Page 33 of A Queen's Game
Worry flecked across Tryda’s features. “The humans captured you, my dear,” she said, each word slow as if Marietta didn’t understand. “You do remember why you weren’t with Keyain all this time?”
Marietta wasn’t sure which angered her more, Tryda’s condescending tone or Keyain’s blatant lie. “I am of sound mind,” snapped Marietta, “and I don’t appreciate the condescension.”
The ladies whispered to one another as Tryda placed a hand over her chest, brows raised in surprise.
“It’s alright if you aren’t,” said Grytaine. “It’s in your nature. Right, Elyse?”
Elyse choked on her tea, coughing, her eyes wide from the attention. “I, uh—my father said….” She cleared her throat, eyes dropping to her lap. “I don’t know.”
Marietta gripped her teacup at the exchange. The afternoon was out of a nightmare, surrounded by ladies who didn’t take her seriously—and the Queen knew it would happen.
Queen Valeriya sat with a rigid back, frowning at Grytaine and Elyse before her gaze found Marietta. With a slight flick of her brow, she said, “Let’s give Marietta some space, ladies.” She faced the room, her hand coming to her chin. “Did you hear about Potyme’s new play at the Ryndalf Theatre opening at the end of summer?”
The afternoon wore on; the conversation was less of a Queen holding court and more of ladies gossiping. It reminded Marietta of her bakery workers who’d spend the day chatting about news around Olkia.
“If Kennyth philandered less, he’d know how his wife really feels about him,” Ymorea exclaimed. The room erupted in laughter, Marietta missing the joke.
As she sat there, the group dynamics became clear to Marietta. The ladies were fuel and Queen Valeriya sat back, observing, holding the match that could set the room ablaze. Marietta saw the power she wielded; she was more than just a queen. She was wildfire. Relentless and dangerous. The Queen took the ladies’ gossip, turned it over in her head, anddeciphered truth from lies. Her advice rang loud and clear to Marietta.
Her stomach rumbled. Queen Valeriya’s eyes shot to Marietta, a smirk on her lips. Her skipped breakfast had caught up to her.
Without missing a beat from her story, the Queen finished her quip. “I believe we could use some treats. What do you say, ladies?” She gave Marietta a knowing look.
How had she heard? She seemed locked onto Marietta. Even though Queen Valeriya appeared not to pay her much mind, she had kept her senses open to her. Attuned to see how Marietta reacted to her court.
Servants placed a tray of pastries on the tables, breaking Marietta’s heart. Sweet buns and mini pies, just like the ones she sold in her bakery. It had been so long since she last baked.
“What a sight to behold, huh, Elyse?” Grytaine asked, gesturing to Marietta.
“An elf serving a pilinos?” she answered, more a question than a statement. Her response provoked laughter from a few ladies.
Marietta steeled her emotions after her earlier outburst, ignoring the comment, and took a bite. Even in her famished state, the pie was bland, the filling was lackluster, and the crust lacked a flaky consistency.
To distract herself from Elyse, she asked, “Queen Valeriya, these are quite... interesting pies. Where did your baker come from?”
“Oh, I wouldn’t know. From the same servants who make all the food, I suppose,” she said, feigning disinterest in her question. Marietta caught the hint of suspicion in her eyes.
She quieted at the look, determined to draw less attention to herself. The pie lost her interest, unable to finish it even thoughher stomach grumbled. Who was their baker? Not someone she’d met, for they weren’t that skilled.
Tea time wore on into the afternoon before it wound down. The servants cleared empty teacups and plates from the ladies.
Marietta’s mind drifted to Keyain. The bastard left her unprepared for such an encounter. Foolish of him for believing he could keep her drugged. What would happen now that the court had seen her of sound mind? Gods, did he know Queen Valeriya was the one to warn her not to eat the drugged food? His earlier tone suggested suspicion.
Regardless, it was a conversation she wished not to have; it meant dealing with her situation and future. Forgotten in the countryside was not how she hoped to live, but Keyain would get his way. He always did, it seemed.
Finally, tea time ended. The ladies filed out, bidding the Queen goodbye. Marietta, unsure what to do, turned to the Queen. She dropped into a curtsy like the other ladies. “Thank you,” she said, “for your time and courtesy, Queen Valeriya.”
“My pleasure, Marietta, but please, wait a moment for the ladies to filter out.” She had a look in her eye that sent a sense of dread through Marietta.
Confused, she nodded and waited off to the side. Tryda chatted with the Queen, clasped hand in hand.
“I’m happy to see you’re not drugged—er, feeling better, Marietta.” Elyse appeared behind her, fumbling with her words. “And that you’re not witless, just average for a half-elf.” She took off before Marietta could respond.
Gods, what was her problem? The elf was nervous. That much was obvious, but why the hostility towards Marietta? And what happened between her and Keyain? At least she gained one thing from the interaction, confirmation that the court thought she was simple-minded.
When the last lady left the veranda, Marietta approached the Queen, who stood with her hands clasped before her, smirking. “That went as I suspected, though you reacted more than I thought you would. Surprising, really. Most would remain quiet in your position.” She paused, a smirk quirking at her lips. “You will be an interesting addition to the Queen’s Court.”
Marietta kept her face still, refraining from snapping once more. She wasn’t there to be their entertainment.
