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The door opened, and two guards swept in ahead of a woman in a plain, black gown—decent quality, but decidedly merchant class. Pale blonde hair had been braided and pinned into a simple knot at the base of her head, and her face was free of cosmetics. But there had to be some illusion at play, for Ria barely recognized the princess as she advanced.

Regardless, Ria leapt to her feet and hurried over to grab the woman’s hands. “Oh, Ryssa, I’m so happy you made it safely.”

It was no lie. As their hands linked and the princess gave her a tremulous smile, a profound sense of relief swept through Ria. The spells had worked. Tes truly hadn’t been executed. Not that she’d thought Toren and Mehl had lied to her. It was simply difficult for her heart to refute the apparent evidence that she’d seen with her own eyes.

“Thank you for hosting me here,” Ryssa said softly. Then her gaze slid behind Ria, and she gasped. “Oh! Is this…?”

The princess was skilled at pretending, indeed. Ria did her best to match her, but she feared she fell short. She’d forgotten that Ryssa and Mehl would require introduction. Hastily, she stepped back to provide a clear view between them.

“King Mehl, please allow me to introduce my cousin, Ryssa Moyair.”

Ryssa sank into a deep curtsey, but there was a trembling lack of refinement in the motion. As befitted a merchant’s wife, Ria supposed. But Mehl showed no lack of politeness as he stepped up beside Ria and inclined his head.

“Please rise, Madame Moyair,” Mehl said. “I hope you will accept my condolences for your loss.”

Wobbling slightly, Ryssa stood, and Ria almost darted out a hand to offer steadiness. But there was a hard glint in the princess’s eyes that suggested the movement had not been weakness. “Thank you, Your Majesty. Please do call me Ryssa. Being referred to as Madame…it hardly feels fitting now, what with my husband…”

Oh, the things the princess could say in that heavy trail of silence. It was masterful, really, the way Ryssa had said nothing but the truth—except for her name—and yet followed their story precisely. No doubt the guards who’d escorted her in would carry the tale of the royal consort’s sad, widowed cousin without question.

“You needn’t talk about it,” Ria assured her. “Your letters were enough to detail your grief.”

Ryssa smiled. “Bless you, cousin. I am touched by your kindness.”

“I’m afraid I’m hoping you will domea kindness,” Ria said. Another partial truth. This hadn’t been planned for her benefit, but it might become such all the same. “If you’ll sit, I’ll explain.”

Although the princess nodded, she gave Mehl a shy, uneasy glance as Ria directed her to the chair he’d previously occupied. And wouldn’t any commoner be nervous to be seated casually in the same room as the king? The only thing worse would have been Toren’s presence, but they’d already planned for him to avoid this particular meeting. Ryssa’s acting could only go so far.

Mehl sat across from them, his posture easy and casual. “Consider me here as Ria’s…partner. Not as king,” he said.

Ryssa’s hands trembled in her lap. “Very well.”

“Would you like tea?” Ria offered.

“I…” The princess’s eyes met hers, silently questioning.Should I do it?At Ria’s hesitant smile, Ryssa nodded. “Though it is not my place, would you allow me to pour for you? I’m afraid my manners might prove inadequate for this court, but I would like to do so, all the same.”

“Please do,” Ria said. “I’m certain you’ll do beautifully.”

Naturally, Ryssa dispensed with the chore with a simple grace, only a slight rattle here and there to imply inexperience. Ria released a slow, silent sigh, conscious of the guards, and tried to relax as the princess handed her a cup. Served by the Jewel of Centoi. What a strange turn her life had taken! But Tes—Ryssa—was kinder than one might expect. She’d understood perfectly how uncomfortable the tea service had made Ria.

She held the cup and saucer the same way the others did, but she couldn’t bring herself to drink. Her nervous stomach refused the idea. “Now. As I implied in my letter…what I really need is a lady’s companion.”

Ryssa froze. “Oh, I am not a lady.”

“Nor am I,” Ria replied with some amusement. “I am more concerned with the companion part. We may not have seen each other since we were younger, but I know you better than anyone here at court. I merely need a friend. Otherwise, there’s no one to speak to besides Toren and Mehl.”

The princess pretended to give the matter a great deal of thought, asking questions and discussing logistics until the tea was cold. Of course—easy acceptance would have been odd for a commoner being thrust into the royal court.

Ria should know.

* * *

Toren hadevery intention of protecting Tes. She was family now, and he had given his word. But after three dinners at his table, he had nothing but regret for the way he’d gone about it. As Ryssa, the princess was soft-spoken and pleasant, barely noticeable in her seat to Ria’s left. If he hadn’t known better, he would believe shewasa merchant’s widow.

Yet she made Ria uncomfortable.

He hadn’t expected that since his wife had been enthusiastic about helping Tes. Ria had even made the woman a couple of dresses to augment what Toren had procured. So why, then, did she spend most of dinner picking at her food and tapping her foot underneath the table where the courtiers couldn’t see? It had to be the princess.

By the gods, he couldn’t tolerate it. “Should we find another shelter for Tes?”