Page 16 of The Rose in the Shadows

“Your majesties,” they echoed in a chorus around us. I mumbled out the greeting shortly afterward, kicking myself for my delay.

The Queen was a small woman, shorter than me, with a delicate frame. Her features were exquisite, with a small nose and high well-defined cheekbones. She was notably younger than the King, perhaps only a year or so older than myself, and certainly not old enough to be Clayton’s mother. Her dark hair had been tied at the nape of her neck, but tendrils escaped and fell in waves around her face. A simple golden crown sat atop her head.

Her gown was also simple, little more than a floor-length white shift, but she had been draped with a cape that fell to the floor around her. It caught the light strangely, and I realized it was crafted from leather patches to mirror dragon scales. They were golden, wrapping around her throat and falling over her shoulders, where they faded to ivory patches down to her feet.On her hands were elaborate bracelets of diamonds that wrapped around her wrists and fingers. Incorporated into the bracelets were golden carvings of dragons that rested on the topsof each of her hands. They were stunning pieces, I could admit, but my stomach flipped at how it all seemed to mark her ashis.

She sat silently beside the Dragon and folded her hands into her lap. Her eyes focused on those jeweled bracelets, and she didn’t look up again.

“You all may proceed to the terrace,” the Dragon ordered. “Theadora and I will be out in a moment.”

Rosalia, Gregory, and Clara all stood and exited through the large wood-paneled doors that led out onto the terrace. A single glance from the Dragon sent the servants scurrying away as well. Clayton however, stiffened and remained by my side. His father peered over the top of his papers at him.

“That includes you, Clayton.”

Clayton hesitated, only for a moment, before bowing slightly, giving me a single warning glance as he made his way out onto the terrace. The Queen dared to glance up at her husband, who nodded at her, and she, too, bowed and took her leave.

A chill settled over me as the door closed behind them and shut me in with the Dragon. He wore finer clothes than yesterday - a long black coat that fell to his knees, with golden embellishments on the collar, wrists, and lapels. A golden sash was draped over him, decorated with medals and ribbons. His crown was larger than the Queen’s, filled with rubies and diamonds. It rested on his head perfectly, not daring to shift as he moved.

“Sit,” he barked, still not deeming to look at me.

It took a moment for me to convince my legs to move, but I stumbled towards him. The Queen had left her chair pulled out, but I thought better than to take the place directly next to him and instead sat a few seats farther. I desperately tried to tuck my swarming gown underneath me but had little luck and struggled in my attempt to sit comfortably.

We were silent for a time before he finally sat down his papers and looked up appraisingly at me. The skin on my chest burned as his eyes lingered on my Mark.

“I didn’t get the best look at you yesterday, but it would appear the rumors are true. You are quite beautiful,” he noted, his words clipped.

“Thank you.”

He snorted. “I did not mean it as a compliment, my dear. It’s a fact that simply makes my job easier. This would be much more difficult if you were… less endowed.”

I shifted uncomfortably as he lowered his eyes suggestively toward my chest.

“You know your responsibility?” He asked me.

I nodded. “Yes, your majesty.”

He humphed, standing and taking a moment to push the massive wooden chair into the table behind him. Then, he leaned forward onto the back of the seat, resting on his elbows and meeting my gaze straight on.

“Theadora, would you consider yourself much of a performer?”

“I don’t believe I’ve ever needed to pretend, your majesty.”

“Well then, let’s hope you’re a natural. You see, I’m expecting the performance of a lifetime. I’m expecting you to step onto that terrace, to meet the gaze of every one of my citizens, and to convince the world that you are as well-educated and well-behaved as any Council member should be. I expect you to comfort my people and inspire envy in my enemies. Theadora, I want every woman in the world to wish they were you and every man to wish he had you. You will be kind and inspiring. You will be demure and alluring. And you will stand as if you have a power that is second only to my own.”

No pressure,I thought wildly.

“Those are a great many expectations.” I kept my voice calm, polite even, and I did not flinch as he crossed the distance between us and let down his hand to me. His skin was rough as I begrudgingly placed my hand in his and allowed him to pull me to my feet.

“You wouldn’t want to let me down, would you?” He asked, leaning far too close so that he could whisper in my ear. His voice dripped with silent threats. “After all, I understand you’ve made friends in this castle. People have championed you. If you were to disappoint your King, I may have to evaluate their place at this court.”

A vision of Iris flashed before me–the image of her grabbing my hands desperately as she pleaded with me to play along with this ruse. I wasn’t the only pawn in this game, I realized. He would use me to manipulate Promissa, and he would use Iris to manipulate me.

And he could do it, too. I had no doubt. He was a King. If he wanted someone to be punished, they would be. So what choice did I have other than to go onto that terrace and say the words that had been written for me?

So if an actress was what I needed to be, then I was about to put on a show.

He chuckled softly as he tucked my arm into his own and led me onto the veranda.

Counting the number of eyes that stared up at me was impossible. The Dragon deposited me to stand next to Clayton and the Queen to the left of the balcony. Across fromus, the three Council members stood proudly, each resting their hands behind their backs. The Dragon stood at a wooden podium which was adorned with a red sash and a golden emblem of a giant dragon with outstretched wings, surrounded by five delicately embroidered stars. Matching banners hung down from the palace above us. Wreaths of flowers and ivy had been expertly wrapped around the white wooden railings of the terrace, sending an overwhelming number of floral scents around me. Trumpets had played, and the crowd cheered as the Dragon began to speak.

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