Page 39 of A Queen’s Game (Aithyr Uprising #1)

“Follow up on her today. I’m curious. Surely Keyain isn’t hiding any more information from his best friend,” the King drawled, his voice surprisingly deep and smoky.

“I’ll see if she’s available for tea this afternoon as soon as we get back.”

“Just demand her presence,” the King said, his demeanor remaining an air of disinterest as if nothing was with his full attention. That included his wife.

The Queen bristled at the response, not disguising her annoyance at his disrespect. “Of course, my loving husband,” she mocked, her lips pulled in a false smile.

As the King and Queen walked the path before them, Queen Valeriya’s eyes darted into the trees. Surprise lined her face when their eyes connected. “Let’s go sit near the pergola,” she added, ushering the King deeper into the garden.

Marietta didn’t dare breathe. She held up a hand to Amryth, having her refrain from moving until she was sure they moved farther down the path. After a moment, when they were out of sight, she left the hiding place.

“What was that about?” Amryth asked.

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 some digging 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.

“Owning a bakery? Quite the freedom for a captive,” the Queen said, her eyes narrowing. “Correct me if I’m wrong, but prisoners don’t get to have successful careers as a baker or otherwise.”

“Maybe there wasn’t much choice in my career change.”

“The rumor also said that not only were you a spectacular baker, but that it was your passion. That doesn’t seem like a forced career change.”

Marietta tilted her head, asking, “Are you not passionate about the things you have a talent for, my Queen?” She picked up her tea and took a sip.

Queen Valeriya contemplated her answer, her face pensive as she stared into the garden as dark clouds rolled in. “I suppose I do. I also did some other digging into your background in Enomenos. Who is Tilan Reid to you?”

Marietta choked on her tea, sending her into a coughing fit. The Queen said she dug into her background but hearing Tilan’s name on her lips…. Gods, Queen Valeriya realized Tilan was her husband. She bit down on her lip as her coughing subsided.

Queen Valeriya continued, “Yes, I know. He is someone to you. I may have discovered that the human was your husband.”

Marietta’s thoughts raced. “It was a forced marriage by my captors,” she lied, the action knotting her stomach.

“Is that so? You’re telling me this man forced you to marry him and to open a bakery?”

“That’s the truth, Your Grace.”

“And this Tilan Reid... he was a blacksmith, was he not? You met him through your previous business?”

Marietta kept her face straight at the memory. “That’s correct.”

The Queen paused, glancing at Marietta. “So you also were aware of his position in the Exisotis?”

For a moment, there was silence. “Of course. I lived with Tilan, didn’t I?” she answered with quickened breath. What in the gods was the Exisotis?

“Then please, enlighten me. Tell me about your captors. What were the Exisotis doing?” she asked with a wicked smile, knowing she backed Marietta into a corner.

Marietta sat stewing. The Queen had more information than she realized.

Queen Valeriya cocked her head, red curls falling over her shoulder.

“The Exisotis is a resistance group, opposing Syllogi for the oppression of pilinos with the goal to usurp the leaders of the Syllogian Council, like my husband and I. You didn’t know that Marietta, did you?

Or that Tilan, a man you willingly married after your marriage to Keyain, was a member of this group? ”

Marietta’s chest ached as she let out a heavy breath. The Queen had won and now rubbed salt in the wound. “Tilan was just a blacksmith, not a part of a resistance group.” Whispers of the group had reached her ears, but never the name. Tilan was in the Exisotis? No, it wasn’t true. It couldn’t be.

“I wouldn’t be so sure. Tilan held meetings in his smithy, and we have proof.” The Queen sipped her tea, then continued. “Regardless of your feelings, it would appear that you were under the influence of the Exisotis.”

Marietta’s mask cracked as tears swelled in her eyes.

“Just admit it,” Queen Valeriya whispered, bringing a hand to her chest. “You loved this Tilan. You loved a man who ranked so high in the Exisotis. I promise to keep it just between us.”

“It’s a lie,” Marietta said in a cracked voice.

“It isn’t, and I know it isn’t, Marietta.”

“Why would I trust you?”

Queen Valeriya leaned forward, setting her teacup down, whispering to Marietta.

“I mean you no harm. I believe you know nothing about the Exisotis, which is all I need to share with my husband. The other parts are for me to understand you better.” As she spoke, her hand found Marietta’s.

