Chapter 51. An Old Friend

VESTA

The cool evening breeze brushed against my skin sensually as Empress Livia and I sat in the corridor, each of us gripping two needles with balls of yarn scattered at our feet. The sweet scent of the flowers in the garden close by surrounded me—I could never quite get used to it. The life of luxury was one I could only dream of only about a year ago, but now I had it all?

No, it was just temporary, I reminded myself. After all, winter was coming. I knew I would miss that place dearly even before that, since I was not planning on staying too long. My daughter was still in the hands of that monster, and in the north. Any time from now the demons may rise, or Xerxes’ madness may cause him to draw her blood to spite me. I couldn’t afford any of those risks.

These thoughts made me get sparse sleep at nights, and even, have nightmares. I cracked my neck, trying to shake off those thoughts.

Being the queen’s right-hand maiden turned out to be far more ev