“I think I need some fresh air,” I told the girls. “I’m going down to the gardens.”
“We’ll come with you,” Odette offered. “You shouldn’t go alone.”
“You already have so much to do,” I said. As my ladies-in-waiting, they needed to get ready themselves. Odette was doing a hair mask, Kiara was still in the middle of her facial, and Delmare’s nails were drying. I didn’t want to inconvenience them.
“You could take a guard,” Odette suggested.
My shoulders slumped. “That wasn’t really what I had in mind.”
“Queens rarely go anywhere alone. It’s for their own safety,” Kiara informed me. “One of us should be with you at all times. If not us, at least a soldier.”
“I won’t be long,” I insisted. Couldn’t I just take a quickwalkby myself? “Just down to the gardens and back.”
I was asking for permission when I was due to become the mightiest woman in the nation. It felt so weird.
Kiara and Odette glanced at each other, but Delmare waved her hand. “It’s probably fine. The palace is pretty safe. Just be back in an hour. We need to do your makeup.”
“Got it.” The tightness in my chest didn’t loosen until I was alone in the hallway. I took a deep breath, then picked up my skirts so I could begin my walk to the gardens.
Servants, as well as nobles, tilted their heads to me to acknowledge my presence as I passed. It felt so strange. Usually, people just ignored me, but now everyone was acting like I commanded some sort of respect.
I suppose I did. As I passed door after door, I got lost on the way to the gardens. I nearly wished Ihadbrung an escort. This place was massive. I feared getting lost in it. I wanted to ask for help, but was too stubborn to do so.
I didn’t get what everyone was so worried about. There were guards stationed everywhere. If anything happened, I’d be protected.
Eventually, I found my way out to the gardens. They were blooming with the beauty of springtime, the scent of flowers surrounding the area. It was gorgeous out here, the sunlight beaming down on the water running from the fountains. Being outside was already giving me a sense of peace.
I began winding my way through the hedges, until I was met with an unwelcome sight. Chastity, Ethan’s ex-girlfriend, was sitting on a stone bench in the gardens, holding a red rose. She gazed at the rose with a soft smile, admiring its elegance.
Ugh.Her.Never mind. My walk was ruined. As a noble, she had the right to be on palace grounds, but I still didn’t want her anywhere near me.
I went to turn the other way, but before I could, I heard Chastity cry out, “My lady!”
I scowled. I couldn’t avoid her now. I turned toward Chastity, and she gave me a warm grin.
I didn’t like it. It seemed misplaced.
“What do you want?” I crossed my hands in front of me. Our last meeting hadn’t exactly gone well. She’d threatened me, and vowed she would take Ethan for herself. I’d had to knock her on her ass with a spell to teach her to know her place.
“I want to apologize,” she said, and I was taken aback. “Sit beside me, please.”
She patted the vacant area next to her on the stone bench. I hesitated. Old Emma would tell her to fuck off and give her a punch to the face for good measure, but as I was reminded, I couldn’t be the old me anymore. I had to be diplomatic. Chastity was a noble, and we needed the help of the nobles in this war. I couldn’t afford to piss her off.
I gingerly took a spot next to her, and said, “I didn’t expect to see you here.”
“My family was invited to the coronation,” she said brightly. “I’ve been looking for you, seeking to ask for your forgiveness. I know I acted dreadful toward you, the last time we met.”
“That’s putting it lightly,” I said. I bit my tongue before I could say something worse. She was obviously trying to kiss my ass.
“Yes,” Chastity said, and she hesitated. “I know I was cruel. Ethan is your mate, and soon, you shall be his queen. I need to earn your respect.”
I said nothing, and Chastity held the rose aloft. “I know you favor roses. I brought you one as a gift, to ease the displeasure between us. I enchanted it with a preserving spell. It will never fade, or die. A present to keep in your chambers, to symbolize our new friendship.”
Chastity was not, nor would she ever be, my friend. I didn’t trust her as far as I could throw her.
When I hesitated, Chastity smelled the rose, taking a deep inhale. “Oh, it smells so sweet. Please don’t refuse. I don’t wish for there to be any bad blood between us. After all, we need to work together, if we’re going to win the war. Rosesareyour favorite, are they not?”
I supposed that was true. If Ethan and I were to defeat Gabby, we needed the nobles on our side. It would be a good idea to placate Chastity. Her family was one of the wealthiest in Malovia, and they had a lot of influence. It was power we could use.
