Chapter 26

A violent churning started in my stomach, no doubt from the shock. Panic flared. The Empress wants to see me? Why now, of all times? “Why would… the Empress…!” Hadn’t Katherine specifically asked Ivan to keep my existence a secret for the time being? I swallowed the rising belch with a monumental effort and managed to school my features into a mask of pure surprise. Fortunately, Isabella didn’t seem to notice anything amiss. “It seems Her Majesty found out that someone new has joined the Weiss family,” she explained. “Since our family is Her Majesty’s root, she takes an interest when there are changes. She sent a letter specifically asking Mother to bring you for a visit.”