“Ex-lovers from Vasomar? When you were a playwright?”
They batted their lashes, which were still, despite their disguises, perfect. “If you must know, yes. My shows sold out nightly, and my troupe was our Queen’s favorite.”
“Did she send you here to be trained?”
“Not exactly. I made the worst mistake of all. I hoped for more. I became an idealistic fool who thought I could save my people from her harsh rule.”
Everything about Blai came together. They’d always pushed for the best and demanded a steel grip of control, not only because they were particular about details but because theyneededthis to work. Blai didn’t risk their neck for anyone.
“You were a rebel.” Elara let the fact dangle in the air.
“In the simplest of terms, yes. I was so caught up in some impossible future that I didn’t see my present crumbling beneath me. My plays were outlawed, my career imploded, and one night, my company was… gone.”
Elara frowned. “Gone? As in…”
“Killed. Bodies hooked to the palace for all to see.” Blai rolled their shoulders. “I left that version of myself behind and sailed across the sea to start again.”
Blai walked onward. Behind all the bravado and impeccable fashion was an idealist who’d been burned before. They’d blazed a similar trail as Elara’s mother had and survived to see their friends, their family destroyed.
“You could still help people,” she said, catching up. “Try to make things better.”
“Trying isn’t good enough. You have to succeed or it’s worth nothing in the end.”
Elara looked away.
She’d had similar thoughts about the rebels and her own future as a baker, except it now felt wrong. She hadn’t been silly for making her first decree to bring bread to the Restes. They deserved it.Neededit. If Elara managed to win, she could bring them that and so much more. Besides, like she’d told Nik, there was always room to try again.
“Chantal wants a ballet studio with accessibility for all dancers. Why areyouhelping?” she asked.
“Fame and fortune, like anyone else.”
Elara perked a brow. “Blai.”
They flipped their hand dismissively. “Some of us are simple creatures, Elara. There could be many benefits to being the best friend of the newest Souverain.”
“Ladder climbing doesn’t look good on you,” she muttered.
“Everythinglooks good on me.”
They stepped into the tailor’s shop.
“Be right with you,” the seamstress called.
Blai didn’t seem to mind. They were already wandering the racks of clothing, fingers touching every seam and stitch.
“—a fabulous performance this weekend from Elouise Auclair!”
Elara jumped at her name, finding Lisette Plouffe’s poster plastered near the door.
“In all the history of Anespérer,Elizabeta the Bravehas never been seen in such a monumental performance, but Auclair’s brazen use of scorpion root allowed Souverain Faucher to bring the audience right into the great Battle of Montclair!”
A sense of pride rose in her. Ithadbeen wonderful, hadn’t it?
“I speak for the entire Counseil when I say, we can’t wait to see what she does next! In just six days, the remaining five Favored face the toughest challenge yet—themselves!”
“What can I do for you?” Madame Landry faltered. “Back again?”
“My Aunt Blanche is so fickle. She needs another dress hemmed.”
