Page 128 of A Queen's Game
Scribing? Why would a lady be scribing?
The movement was subtle, but Marietta watched the King’s brows twitch, the only emotional hint he offered. “Of course, Elyse. I hate to cut your time short, but I wish to speak to Marietta alone.”
Elyse stiffened, clearly uncomfortable with the dismissal. “Of course, Your Grace.” She offered a quick curtsy to the King, taking off down the aisle, offering a worrisome glance over her shoulder at Marietta. Even with her usual anxious demeanor, the reaction was odd.
King Wyltam stood before her with his expressionless mask and cold eyes, his gaze lingering. In all black clothing, he fit into the warm glow and somber colors of the library. “Marietta, I hope you remembered our deal.”
“How could I forget?” She threw him a sharp smile, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “It’s not every day the King who attacked my home offers me a deal.” Stupid, bold words; she should have kept her mouth shut. The King may have given her the opportunity to hurt Keyain, but she didn’t need to be polite to him.
Warmth came to his eyes as laughter broke through his cold facade, like ice cracking over a lake—sudden and jarring yet still fascinating. “I see you’re feeling hostile today. Perhaps you can hold your tongue and join me for a walk.”
“Perhaps I can, King Wyltam.” Marietta gave him a tight smile.
“Here,” he said, holding out his arm, “let me hold your book.”
“Thank you, but that won’t be necessary.” Marietta dismissed him, tucking it under her arm and the other wrapped around his bicep.
“Humble me,” he said. “Though I’m the King, I can still be courteous.”
Courteous, sure, but did he know the reputation of this title like Keyain had? It would be wise to hold the book herself, shield the title, in case thesexier scenesgave the book notoriety; yet, with the King unyielding with his held-out handle, she did, in fact, humble him by placing the book in his hand.
King Wyltam tucked it under one arm as Marietta took the other. If he recognized the name or its contents, he didn’t comment. Thank the gods.
“You two were making quite a bit of noise with your laughter.” King Wyltam inspected Marietta’s face, a hint of curiosity dancing behind his eyes.
“Apologies. We didn’t mean to cause a commotion.” If Marietta meant to, they would have been louder.
“No apology needed. I’m just pleased that you could make a friend in court.”
Marietta suppressed an eye roll. It was almost as if the court avoided interacting with Marietta, preferring to gawk from afar. “And I’m just glad you only made Elyse a touch nervous by being alone with me. Do you make everyone in your court as nervous or just the young ladies?”
The reaction was subtle, controlled. The slight pursing of his lips. A flick of his brow. Even his body seemed to still. “Whatever you are insinuating, I would advise against it.” His gaze faltered, looking towards the end of the aisle instead of at Marietta.
They wound their way out of the library, Marietta watching the King’s face, willing for more emotion to break through. A glimpse of anything but the icy mask. “Of course, but why would her demeanor change so drastically when you appeared?”
Marietta almost missed the guttering of his eyes as he stared ahead. Was he trying to hide his emotions, or did showing emotions make him uncomfortable?
Gods, it was both.
“I had hoped Elyse would be less nervous around me by now.” He paused, considering his words before his stare slid back to her. “Being the King is a powerful position that often leaves people holding their tongue.”
Marietta rolled her eyes. “Your position has never caused me to hold my tongue.”
King Wyltam held the door for her as they stepped outside. The slight glint in his eye returned with a smirk. “No, it hasn’t. Such petulance surprises me. Never would I have thought Keyain would marry someone like you.”
“And never would I have thought I’d marry Keyain.”
King Wyltam halted on the veranda before the doors, turning to Marietta. “Did you not marry him by choice?”
Did he really not know? By some miracle, did Keyain not share that detail of their marriage? Her smile grew, realizing she could leverage that question with their deal. “Truth for a truth, King Wyltam?”
“Alright, truth for a truth. How did you and Keyain marry?”
“I believe the law is that an elf can marry a pilinos without their consent, is it not?” Resentment laced her narrowed glare and sharp tongue. Resentment for Syllogi, for Keyain marrying her without her consent, and for the laws that allowed it.
The King resumed walking, stepping into the garden’s path with his arm still locked on Marietta’s. “That is true. However, you’d have to be from Syllogi, which you are not.”
So Keyain lied on the marriage certificate, to make it seem like Marietta was from Syllogi, not Enomenos. How would that slip through? Though intrigued to know the answer, she held back her questions for the most urgent ones. “Why do you view pilinos as lesser people?”
