A Court This Cruel & Lovely (Kingdom of Lies, #1) (76)

I hesitated, but the other ladies were still moving, so I followed Lisveth, keeping my head down.

I was well aware that I had enemies on all sides. The servants would be incredulous and jealous. The courtiers and nobility would see me as an interesting amusement and a way for the queen to put them in their place.

Look at how little I value you. How much power I have. I can even pluck a servant from obscurity and force you to interact with her.

The queen slowed her steps, until all eyes were on her. Finally, she walked to the table and sat. With a wave of her hand, she gestured for us to sit at the table nearby.

I scanned the royal table. And my eyes met amused green.

I stopped so suddenly, Madinia slammed into my back. She hissed a curse at me, but I was too busy staring at Lorian.

His gaze turned predatory.

What?

How?

Why?

“Setella?” Lisveth was glancing between me and the king’s table.

“Sorry. First time seeing so many nobles. I’m a little nervous.”

Madinia snorted again, and I moved automatically, sliding myself into the only empty chair. Unfortunately, that put my back to Lorian, and I refused to give him the satisfaction—or draw attention to either one of us—by turning around to glower at him.

How was a mercenary dining with the royal family?

Everyone stood once more, and I scrambled to my feet. The king was walking in. It was the first time I’d seen him, and I swept my gaze over him as I bowed.

Tall and broad-shouldered, Sabium looked like he was at the peak of health. Which he likely was since his healers no doubt used stolen magic from people like my brother. His cheeks were ruddy, though, his eyes so dark they were almost black.

The king gestured for us to lift our heads. We all stayed standing, and the room went silent.

“Today, I would like to welcome Prince Rekja from Gromalia to our court. May this visit pave the way for greater cooperation between our kingdoms for centuries to come.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.” Lorian’s voice seemed to caress every inch of my skin. For a moment, all I could think about was the way his mouth had felt when he’d kissed me, right before we parted inside the city gates.

Back when I thought he was in the city to find his next client.

I almost laughed at how stupid I’d been. I’d thought Tibris and I were cunning for managing to get into the castle. Of course, Lorian had walked in the front door while pretending to be a prince.

“Be seated,” the king said, and I fumbled for my chair.

One of the other women let out a quiet snort. “As if the king wants to work with those cowardly Gromalian dogs long-term.”

I didn’t look up. If I showed any interest, she would immediately clamp her mouth shut. Luckily, Lisveth lifted her head.

“What do you mean, Alcandre?”

Alcandre heaved a sigh. I didn’t need to look at her to know she was rolling her eyes. “I mean Gromalia turned its back on us during the fae wars. They refused to get involved. They didn’t want to risk losing and the fae turning their attention their way. Luckily, we had the gods on our side. But if there’s one thing I know about our king, it’s that he values our history. King Regner was the one to seek an alliance with Gromalia. King Sabium may need Gromalia to help us shore up our borders, but he’ll make them pay for siding with the fae last time.”





CHAPTER EIGHTEEN





Dinner was a buffet of breads, cheeses, fruits, vegetables, and meat. So much meat. The wine flowed freely, and the servants brought out sweet pastries, candied fruits… It was the kind of meal I’d dreamed of in my village.

I didn’t taste any of it.

The queen’s ladies ignored me. Lisveth attempted to start a conversation a few times, but I was distracted, and she quickly gave up, likely tired of my one-word answers.

When my mind slowed enough, I listened to the ladies’ conversation, mentally taking notes of everything they were saying—even as I felt Lorian’s eyes on me.

The five other ladies had been accompanying the queen for years. Lisveth’s mother had been one of the queen’s close friends, and she’d died from fever shortly after Lisveth was born when the healer hadn’t arrived in time to save her life. Lisveth was the youngest of us all at just sixteen winters, and the queen treated her almost like a daughter at times.

Caraceli was the woman who’d once been in charge of the queen’s fire and was closest to Katina—the woman the queen had found at the market. The woman I’d arranged to return to her village.

When Katina arrived home, she would find her parents in excellent health. Caraceli seemed to hate me even more than Madinia, likely because I’d taken her friend’s place.

Caraceli and Madinia also hated each other. Madinia seemed to hate everyone, but occasionally when the queen wasn’t looking, she’d call Caraceli fire girl with a smug smile.

There was a reason no one seemed to like Madinia. And it wasn’t just because her father was apparently so close to the king.

Pelopia and Alcandre were sitting at the other end of the table, murmuring quietly to each other. I hadn’t yet learned how they’d come to be in the queen’s employ—likely Auria could tell me later. Both had nodded to me, but other than Alcandre’s comments about Gromalia, they’d stayed quiet. Likely because neither of them wanted to attract Madinia’s ire.