Page 80 of The Tsarina's Favorite
I almost told her that I could read so that she might give me the allowance of her books, but the complications that could spring from that kept me quiet.I therefore resigned myself to the assumption of illiteracy that predominated most of Ilyichian society.
The tsarina only had me removed to her bedroom once over the next two fortnights, and she did not chain me to the bed.
“How is it going with the princess?”she asked me as she finished up.
I didn’t know if she was actually paying attention or not, so I sighed and said, “Tolerably.”
“Does she read to you?”
“Yes.”
“Good.I told her that you seemed to enjoy it when I read to you,” which the tsarina had never done, “and that she should continue the practice.”
“She has taken your advice to heart then.Thank you for ensuring that I am so provisioned.”
“I cannot have my firebird growing bored now, can I?”She stood and smoothed out her skirts as if preparing to leave.
“Are you already done?”I did not relish the idea of remaining any longer than I had to, but if I had no complaints about Alaina and showed no eagerness for the tsarina’s company, my peace would be short-lived.“I have hardly spent any time with you.”
“I am busy, my dear.”
“I know,” I said contritely.“But now that you have seen me so well-accommodated, is there anyone to look after you?”
“I am being looked after,” she said.
“How are the preparations for the winter festivities going?”I asked, desperately hunting about for any topic of conversation I could, so that I appeared eager for her attention.“And, what about your wonderful palace of ice?It sounds like a marvel.”
“It is.Once they had the exterior built, I had my engineers put to death so that they could never build one for another monarch,” she said.“It truly is a wonder of the world.The sculptors should have the details complete in time for the planned dedication to The Kind and Fair.I considered holding the winter ball out there, but the Royal Academy has projected that this will be the coldest winter on record.They encouraged me not to host anyone out there for so long a time since it would be well below the usual freezing temperatures during the night.”
“I didn’t realize you planned to use it as a celebration space.”
“I won’t, not now, since I little enjoy the idea of my guests freezing to death, but I still plan on leaving the winter offerings there after the dedication.And, of course, after the initial consecration of it, then the public can use it to leave The Kind and Fair offerings too.I would offer to take you on my next inspection, but I know how much you hate being cold.”
“I am shivering just hearing about it,” I agreed.
“I will be sure to find a way to show it to you before the season is over, even if I have to bundle you in furs.”She tilted her head as she furrowed her brows.“You were always so delicate of constitution.Ilyichians are usually made of stronger stuff.”
Delicate of constitution?She clearly forgot that I had spent more than half my life in the Ilyichian military.I just managed not to say something stupid.I had to maintain her delusions to divert her attention from Alaina.Let her believe it if she liked, especially if it meant I could stay warm, but it showed me, yet again, how little of me she knew when it was her own fictional version of me she preferred.
Instead, I looked at her helplessly and shrugged.
That satisfied her, and she resumed her trajectory out the bedroom door.Again, I waited to hear for guards.I contemplated the merits of going down to the tsarina’s rose garden to call a Kind and Fair.Stirring in the corridor decided me against it.Guards arrived moments later to usher me back to the princess’ apartments.
They stuck me back in the cage upon my return, still uncertain how to accommodate the elevation in my circumstances.So I settled down into the pillows and waited.
Alaina entered not long after, other ladies in tow.She paused when she spied me in the cage but couldn’t do anything about it.The ladies were not those with whom I was well-familiar, although I had seen most of them either with Alaina or around court.They, fortunately, did not give me much notice either, and none of them stayed long.
Alaina crouched down beside the cage when we were left to ourselves.
“I have a surprise for you,” she said, grinning like a girl.
I oozed up from my reclined position and sided up against the cage bars.I put my hand around a bar and waited to be told of her surprise.
Her smile dimmed, and she put her hand over mine.“How was your time with the tsarina?”
“No worse than usual.”
“I’m sorry you still have to endure that.”
