Page 16 of A Queen's Game
“You can’t just hide in your rooms or the library.”
She bit the inside of her cheek harder. That’s exactly where she had planned to hide.
A sigh left his mouth, his fingers coming to his temples. “Running away isn’t an option. It’s a setback; he was quite the pairing for you. You got more notoriety out of it than he. But you still have your youth—Lady Grytaine is young for her marriage, and she has seven decades on you.”
She nodded at her father’s words, all true. What he left out was the blame he placed on her.
“Keyain is a fool,” he hissed after a moment.
Elyse wanted to defend him, but she knew her father would mistake it for immature love. That wasn’t the case.
When her father first shared that Keyain had already married a half-elf from Enomenos, she had been both relieved and distraught—relieved because she didn’t have to wed Keyain, and distraught for how the nobles and courtiers would gossip over the failed betrothment. Elyse was the young elven lady who was about to rise so high, throttled by her betrothed’s secret marriage to a pilinos. Lady Grytaine’s laugh already filled her head.
“Lord Dyeiter confirmed that the law recognizes their union. Even if you had charmed him better, it would have meant nothing.” The straight golden-brown strands of his hair, the same as Elyse’s, shined in the light as he shook his head. “To think the fool started a war over a clip.”
Keyain knew better than that. Everything he did had strong reasoning, meaning he wouldn’t have started a war for that alone. No, Keyain had another reason; her father was spreading rumors again.
“Well, what do you have to say?” He leaned back in his chair, one arm gesturing out from the armrest.
“What do you want me to say?”
“Anything is better than nothing.”
Her breath snagged at his disapproving expression. “I don’t know what to say.”
Fingers drummed on his desktop as his eyes bore through her. “I suggest you figure it out. You won’t miss any time with the Queen. This situation is a setback, not a downfall.”
“No,” she moaned, jumping out of her seat. “Give me time, please! I can’t handle that so soon after.”
“The ladies are harmless; the problem is in your head. I won’t let your delusional thoughts pollute your chance at staying close with the Queen.”
That was another thing her father had done for her. The day Queen Valeriya’s summons arrived was when her position had elevated from just a minister’s daughter to Lady of the Queen’s Court. The news was unsurprising to the other young nobles and courtesans. They pitied the Queen for having to deal with Elyse. Elyse pitied anyone that had to deal with her.
“I just… please. I need more time.”
“Elyse, no. Keyain has slighted us, but we won’t show that he has. Hold your chin high and act like it doesn’t bother you, even though it does.” The last bit was him implying that her attitudetowards their called-off marriage was inappropriate. “You can no longer see Keyain in private,” he added.
“What? He’s my friend, regardless of everything.” Keyain was her only friend at court, the only person she didn’t drive away.
“Keyain is your formally betrothed who betrayed us by leading you on for years.”
An exasperated laugh escaped her mouth. “I didn’t even want to marry him!”
“Elyse, enough!” His fist pounded on the top of his desk, causing her to jump. “Keyain is my colleague, and you wanted to marry him. Now go, get your thoughts in order.”
She stared at her father, the male she was a near duplicate of, yet possessed nothing of him beyond his physical features. Often her father said she was soft like her late mother. The words were an insult, but she liked them. Soft, yes, but soft didn’t draw attention. Soft meant fading into the background. There was safety in softness; that was where she preferred to be.
Her eyes tore away from her father as she stood, leaving the room. Work occupied his attention before she made it to the door. Though happy she was leaving her father’s presence, it irked her that work was more enjoyable. Like most people, he found most things more enjoyable than Elyse.
Her willowy body was heavy as she walked back to her room. The conversation had flared her adrenaline, leaving her drained. The library would have to wait until later; plus, going to the library meant running into other people, something else she didn’t want to do.
As her mind drifted, a problem dissolved. She would at least find peace from no longer belonging to Keyain. Yes, that was desirable. No longer would she have to deal with forced conversation and unwanted attention. That torment would end with the betrothal.
The King would finally leave her alone.
Chapter Eight
Marietta
