’ll just wear that old cloak for a short while. I know it’s not that suitable for a li’l girl like you, but it’s the best i got until the servant comes, okay?”
She looked up at him, somewhat shyly.
The rims around her eyes were red. He couldn’t tell if it was because she wanted to cry or because she had, but he clucked his tongue. “These bastards should have given you something to wear.” He looked around. “Who was in charge this morning, eh?”
The servants and guards only gave him a glance then went back to their own business.
With a humph, the guard crossed his arms in front of his chest, looking less like a guard on duty and more like one who might be waiting to head home. But the token by his sheathed sabre proved he was indeed on duty.
Not that Çuiren knew that.
“Your Majesty, His Royal Highness, the Ninth Blood U’il-šanad of the Northern Residence have come to see you.”
“Father Emperor asked me to come, why would you need to announce my title in full?” the prince whispered in annoyance at the servant, who looked at the floor and then hurried away.
The bodyguard looked at loss after the servant.
U’il-šanad shook his head and knocked on the door. “Father Emperor?”
“Ah?”
He opened the door and stepped inside. “The servant announced my arrival, however you didn’t reply.”
The Emperor looked at U’il-šanad, then his eyes shifted for just a moment at the bodyguard who took two steps back with a bow and closed the door.
“U’il.”
The Prince’s smile froze and he stiffly replied: “Yes, Your Majesty. What can this lowly son do for you?”
“Sit.”
He sat down on the floor where he stood.
“What do you know about the rumours?”
“Surely Your Majesty isn’t concerned by some measly rumours?”
“U’il.”
He bowed his head and replied weakly. “Yes, Father Emperor, I shall tell you what little I know.”
“Good, come sit here.”
The man patted next to him and U’il-šanad stood up, brushed his knees with his hands and then went to sit next to the Emperor.
“Did you spread the rumours?”
“Oh, no, may Nükiž be my witness when I say that, Father Emperor, I dare not do such a thing! If I spread rumours about eldest br—” U’il-šanad noted the Emperor expression change slightly and quickly adjusted his choice of words, “—about Imperial Elder Cousin’s slaves, I would be glad if I could still leave my chambers with my head hanging. Even if I could hold it in my arms, I would consider myself fortunate, though Father Emperor would be too kind for any true harm to come this disgraceful divine. Surely Father Emperor is understanding of what my predicament would be, as this divine is not of good birth. However,” he paused meaningfully. “I did hear a few things in the past few days.”
“We know you enjoy knowing of every ridiculous little incident that happens within the Imperial City—”
U’il-šanad nodded.
“—so you should know the source, no? Especially as you seem certain she is innocent.”
The Prince lifted his arm and hid behind his sleeve, but his father place a hand on his arm and pushed it back down.
“I’m ashamed that while I did not spread the rumours, I may have indeed been to blame of this rumour being spread among the servants.”
“You think We’ll believe that? Your guard informed Us you wanted her as your own as she caught your eye while she was at a lesson. We can see she’s a beauty, but this puzzles Us. Are you jealous of her and want her ruined, or are you interested to have her as your own serving girl? You are still young, and don’t need one quite yet.”
U’il-šanad face blanked at this.
Young? Yes. But he was still of marriageable age. Having one or two serving girls or boys at his age would have been perfectly acceptable given his status. He wasn’t so oblivious he didn’t know what others would have thought if he didn’t make himself out to be jealous.
“Father Emperor, I really spread no rumours. In fact, I asked my servants and guards to stop it before it left the Palace itself. How would it sound if the Imperial City because gossiping about how ministers…” He coughed to hide the embarrassment.
“So explain things properly.”
U’il-šanad let out a breath in relief, and then explained the succession of things from the moment teacher Žul had caught his attention, then how immediately after he saw the teacher slap the girl awake, to when he saw the girl shivering outside the Imperial Palace earlier.
“So what do you wish from her?”
“Allow her to be treated suitably. Father Emperor, did you not notice she looks too young? She can’t be older any than I am, can she? How is it appropriate she serves someone at the bedside?”
The Emperor paused, then waved his hand, showing he wanted to the Prince to leave. U’il-šanad was quick to follow through, finding the body guard standing some steps away, waiting for him, to escort him back to Çuiren and his bodyguard.