“You are in my court, and I can’t help you with the other ladies if you aren’t honest with me. ”

All logic told her not to trust the Queen. Gods, even Keyain told her not to trust her; yet, at that moment, Marietta could feel the Queen’s sincerity. There was honesty in her tenderness.

She swallowed hard. “I loved Tilan, and I chose to marry him.”

“You know what, Lady Marietta?”

“What, Your Grace?”

“You don’t love Keyain and you never wished to marry him. But why would he risk his career to save you? That’s what I can’t figure out,” she said, her voice trailing as she thought.

Marietta felt hollow, unable to bring herself to lie. “Keyain never stopped loving me. Even after I left him.”

The Queen pulled back. “Even after you left him…” she repeated, her eyes darting with thought.

“That explains why he never married Elyse. Betrothed to the girl for five years, but the wedding never occurred. Keyain’s union to you remained unknown until you showed up, drugged into unconsciousness a few months ago.

” The Queen paused before adding, “Bruises covered your body, and you had a gash across your side. Who gave you those injuries?”

Marietta brought a hand to her abdomen, feeling for a nonexistent scar. The moment of Tilan’s death flashed—someone had grabbed her by the hair. “Keyain’s soldiers. The team sent to get me.”

Queen Valeriya tapped her fingers on her chin as she said, “It’s funny. Keyain was adamant that your human husband was hurting you, citing that’s why he needed to extract you as soon as possible.”

“No. Tilan would never have harmed me.” She took a shattering breath and whispered, “it was Keyain’s soldiers that slit his neck.”

Heavy tears fell as the memory played over and over in her mind. Tilan was dead, and she was having tea with the Queen of Satiros. Her stomach churned and bile climbed her throat.

The Queen pulled out a handkerchief and handed it to Marietta, the two sitting in silence. Consumed by her thoughts, Queen Valeriya stared out into the garden.

Marietta might regret her honesty, but she had the information, the sources—she already knew her answer. Was Keyain aware of how informed Queen Valeriya was? And what does her having that information mean? She took a deep breath, attempting to push her emotions down.

“Marietta, you don’t want to be here,” the Queen whispered.

The response held at the end of her tongue; she had already said too much.

“Did anyone tell you Keyain and King Wyltam are close friends?”

Marietta looked at Queen Valeriya. “I learned they were childhood friends, not that they’re still friends. Keyain left that out,” she replied. Specifically, when he blamed King Wyltam for the attack on Olkia.

“Not surprised. It seems we both have found ourselves in marriages to males we can’t trust.” She looked over at Marietta with a sad smile. “And like you, I wish I wasn’t here. I wish they hadn’t ordered their attack on Olkia.”

No words came to Marietta, her brows knitting together in confusion. The Queen’s face seemed to age with the heaviness of her thoughts. They were similar, trapped in Satiros, playing this game to stay alive.

The door busted open, a piercing scream breaking the silence. “Mama, mama!” a dark-haired child cried, a servant following him. Marietta jerked her head towards the child, not realizing that the Queen was a mother, the child the prince.

“Oh, Mycaub. What’s wrong, my dear?” Queen Valeriya stood and walked to the child, hushing him in a tender tone. The Prince quieted as the Queen rocked him, his screaming reduced to sniffles. “Princes don’t cry, my love,” she murmured to the child.

Marietta held back her shock. Queen Valeriya, the fiery queen with a sharp wit, folded into a doting mother. She reminded her of her friend Tristina calming her two sons in Olkia.

“I hate to cut our time short, but my son needs me. I look forward to picking up our conversation another day,” the Queen said, quickly exiting the balcony and leaving Marietta alone.

Marietta stood there, unsure what to do after their tea time abruptly ended. The Queen had given her heavy information. Tilan was a part of a resistance group? No, he was a leader. It couldn’t be true, but she had someone she would ask.

“Marietta, are you alright?” Amryth quietly said as the other servants came in to clear their tea.

She dabbed under her eyes again, replying, “I’m fine. The Queen was asking about my past. It wasn’t easy to talk about.”

“Well, you nearly cried off all your makeup. Let’s get you back to your suite,” Amryth said, her face worried.

Amryth led her from the room, Marietta’s mind sifting through what she had just learned.