I took the allowed number of steps, eyes focused on the ground, sinking low in a bow worthy of the emperor I was greeting. This was a public function, and until we were in a more familiar area I would act like any other member of the court. I was glad to hear my ladies sink to the ground along with me. I stayed there, waiting for permission to get up. It didn't come.
I felt like my neck was going to combust. The heat of the day and the stiff formal robe that was made of several different layers of fabric were making it hard to breathe. My father never made me wait like this. Today I was dealing with the emperor. It was important when growing up in the court to know which was which. Expectations were everything, and making sure you fit them was your job according to mother. She had surviv
