Page 57 of A Cursed Son

She then chuckles. “It’s surprising, you know?”

After many seconds of silence, I realize she’s waiting for me to reply. I’d better reply, right? I don’t want her to get upset and give me some prickly fabric. “What’s surprising?”

“You. You are the surprise. Marlak always said he’d never get married.”

Interesting. “Did he?”

“Oh, yes. I guess you don’t know anything, right? Coming from a human kingdom.”

She’s dying to tell me more, I can feel it, but she wants me to ask. Well, I want information more than anything, so I don’t waste the opportunity. “What is it I don’t know?” I sense my heart beating faster, dreading whatever I’m about to hear.

“For years he courted the daughter of the Spider Court Queen.”

Spider Court. That is a large court down south, beyond the Wild Fae lands. Not far from here. Quite close, in fact. I feel as if I’d just consumed some calapher powder, and now it’s burbling in my stomach, about to expel its contents. Would he still be seeing her?

“What happened?” I ask, my voice thinner than I’d like it to be.

“He broke up with the princess. In his words, to allow her to find a husband, someone who could love her.”

Yes, the contents in my stomach are definitely making a racket. There’s also an odd, ugly anger there, and I don’t know why.

The woman continues, “Her mother, the Spider Fae Queen, never forgave him.”

“But we’re not far from her lands.” Oh, no. I shouldn’t have mentioned that.

“Far enough, I’d guess. But my point is that he was adamant that he’d never get married, that it would be too dangerous. And now you see, he found you, and you changed his mind.”

“Because he doesn’t care if I face any danger,” I say, and then regret my words right away.

The fae stares at me, her eyes deep and black. “It’s because you both decided your love was worth facing any dangers together. Love makes you strong, not weak.”

Does she honestly think I’m in love?

She continues, “And perhaps whatever he said about the Spider Court Princess was just an excuse.”

Spider Queen and Princess make me think of arachnids, and I wonder if he was kissing a hairy creature with eight legs.

“Is she beautiful, this Spider Princess?” I ask, even though I’m dreading the answer.

“She’s lovely, for sure. Might be the loveliest young fae alive. But with my clothes, you’ll look even lovelier than her.”

Oh, so that’s what it’s about. Irene is a shrewd businesswoman, not a busybody, and she’s hoping I’ll ask her to make me prettier than the loveliest young fae alive. As if I cared about a stupid princess that he might have loved so much that he let her go.

I smile. “Actually, I want plain things. Basic. Bulky. And trousers. Clothes that will allow me to move comfortably. With pockets for daggers.”

She blinks, staring at me.

I point at my chest. “And he chose me. I don’t think he’ll care what I wear, so nothing needs to be pretty.”

“Absolutely. I’m sure he prefers it when you’re naked, but you still need to be dressed when you leave your marital chambers or when it’s cold. And you’re a queen now.”

Queen of the delusional fae. The thought makes me guilty. They’re persecuted, not as much as darksouls, but still persecuted, and I shouldn’t think they are delusional. And yet, I can’t think of myself as a queen. My job here is to get information that will eventually go to Renel and strengthen his kingdom.

“A warrior queen,” I say, even though it sounds strange in my lips. “Marlak himself told me I should get trousers.”

“Yes, yes. With pockets for daggers.” She’s again measuring my arm. “I know that. And I see you’re upset, my lady.”

“I’m not upset.” My voice comes out higher than I intended and I feel stupid.