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“I made a terrible mistake, Luna,” Stralia blurted out the moment we were alone, Maywin and Jasper lurking by the kitchen doors, barely in earshot but desperately straining to listen. “The night that you left—”
“I don’t want to discuss that with you, Stralia,” I interjected firmly. “Or anything else, for that matter. In fact, I would rather pretend you aren’t here at all.”
She bit on her lower lip and dropped her head, the platinum strands of her hair falling over her cheeks to hide her shamed face. “I don’t blame you for hating me,” she murmured. “But I want you to know that I realize how wrong I was in what I did. Cade—the King and me—we were never meant to be together. I know that now.”
I stared at her suspiciously, remembering the last time she had turned her big, clear verdant eyes on me and begged me for mercy in another situation. She was so damn convincing!
“Good for you,” I said coldly.
“I know you don’t believe me, and I’d be lying if I said I don’t still have feelings for him, but I’m not an idiot, Zephyrine.”
Her voice had shifted, the familiarity taking me aback and causing my eyes to narrow. My jaw tightened, and I opened my mouth, but she again cut me off.
“I know you’re mated. I can’t compete with that.”
I studied her skeptically, but her remorse appeared genuine, her humiliation sincere.
“I’m grateful that I still have a home in Ironhelm Place, and I promised to keep my distance from him and you—and I will,” Stralia continued quickly.
“You’re here now, aren’t you?” I pointed out flatly.
She raised her head, complexion waxing more. “That’s a coincidence. I happened through the kitchen when I caught the end of your discussion with Grisella—if you can call it that.”
My eyes narrowed more. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“I was going to duck away when I heard the way she was talking to you,” Stralia explained. “So I decided to listen to the end of it. I’m not surprised she’s behaving the way she is.”
“Neither am I,” I admitted. “But everyone will take time to adjust.”
Stralia shrugged. “I wouldn’t forget who you are. This is your household to run, not Grisella’s, despite what she likes to believe.”
I stifled a sigh. She made it sound so simple. “It’s been Grisella’s house for many years.”
“But it’s not anymore,” Stralia insisted. “You need to remind not only Grisella but the others thatyouare the queen now.”
“I don’t know how to make that any clearer,” I sighed. “Iamthe queen.”
Stralia smiled patiently. “Do whatever it takes—including replacing them if need be.”
I gawked at her, shaking my head. “Cade would never agree to that!”
“Cade—” She paused and inhaled. “The King will do whatever is required to make you happy, I’m sure. If the staff is not abiding by your wishes, I suggest you get serious with them.”
“Oh, I don’t know,” I hemmed. Tempting as her advice was, I didn’t have it in me to fire them on a whim.
“Of course it’s your decision, Luna,” Stralia agreed, bowing. “I am merely offering you a suggestion on a staff that I’ve known for many years. They aren’t going to respond to kid gloves. You need to show them some backbone.”
She offered me another tentative smile and curtseyed again. “Thank you for permitting me the time. Please, know I won’t be any trouble to you or the King.”
She backed away before disappearing through the hall, and I watched her go.
I barely noticed as Maywin joined my side until she spoke breathlessly. “What did she say?”
“Nothing,” I lied, turning my head away quickly to start toward the stairs. “I want a gathering of the staff at once. And I want the dining hall as I instructed. The crimson and black China plates with the silver goblets for the cabinet dinner.”
“Yes. I’ll see them fixed at once,” Maywin promised.
“And the staff gathering. Right away.”
