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Kallie loosened her grip around the dagger and quickly returned it to its holster. After fixing her skirts, she pushed the door open. Domitius was quick to snap his head toward her. His expression, previously austere, softened ever-so-slightly—as soft as his sharp features would allow anyway.

“Father,” Kallie said as she strolled into the room, her stride now steady. “I was just about to come find you.”

The corner of Domitius’ lips twitched. A near smile formed, but it was too fleeting to reach his eyes before his normal flat expression returned. “Kalisandre, we were just talking about you.”

Myra stepped out of the spacious closet with a dress folded over her arms. From the days traveling on the ship, Myra’s pale complexion had reddened from the sun. Somehow, though, her cheeks managed to appear even redder despite the sun’s kiss. Something akin to embarrassment and concern flushed her countenance.

Kallie’s stomach dropped.

She hadn’t seen Myra since arriving last night. But if her handmaiden was in the king’s presence alone, Kallie could only imagine the ridicule she had been enduring before she arrived.

“Is that so?” Kallie asked, glancing at Myra. Domitius never enjoyed being in the presence of the servants, especially Kallie’s handmaidens. He was constantly throwing them out of the room when he visited Kallie.

“Mhm,” Domitius hummed. “The Frenzians have several servants and handmaidens that they will undoubtedly put in your employ once you and Rian marry. After all, they have already placed that one girl—what was her name?” He snapped his fingers in the air. “Flora?”

“Phaia,” Kallie corrected.

Domitius shrugged and continued as if Kallie hadn’t said anything, “Unfortunately, bringing your old handmaidens with us to Pontia was out of the question due to the potential dangers and the nature of the trip. When I return, I will bring the others with me. In the meantime, this handmaiden must suffice.”

“I’m sure I will be fine, Father. Myra has never let me down before.” Kallie smiled at her friend, whose gaze was directed at the floor.

“Is there something else I should know?” Kallie asked as she sat across from the king. The availability of handmaidens could not have been the main reason her father had visited her rooms.

The light patter of Myra’s footsteps sounded behind her, and Domitius’ gaze flicked to the handmaiden. Bouncing a foot in the air, he brushed his fingers against his graying beard. “Myra, you are dismissed.”

“Yes, My King,” Myra said. She folded the dress over the vanity chair. As she passed, she brushed a light hand across Kallie’s shoulder, then hurried out the door without glancing back at either of them.

Kallie shrunk back into her seat, her chance to confide in her friend following the handmaiden out the door.Beneath the table, she twisted the ring around her finger. Despite the connection to the people she had betrayed linked to the gold metal band, she had not taken it off. After wearing it for as long as she could remember, the ring was a part of her. A part she was not ready to be rid of yet.

“Kalisandre.”

Kallie’s gaze snapped to her father sitting across from her. Disdain coated his countenance.

“Yes, My King?”

“Have you met with Rian yet?”

Kallie looked down. “No, but . . .”

“Enough with the mumbling. You are to bequeen. Enunciate,” he spat.

Kallie pushed her shoulders back, steadying her gaze. “This morning, I overheard a conversation between Rian and his mother that I believe you may find interesting.”

Domitius yawned, but when he didn’t interrupt, Kallie quickly continued. “It seems the former queen does not support my marriage to her son. She wishes to persuade Rian to break it off.”

“You are surprised?” he asked, brows drawing together. “Once you marry her son, the old queen will have no place in the castle. Right now, she has access to her son’s ear. When you marry the boy, that will change.” He sighed and rubbed a finger across his temple. “Kalisandre, I cannot emphasize this enough. You need to ensure this marriage happens. I do not care what you have overheard. Tessa is a figurehead, nothing more. Do not let her get in your way.”

Afigurehead—that was what Tessa had said the men called her. Tessa, however, seemed to be more aware of the happenings around her than Domitius gave her credit for.

Kallie blinked, her finger freezing around the metal band as she realized the second meaning of his words. He still believed she would fail, even after her success in Pontia. Kallie straightened in her seat. “I would never let her get in my way of the throne, Father.”

“Whatever means necessary,” Domitius said.

Kallie nodded. Then the corner of her lip tipped upward as she recalled her previous conversation with the queen. “Although the former queen could be of use to us.”

“Oh?” Domitius mumbled noncommittally.

“She suggested that Frenzia holds some hidden knowledge that is even more priceless.”