Page 57 of A Queen's Game
Marietta furrowed her brows. “I’m unsure, but I assume I’ll find out at tea this afternoon.”
They hurried back to the suite, finding a note from the Queen. Apparently, tea that afternoon meant as soon as possible.
Amryth sighed. “I’ll have a note sent to Keyain, informing him that Queen Valeriya demanded your presence, but we need to get you changed.”
Marietta looked down at her plain dress, marred with dirt from the garden. After digging through her wardrobe, she pulled a cerulean gown of silky fabric with pink embroidered flowers covering the straps. The neckline dipped low in the front, with the back matching. True to elven styles, the fit hugged her hips and chest.
As she stood in front of the mirror, she grimaced at the expensive gown. A pang of guilt rattled through her chest. Marietta dressed in finery while Tilan’s body rotted somewhere. With the chaos of being attacked, did anyone bother to give him a funeral pyre? Bile rose in her throat from the gnawing pit in her stomach, but she pushed the thoughts aside.
“Wear some jewelry,” Amryth said from the door wall, pulling her attention back.
“But it’s daytime.” In Enomenos, people only wore jewelry at formal occasions and evening events.
“Trust me. You stick out from the noble ladies without it. Here,” she said, walking over to Marietta’s vanity, digging through a jewelry box. A dainty gold chain that dipped low in the middle appeared in her hand.
“Turn around.”
Marietta obeyed, not needing to crouch down for Amryth to clasp it, being that Marietta was a touch shorter. The gold chain nestled between her breasts. She grabbed another shorter gold chain, layering them. Amryth then swept Marietta’s hair half up into a knot, complete with chains woven through.
“Thank you,” Marietta said quietly. “I don’t know any of this.”
“I know you don’t,” Amryth replied, her face frowning. Marietta swore she could see a touch of concern in the expression.
When she was ready, Amryth led Marietta to the Noble's Section, remaining quiet as they walked by some nobles, hands covering their mouths as she passed.
Outside on the same balcony as before sat the Queen, alone, waiting for Marietta.
“Lady Marietta, welcome. Glad you could come on such short notice,” she announced, her expression saying more.
“Thank you for having me, Queen Valeriya,” Marietta responded with a curtsy before sitting down. A servant set two cups of tea on the table. With a hand, the Queen dismissed them, including Amryth. The handmaid gave her an uneasy look as she left.
“For such an expansive palace, it feels small sometimes, does it not?” she said while sipping her tea and looking out over the balcony.
“That it does, Your Grace,” Marietta answered, holding her shoulders back and her head high, ready for the Queen’s game to begin.
“I heard a little rumor about you.”
“What rumor would that be?” Marietta offered a soft smile, amused by the idea. As the only pilinos at court, there was sure to be a handful of rumors floating around about Marietta.
The Queen gave a knowing look. “That you are quite the baker. Is that true?”
Marietta kept her face calm, unsurprised the Queen learned that. Gods, she even sent Marietta to the kitchens herself. “It is, Your Grace. I learned to bake in Enomenos.”
“Curious,” she paused, taking a sip of tea, her eyes unwavering from Marietta. “You said you helped businesses around Enomenos for a living.”
“I did that as well, and I also learned a hobby or two,” Marietta said, her words true. Marietta had just turned one hobby into a new career.
“Is that so?” She paused, sipping her tea. “I heard your baking skills were quite extraordinary. Some may even say you’re as good as a trained baker.”
“Well, now you’re just trying to flatter me,” she said with a gentle laugh.
“Oh, you’ll know when I’m trying to flatter you.” Her mouth slashed a smile, her icy blue eyes holding suspicion. “I did somedigging into your background and learned that you owned a bakery.”
Marietta held her tea before her lips as she looked at the Queen. “Perhaps your sources are wrong.”
“My sources are never wrong. I promise you that,” she said with a smirk.
Marietta broke eye contact and looked out over the garden. Queen Valeriya had realized Marietta could bake, and she had known that when she sent Marietta to the kitchens. She played right into the Queen’s hand.
