Chapter 27

"Hic! Hic—!"

The Emperor's study was filled with the sound of April's weeping. Neither man said a word for a long moment, with her between them.

Worn out from crying, April began to wonder when exactly she should stop.

A bad feeling crept over her — this wasn't going to go as smoothly as she'd planned.

"I'd like a word alone with Her Highness, Your Majesty."

Christine's words, coming right then, were almost a relief to hear.

"Good idea. I'll clear my head a moment, then come back."

Once the Emperor left the study, it was just April and Christine alone.

Alone with him now, April tensed. She was a poor liar, and he might see straight through her.

Could she really fool someone with eyes this sharp, this utterly without feeling?

Was this reckless scheme only going to make him hate her more?

She felt a flicker of regret.…