Everyone hesitated, exchanging uncertain glances.

  After the time it took for an incense stick to burn, nearly a third of them decided to leave.

  The moonlight poured down like water as I slowly ground the ink, my tone steady:

  "For those who remain, know this—Corwin is dead. If the Zhang family takes the throne, I will be a consort. If the Braedon family claims the empire, as the Duke of Braedon’s adopted daughter, I will undoubtedly become a princess. If either Crown Prince Alaric or Duke Rowan ascends, I will still be considered their in-law."

  I raised my head, looking at each of them.

  "Whoever wishes to follow Autumn Myles, from now on, do not call me 'Lady' anymore. You will call me 'Master.' If you seek power and status in these chaotic times, then write your name, birthplace, and the names of your family members on this scroll. If I survive, the living will be rewarded, and the dead… their families will be honored."

  It wasn’t long before the first person stepped forward to write his name.

  A murmur spread through the crowd, and soon, one by one, they passed around the brush and ink, recording their names.

  In the farthest corner of the courtyard, four or five people stood frozen in hesitation.

  I returned to my room and retrieved a few small objects, then walked back outside.

  "Here’s some silver. Split it among yourselves and head down the mountain. You don’t wish to go to Elias, nor do you want to follow me. You must miss home, right? Then go back."

  Family was not necessarily less important than ambition or career.

  The men accepted the silver gratefully, expressing their thanks before leaving.

  But one man stood out.

  "I want both. Is that possible? The money and the name on the scroll?"

  I studied him closely.

  Rough linen clothes, an unremarkable face, but a steady voice.

  I recognized him.

  When Arianne had tried to kill me, he was the one who had kicked her sword away.

  This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  "What is your name?"

  "I am Liam."

  His mother was ill, and as a dutiful son, he wished to return home, but he had no money for her treatment. He told me that if I gave him the money, he would still stay and follow me.

  "You can have both," I said, "but that wouldn't be fair." I pointed to the men signing their names. "If I give you silver, they won’t accept it. What will you do then?"

  Liam nodded, agreeing with my reasoning, then turned to leave.

  I called after him.

  "Unless you do something for me. If you complete it, you’ll be rewarded."

  Three days later, Liam arrived at my courtyard with a cart full of hay.

  I lifted the dry straw.

  Inside, Spring Myles was curled up within the pile, dressed in coarse clothes, her hair disheveled, her eyes red as she gazed up at me.

  "Autumn, it’s really you."

  I helped remove a few strands of hay from her hair, smiling.

  "Duchess Rowan, I knew it was you. You stole the Imperial Guards' Tiger Tally and handed it over to Alaric."

  Recalling how the Crown Prince once said he spared me out of respect for my three sisters, I had already suspected my eldest sister had done something foolish.

  I just hadn't expected her to do something this foolish.

  "He took Summer Myles in exchange for the tally. I had no other choice."

  Spring Myles stepped down from the cart and pulled away more straw.

  Inside, Summer Myles sat curled up, hugging her knees. Her face was blank, her eyes hollow.

  My eldest sister’s voice trembled with heartbreak.

  "That day, at the Emperor’s birthday banquet, I told you it had been a long time since I’d seen her. Recently, Alaric allowed me to see her again… but look at what’s become of her."

  I stepped forward and checked her pulse—her body was fine. Summer Myles had lost her ability to speak, likely due to what happened earlier this year in the Department of Personnel—back when Alaric had paraded her before hundreds of people.

  Reading too many fortunes, it seemed, had turned her fate against herself.

  "She will recover if she rests."

  "I know… but Alaric starved her, forcing me to give up the tally to save her. I’ve let Duke Rowan down."

  My eldest sister supported Summer Myles, helping her into the courtyard.

  Late that night, I received a letter from the Duke of Braedon.

  ["I will arrive in the capital in ten days."]

  Sitting in the courtyard, I gently rocked the cradle, teasing the baby with my fingers.

  "My dear, your grandfather will be here soon to take you home. Aren’t you excited?"

  Spring Myles emerged from the doorway, saying she wanted to return to the palace to rescue Duke Rowan.

  "I barely managed to smuggle you out of his estate, and now you want to go back in and die? The entire empire’s armies are marching toward the capital. Instead of charging into certain death, why not go to Yenlang, Duke Rowan’s domain, and call for reinforcements? As his wife, you could at least command a few battalions…"

  My eldest sister hesitated.

  "But before he went into the palace, Rowan told me not to act rashly."

  I scoffed.

  "That’s because he doesn’t know you stole the tally."

  Spring Myles flinched at my words, her gaze turning icy.

  "You killed the Corwin couple, Autumn. What right do you have to lecture me?"

  Her eyes drifted to the cradle beside me.

  She stepped forward hastily, peering inside, and then gasped.

  "This is your child? I have a nephew?"

  I remained silent.

  She was entirely focused on the baby, cradling him gently, her eyes soft with affection.

  "He looks like Corwin… not much like you."

  Me: "….."