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He looked completely different in the robe of a Judge, the uniform of the servant of the king. When Jacques wore that uniform, it looked like the leader of a cult. But when Henrik wore it, he looked like an honorable servant of the king.
He was meant to stand there, in those robes, from the beginning. I was sure of it.
He blinked, suddenly realizing I was there.
“Esmeralda…”
Henrik sharply straightened, but then stopped and grabbed his side in pain. I rushed over to hold his arm, leaning him back against the wall.
“Does it still hurt?” I asked.
Henrik pulled up his shirt slightly to show the blood-red burns in his skin. He tapped on it, hissing.
“It’s my punishment,” he said. “I deserved hell. Instead, I got the burning.”
I rolled my eyes as I leaned against the wall next to him. “You sound just like your brother, demanding punishment when you’ve been offered grace.”
Henrik’s head lowered. “I put a sword through my own brother. I should have been sent to eternal punishment.”
“But now the demon is gone, Adrian is healing, and you’ve already been tried.” I took his hand. “I knew you were pure. I knew the moment I saw you.”
His fingers interlaced in mine, and he squeezed my hand.
“I shouldn’t have been saved,” he whispered.
I put my other hand on his shoulder, meeting his eyes.
“Me neither,” I replied.
He looked at me for a long moment, before turning his head back down toward the floor.
“I don’t even know how to begin to apologize to you,” he said, not looking me in the eye. “My demon had convinced me that you were controlling me the whole time on purpose. But after talking with the others, I know now that you were telling me the truth.”
I shook my head sympathetically. “You had no way of knowing. And if we’re being honest, the old me would have controlled you in any way she could. I spent multiple lifetimes paying for my crimes.” I looked at the door of the throne room and swallowed. “And now, it finally comes to an end.”
Henrik looked over his shoulder at the door. “You’ve been summoned.”
I nodded.
“After you walk through those doors, you won’t walk back out of them as a human, will you?”
I pressed my lips together and exhaled through my nose. “That’s the plan.”
There was a pause.
“Perhaps it’s for the best,” he whispered, seemingly to himself. He turned back to look at me, straightening. “I’ll be here to serve you and the sirens either way, Esmeralda.”
He clenched his jaw, his eyes searching mine. I could see his strength returning, the honorable first mate in my presence once again.
I leaned in and kissed his cheek with gratitude, giving him a knowing smile before going through the king’s doors.
“Our heroine has arrived!” Vito cried, clapping his hands.
“Stop that,” Hugo said, folding his arms. “It’s already been more than a week.”
“Should we only celebrate for such a short time?” Vito replied.
“We don’t need to celebrate someone finally doing their jobcorrectly.”
