Page 123 of A Queen's Game
“No,” he drawled. “As long as they commit no crimes here. We have an obvious space issue, but they make do.”
Marietta laughed again. “Unbelievable.”
“Is there something wrong, Marietta?”
She shook her head, watching the last bit of the district pass by. Pilinos were forced to cram into a single spot, and hedismissed it as an obvious space issue. As if they didn’t matter. As if they were an afterthought. Did no one in the Satiroan government care about these people? Marietta knew the answer. The people running Satiros haven’t set the precedent of caring, and now they grew more apathetic to pilinos. Then again, why would they care about people they deemed lesser than themselves?
They crossed over the Halia River once more, traveling in silence. The buildings shifted back to white, the signs indicative of trades folk and their businesses. Based on what she’s learned thus far about Satiros, she knew that only the elven had such shops and that the pilinos were their grunts. She didn’t have to ask.
In Satiros, she could have never opened her bakery unless it was in The Weeds. What kind of money do people make in such a stunted district? They had to make less than their elven counterparts. So how much gold filtered through their community?
She crossed her arms, glaring out the window, and wished they would hurry. A park passed by, the slope of green grass leading to… a building?
Marietta leaned forward, pressing her face to the glass as she looked down the street. Her jaw dropped. They were townhomes—opulent and extensive townhomes. Though they shared walls, the lawns of grass and flower beds and manicured hedges stretched before them. The sprawl of the homes and their land were insulting. To have so much space, to have such lavish homes while they forced the pilinos to live in close quarters, was despicable.
“The last district we will see today is Wisteria Heights.” King Wyltam broke their silence, his deep voice just above a whisper. “Home to Satiros’ wealthiest. Some lords own a second home inthis district, as do some nobility from the other Syllogian city-states.”
Ornate columns of marble; wrought iron fencing on the balconies; rich, dark wood doors; elaborate garden displays surrounding statues. Each detail was more insulting than the last.
“I believe some of the high-ranking guards under Keyain live here as well, if I’m not mistaken.”
Keyain’s guards. Those given high positionsby himand allowed to live in such extravagance. He played a hand in this—all of this. Marietta took a deep breath through her nose, exhaling slowly to calm the flame of anger inside her, stoked by the disgusting show of wealth.
She would break apart their court for not just every life lost in Olkia, but for each one suppressed in The Weeds, too. Marietta would steal, she would lie, and she would become cruel if it meant helping them. And for the man who brought her here, she would break him. Keyain allowed all of this to happen—thrived off his city-state being this way. And the King. She turned her narrowed gaze towards him. He neglected the most vulnerable of his city-state. The wedge that Valeriya wanted to create between Keyain and Wyltam? Marietta would become it, for he gave her a unique opportunity. She could use Keyain’s jealousy against him.
King Wyltam met her stare. “Something on your mind?”
“Does your offer still stand?”
His expression remained unreadable. “Of course.”
She lifted her chin. “I have a few stipulations.”
“And what would those be?”
“I have questions, ones Keyain will never answer. I accept your flirtations if you answer those questions.”
He blinked, his gaze roaming her face. “Counteroffer: You accept my flirtations and we agree to answer each other’squestions.” He paused, leaning forward so his forearms rested on his knees. “We trade a truth for a truth.”
Unsurprising. Marietta knew the King wanted information from her; yet she knew nothing that would harm Enomenos. They were terms she could accept. There posed but one problem. “Here’s my counter, King Wyltam. Keyain would never believe it if I just accepted your flirting, your gifts.”
“How do you suppose we solve that?”
She leaned forward, mirroring the King’s posture. “If you want to make it believable, then I must act like you make me uncomfortable. That you’re doing it against my will.”
A laugh escaped his smiling lips, surprise lining his features. Marietta’s heart stopped at the sight and sound. How strange of someone wearing an expressionless mask to suddenly remove it. How strangely charming.
She hated it.
“Cruel and clever; you are nothing like I expected.” The brief smile faded back to his impassive expression. “But there’s logic in your reasoning to which I can agree. Consider it part of the deal.” He held out his hand to Marietta, waiting for her to grasp.
The deal was a tad foolish, knowing every word the King would share could be a lie; yet she could pluck the truth from his words if it came to that. Marietta wanted answers. One way or another, she would get them, all while using Keyain’s weakness against him.
For the first time since stepping into Satiros, Marietta felt like herself. Confident, independent, making a deal that would put her in control.
She grasped the King’s hand and shook.
King Wyltam locked eyes with her. “I look forward to working with you, Marietta.”
