“I Love Thee Still.”

Maomao: Not to worry. I have a permit.

Court lady: This just says, "Maomao can do what she wants" with master Jinshi signature.

The problem with rereading the goblin emperor is that I’m gonna finish it at some point and then it’ll be over. Unless of course I reread it, again.

im gonna fms. fall on my— [remembers fall on my sword jokes negatively impact my nohecharis’s oath] fuck my serenity

Maia Drazhar, also known as Edrehasivar Zhas, seventh of that name, the 209th Emperor of the Elflands, would never do this to me

the range this man has. from "a beauty so captivating that he could topple a kingdom" to the most pathetic, sopping wet cat in existence.

The private study scene from "The Hands of the Emperor"

oh. almost forgot that I am in fact wanted and loved and that I belong to this world. and maybe you have forgotten it, but you are as well

Happy Birthday to YSA!

A silly, utterly inconsequential thing that caught me in Tomb Of Dragons.

Maia wearing amethysts. Twice.

Does that matter? Means anything? Likely not. And yet, that trifling detail won’t leave me alone.

Doylist explanation: KA didn’t feel like coming up with a different outfit for someone who isn’t the main character in the novel. Completely understandable. However, since when has she balked at meticulous descriptions of different clothes?

So.

In-universe possible explanations.

1) The edocharei have settled on Edrehasivar VII’s Signature Look. Grey and purple go together so maybe amethysts look nice with Maia’s skin.  And a year in they have decided they can safely branch out from Traditional Pearls/Moonstones/Opals/Diamonds/General Whiteness  to embrace other colors than Drazhada Amber.

2.a) Csethiro made a favorable remark once and Maia has seized on a chance to make her happy even in a small way.

2.b) They are a gift (maybe a betrothal one? I can see formal exchanges of gifts preceding a marriage in elven culture) from Csethiro herself and Maia wants to both make her happy and make A Statement that his future wife has his imperial favor.

3) Maia simply likes them.

In my head, in the last case, the edocharei burst in the kitchen/servant hall of the Alcethmeret in tears because: “His Serenity likes amethysts!” “He ACTUALLY SAID so! ‘These look very nice’!”

General bewilderment.

“We swear we’re not joking. His Serenity, entirely unprompted, has expressed a personal preference.”

General chaos, more tears, wild cheering.

“Break out the good wine and send a page to light some candles to Cstheio in thanks, it took a year but we have a second preference beside chamomile tea!”

Cover illustration for Rachel Griffin’s upcoming book The Sun and the Starmaker ☀️