Chapter 32: Prince Jai

For the first time since I’d met her she wore an item of jewelry and it was the necklace I’d sent her. She’d chosen a blue gown to match her eyes with white fur around the neck and cuffs of her outer vest.

With the gems from the necklace sparkling as bright as her eyes, she was quite a fetching sight. I knew when father looked back at me smilingly that he’d seen the necklace and accurately guessed that it had been given by me.

He shook his head with a grin and turned back to the beaded curtain where I could see the three young ladies sitting as they awaited his words.

The Empress’s lips were pinched tight, which could only mean that at this morning’s meeting with the emperor she’d received some distressing news. Bad for her and her ilk, excellent for me!

Of course I chose now to remember that she too might recognize the necklace and know from whence it came. Oh well, there wasn’t much she could do about it now. Now that the selection was almost over.