Page 18 of To Save a Kingdom

His expression hardened. “You’ve been doing your job, which as I said before, you’re performing well. However, that doesn’t negate that the realm needs coin. The most valuable asset you have is yourself.”

Ice flooded her veins. “You want me to sell myself to pad the treasury’s coffers?” She couldn’t believe his audacity. Apparently, attempting to trade her in marriage to Malkov hadn’t been enough. Now he wanted her as a broodmare in some nameless, faceless noble’s bed. “I am not property to be auctioned off to the highest bidder!”

“Oh, don’t take it so personally.” Scoffing, he waved a hand in front of him as though brushing away a bad stench. “Nobles are exchanged in alliances for the benefit of the realm all the time. There are plenty of worthy men who would make excellent kings and whose families have sufficient wealth to carry us through the winter.” He pulled a folded piece of paper from his pocket.

Aliya shook her head as the corners of her vision darkened. “It wasn’t enough you traded me to Malkov, now you want to do so again?” That was all she’d ever be to him, currency to finance his upward mobility.

“It’s for your benefit!” Sighing, he brushed the fingers of his free hand through his hair. “You stubborn child.”

“No.” She stood so fast, the legs of the chair screeched against the stone floor. “Out!” If she had to look at him for one more second…

He slapped the folded parchment onto the center of her desk. “Think about my words. You’re intelligent. You know I’m speaking the truth. If you want to remain queen and for your people to survive the winter, you will consider what I say.”

Swallowing the last of his whiskey, he slammed the glass on the table so hard it rattled.

Aliya didn’t bother looking at him as he stomped toward the door or when he flung it closed behind him. Her gaze was glued to the parchment, with four names scribbled across it.

Four candidates to sell her body and the realm to, in exchange for stability and her people’s survival.

Shadow batted at the paper, her lips peeled back in a hiss.

Aliya tore her attention away from her father’s list long enough to meet the cat’s eyes before turning her focus back to the scrawled ink. She had no idea how much time had passed as her anger cooled, but her thoughts always came back to the same spot.

Aliya didn't want to admit it, but... “He’s right.”

Her aunt hissed. “You don’t need a man to rule this kingdom. You’ve proven yourself more than capable on your own.”

Aliya blinked. Except she wasn’t alone. Not yet. The only reason the council meeting went half as well as it had this morning was because Elessan had stayed up until the early hours helping her hammer out a plan to redirect the nobles’ frantic desire for power into something that would benefit the realm. She didn’t have the experience or political acumen to come up with something like that on her own. Once the elves left…

“Maybe, maybe not,” she said. “But the treasury does need funds, and the kingdom needs the stability that a popular match and socially acceptable heirs would bring.”

Shadow had the courtesy to not deny it.

“It’s not like we can sell the Whisperers to the highest bidder.” Malkov had drained the royal coffers to finance the creation of the mage-cursed things. Unfortunately, the expense couldn’t be recouped, but she couldn’t risk other kingdoms getting their hands on the technology. Nor would the elves allow it.

“I’m aware you had a bad experience with your first marriage,” Shadow said.

Aliya choked. “Because the man I married wanted to kill me?”

The cat nodded. “Yes. Not all men are serial killers.”

“I know.” Elessan wasn’t. “I’m not going to apologize for having trust issues when it comes to my own nobles.”

Shadow licked her nose. “Nor should you. But what you do need to recognize is those are your issues, and you must figure out a way to work through them. Otherwise, the realm will suffer for it, either through famine or a potential uprising.”

Aliya turned her full focus on her aunt. “Have you heard something?” The last thing she needed was the nobility scheming to overthrow her.

“No.” Shadow paused. “Not yet. But the Arcane Inquisitor still hasn’t been found. I guarantee he and Malkov’s artificer aren’t relaxing in a local bath house. They’re planning something, and the longer it takes them to move, the more nervous I am. You need to be taking similar steps to shore up your support base. And while it’s easy to lean on the elves when they’re here, it’s not doing you any long-term favors.”

Aliya frowned. “You mean it’s easy to lean on Elessan.”

Shadow nodded, her whiskers twitching. “Him, too.”

Crossing her arms, Aliya pinned Shadow with her gaze. “Why don’t you like him?”

One furry eyebrow rose. “Other than the fact that he’s debauching my niece?”

Face flushing, she scoffed. “By the mages.” She brushed a hand down her face as if she could wipe away the heat. “That’s a bit overdramatic, don’t you think?”