Page 73 of Conspirators' Kingdom

“Is selling the waters of the Hapi a crime?” Taisiya asked. Nofret had referred to the act in such a horrified way that it made her wonder.

“One of the greatest. Only the royals of Maat have the authority to make deals using it. Since they are ultimately responsible for its protection as they are for Maat’s, it’s the same as stealing from the king himself,” Nofret replied.

Taisiya tucked that useful bit of information away. It would be simple enough to frame their enemies for the crime of selling the waters.

“I have sold small amounts in the past to wealthy individuals and ally nations. Its importance cannot be overstated. According to our knowledge, only a handful of such places on all of Oblivion exist. Only Maat and one other land have ever allowed outsiders to benefit from it,” Mereruka added.

So to Oblivion, as well as Maat, control of the waters of the Hapi was the greatest show of power and wealth a person could demonstrate. At least, it was to the fae race.

“And a nomarch?” Taisiya asked.

“An administrator of a territory, much like a magister or magistra in your empire. A nome is the same as your province,” Mereruka said.

“The Cursed Continent is an empire?” Nofret asked, fascinated.

“Yes, Lethe, the Empire of Mages,” Taisiya answered.

“The empress is her half-sister,” Mereruka said as Nofret’s eyes widened.

“May she rot in the deepest of hells.” At Nofret’s bewildered expression, Taisiya added, “She killed my beloved father and youngest brother.”

“Ah, you need say no more, Princess Consort. Though it is a hard thing to lose a parent and sibling in that way, I’m heartened to know that the prince has found someone who might understand that kind of grief. I would be happy to dedicate a few curses her way, if it pleases you,” Nofret said, her eyes earnest.

“Not at the moment, but perhaps in future,” Taisiya replied, warmed by the offer.

Ashamed as she was to admit it, she knew that Khety had killed his own mother and sold Mereruka’s sister off, yet she hadn’t thought that both she and Mereruka shared the same kind of bitter hatred for a sibling. Another kernel of sympathy flickered in her chest. There were too many of them in the past few days for her liking.

She wondered why none of Mereruka’s other siblings despised the king for his actions. Though he’d told her that both Radjedef and Serfka, the vizier, were on good terms with King Khety, she would need to ask him if his other siblings might be made allies rather than obstacles.

Mereruka leaned down in his chair, resting his chin on steepled fingers, brows furrowed in concentration.

“A tenth of the treasury, you say?”

“Yes, Your Tranquility. Grain and gold as well as enchanted gemstones and objects.”

“Gods below, what a monumental waste,” Mereruka groaned, pinching his brow.

“Ah, perhaps quite literally. The nomarch of Shedet has begun construction of a palace. I believe that’s where most of the grain went, to pay the workers,” Nofret offered sheepishly.

“Fuck!” Mereruka snarled, leaping from his chair to pace like a restless predator. “I’ll have his gods-damned head!”

A new palace? Taisiya grinned. Perhaps it was not a waste of funds after all. Luck was on her side.

“Husband, dearest?”

He turned to her with a raised brow, halting his furious pacing at the cunning in her tone.

“I have always wanted a palace of my own. We should thank the nomarch of Shedet for being so gracious as to begin its construction for me. It is, after all, funded through our treasury.”

His eyes widened and a grin broke out on his handsome face. Kneeling before her, he took her hand and kissed it.

“My beautiful wife is so very astute.”

“My handsome husband is so generous with his compliments. Of course, we should go to Shedet to oversee the construction…” Taisiya looked away coyly.

“What is it, my love? Don’t be so modest. Tell your husband what you wish for.” Eyes bright with anticipation, he tilted her chin back towards him with a finger.

“Is Shedet far from here?” she asked.

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