Chapter 109

I told him there was no reason to use a husband as a shield—and he had only blinked at me with an expression of mild confusion.

"That's precisely why I swore a knight's oath."

He had seemed genuinely puzzled as to why I found that problematic. The boldness is growing, I thought with exasperation.

But here we were—a real three-against-three. And for Mari, this would be the first and last family dinner.

"Enjoy it. This is a table you won't come back to after tonight."

I said it on purpose, to ease her nerves. Mari smiled and nodded.

"I'll be all right with you beside me, sister. I'm not nervous at all."

"That's exactly what I like to hear, Mari Stade."

I smiled, pleased, and smoothed her hair—then stepped through the doors of the great dining hall.

"We pay our respects to the sun and moon of the Empire, Your…