Page 92 of A Queen's Game
Dread filled Elyse. She’d still have to go to tea time and face all the ladies. “That is kind of you.”
“I find you very intriguing, Elyse. You are quiet and unassuming, yet you have had two betrothals to two prominent males before you’ve reached your third decade.”
She winced at the truth.
“I don’t mean that as an insult.” The Queen brought her hand to her chin. “You are so young and full of potential. Even if court life is overwhelming for you know, you’ll have decades to adjust. I can’t wait to see what kind of female it makes you.”
Elyse smiled and swallowed hard. “It’ll be interesting to say the least.”
“Give yourself credit. In my time as a royal, I have never seen a lady in such a position at as young of an age as you. Why do you think Grytaine attacks you the way she does?”
“I’ll be better about standing up for myself,” Elyse said as she closed her eyes.
“You’ll get there one day, I’m sure.” The Queen picked up her tea. “You threaten Grytaine.”
“That makes little sense.”
“She’s young, like you, and she was the youngest lady in my court until you came along. She didn’t grow up as a noble, so she has to fight her way to gain connections. Even without your father’s estate, you still have connections. You have a history with my ladies.”
Grytaine likely had a difficult time gaining favor among the nobles where Elyse never had to work for it. Such relationships were always given to her. That didn’t excuse her attitude, however.
“As for Brynden,” the Queen continued, “perhaps it wasn’t the best match right now, but that doesn’t mean it couldn’t work out in the future. You are not the final version of yourself yet. Future you might be able to wrangle a bull.”
Elyse smiled and nodded at her words. Perhaps future her would be better suited, but Elyse wasn’t worried about that. What left her on edge was her position with Queen Valeriya and King Wyltam. The Queen would keep her on her court, and now, she worked for the King. Never had she heard of a lady in her position—or even a lord. She would become close with bothroyals. The thought should excite her, should mean that she had a bright future; but she was apprehensive. Having friends in powerful places drew attention, something she never wanted.
Even then, attention was not the same as status. It wasn’t the same as a noble’s wealth. Elyse traded both those things for freedom, and that was worth more than any boon her father gave or any male’s attention.
Even Brynden’s.
Chapter Thirty-Six
Marietta
Marietta remained in bed, though the sun had long since risen. The day of Amryth’s visit and the speck of motivation it birthed had passed, leaving her alone in the suite once again. No one visited. She didn’t leave, and she continued to spiral.
After that day, Marietta noticed items missing from the suite. The fire poker from the hearth, scissors from her vanity, the letter opener from the bookshelves, and other sharp things disappeared. It made her laugh—Keyain had the foresight to prevent Marietta from self-harm, yet he wouldn’t help her.
On a day of sunny weather with a gentle breeze tousling the trees of the garden below, Marietta tried to open the windows, to let fresh air into the suite and feel the wind over her skin, only to find them locked. As much as she pried at them, the locks wouldn’t budge.
Keyain confined her to the tiny space, alone and desperate, wishing she’d one day wake up and realize it was a nightmare, or never wake up again. To lose control of her life was to lose control of herself. At her very core, Marietta was confident and independent, and without her own control, she found herself a shell of who she was.
So she let herself go, dwelling on the memories of her past life. Tilan was at the center of thought most days, questioning if they were ever truly in love. Did it count as love if she never knew the real Tilan? Sure, he supported her dreams and her goals and stood with her through everything. But how much of that support came down as an order from the Exisotis? To keep her happy and away from Keyain?
The doubt hurt her more than anything. Losing such surety in her life was foreign, as was the second-guessing, yet how else should she feel? Tilan lied from the beginning, and that lie became the basis of their relationship, conceived to make Keyain suffer.
Marietta rolled over in the silk sheets, watching the clouds drift beyond the window. She should get up, perhaps bathe and change her clothes, but she wouldn’t. She should distract herself from the negative thoughts, but what was the point? Until Keyain enacted whatever plan he had drafted, all Marietta could do was wait.
Lost in her head, she hadn’t heard the door open nor the footsteps into the suite.
“Lady Marietta?”
The voice startled her, deep and baritone—one she remembered from the garden. Marietta jumped from the bed. King Wyltam stood in the doorway with his hands in his pockets and a frown on his face.
He averted his gaze from her nightgown, clearing his throat. “Apologies for not sending word prior to coming. I was hoping to speak with you a minute.”
“Of course, King Wyltam,” she said, bowing with a hand covering her chest as she leaned forward. Marietta grabbed a robe from her wardrobe, wrapping the silk around her body as she ignored her heart racing in her chest.
Why did the King wish to speak to her? And gods, when was the last time she washed? Her hair was in tangles as she ran her fingers through her locks, walking out to the dining room where he waited.
