“Well. Marrying into the royal family is almost a fate worse than death, so I wish you luck. Have you met any of them yet?”
“Nikolaos and Hadrian—briefly.”
“Ah.” She stepped in line with me, covertly pointing her finger across the room at a tall man with light brown hair tarnishedwith silver at his temples. “The King’s polite enough if he likes you, but he’s as blunt as a dull hammer if he doesn’t. Either way, you can tell he isn’t interested when you speak to him. His eyes will roam over you as if you’re an insect.
“His daughter, Jonet…” She turned her finger toward the musicians, where a beautiful young woman stood in her own dress of stunning blue, stitched tight with a corset. “She has every aspect of her life so planned that if you aren’t inthe inner court circle, if you aren’t an asset to her social calendar, they don’t even let you near her.”
She didn’t specify whotheywere.
“Behind Jonet is the Queen, Lyrena. She’s the one who looks like she sucked on a lemon wedge and doused her mouth in salt directly after. The younger prince and princess are alright. Mallus and Breer. But they’re children, so they have time to become just as unbearable.”
I held in a laugh. Queen Lyrena was prim and tall, beautiful in a quiet sort of way, and definitely didn’t look as though she’d just sucked a lemon wedge, though the image was a welcome one in my head anyway.
“And your opinions of Hadrian and Nikolaos?”
“Boring as a piece of toast and mister unsatisfied.”
She smiled at my ensuing laugher. “Lady Diara of Pirou,” the young woman said, introducing herself, her brows raised as she waited for me to do the same.
“Lady Maren of Leihani.”
“Leihani,” Diara repeated, tasting the word as though trying to place it.
“The islands in the south,” I offered for her, my eyes catching Aren in the distance. Distracted by another uniformed man, he held two glasses in one hand, in no hurry to return to me.
I realized I didn’t mind.
“The fishing islands? I didn’t realize there was a lord there. No wonder you’re not familiar with court gossip.” Her eyes grew round at the sight of someone next to me, and I turned my head to find Selena, stunning in a dress of lavender silk.
“Hello, Lady Diara. Happy Solstice,” Selena said warmly, coming to a stop beside me.
“Happy Solstice,” Diara chirped, though her feet had shifted away. “I should be getting back to the kitchen.”
We watched her go, disappointment settling within me.
“Diara is living in something of a unique situation,” Selena said softly. “Her father is Bernard Verrata, Lord of Pirou. Diara grew up riding horses in the Golden Pirou Mountains, until six years ago, when her father made a poor business error, then went into debt to the crown to correct it, only to fail to repay.
“He’s delinquent on loans but is still considered the best horse breeder in Calder, so King Emilius preferred not to unseat him. They worked out a deal, and Diara and her older brother came to stay at the palace, working in the secretary’s offices and kitchens. As nobles, they’re educated, well read, and naturally connected to the inner circles of the court, which you may find is quite difficult.” She ruminated on a silent thought. “What did you think of her?”
“She’s…” I paused. What was she? Quirky? Funny? Yes, but there’d been something bitter about her.
Forced into the palace to pay off a debt she hadn’t been responsible for. Like me.
It must be humiliating for her. A noble treated as a servant.
“I like her,” I said, realizing it was true.
Selena smiled. “I like her, too.”
We spent a few minutes in silence. From across the room, Aren glanced at me, holding up a finger in a promise to return soon. I shrugged and waved him away, saving my nerves for when Kye appeared.
But he never did.
42
Idon’t know why I was dismayed.
It’s not as though I’d wanted to see Kye.
