Page 43 of A Queen's Game
She shrunk back into the chair at her father’s tone, her breathing ragged as she cast her eyes to the floor. “No one, I swear,” she lied.
“Look at me when you speak, damn it,” he growled. “To think, I did all of this for Brynden to think you’re a whore.”
The insult landed, Elyse flinching at his words. Was that what she was? The kiss on the path wouldn’t leave her head. Neither would what she imagined would have happened if Brynden had her alone, kissing her until his jaw ached. Gods—she would have gone further if they had the chance.
“I’m sorry,” she said, her eyes finding his face.
The anger rolled through him, his lips thinned and his nostrils flared. “How dare you try to sabotage my work? I had to find out from Royir’s gossiping wife, so I’m sure the entire court knows what you are.”
Tears welled in her eyes, but she blinked them back, refusing to let them fall. “I’m sorry, father,” she whispered.
“Is that all you have to say? Sorry?”
Stress caused her vision to turn white, the room spinning under her feet. “I… I don’t know,” she stammered.
He sighed again, his tone softening. “The head pains are back, and you didn’t tell me. Elyse, we’ve been through this. You need to take the drugs.”
She tried shaking her head, unsure if she did or not. “I’m okay, really.”
The drawer slid open, and she heard the clinking of glass. From it, her father pulled out the milky blue liquid she despised. Her father walked around his desk, forcing it into Elyse’s hand. “Take it. Now.”
With a trembling grip, she took the vial, letting the tears fall. The thick substance dripped down, churning her stomach.
“You need to listen to me, especially when an unprecedented opportunity has knocked at your door,” he said, leaning against his desk.
“What opportunity?”
“It appears that Lord Brynden likes whores,” he drawled. “He asked to court you, and I said yes.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
Marietta
After a few days alone in the suite with just Amryth, restlessness wore on Marietta. “Is he always like this?” Marietta mumbled, hastily stabbing at her lunch.
“Is who like what, my lady?” Amryth asked.
“Keyain. He didn’t come back for dinner. I’m not sure he even came back at all last night,” she answered, chomping down on her bite, the food losing its flavor. Irritation continued to spread through her body, all directed at Keyain. How would she ever leave the suite if he wasn’t around?
“He’s the Minister of Protection, actively overseeing a war.” Amryth sat back in her chair, crossing her arms with her face unamused. Did she actually defend Keyain?
“What reason does he have to start a war?” Marietta replied, stabbing at a grape, sending it flying off her plate. A collection of colorful swear words left her mouth as she grabbed it off the table with her hand to eat it.
Amryth lifted one eyebrow at the action. “Unfortunately, I can think of one concrete reason he would do such a thing.” Marietta felt her burning gaze.
“It’s not—he wouldn’t….” Marietta trailed off. Amryth was unaware of the truth. Of Marietta’s freedom in Olkia. “Is one pilinos girl worth starting a war?”
“Do you want an honest answer or the one I’m supposed to give?”
Marietta smirked, her irritation taking over. “How about both? How does it feel that he would’ve gone to war over someone like me?”
Amryth exhaled slowly through her nose with unanticipated fury glaring in her dark eyes. Marietta took another bite, making a point to avoid eye contact.
Keyain might be Minister of Protection, but his actions must have angered people. Others also had to assume Marietta was his prime reason, like Minister Royir from the other day. How did Keyain get to his high position if he wasn’t respected?
The awkward silence was too much for Marietta to handle. “I hit a pain point, and for that, I’m sorry. Will you at least tell me the public opinion on Keyain’s rise to power?” It was an innocent enough question, but she wanted to learn how her former bodyguard became the Minister of Protection for Satiros.
Amryth looked away, frowning. “People respect him, mostly. Just no one knows the reason for the invasion of Olkia besides the King’s Council, which includes the King and his Ministers,” she answered. “The one piece of information we do know is that a terrorist group backed by the Enomenos stole Keyain’s wife.”
