The Heart of Alchemy by James Wisher (i like reading books txt) 📗

She looked up and caught him with those deep-green eyes. Wolfric’s heart skipped a beat. “It’s been wonderful. We’re planning to stay for the winter. Uncle rented us a villa.”

“Quite a small one,” the baron said. “St. Croy Barony is a modest holding after all.”

Wolfric had nearly forgotten the man was there, so engrossed had he become with Jade. He forgot all about the rest of the party and spent the next two hours chatting with the beautiful noblewoman. They discussed nothing serious, just minor, safe topics. Her childhood in the south swimming in the ocean, collecting crabs with her uncle.

He in turn told her about his youth, learning swordsmanship, hunting with his father. When the gala finally ended, he found himself surprised to see everyone filing out.

“Come along, Jade,” the baron said. “We’ve taken up enough of the emperor’s time.”

Wolfric wanted to say she could stay as long as she wished. Instead he said, “It was a pleasure to talk to you. Perhaps you might visit the palace again while you’re in Garen.”

Jade looked eagerly at her uncle, who offered a fond smile. “We certainly couldn’t turn down an invitation from the emperor. Anytime you wish to see us, we are at your service.”

Wolfric had absolutely no interest in seeing the old man again. His niece was another matter. Of course, as her guardian, it wouldn’t be appropriate to let her come to the palace unescorted. Especially if St. Croy was an old-fashioned nobleman. Some things simply weren’t done.

“You’ll hear from me soon. Good evening.”

Jade and her uncle bowed again and withdrew. When the night was finally over, Wolfric went straight to the library where he had a meeting with Otto. He never even thought about visiting his harem. The only woman on his mind was Jade.

Otto blew out a long sigh and leaned back in his chair. Beside him, Corina and Draken likewise relaxed. The three of them sat in a room directly under the throne room. From there, they easily listened and watched as the nobles chatted, plotted, and schemed. Happily, everything Otto heard and saw indicated no one had anything detrimental to the empire in the works.

“Did either of you learn anything that concerned you?” Otto asked.

“As ordered, I focused my full attention on Liatos,” Draken said, his voice thin and strained after using so much magic for so long. “Beyond a few polite greetings, no one had anything to do with him or his daughter. I see no threat.”

Otto nodded. “Good. Corina?”

“Wolfric, I mean His Majesty, spoke to a number of people, but seemed especially interested in a pretty girl who showed up with an older man claiming to be her uncle. They discussed nothing of importance, though he did say something about inviting them for a meal at the palace.”

“Okay, thanks, both of you. I need to talk to the emperor. You two can go home.”

Draken stood, his spine popping, and bowed before heading for the door.

Corina started to join him, hesitated, then asked, “Is everything okay, Master? You’ve been tense lately.”

Otto grimaced. Between refitting the ship and making preparations for the journey to the Celestial Empire in the spring and wondering what was happening in Shenk Barony, Otto had been somewhat out of sorts. Hopefully only Corina noticed.

“I’ve got a lot going on just now. Don’t worry, I’ll be fine. Go on. You know how Hans worries.”

“Heaven’s mercy, you get kidnapped once and he starts thinking you can’t cross the street without getting hit by a carriage. Are we still going to Lux to check on the ship tomorrow?”

“Yes, but not until afternoon. I’ll collect you at the warehouse.”

She bowed and they left the listening post together. At the top of the basement stairs, she turned right toward the front gate and he went left, toward the library where he was supposed to meet Wolfric.

The guards outside nodded to him and opened the door. He found the emperor seated in one of the overstuffed leather chairs, a leg slung over the arm and a brandy in his hand. Wolfric smiled and looked around in an almost dreamy state. Hopefully it was just exhaustion. The day had been a long one.

“Otto! I trust all is well, my friend.”

“No one seems to be plotting anything at the moment, at least nothing they discussed at the gala. Are you well? You seem a bit…off.”

“I met a girl tonight. Pretty, charming, sweet. I hope to see her again soon. She seemed willing.”

“You’re the emperor,” Otto said. “Any woman, noble or common, would want to get close to you. Has she asked for money yet?”

Wolfric frowned. “You don’t have a romantic bone in your body, do you? Still, her uncle did mention their barony produced only a modest income. I really hope that’s not why she seemed so interested in my conversation. Either way, I’ll know more when we have dinner together in a day or two.”

“I sincerely hope I’m wrong,” Otto said. Of course he didn’t believe for a second he was. “No doubt it would please the nobility if you took a wife and produced an heir or three. It’s not like we can tell them you plan to live forever.”

Wolfric’s frown turned to a grin. “I can imagine the looks on their faces now. They’d probably think I was either a lunatic or an imbecile that needed to be removed from the throne with all haste. When their great-grandchildren are bowing to me, they’ll know the truth.”

“Indeed. At the very least, I can say with confidence that no one is plotting anything of concern to us. At the moment anyway. With the nobility, that can change over a cup of coffee.”

Wolfric waved a hand. “If anything happens, I’m sure you’ll handle it, just as you always do. If there’s nothing else, I think I’ll call it a night.”

Otto nodded and Wolfric took his leave. Alone in the library, Otto made a mental note to look a little closer at Baron St. Croy.