I nodded. That made sense why she’d suddenly gotten so pissy when I’d said I didn’t even want to get married.
“And you need the money to marry off your sister?” I asked.
I knew weddings were different here in Jade City. A much bigger, more elaborate affair.
She nodded, chewing her lip. “My mom passed in childbirth. Dad died two winters back serving in the king’s army. I raise my sister alone, so it falls to me to pay for her wedding.”
Well, Hades, if that wasn’t going to make me feel bad, nothing would. I could relate. I took care of my family too. My mom’s payments as a midwife were sporadic. There just weren’t babies’ born routinely enough in Cinder Village.
I frowned. “I’m sorry. I can see now how it would have upset you to meet me, and the first thing out of my mouth is that I hope I do not win the king’s heart.”
She shook her head. “Still, there is no excuse for what you overheard me say. If Annabeth knew—”
I scoffed. “I’m no snitch! Your secret is safe with me. We all need to vent to someone. I’m glad you have a friend.”
Her head snapped up as shock ran across her features. “You’re not mad? You won’t tell?”
I shrugged. “I mean, I don’t love that you made girls from Cinder sound like bottom feeders, but nah, I’m not mad.” I collapsed onto the couch and kicked my feet up onto the little table in front of it.
She sighed in relief. “Thank you, my lady. I’ll be more respectful from now on, I promise. And nothing against Cinder Village. I just assumed they wouldn’t have the most magically powerful women there since it’s mostly full of humans and half-breeds.”
Cinder was known for that, so I couldn’t be mad at that assumption.
I rubbed my chin. “I’m assuming there will be fancy balls and dinners I’ll go to?”
Her eyes lit up. “Oh, yes, miss. Annabeth has coordinated multiple events to help the king get to know all of the ladies present.”
“And I assume I will be given a fancy dress for such occasions?” I motioned to the day dress I wore now. Even though it was only cotton, it was dyed an expensive shade of blue; ruffles at the neckline and hem were fancy detailing we didn’t do in everyday dresses in Cinder Village.
She bobbed her head eagerly. “Oh yes, I’m supposed to take you to the dressmaker now so that she can get your measurements.”
I grinned and stood. “Then I’ll tell you what. Each and every dress I get or any other gift, I will wear once and then give to you so that you can sell it to help pay for your sister’s wedding.”
Her mouth popped open and then shut and then opened again. “That’s surely not allowed.”
“Why not? Are they not gifts to me to do as I please?” I asked.
Excitement lit up her eyes. “You would do that? After what I said about you?”
“I would. Because I too have a little sister, and I know what it’s like to want things I can’t afford,” I told her.
A lopsided grin graced her mouth. “I guess I’m lucky I got a Cinder girl, then.”
“I guess you are.” I chuckled.
EIGHT
I spent over an hour with the seamstress begging that as well as dresses she also make me three pairs of trousers and some short tunics. She said no the first three times, saying that trousers and tunics were not for women. I then asked her if Regina was a woman, and who had made her trousers and tunics. She’d simply sighed and said she would make them. Then I further pleaded that she try to get the bloodstains out of my leather hunting suit that my mom gave me. Once she agreed to everything, I thanked her profusely and then followed Narine to the luncheon.
“The king is off dealing with matters of the realm, so he won’t be joining you for lunch,” Narine told me.
Matters of the realm. AKA the Nightfall queen attack on Gypsy Rock I was dying to know about. I could care less about having lunch with the king, I wanted to know how the attack was going.
“Do we have word from Gypsy Rock? How is the fighting going?” I asked her.
She raised one eyebrow at me. “How do you know about that?”
I waved her off. “I was there. I rode here on the dragon king’s back! Where do you think I got all that blood from?”
She nodded. “I heard. I cannot say too much, but I do have a source that said a messenger just arrived a few minutes ago.”
I stopped in the hallway. “And…？”
She looked at me with a bewildered expression. “I don’t know, I wasn’t there, and they are private messages meant only for the king and his advisors.”