Slave to the Emperor

a shot. She seemed really interested in finding out why I was behaving strangely and drinking on a weekday, which is

est friend's life and disclose her personal business. She snarled back at me, "Now, start talking and stop sounding so dramatic."I sighed and took a little drink from my shot that was only halfway full. I motioned to the bartender to top up my drink, then turned to face Sienna, blurting out the details of my situation in one breath. "I'm getting married,"Sienna's demeanor changed instantly from intrigued to bewildered to startled as soon as I said those words. "Hold on, what? Are you getting hitched? You? Amara Delgado, a? The same Amara who's not even engaged to be married?" she said, and I didn't find it surprising that she answered in that way. I knew she wouldn't believe me, so I was prepared for her to be astonished.Her mouth dropped as I said, "Yeah, Sienna, me Amara Delgado—the girl without a boyfriend, much less a fiancé—am getting married.""Dear, do you know what? I believe it's time for you to just give up drinking and go home immediately. You're clearly not into alcohol, and it's already making you say a bunch of stupid things that don't make sense at all. I'll arrange for a vehicle to come and retrieve us so you can head home and relax. She started to get up to go, saying, "It seems like you really need it," but I stopped her."I meant what I just said, Sienna, and I'm not intoxicated. I told her, "I'm getting married soon, and yes, even though it sounds unbelievable and ridiculous, it's actually the truth." She calmed when she realized I was genuine."You're getting married, really? Why is that? Who is this person that you are ostensibly getting married to?" Sienna questioned, her questioning eyes gazing back at me. When she did ask me this question, as I knew she would eventually, I wasn't quite sure how to break the news to her that I was getting married to a millionaire. It's unlikely that she will believe me at first, but I still can't help but tell her.I told her ahead of time, "Don't be shocked, Sienna," and she rolled her eyes at me.As she scoffed at me, "As if anything can be more shocking than the fact that you're actually getting married," I moaned.I told her that Stephen Ericson was my soon-to-be husband.She scowled. Amara, what the heck are you saying? She said dismissively, "Which Stephen Ericson are you talking about because it can't possibly be the same one that I've heard about," but she let out a loud scream when she realized that I had said nothing at all. Is the holy mother of Christ making jokes about me? She questioned, "Is he really the one?," in a loud enough voice to draw attention away from where we were sitting. I hurriedly silenced her before she could announce to the entire bar that I was getting married."I know it sounds like the worst kind of joke but unfortunately for me, it's not a joke," I said. Fight