Page 24 of Ghosts and Ginger Tea

Pua kept working on her project. She didn’t bother to look at me. "There is a certain peace in never having to concern oneself with matters of state."

It destroyed me, cutting into the fact that I did not understand politics and I was not informed. Queens knew all the things about their kingdoms and others, but I did not.

I frowned and Pua spoke for everyone to hear again. “Those who submit to the warlord are cowards, and we all know that.” She glared at me. “Your new husband is one of the few brave ones left.” She shook her head. “It’s just a shame though, how he’s let so many foreigners into ‘Anolani. If he continues like this, there won’t be a kingdom left worth ruling.”

Lady Kanahele cleared her throat but Pua ignored her. “If he really loved his people, he wouldn’t let them all die from foreign diseases. There are many other leaders who would put our people first.”

“Like who?” I asked, my head reeling from asking so many questions that day, but knowing I had to learn about my new world.

“My family has a long history of leadership,” Pua said. “Keanu was handed the throne.” Then she smiled sweetly. “Seems his bride was handed it too.”

I didn’t know what to say, even though all eyes turned to me. Even Lady Kanahele, though she tried to silence Pua, now seemed to want an answer.

A distant bell distracted us and Pua motioned for a maid standing nearby. “Fetch me some tea and clean this up,” she ordered.

My heart sank as I watched the maid scurry like a mongoose, rushing to pour the woman some tea. When the maid returned, she set the tray down and began gathering Pua’s things. Other noblewomen began snapping their fingers at the maids too, treating them like animals.

“No, no. I can do that,” Pua said. There was suddenly a loud crashing sound.

We all gasped as the maid had accidentally tripped on one of Pua’s samplers while pouring the tea. In an attempt to keep the boiling water from spilling on Pua, the maid had stepped in Pua’s things and a sharp pair of scissors cut her foot.

“You clumsy–” Pua stood up, but caught herself from screaming. “Don’t you dare get any blood on my work.”

The maid looked around, her eyes frantic and pleading. But the noblewomen looked at her in disgust.

“So clumsy,” said one. Even Princess Malia, though kind, did not move.

And that’s when it hit me: I would never be like these women. Never be refined, cold, or callous.

I’m me. And that was valuable and I had valuable skills in this new world that would help me survive.

I moved, kneeling next to the maid. “Are you alright?” I asked, then, realizing I had no other resources available to me–as I wasn’t about to use the women’s quilting projects in the room–I ripped the hem of an underskirt.

A collective gasp sounded but I ignored them. I would never beat these women by becoming one of them.

“Here.” I applied pressure to the wound, which stopped the bleeding, then tore another cloth to bandage it. By that point, the other maids stepped in.

“Come on,” they said, helping one another.

“She just ripped that exquisite dress,” someone whispered.

“That’s not what a refined woman would do.”

“No.”

But something in me changed, knowing that I could not be like these women or the people in this world. All those noble accomplishments—quilting, etiquette, fashion vernacular—were useless.

Sure, the court valued refinement, but life valued competence.

The women returned to packing their things, each giving me disapproving looks.

I don’t care.

“It is time for the ball,” said Lady Kanahele, breaking the silence. “I hope you all have a grand time.” She smiled, though it failed to mask the worry behind it. What was she worried about? Making a good impression? Because I did not have a good impression of any of these women.

Since Lady Kanahele seemed to be orchestrating things, I figured this Wahiawa palace belonged to her, and she was hosting.

As I helped Malia put her things away, I didn’t waste any time. I had a riddle to solve, and this ball was taking away from my research.