“Just admit that my tent is better than a palace.”
“You know nothing about palaces, Hadj! When the celebration ends, I’ll give you a proper tour! When you see our parade ground, you’ll thank me. Especially if it’s being cleaned by the maids! Working as a maid is very popular around here. Every beautiful girl from the trade district dreams of becoming a servant in the royal Palace.”
Hadjar snorted and shook the ashes out of his pipe into the darkness.
“I imagine there will be a lot less of them soon enough.”
“Why?”
Hadjar just looked at him. When Nero realized what his friend was saying, he slapped himself.
Indeed, why would girls want to work in the Palace if the Prince had gotten married?
The two friends laughed together.
***
Despite all of Nero’s promises of tours and other ente
