Chapter 20: Deal with the Empress
Grim stood in the hallway outside the princess's room. After the training session with Rowan had ended. Grim was getting frustarted with his slow progress. He decided it was time to take matters into his own hands.
[This is risky,] the voice commented. [Going behind your father's back to approach the Empress directly.]
"Shut up," Grim thought back. "Rowan's too cautious. At this rate, I'll be fifty before I master even one technique."
He waited until the door opened and a maid emerged. Before it could close, Grim caught it with his foot.
Princess Liona looked up from her desk where she'd been writing something, surprise clear on her face. "Grim! No one said you were coming." Her confusion quickly morphed into delight.
"I wasn't invited," Grim said. "I need to talk to your mother."
Liona's just looked at him for a moment before saying. "Mother doesn't like unscheduled visitors. Even I have to request an audience sometimes."
"It's important," Grim insisted. "It's about your birthday surprise."
That caught her attention. "My birthday? But that's not for a couple weeks."
"Which is why I need to start planning now," Grim improvised. "Something this special takes time."
"What is it?" Liona asked, getting up from her desk.