Chenzhou had given in and co to bed, but it didn’t feel like a victory. He’d been asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow, and she’d woken to him climbing out of bed before dawn.
No amount of begging had gotten him to climb back in, and Anna could admit she’d lost her temper. “Ten years and you can’t even give an hour’s ti?”
Chenzhou had just sighed as he pulled on his robes. “I told you last night that I’d need to be up early if I didn’t finish.”
“All I’m asking for is a mont for just the two of us.” She’d argued. “The Calia gets most of your ti, why can’t you spare a fraction of it?”
A temper that hadn’t existed while he was ill started to appear. “I did! I’ve been Lord of the Calia since we t. This isn’t new. Why do you suddenly have a problem with it?”
Anna pulled the sheets tighter around her. “You made ti for before. Have you lost interest?” It hurt to ask, and Chenzhou’s wounded expression hurt even more.
“Of course not. I love you. I’ve loved you for more than half my life. Things have changed, but that has not.” He ca around the bed and reached for her, but Anna turned away, too hurt to give in.
Chenzhou looked terribly sad, but he nodded in understanding and didn’t push. “I am sorry, but I cannot put this off any longer. The fighting is likely to start early this year, and we aren’t ready.”
“The fighting always starts early,” Anna said bitterly.
Chenzhou didn’t argue, though it was on the tip of his tongue to point out that she had no knowledge or interest in learning about the behavior of the tribes and the fighting and harvesting seasons. “I’m sorry,” he said instead. “I have to go. I need to speak to Eirian and Mingzhe before breakfast.”
Anna’s face darkened at the ntion of Eirian. “Why can’t you speak to them at breakfast?”
Confused, Chenzhou glanced up from pulling on his boots. “Because they won’t be there.”
“How am I supposed to know that?” She snapped.
Taken aback, Chenzhou didn’t respond. He wasn’t sure where all this was coming from or why she was suddenly so upset that he had to speak to Eirian or Mingzhe.
She softened, fingers twisting in the blanket. “What do you need to speak with them about? Perhaps I can help?”
Surprised, Chenzhou blinked and considered what to say. “You’ve never had any interest in the responsibilities of the Calia before…”
That was apparently the wrong thing, because Anna’s face fell, and she turned away again, lying back down and pulling the blanket over her. “Never mind. Just go.”
Chenzhou hesitated, but then he saw the clock on the wall out of the corner of his eye and realized he only had a few minutes to catch Mingzhe before he was busy for the rest of the day.
He pressed a hurried kiss to the top of Anna’s head, apologized one last ti, and rushed out.
***
Snake had been hoping for a chance to slip into Chenzhou’s rooms that morning. She’d never found anything of real value, but she made a point to check every few months, just in case.
Instead, it seed today was her lucky day.
Anna was clearly unhappy about sothing, stomping about as she got dressed and bursting into tears at random monts.
After a mont of calculation, Snake slipped out of the hidden passage and stepped into the hall a few seconds before Anna exited the rooms.
She started when she noticed Snake, but relaxed after a mont. They’d passed one another in the halls before, and through Chenzhou, Anna knew enough to know Snake worked for Yuze. Though for her own safety, she knew nothing specific.
Snake bowed. “Good morning, my lady. My apologies for startling you.”
Anna gave her a brittle smile, “It’s quite all right. And I am not a lady. There’s no need to stand on ceremony.”
Snake smiled. “You are the lord’s love. Not so re noble.”
Anna’s face flushed with pleasure, then quickly fell. “I don’t know about that anymore.”
Snake tilted her head and made a sympathetic noise. “Oh? I’m sorry to hear that.”
Anna paused, unsure. “Sorry for what?”
Snake stepped closer, offering her an apologetic grimace. “I assud…you said…”
“Oh, no. It’s not…we had a small disagreent, that’s all.”
“Ah. I am familiar.” Snake nodded knowingly. “n can be silly at tis. They don’t know what’s best for them. Or how to accept help.”
Anna’s shoulders slumped as she picked at her sleeve. “Yes, they can be rather stubborn, can’t they?”
They walked in silence for several hallways. Snake didn’t have anywhere in particular to be; she was scheduled to head back out into the borderlands to see what she could find out about the conclave. Yuze wouldn’t expect to see her for a couple of weeks, so she had a bit of ti to find what her other employer had asked for.
She just needed to get Anna talking. “Things seem to be going well with the new Lady Ye.” Snake mused and hid a smile when Anna imdiately scowled.
“So it seems.” Anna’s voice was flat.
“The Calia will benefit from a Lord and Lady.” Snake gave her a sympathetic look. “It’s unfortunate the way these things go.”
Anna glanced at her, a question in her eyes. “What do you an?”
“They’ll need to have a child soon. Princess Soliel’s family is already pressuring them.”
Anna paled. “A child? I thought she…”
“Whether she wants one or not is immaterial.” Snake snorted. “Lord Ye requires an heir as well. There won’t be much room for anyone else once the child arrives.”
Anna laughed wetly. “There’s hardly any room now. I don’t know why he doesn’t just…” She trailed off, afraid to say it out loud.
Snake smirked. “No man willingly gives up a lover. They’d rather just drag it out, make everyone involved miserable until soone else makes the decision for them. That way, they don’t feel guilty.” At Anna’s look of horror, Snake winced. “My apologies. I’m sure Lord Ye isn’t like that. I had an…unfortunate experience with a lover, and it has left quite jaded.”
Anna softened, sympathetic. “I’m sorry you went through that.”
Snake gave her a weak smile. “Life is full of challenges.” They reached the Great Hall. Any further, and Yuze was likely to get word that she hadn’t left yet. “I’m afraid I must go, but thank you for walking with .”
“Please, I’ve enjoyed your company.”
“Likewise.” Snake stepped away, then paused. “You know, if you ever need to talk. Or vent, I’m available. We won need to stick together in this world.”
Anna smiled shyly. “Yes, we do.”
~ tbc
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