"Wow, I can't believe it," Aria said with the sort of grin that belonged to a younger sibling who had just discovered her older brother had done something simultaneously scandalous and heroic. Her hand flew up to cover her mouth in mock shock, but the gleeful mischief dancing in her eyes was about as subtle as a meteor strike in a monastery.
I had just returned from spending the night at the Imperial Palace. The Imperial Palace. You'd think that level of social impossibility would buy me at least a moment's peace at home, but apparently not.
