The Marshal Is My Mate novel · Chapter 23 of 24
Chapter 23: The Court Watches
The Hall of Thrones held three thousand, and not one of them had a phone in their hand.
The Empress had banned them at the door.
She said she wanted people to look with their eyes, for once.
Lucan walked up the long blue carpet beside Garrick in the dark dress coat of a consort of the fleet, with no gloves on.
Every head turned as they passed.
Nobody whispered.
At the foot of the dais they stopped, and the whole court sank to its knees.
It started at the front. Then the great houses, then the ministers, then the rows at the back.
The sound of three thousand people kneeling filled the hall.
Lucan stood very straight and did not know where to put his hands.
Garrick put one of them in his.
"Rise," the Empress said from her throne.
They rose.
She looked down at Lucan with her old, sharp, pleased eyes.
"Duke Merrow. Six years ago a man in this city sealed your name away so that you would not be seen. I have unsealed it. Today I would like you to be seen."
Her voice carried to the doors.
"The Empire records that Lucan Merrow, Duke of Merrow, held forty ships through the Marches storm and that his rank is SS. The Empire records that he did it as a free man, by his own choice, and that no house, no bureau and no bond holds him against his will."
A long murmur went through the court.
"I name him Consort of the Marshal and Warden of the Outer Marches," the Empress said. "And I name his duchy free of every debt."
Lucan's throat closed.
Garrick's grip tightened on his hand.
"There is business first," the Empress said, and the pleased look faded.
"Bring the Lady in Violet."
Two guards came through a side door with a woman between them.
It was the woman who had spoken at the Empress's table. She wore plain gray now, and no rings.
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