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What we’re doing tonight has political implications other than just letting the Spider Queen know her daughter lost her chance, and I can see that every little move is calculated.
“I’m fine,” I assure her. “Used to being unattractive by now.”
Marlak exhales. “You want a compliment, wife? You look stunning. Now let me get ready.”
He retreats to the private washroom. Lidiane shakes her head and laughs. “You two are funny.”
“Funny?” That’s certainly not the word I would pick.
“Yes.” She shrugs, and I realize she’s not going to elaborate. She then lowers her voice. “My brother mentioned you.”
“What did he say?”
She chuckles. “I feel like I’m becoming a blabbermouth, just like Irene.”
“You don’t have to say it.” I think she’s already saying too much in confessing her brother told her about me.
“I want to say it. He likes you, and that’s a lot, coming from him.”
“Why? He doesn’t usually like people?”
“He doesn’t trust people. You, he trusts.”
I’m surprised, considering Ferer hasn’t been that friendly to me. I take another look at her house. “What about you, do you trust your brother?”
“Obviously.”
“Then tell him the truth. There’s no shame in accepting help.” I don’t know what she’s going through, but she’s clearly hiding something from both her brother and Marlak.
She closes her eyes and shakes her head. “You don’t add weight to an overloaded cart.” There’s a certainty in her features when she stares at me. “I know what I’m doing.”
I gesture to the dress. “You sure do. Thank you so much.”
“I’d do it even if you were awful. But you’re not.”
Marlak comes out of the washing room then. He’s wearing leather trousers and a silk black shirt, with a deep, unbuttoned V in the front, and a necklace with a crescent pendant. It’s very much like what he usually wears, except for the necklace, and I assume there’s some strategy in it.
To me, he still looks like the prince who spent hours cutting pieces of fabric—and that, strangely, only makes him more beautiful.
He raises a hand. “Please do not make any comments on my looks.”
I’m glad he’s grumpy again and reminding me why I’m not supposed to admire him. “I wasn’t going to say anything.”
“I just wanted to be sure.”
Lidiane covers her mouth with her hand. She’s chuckling. So that’s what she finds so funny. She stands in front of us. “I’ll do a light glamour on you both, just for you to get to the carriage. It should arrive at any moment now.”
With that, she passes her hands around my head and I get that ticklish feeling again.
“From where did you get the carriage?” Marlak asks.
She’s now working on him, turning his hair brown, covering the side of his head. “Lost Pony Inn.” She smirks.
“Oh.” Marlak looks worried for a second, but then chuckles. “What a shame. They’ll have to spend a few hours not licking Renel’s boots.”
She moves her hand away from him. “Exactly. I’m strategic.”
Marlak turns to me. “Some merchants in this area are extremely loyal to my brother. Lidiane here, as a loyal subject, tends to work with them.”
