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"What a day," sheinto her rooun

• • •

A long soak was just the thing, though Karigan’s mind, too filled with all the revelations acquired since last night, would not allow her to doze off The emperor was Lord Aht produced a latent chortle that sent ripples across the surface of the bath water The revelation that followed, however, that Dr Silk wished to acquire this dragonfly device, was far less shocking But the idea that h all the bedrock into the toain

And then there was Arhys It was not the little girl being the heir that so staggered Karigan, but that she was directly descended fro Zachary and Estora Queen Estora She’d known the touldwas inevitable That hy royals married after all--to maintain the line of succession and the stability of the realirl was a living, breathing extension of Zachary, a connection to Karigan’s own life, a link to Zachary hiht she would always love hian’s feelings were tempered by her situation, that she now lived so many years--almost two centuries--after his death Maybe she was better off in this ti he was entirely out of her reach, she would not be tempted toshe shook her head and splashed water on her face

Even if she were back in her hoh she knew and understood the reality, she would continue to love hiht to protect hi to protect Arhys? There was no question that she’d do so with all her being

With that, she sighed and rose from the now lukeater to see what the rest of the day held for her

• • •

Apparently it held obsequious servants Lorine awaited in Karigan’s bed chamber and curtsied when she entered Lorine had been quiet, respectful, and efficient before, but now there was a distance as she helped Karigan into herdress; no cheerful conversation, just silence Fewer san’s dress, she backed away, curtsied again, and asked, "Would Miss Goodgrave like me to help her with her hair?"

There had never been any question before--Karigan had alelcomed Lorine’s help with her hair, especially since her broken wristmore coin Lorine had always see hair, and then either braiding it, or pinning it up Today, as the horsehair brush worked through her locks, she detected no enjoyment from Lorine, and shifted uncomfortably

When her hair was done, she left her room to attend breakfast Lorine followed at a polite, subservient distance When she reached the dining room, the professor’s butler, Grott, bowed to her and pulled out her chair

"Good !" the professor called cheerfully to her from his end of the table One would never know from his present demeanor the disaster that had al