“Yes, I am grateful I had Kai as my partner,” I say coolly, unsure of where this conversation is heading.
“Hmm.” The king looks down at me, eyes narrowing.
Before he can say anything else, I add, “And I am very much looking forward to the next Trial. And the one after that.”
Lies.
I just wanted to see the look on his face when I sounded so confident about surviving that long. I follow up my statement with a fake smile, ready to leave him and this conversation behind when he says, “Let me be frank, Paedyn. You are not winning this.”
I stiffen. “I’m sorry?”
“I know that is what you want. To win the Purging Trials and have a better life for you and your seamstress friend.” He laughs, bitter and biting. “That reminds me. I should congratulate you for the little stunt you pulled with your dress at the ball. You certainly got what you wanted. Reminding the people of their Silver Savior.”
I look away, unable to stare at him any longer as he continues with a wave of his hand. “Tell me, have you seen the polls?”
I had. A day after the showing of the first Trial, the contestants scores and votes from the people were combined and tallied up. The rankings of the remaining seven opponents were everywhere, displayed on banners and fliers throughout the city. Kai was at the top, followed by Ace with Andy close behind in third. That left Blair and I tied for fourth with Braxton and Jax tied in last.
It seems that the kingdom of Ilya doesn’t quite know what to do with me. Those from the slums are likely voting for their Silver Savior, while those outside of it are likely rooting against me, hoping to watch the Slummer die an entertaining death. And if I’m receiving any votes from those outsides of the slums it’s no doubt because they find me amusing.
“Yes. I have seen the polls,” I say through my teeth.
“Good. I doubt your ranking will get any higher, so what I’m most concerned about is your involvement with my sons. They don’t need you dragging them down, or worse, influencing them.” I stare at the king’s chest, watching as he fixes the cuffs of his jacket. “I doubt I need to remind you of your place, so stay out of their way and we won’t have any problems. Understood?”
The dagger tucked into my boot has never tempted me more, tormenting me with the thought of shoving its blade through his chest like he did to my father. But he didn’t just kill my only parent that day, he killed a piece of me in the process.
And I have never hated someone so wholeheartedly because of it.
My fists are clenched tightly at my sides, fingernails biting into my palms. But I school my face into a submissive, sweet expression when I say, “Understood, Your Majesty.”
If I didn’t want to win before, I certainly do now.
“Good,” he says curtly. “Then we should thank the Plague that you are alive and well, isn’t that right?”
There is a certain challenge ringing in his tone, flashing in his eyes. I mirror his smile, even as I swallow my pride.
I’ve never said the filthy phrase, and I swore I never would. And yet, here I am, opening my mouth to let the words fall out as though they aren’t foreign on my tongue. As though they aren’t leaving a foul taste in my mouth.
“Yes, thank the Plague indeed.”
“Hold still or I’m going to poke your eye out.”
I grumble while Ellie only grins. She’s still swiping a wand across my lashes despite coming dangerously close to accidentally blinding me on several occasions. She likes to blame it on my squirming, and I like to blame it on her unsteady hands.
“Alright, time to suck it in!” Adena is bubbling over with excitement behind me, her hands gripping the laces of my dress. She allows me one final breath before pulling the ties tight, squeezing the air out of my squished ribcage. She works the laces, slowly pulling the bodice tighter to cinch the open back together.
Gripping the chair in front of me, I gasp, “One more pull, A, and I think a rib will puncture my lung.”
I doubt Adena can even hear me over her squeals of delight. “Pae, it’s perfect! You know, I was a bit worried about the hem but look at it! It falls just right and, oh, the cut is incredible…” She pauses, huffing out a sigh. “Ugh, forget it. Just look at you!”
Her hands grip my arms as she spins me towards the mirror, her glowing face peeking over my shoulder. I blink, and the girl in the mirror does the same.
The silver dress I wore to the first ball was stunning, seductive, where this one is simply beautiful, breathtaking. Deep red fabric envelopes me, pooling to the floor. It’s shimmery and sleeveless, but rather than the bodice being rounded at the top, the edges end in elegantly pointed corners. It’s tight, cinching in my waist with the laces at the back, now tied into a neat bow and exposing skin between the fabric holding the dress together. The skirt is full, revealing the wide slit up my right leg where my father’s dagger is displayed for all to behold and baffle at.
“Adena, I love it…” I trail off while my eyes trail over the fabric hugging my body. Then my gaze meets the excited hazel one in the mirror, and I turn to face my best friend. “I love you, Adena.”
She glows, beaming at me brightly. “And I love you, Pae.” Her smile turns sly. “And everyone is going to love you in this dress. Especially a certain prince…”
It’s not difficult to figure out that she’s referring to Kai. I shoot her a look, not particularly wanting to talk about this topic. “Adena…”
“What?” she asks far too innocently. “In case you’ve forgotten, I watched the recap of the Trials. I saw what happened between you two.” She quirks an eyebrow. “And I’ve been waiting for you to come and talk to me about it.”
“Well, there’s nothing to say.” She gives me a flat look, forcing me to add, “Alright, I don’t know what to say. He’s confusing and captivating and I’m failing miserably at keeping my distance.”
“Right,” she says quietly. “Because you’re…you.”
“And he’s…him,” I sigh.
Because I’m and Ordinary, and he’s the future Enforcer.
Adena huffs dramatically. “Well, I don’t blame you for not being able to stay away. I mean, look at him.”
I roll my eyes, laughing despite myself. In an attempt to avoid this current conversation, I marvel in the mirror at what the girls have turned me in to. My hair is pulled into a complicated braid down my back combined with dark makeup that frames my eyes in shadow and my lips in shiny gloss.
Miracle workers. That’s what they are.
We’re talking and laughing when a sharp knock sounds at the door.
Lenny whistles when he sees me. “Look at that. You actually look like a princess, Princess.”
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Paedyn
“If I get stung, I’m blaming you,” Lenny mumbles. He leads me through the gardens, passing dozens of gawking guests. “Not only is your dress attracting a lot of attention, but it’s also attracting a lot of bees.”
I try to stifle a snort as I look down at my gown that matches the deep roses lining the stone path we are walking. Guests mill about the gardens, making their way to the decorated wide patch of grass beyond the fountain where I splashed their future king in the face only a few days prior.