"I heard the court is going to meet him formally next week as Esmerea's representative."
Gwen didn't turn around. "Of course they are."
Count Vale's voice dropped to a whisper, as if saying it louder might summon the man himself. "As a diplomatic envoy. He'll have immunity. He'll walk into the palace as if he's one of us."
"He's not," Gwen said flatly. "That's the entire point."
"How could we even be in the same room with a criminal? Madness! How could Esmerea even allied with him? Do they even know what he has done?"
"He's a von Brandt, that's why. And the royal family of Esmerea have a history with the first founding emperor." Gwen then frowned. "You should know this already."
