Then why in the world does the Emperor suddenly suspect that Healthy-Orphan is his daughter or granddaughter? If it's not the magical power, then what is it?

Opalyn can't think of a way to ask this that doesn't seem impertinent under the circumstances, and remains quiet.

Some time passes.  The Bleak Emperor seems perfectly content to wait as long as it might take, for records to be brought forth, and does not speak if he is not spoken to, nor will anyone else dare.

Opalyn wishes she had a book.

She does not have a book.

If this were a book, what would happen next?

She'd be the Emperor's daughter, of course. No reason to bring up that possibility unless it's going to be true.

Will she move into a palace? Will she get a pony?

Oh crap. She might get a hexapode. She doesn't want a hexapode. Shudder.

There's nothing wrong with hexapodes!  They are a mark of wealth and status and Orphan would've totally had one if a dark sorceress didn't have faster ways of flinging herself around than that.

It better not be catapults.

You don't need a catapult to fling yourself wildly into the air when you are an untrained sorceress!

Before very long, somebody comes rushing back with a folder in hand.

He peruses the folder without much visible emotion.

Then he snaps it shut.

"Plausible.  Not definite.  To inherit some portion of power happens rarely, but not never.  It is the sort of thing that could happen to one easily enough, after a few centuries.  Or also the sort of coincidence that might happen, after a few centuries."

"I find that I have little taste for playing the part of your father, little one, especially when matters are not certain.  Do not expect much of me.  But on the basis of possibility and probability I appoint you now a Princess of this court, and we shall see what becomes of you in a few decades, perhaps."

"For the most part I mean to leave the rest in care of my Vizier."

Well, that's a weird and unexpected outcome.

It's great if she gets to be a Princess, presumably. That's probably about the best possible outcome she could have hoped for.

But getting rejected kind of sucks, even by a person she never heard of until an hour ago. It's wild how fast daddy issues can spring up. It was very Dad energy that the only interaction they've had so far was magical arm wrestling.

She'll show none of that. "I understand, thank you," she says, and she bows a little, because it seems to be the done thing.

"I should... show concern, should I not, that you have been brought to all this so suddenly?  You may go, and rest and be taken care of, unless it is your own wish to stay here and observe this court to which you are come."

Awww. That's really sweet, actually.

"Thank you kindly for the choice. If it is left to me, I will go and rest and make myself more presentable before I return to this court."

She's not particularly interested in the court, but there's no sense in insulting them.

This guy seems as imperturbable as before!  No outward sign of visible distress!  Except for the part where he is suddenly behaving more respectfully and less dismissively toward Opalyn.

"I will see you to your quarters then, Princess.  Would you follow me?"

"Certainly."

Opalyn totally doesn't smirk at his change in attitude.

She is conducted through a maze of twisty passages, which, if not all alike, are sufficiently similar to be disorienting.

"What sort of quarters should I be seeking, for you?"

Opalyn usually demurs at this point, not wanting to be a demanding guest. She rarely sleeps well away from home so there's no point in being fussy about it.

This is different: this is home, apparently, and she's a newly appointed Princess. She might as well ask for what she really wants.

"I like a relatively firm bed, pillows that are also firm but not too thick, a cold room, and a heavy blanket. The room should be completely dark and silent when I am trying to sleep. I'd appreciate light to read by and a selection of books, both fiction and non-fiction. I like a hot bath before I sleep and a hot shower in the morning. When I wake up, I want a hot, stimulating tea to drink."

She peers at the Vizier to see if this seems to be extremely extravagant and demanding or if she should press on and ask for even more. She can't tell what counts as an over-the-top luxury in this place.

"I expect we can provide that without too much trouble."

"If you were able to have that for yourself while living the life of an itinerant bandit, you may have far more logistical talent than I previously imagined."

"You can do a lot with magic," Opalyn theorizes.

"Apparently!  I wouldn't have thought it!"

Opalyn's quarters look like bedrooms in a fantasy-magical-pseudo-medieval setting!  If you are very interested in magitech bedrooms then it's sorta like this, but substantially lower magitech.  We're not writing this again.

Opalyn is satisfied with her quarters, and grateful to get on with the more interesting parts of the story!

"Based on your previous criminal record, I'll be assigning you servants and subordinates who shouldn't be too picky about matters of sexual consent.  Not judging you, we're all evil here.  This will be your primary maid."

"My lady."

Opalyn threw herself on the mercy of the court and promised to reform, and now they're enabling the sexual abuse of powerless workers?

This is a very strange world.

Opalyn can reform it later, maybe. Right now she'll just NOT abuse her new maid. BE the change you want to see in your new world, as they say.

"Pleased to meet you."

"My pleasure is irrelevant."