"No, I do not."
I raised my brow at his straightforward answer.
How bold.
I liked that, a little. Not that it would change anything, though.
The Crown Prince unfolded the document and pushed it toward me. It was a copy of the palace audience schedule. There were several names were listed with most of them being ordinary court officials. Near the lower section, Lord Keeper Marcellus's request had been marked deferred by empress authority.
Deferred.
A polite word for being blocked at the door.
"Has this happened before?" I asked.
"Rarely. My mother does not usually interfere with archival matters unless something touches imperial security."
"Then perhaps something has touched imperial security."
"Did something really?"
"Your Highness is asking whether I caused this."
"I am asking whether something happened outside the palace today."
