The evening air was hot and filled with the perfume of the many aristocrats who were gathered in the large garden-facing hall, on the west side of the palace.

  As the sun bathed the terrace in its last golden rays, the sounds of a dancing melody flowed out through the large open doors and left Leopold gently swirling his glass to the rhythm.

  Evening soirées had become a regular fixture of imperial life after Lepold had turned sixteen, always lavish, glittering, and reliably well-attended.

  Whether it was the chandelier-lit halls, the promise of fine imported wines, or simply the draw of seeing Prince Leopold himself along with Lord Ravnsund, the aristocracy always came.

  Over the last six years, Leopold had come to know certain benefits from hosting these events. The unlimited wine, the beautiful ladies, but especially getting to listen in on the thoughts of the aristocracy.

  Most would show up under simple pretexts, a toast to the imperial prince, but in reality, most were there with an agenda.

  They came to offer their daughters as concubines, getting in the good graces of Leopold, or doing shady business deals over a glass of fine wine.

  Of course, Leopold wasn't above any of this.

  There had yet to be a girl he had wanted to keep for more than the night, but he did enjoy the company nonetheless.

  Tonight they had danced until their soles were sore, a feat in itself, as he considered both of them, but especially Asbj?rn, to be avid dancers.

  Leopold looked over at his red-haired friend, who sat across the little terrace table, also swirling his glass to the rhythm.

  He smiled at the thoughtless enjoyment of the moment.

  It was times like these when he wondered if it would be okay to let his friend know of his secret.

  A group of light footsteps was approaching, and the bubbly sound of cascading giggles rolled across the stone terrace.

  The noble ladies' laughter suddenly hushed as they realized who they had happened upon.

  They dipped into hurried curtsies, their eyes bright with nervous delight.

  "Evening, Your Highness," one of them offered, voice breathy with anticipation.

  "And to you, Lord Ravnsund," another added.

  Both men straightened from their relaxed slouch to politely greet the ladies. Leopold merely raised his glass with a flirtatiously warm smile while Asbj?rn took the lead.

  "Evening, ladies. Are we enjoying the festivities?"

  A giggle rippled through the little group, and a bold girl at the front answered, "Very much so, my lord."

  Leopold didn't even have to look to know that the girl was now glancing in his direction. "It is always a pleasure to be invited to his highness's events."

  "It is my pleasure to host such lovely ladies as yourselves," Leopold said, without meeting her gaze.

  He knew all the girls were equally and only enamored with his aloof demeanor and Asbj?rn’s witty charm.

  But he didn’t mind the superficiality of their affection; it made the moment simple.

  They began to drift away, laughter trailing behind them, mixing with the perfume in the air.

  But one girl with walnut-colored hair and a hesitant smile lingered for just a moment longer than the others, casting a stolen glance at Leopold, and he caught it with a polite draw at the corners of his mouth, leaving her to blush as she turned.

  Leopold did remember they had shared the fifth dance of the evening. Outwardly, she had seemed timid, but her thoughts had brimmed with nervous hope and barely restrained fantasy. She was a graceful dancer, trying hard to appease the expectations of society, even if just a Baron's daughter.

  he thought.

  Leopold let his smile fade the moment she turned her back.

  Across from him, Asbj?rn chuckled softly and shook his head. "You really are cruel, you know that?"

  "Says the man who has eyes for no one, dances with all, and gives not even an inch of himself." Leopold retorted with a teasing grin.

  "You know I would only break a poor lady's heart; I haven't the time to satisfy the needs of a romantic courtship."

  A silence settled between them. It may only have been a witty jab, but behind every joke, there was always a bit of truth. "So, how is your business going?" There wasn't anything Asbj?rn could tell that Leopold didn't already know, but it was the act of caring enough to ask that Leopold knew he only spared for his friend.

  "Why the sudden interest in my business as of late?" Asbj?rn tilted his head, eyeing his enigmatic friend. "But if you really care to know, business is going splendidly as usual, and father is rather impressed with my profits."

  Stolen novel; please report.

  He took a long sip of his wine as though the mention of his father had brought a bitter taste that had to be washed away. "Though I suppose my profit margins aren't actually what you inquire about." A playful twinkle emerged in his eye. "Is it my blond gamble that has piqued your interest?"

  In actuality, Leopold had not been thinking of the peculiar blond girl who had recently come into his friend's possession.

  But now that she was brought up, he didn't mind exploring the conversation.

  "You caught me. I found her origins to be rather puzzling." He leaned back slightly, swirling his glass, and seized the opportunity to dig deeper. "Are there any discoveries in that regard?"

  Even just getting his friend to think of the topic would reveal what he wanted to know, but there weren't many secrets between the two, so asking outright wasn't an issue.

  Asbj?rn let out a warm chuckle.

  "I am told that she is sharp. Learns by watching. But the way she gets herself into trouble, you would think she had never heard of a brand before." Asbj?rn shook his head in amused disbelief. "R?fna reported that she has been running laps in most of instructor Torfinn's lessons."

