Page 64 of Dueling the Suitors

His footsteps left, along with Rowan’s, and faded down the hallway until she could hear them no more.

This wasn’t fair. She wanted him to snap at her, be angry—no, befuriousat her, glare at her, and hate her as much as she did him. She wanted him to react to her like he had that morning. She wanted to get under his skin!

Whatever game he was playing this time, she couldn’t let him win.

Astoria walked into the dining hall that day for lunch, to continue her work in front of more of his servants and guards, and a few courtiers, if possible. What could be more humiliating to him than his new wife’s mischief?

Little did she know what awaited her in the dining room would make her jaw drop to the floor.

Astoria stared unblinkingly at the green walls and white floor of the dining room. Even—even thedining tablewas green!

She couldn’t have done this accidentally just by planning it, right? As far as she knew, she didn’t have that ability. Even if she did, she wouldn’t have turned adiningtable green.

“Like what you see, my darling?”

Astoria turned to the voice and saw Cyrus coming to stand at her right with a big smirk on his face.

She wouldn’t let him play her this time.

Astoria smiled sweetly and looped her arm through his. “Of course, mydear. I love it.”

Cyrus was caught off guard for a moment, but he composed himself soon. “I knew you would.”

Behind the smiles, they both knew they were challenging each other. Two could play a game, but only one won in the end.

And that would be her.

The next day, Astoria snuck into the balcony platform of the throne room and hid herself behind the long, black curtain. She watched Cyrus listen to the cases of his people and solve their problems. No better opportunity to humiliate him than right now.

When she was certain he was deeply focused on his subjects, Astoria flicked her wrist and sent a magical thread towards him, maneuvering it out of anyone’s notice. It reached behind him and changed the colour of his black robes to lavender-grey.

Astoria clasped a hand over her mouth in anticipation and watched eagerly.

The two men—a commoner and a nobleman—who stood in front of him with their cases stared openly at Cyrus’ clothes. But neither of them dared to point it out.

Cyrus noticed their stare. He glanced down at himself. Astoria held her breath.

He would burst now,she chanted to herself.

Cyrus chuckled. “Please ignore this, gentlemen. My beautiful wife prefers me in light colours. She says it compliments my black hair and my eyes. I’m such a fortunate man, wouldn’t you agree, to have a wife who cares so much?”

“Indeed, Your Imperial Majesty.” Both men bowed.

Cyrus launched right back into their case. He didn’t care to seek her out in her hiding place, but one of his hands was trying to smother a smile.

Astoria scowled and stepped out of the throne room, but stopped in her tracks as she noticed her gown was no longer its lovely shade of pink. It was black.

She withheld a scream of frustration and cooked up her next scheme.

The next day was Shabbat Eve.

Astoria had no idea what that was until Clara, the Emperor’s head housekeeper, told her it was the Draken empire’s weekly tradition. The seventh day of every week was acknowledged as the day of rest. No one worked that day—not even the servants or the guards. Everyone went home to their families to spend the day with them, and the ones who had no families or whose families were far away stayed at the castle, off their duties.

Astoria was so astonished she hardly believed it. She had never heard anything like this before. No one had a ‘day of rest’ in her kingdom or any of the unconquered ones, and they definitely didn’t give the palace staff and the guards a day off together. That was crazy.

Clara said the decree was issued by Cyrus after he rose to the throne. The people were content about it. With each kingdom Cyrus conquered and built his empire, after he took care of their financial crises, the decree fell on them too.

Astoria raised an eyebrow at the mention of her husband solving the financial crises of the conquered kingdoms and refrained from asking about the countless lives he had taken in order to build his empire. Clara spoke of his invasions with praise, and Astoria was convinced she was under some sort of spell.

---