of iron and crowns

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT,

  ONE DAY UNTIL the wedding, and Irina felt like she couldn't breathe. Actually, less than that. Around half a day, with the ceremony occurring in the afternoon, during the ji shi, the auspicious time.

  She had one last thing to do before tomorrow. And it had to happen tonight.

  Myrina.

  The knock on the door was soft, but still loud enough to clearly hear. She'd known Myrina would come through sooner or later, truth be told, so she'd almost expected it when Myrina had quietly approached her earlier and told her she could spare some time to discuss their problems tonight.

  It was their last chance, in a way. Of course, they could have this conversation in Arecia, but Irina rather thought it wouldn't feel the same. This was where they started, this was where they should end this.

  "Come in," Irina said, swinging her legs down onto the floor. "I was wondering when you'd come."

  Myrina pushed the sliding door open and stepped in. "Apologies, I was a bit... preoccupied. With the wedding tomorrow, there has been a lot to do. And, well, Lady Katharine's situation."

  "How is it?" Irina asked. "I didn't receive any updates."

  "She'll be fine. Prince Frederick went to talk to her, begged her not to try anything like that again. She's stable now, but we're watching her carefully. She leaves first thing tomorrow morning, the carriage and ship for the voyage are ready and waiting." Myrina's eyes opened as she finished giving her brief report. "You're certain you want the Arecians to handle her?"

  "I'm to become an Arecian soon, technically speaking."

  "Ah, of course." Myrina's eyes rolled. "I assume you telling them that you won't interfere is a lie, then?"

  "If they let her go scot free, then I'll have to take action. If the punishment's fine, it's in their hands." Irina scratched her shoulder. "I'm sure they got the hidden message."

  "Well, then I can stop worrying about that." Myrina wiped her brow. Wo mang le yi zheng tian le." I've been working the whole day.

  Irina raised her chin. " I appreciate all the work you've been putting into this. You've been the best person to organise all of this."

  "I'm glad you have so much faith in me." Courtesies, courtesies. Once upon a time they wouldn't have spoken to each other like this. Myrina had always been formal but not like this. This was how strangers talked, and Irina didn't like that. "I won't let you down. Tomorrow will be a day recorded in the history books."

  "For various reasons, I suppose." Irina rubbed her brow. "Miss Valeria is going to be a bit annoying to deal with. Just a bit. It's going to be difficult to explain that some of the Vayanteans are taking this a bit too extreme without making it seem like we're blaming the victim."

  Myrina raised one brow. "Well, you won't have to worry about it anymore."

  "Even though I am to become an Arecian bride, well, this issue does affect them as well. And I was the person who they tried to kill. Many times. I think I'll still have a hand in how this continues." Irina gave Myrina a curious stare. "But that's not what we're here to discuss."

  "I dislike," Myrina drawled slowly, "how much you make this sound like a business meeting."

  Irina lowered her head, dropping her gaze. "You know I'm bad with this sort of thing."

  "This sort of thing?" Myrina prodded, her brows crossing as she pulled a stool from the table in the centre of the room and sat down. Irina remained sitting on her bed, staring down at her bare toes on the cool ground.