  "Poor thing." The irony of Torfinn's wasn't lost on him. Lessons in endurance, punished with more endurance.

  Some of the ideologies employed by the instructors at the manor were a bit outdated, but given the results and the immense fortune a slave trained at the Ravnsund manor could be worth, he didn't dare question their methods. Still, leaving her to run seemed like a waste. "I take it that is to mean there is no improvement in her linguistic abilities?"

  "Unfortunately, it seems she talks no better than a small child."

  It may be true that her Empirian was that of a small child, but Leopold knew there was more to her; he had heard it in her language. If only there had been a way to translate that mystical rolling of syllables and imagery in her mind.

  Leopold smiled faintly, gaze drifting to the horizon.

  “I wonder what it would take to make her talk.”

  A pause stretched between them. Leopold’s thoughts began to turn, to scheme, to sift through possibilities. His thoughts were promptly interrupted by a loud man stumbling through the terrace doors.

  "Just the boys I wanted to see." A drunken slur of the words made them even more offensive than they already were.

  "Your highness, thank you for this great party." Leopold flashed him a tight smile in response, but the noble seemed too preoccupied with his beverage and goal to talk to Asbj?rn to notice.

  "And young Lord Ravnsund, you become ever the finer young man whenever I see you."

  The loud man chuckled as he loomed over their table. "Why, thank you, Lord Greveson, I see you are in ever high spirits." Asbj?rn curbed the drunken noble with grace; they knew each other, and Asbj?rn seemed to find him more amusing in a pitying way rather than annoying.

  "You could say that!" Greveson bellowed with laughter. "Say, I hear from a sophisticated friend of mine that you’ve got some interesting new stock. Blond, at that!" The man suddenly seemed to have a moment of clarity as he stared at the long golden hair that framed Leopold's straining expression. "Oh, not to offend your highness."

  "Haha.." Asbj?rn awkwardly laughed as he gave Leopold an apologetic look of,

  Suddenly, the tingling feeling of a cold mind approaching crept up on Leopold. "Apologies, gentlemen, I think I might have spurred Lord Greveson to seek you out with my tale of your most recent business venture."

  Leopold didn't have to turn to know exactly whose mind and thoughts gave him this creepy sensation. Lord Rahkan was a vile creature. Tall, polished, always well spoken, his exterior left nothing to be critiqued, but his mind was that of someone who believed the world revolved at their beck and call.

  As the new intruder emerged, he bowed politely, "Your highness, Lord Ravnsund."

  "Lord Rahkan." Leopold was polite, but his previous aloofness had turned to alertness.

  "What a pleasure it is to be in your presence again so soon, Lord Ravnsund."

  Behind those flattering words, there was not an ounce of pleasure; rather, a deep sense of spite driven by injustice fueled a determination to have his way that lingered just beneath the surface.

  "So soon? I don't think we have met recently." Leopold cut in. He could tell there’d been a meeting he hadn’t been privy to, and he was already tired of being left out of the conversation.

  "You are quite right, Your Highness, and what a pleasure it is to humbly be in your presence as well." There was nothing about himself that he found humble, yet the words flowed naturally like honey on a summer day. "You see, I recently visited a certain merchant." Rahkan continued, tone light and musing. "I had heard of a poor soul. A foreign girl caught in a place where no one understood her. Naturally, I thought I might be of help."

  He paused, letting the memory of imagined gallantry sit between them.

  "But alas," he said with an overly disappointed sigh, "she was already gone by the time I arrived. To my great distress, of course. Such rare spirits deserve thoughtful homes."

  "Lord Ravnsund, do consider my offer. You know I'm very interested in... stock like that." He didn’t wait for a response. With a gentle hand, he guided the swaying Greveson back toward the hall, leaving the "" hanging in the air.

  "He may be a great political asset to my father and my business in the south. But Gods, is he annoying. Always counting himself as better." Asbj?rn rolled his eyes at Rahkan’s back as soon as the men were no longer within listening range. Asbj?rn had always had an astutely keen sense for people, and even with the perfect outer of Lord Rahkan, he saw right through him. "But he is rich, and he is offering two Kruna for her, even if she can't speak."

  Now his gaze had found the bottom of his glass, which rested in his lap, a defeated look creeping over him. That girl might one day tell them where she was from. But if Rahkan got her, the mystery would be snuffed out before it ever had a chance to be solved. Normally, Leopold wasn't one to meddle in Asbj?rns business, but he knew that with the right words, he could move mountains.

  "I thought she was your diamond in the rough," Leopold said, knowing that his friend had been hoping for the girl to be his next great investment. "Isn’t that price a lot lower than what you were hoping for?"

  "If she doesn’t start talking within the next three months…" he said quietly, "I might have to take his offer."

  The glass clinked as he set it down. "Rough or not, no one wants a stone that won’t shine."

  So make sure you go and show them some love, especially if this book sounds enticing.

  Requiem hits many of the same harsh notes as Kat & Leo, but on a grander scale, from what I have read so far it's less about one girl’s obedience, more about kingdoms burning and lives bought and sold.