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“You should feel honored,” I said, amused. “After all, they are some of the most successful creatures on this earth. They outlive us all.”
“As long as I am the prettiest cockroach, I can live with that.” He grinned. “You are an interesting woman, wife. I look forward to getting to know you better.”
With that, he turned and walked away, leaving me standing there alone.
I made my way back to the refreshment table and poured myself a glass of water. The cool liquid refreshed me as I sipped on it slowly. The Queen Mother stood across the room. She smiled when she saw me looking at her. She raised her glass in a toast, and I returned the gesture. I danced with Prince Maedras, and I survived.
Now all I had to do was make it through the rest of the party without making a fool of myself. All the snakes had gathered in one place, and I would have to be careful not to be stepped on by any of them. The biggest snake, my cockroach husband-to-be, was the one I had to watch out for the most.
Chapter 18
Even more Gossip
“You’ve been ignoring me.”
From my mirror, I saw Darith standing at the opening of the bedroom, her arms hanging limply at her sides.
I met her eyes in the mirror and held her gaze.
“You’ve been avoiding me.”
I held up my hand, and Caendres stopped decorating my hair with pearl strings. His cheeks darkened, and he quickly stepped away from me.
I smiled kindly at him. “Would you mind leaving us for a moment?”
“Yes, Princess Thimsal.” He looked at the clock hanging on top of my fireplace. After all these months, I still didn’t understand the clock, to the amusement of everyone in the palace. “It is getting late. You only have an hour till Queen Laylath’s soiree starts.”
Only two days after Bread Day, the Queen Mother planned a soiree for all the guests still in the city. I should have done it myself, but I hadn’t thought about it. Small social cues like that were still so new to me.
“Thank you, Caendres. This will not take long.” I waited until he shut the door behind him before turning back to Darith.
After Caendres left, I turned back to Darith. She walked into the room, looking at herself in the mirror. She adjusted her dark green dress. The color brought out the plum highlights in her dark hair.
I looked down before looking at her in the mirror again. “I was angry, and I was afraid that I would regret my response to you.”
Her eyebrows furrowed, and she took a step closer to the mirror. She sat down next to me, where Caendres had sat down. “Prince Maedras and you fought.”
Gossip traveled fast in the palace, and I was sure that the servants had been talking.
“Yes, we did.” I leaned back, away from her. “I’m sure everyone knows exactly about what.”
She nodded her head. “It was about Lady Kanna’s coat.”
That paused me. “It was the catalyst, but not the reason.”
Darith lifted an eyebrow in surprise. “That part hasn’t spread around. The servant that overheard you left when he felt Prince Maedras’ magic.”
That wasn’t meant for me? But to warn someone who dared to eavesdrop on a royal conversation? It was a relief and a worry at the same time. A worry because I hadn’t noticed. I had to be more careful.
I looked at Darith. “You don’t know why I’m ignoring you?”
She shook her head. Her face fell a little. “I thought it was because I’m not as important to you. That you didn’t want to share.”
“That’s not true. You are the person I lean most on.” I sighed. “He implied I failed Manzimor by neglecting the Eternal Court. It hurt me you didn’t tell me what was happening. Your advice is the only thing I trust implicitly, and his words hit home.”
Outrage flared in her eyes. “You haven’t. You made a political choice and one I fully supported.”
I lifted my hand, and she paused. “You mean that?”
