I tried to run a hand through my hair only to find my fingers meeting the elaborate and awkwardly-placed crown I was forced to wear these days."I still don't understand why you didn't let her in," I said to my valet, settling instead for fiddling with the gold braid hemming one of my imperial red sleeves.

The neatly dressed man tilted his head to one side, pressing his gloved fingers together as if considering his answer. "There was no need for the special diplomatic envoy to speak to your Imperial Majesty,"he said.

"But I thought the main purpose of this whole series of stupid parties was to prevent war from breaking out with the Ilmarin, and since they sent her -"

"Sir,"he interrupted, still speaking in that even, measured tone, "th epoint of these parties is to celebrate your coronation, and while the Ilmarin did send her, allowing Lady Ilora Ilmarin in the room would hardly prevent a war."

"But she's a diplomat!" I protested. "You just said so. I - "I hesitated for a moment, not used to my new power, yet - "I could order you to let her in tomorrow."

A flicker of annoyance passed across the valet's features. "I would not suggest that, sir. And what I said was that she was a special diplomatic envoy – one who is well-trained in the use of silverware."

I could feel the heat of a blush spreading across my cheeks. "Enough about how I used the wrong spoon at the state dinner! It isn't my fault - I wasn't raised for this! My parents hardly expected that everyone else would die and leave me great-uncle's heir – my father was the youngest son of a youngest son, for crying out loud!"

For the first time in my presence, a small smile quirked my valet's lips."Ah. I did not mean to bring his Imperial Majesty's table manners into question again. By special diplomatic envoy, I meant assassin."

I blinked "Lady Ilora is an assassin? But then -"

He tapped the small dagger he wore at his waist. "Silverware."

I sat back in my chair. "I – I suppose you shouldn't let her in tomorrow, then."

"Very good, sir," he responded.

Inspired by this prompt: https://old.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/comments/vs6rvp/wp_special_diplomatic_envoy_means_assassin_the/