“Raena,” Arina said breathlessly, handing the baby to her sister-in-law before heading toward her vanity table. The loud crash against the door made her flinch, but she gritted her teeth, trying not to show her fear. Her feet were already shaking from standing up for so long, and her heart was beating so fast that her head spun.
She should have anticipated this when Yulien started talking about wills and the future of their children. She had foolishly deluded herself into thinking they were safe because there were so many people guarding them. But she was the Empress, and he was the Emperor; there was no such thing as assured safety for them. She had accepted that when she agreed to marry him. But now, it wasn’t just her life on the line.
Arina sat down in the chair, ignoring Elene, who
