The Emperor's blade remained at Kaiser's throat for several long seconds.
No one in the reception hall dared move.
Not the guards. Not the Queen. Not Thomas, who had gone very still on Ludwig's shoulder, wings folded tight and fire dimmed to a nervous glow. Even Kaiser, for all his arrogance, kept both hands raised and his mouth shut. That alone told Ludwig more than the sword did. Kaiser was many things, but careful was not usually one of them. If he had decided not to provoke the man holding the jade blade, then the Emperor's casual clothes were doing a very poor job of hiding something monstrous.
Slowly, the Emperor lowered his sword.
The pressure in the room loosened by a fraction, though not enough for anyone to breathe freely.
"Quite brave," the Emperor said, "bringing the cause of the mess in the north to my own house."
Kaiser's lips twitched, but he managed the miracle of not speaking.
