Page 29 of Conspirators' Kingdom

“Illustra Spark, could I have a word?”

Magistra Jade approached, her sparkling green eyes brooking no denial. Vasilisa stepped aside as the dark-skinned beauty’s long strides ate up the distance between them. Taisiya was neither overly fond of nor hostile to the newly minted Magistra Jade. She’d provided shelter, clothing and food to her and her remaining family, but little else, and she’d never shared the hostility with which some of the other nobles viewed her.

“Of course, Magistra. What might I assist you with?” Taisiya curtsied.

“You can warn my fool sister away from that prince, for one.”

She would do no such thing.

“Domina Chloe is more than capable of deciding for herself if she wishes to pursue Prince Mereruka.”

Zoe scoffed.

“Chloe is a starry-eyed girl desperate for the magister’s approval. And anyone with eyes in their head can see that the prince is trouble. I’ll not let my sister fall prey to him and then be taken away from everyone who actually cares about her. If you don’t have the decency to warn her off him, then at the very least find someone else for him to set his sights on.”

“Have you spoken to your sister yourself, Your Grace?”

Zoe narrowed her eyes.

“You think I haven’t tried? You know exactly what my family is like, Taisiya,” she hissed. “She won’t listen to sense right now, not when Father’s approval is on the line, and she might not listen until it’s too late. Help me protect her.”

Taisiya narrowed her eyes. If anyone here had the power to protect a domina, it was the magistra, not the disgraced daughter of a traitor, desperately clawing her way back into the good graces of the court. Not to mention, it was her family’s future on the line if this matchmaking scheme fell through.

“I will do my utmost to introduce the prince to other suitable candidates, but I will not put myself in the middle of a fight between Your Grace and Magister Emerald.”

“Very well, Taisiya. But be careful whose good graces you cultivate. My loyalty doesn’t waver. Magister Emerald’s changes whenever it suits him. Good day to you.” Zoe swept by, head held high and nary a single glance backwards.

Taisiya sighed. Just what she’d needed—another complication. She wished she did not need to cultivate the support of a woman whose loyalty would always be to the empress. Better to have the magister’s support for the day she and her family finally retook their kingdom. If only she had enough wealth and power not to concern herself with upsetting Zoe.

“We need more candidates,” Taisiya groaned.

“Want me to see if I can find some especially desperate ones?”

“Yes, and keep them in reserve for now. We need to root out that blackmailer first before I expend all my other options.”

As they approached the doors of the library, trepidation slowed her steps. The silver-tongued could be a fearsome enemy. While Magistra Alexandra Amber remained a creature of the crown, if she ever learned to wield her political power in the same way as her voice, Taisiya could kiss her generation’s chances of reclaiming their homeland goodbye. Vasilisa’s grey eyes softened. She placed a reassuring hand on Taisiya’s shoulder.

“She’s not strong enough yet.”

Not strong enough to rip out the secrets Taisiya kept close to her heart, the ones her father had protected with the power of another silver-tongue, one so much stronger than the young magistra. Even now, she was protected, just as she and her sisters had been when they’d boldly lied under interrogation over a year ago.

“And I don’t think she’ll ever try anything.” At Taisiya’s confusion, Vasilisa only chuckled softly. “See for yourself and try not to get too upset.”

Taisiya was only confused for a moment longer. When she came to collect Alexandra, she found her in deep conversation with Theodore, bright smiles on both their faces. Maps and ledgers pertaining to lands once owned by her family lay between the two on the angled desk.

A surge of pure rage flooded Taisiya. The gall, to pressure her brother into being the one to ease Alexandra’s transition to ruling a territory he’d—they’d—called home! Of course, Theodore wouldn’t hesitate to help—not her selfless, sweet, amiable brother. If the silver-tongued mage thought she would get away with using Theo so shamelessly, she’d find herself gutted by lightning, damn the consequences. Only Vasilisa’s unwavering grip on her shoulder held her back.

“Stop and reallylook, Taisiya,” she whispered.

“Look at what? That shameless bitch using my brother?” Taisiya hissed.

“If he weren’t your brother, what would that look like?” Vasilisa nodded to the two seated beside each other, their chairs nearly touching.

Taisiya paused and stifled her anger as best she could. If he weren’t Theodore, but some other man, what would she see? Their eyes, hers amber, his deep purple, were sparkling. Their laughter was genuine, if hushed. The magistra had a flush across her pale brown cheeks and she found frequent opportunities to touch his arm, to tuck a strand of her white hair behind her ear. Theodore, for his part, leaned towards her, his knee skimming her skirts, the occasional nervous hand snaking through his short auburn curls.

“Shit,” Taisiya cursed.

“I think it’s sweet. And smart. If he were the calculating type.”

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