Chapter 9: The First Day—Interrogating the Princess

Elia looked up, eyes round. “Why me?” She clutched her tattered white dress and backed away. “Mother…”

She turned desperately to Selena, who was leaning against the wall. The queen met her gaze with calm resolve and silently mouthed, *Do as he says. Go.*

For a moment Elia could no longer feel her legs. Under the queen’s insistence, she rose shakily.

Rhode snapped his fingers. “Open the gate.” He pulled over a battered wooden chair Gray had left behind, brushed off the dust with distaste and kicked it toward the entrance. “Come out, Princess. Don’t worry, I don’t eat people.”

Hongye came forward without expression and unlocked the heavy, rusty lock with the key from the guards. The gate creaked open just wide enough for a person to pass.

Elia edged through with her head lowered, leaving muddy footprints on the mossy floor. “Sit,” Rhode said, nodding at the chair.

She looked from him to the chair and ventured closer, her legs trembling. Only after assuring herself that he wasn’t about to pounce on her and tear at her clothes did she gingerly perch on the edge. It was the first proper seat the princess had been offered since her capture a day and a night ago.

A soft, satisfied sigh escaped her lips before she could stop it, carrying both weariness and a faintly alluring sweetness.

Rhode, who had been leaning against the wall trying to look cool, felt his scalp tingle. Even that simple sound was more alluring than the carefully practiced performances of the leading courtesans at Spring Breeze House. His predecessor’s unruly body began to react again.

*Calm down! Think straight! You’re here to investigate, not breed!* He pinched his thigh hard.

Elia realized what sound she had made. Her pale cheeks flushed to her ears, and even her neck turned pink. She brought her legs together, placed her hands neatly on her knees and sat bolt upright, too wary to breathe loudly.

*That’s too cute!* Rhode nearly said it aloud. He cleared his throat and forced his face into the fierce expression of a villain interrogating a dangerous prisoner.

Inside the cell, Selena watched from the shadowed corner and breathed a little easier. Elia’s performance was nothing like the lessons she had given her on using mature charm, but by accident it seemed to work: the lustful prince clearly had a weakness for her innocence. For now, the situation was under control.

*At least this human scum isn’t in a hurry to take his trousers off,* she thought, turning to Vera, who still hung from the wall with her toes barely touching the floor and sweat covering her skin.

“Are you tired?” Selena asked quietly. Supporting Vera’s strong legs, she skillfully massaged the taut muscles. “Why must you be so quick-tempered? Couldn’t you endure it for a little while?”

“I’m not tired!” Vera clenched her teeth and turned away, silver hair sticking to her sweaty face. “I don’t want that bastard’s charity! Let him leave me hanging if he dares!”

“Don’t be stubborn.” Selena ignored the protest and pressed more firmly on the muscles made sore by the long suspension.

Vera sucked in a breath. Much of her defiance melted away. “Your Majesty… the left leg, please. It’s about to cramp.”

Outside the cell, Rhode composed his face again, pulled up another chair and sat opposite Elia with an expansive air.

“Princess, there’s no need to be so nervous.” He tapped the armrest. “Under imperial law, war criminals are usually isolated and tortured during interrogation. But I’m in a good mood today, and I don’t intend to ask for complicated state secrets. That gate is practically decoration. If you’re worried, feel free to talk through the bars and coordinate your stories. I’m just here for a chat.”

Elia blinked, long lashes fluttering. She had no idea what the human prince was planning. Who allowed prisoners to coordinate their answers during an interrogation?

Without waiting for a reply, Rhode turned to Hongye, who stood quietly to one side. “Did you bring paper and a pen? Come and take notes.”

Hongye stared, pointing at herself. “Your Highness… me? Take notes?”

She stood gripping her skirt, her breathing quickening. Trained in secret from childhood, she had mastered music, strategy, calligraphy and painting, and knew several neighboring languages. She had once expected to be sent to an important minister as a useful pawn.

Instead she had been assigned to the Third Prince, a man interested in little beyond lust. Her talents had gone unused. Her days were dull and humiliating: serving tea, displaying herself in revealing outfits, and being forced to satisfy him.

Countless nights she had thought in despair that her whole life would rot away in that foul mire. Yet now the man who had treated her as an object was asking her to take part in one of the empire’s most important interrogations—to hold a pen and keep the record.

An unfamiliar feeling burst within her: the excitement of being needed, entrusted with a task, finally able to prove her worth.

“Yes, Your Highness!” She straightened and snapped her legs together, her clear voice echoing through the prison. Then she rushed to the huge black trunk she had brought. There had to be paper and a pen inside; packing them was one professional habit she had retained.

“One moment, Your Highness. I’ll find them!” Her hands shook with excitement as she flung open the trunk and rummaged.

A dark-red whip clattered out. Several tasseled clamps fell to the floor. A long string of metal balls scattered after them.

“Where is it?” Hongye muttered, sweating as she tossed out more objects. “I haven’t used proper stationery in ages… but I definitely packed it!”

A bottle of pale-purple liquid rolled to Elia’s feet. She looked at it, then at the alarming assortment of implements and toys across the floor. Her pale face turned ashen, and she began to tremble uncontrollably, imagining a hundred inhuman punishments.

Beside her, Rhode was so embarrassed he wished he could dig a hole in the cold stone floor with his toes. *How many terrible things did my predecessor pack?*

“Well…” He gave Elia a strained laugh. “If I said those were all for my own amusement, would you believe me?”