Page 99 of A Queen’s Game (Aithyr Uprising #1)
Chapter Sixty-Two
Marietta
M arietta tried the desk drawer every day, hoping Keyain slipped up again; yet, he didn’t.
She wished to explore more of his files, to see if anything else would be useful.
The documents she stole were nestled deep in her wardrobe with the nymph dagger, waiting for the next time she’d meet with Valeriya.
Though she’s had no luck with the drawer, she’s managed glimpses of papers and file names while tangling herself in Keyain’s arms every morning, asking him to stay.
All lies, of course, but he didn’t realize that.
Every morning he acted as though he was heartbroken to be leaving her each day, but he enjoyed the begging, especially after the incident in the gardens with King Wyltam.
The guard, Adalyn, had seen enough of Wyltam’s actions that Keyain insisted she shared every detail about the garden.
When she got to the part of their almost kiss, Keyain lost control of his temper, leaving the suite so Marietta wouldn’t see.
When he returned later with a calmer mood, Marietta pestered him until he admitted to hunting down King Wyltam and working out his frustrations.
Did that mean he hit the King? She wasn’t sure, but it thrilled her to know the plan worked.
So, she played the part of the doting wife, of needing one last kiss, of wanting one more minute with him.
Keyain was wrapped around her finger and didn’t notice her glances at his files.
The information she gleaned wasn’t much.
Just file names labeled TRM-Exp followed by a series of numbers.
A few files mention Notos. It wasn’t solid, but perhaps they planned to target the southern city next.
It became her new obsession, waking up early with Keyain each morning and playing that game.
Her attitude softened him enough that he had arranged for a day in the city with Elyse and Brynden.
She was excited to meet Elyse’s fervent worshiper and to switch up her dragging routine.
Even with the expansive sprawl of the Central Gardens, she could only take so many walks before they grew tedious.
Fortunately, Valeriya invited her for tea once again.
Sitting in a room for hours with the Queen’s Court wasn’t her ideal fun, but she would accept whatever break in the routine she could get.
Donned in an olive green off-the-shoulder dress with jeweled flowers lining the neckline, Marietta felt prepared for tea with the ladies, yet she still complained. “They’re just going to gossip about people I don’t know.”
“Well, what did you expect?” Amryth laughed beside her in her guard’s uniform, escorting her through the halls of the Royal’s Wing.
Golden sunlight shone through the tall windows of the hall as they walked. Even after a few months in the palace, Marietta still felt uncomfortable next to its grandeur. Amethyst inlaid floors, gold-gilded pillars, and silk tapestries hanging from the walls were things unaccustomed to her.
“I don’t know—perhaps a riveting conversation that doesn’t involve insulting people for two hours?”
“You can check the guards with me instead.”
Marietta laughed, swatting the air. “Can you imagine how upset Keyain would be if he heard we did that?”
Amryth cut her a quick smile. “Oh, he’d be furious with us.”
“I’d rather deal with a furious Keyain than tactless peacocks for two hours,” Marietta said as they reached the grand staircase that had thick green carpet running down its middle. At the top, a few ladies of the Queen’s Court lingered in the hall, catching sight of Marietta.
“Too late to turn back now,” Amryth said with a nod towards the ladies.
“Gods, I don’t want to go up there. I don’t recognize anyone.” Marietta stood on her tiptoes to see who arrived. “This is why I didn’t prefer to be fifteen minutes early.”
“If you’re not early, you’re late,” Amryth said with a shrug.
“If you’re late, you’re fashionable. And you don’t have to have forced awkward conversations with clucking hens.”
Amryth laughed, shoving her hands into her pockets. “How Keyain traveled with you in Enomenos is beyond me.”
“Hey, I kept to his schedule,” Marietta said, batting her arm. “Well, most of the time anyway.” From down the hall, Elyse poked her head around a corner. “Thank gods, Elyse. Wait—where is she going?”
As soon as she appeared, she darted back out of sight. Like hells, she would sit through tea without her, especially if she had gotten any more of those letters. “Come on,” she said, pulling along Amryth.
“Elyse!” Gods, she walked fast. “Elyse, it’s Marietta.” That got her to spin on the spot, her eyes wide.
“Oh, sorry about that.” She found a rogue lock of hair to play with that fell from her knot.
“Cute dress,” Marietta said, leaning to see it from the side. The flowy black material hugged through her chest and waist but loosened on her legs, ending above her ankles to show a pair of green embroidered slippers. Peculiar, she hasn’t seen other ladies wear such a style. “And I love the shoes.”
“You think so?” she asked, looking down at herself. “I thought it was a mistake, so I—”
“Went to go change? Nonsense, you look stunning. Plus, you can’t leave me up there all alone.”
Elyse hesitated. “I can’t go—I can’t deal with the embarrassment.”
Marietta exchanged a glance with Amryth. “What do you mean?”
“I haven’t been to tea since the very short betrothal with Brynden and the emancipation from my father. Grytaine will be more unbearable than usual.”
Marietta snorted, looping her arm through Elyse’s. “If she says anything, I’ll toss it back at her. After all, she’s married to an elderly man, and you had a dashing, young foreign lord writing you smutty letters after the betrothal ended. Let her say something. I’d love to mention that.”
Elyse turned wide-eyed towards Amryth.
“Oh, I forgot to introduce you two—”
“We’ve met,” Elyse murmured. “Keyain introduced us years ago.”
“Then why that face?” Marietta asked, gesturing to her expression.
“Because it’s embarrassing to talk about that letter when Keyain is like a brother to me and Amryth works for him.”
“It’s alright,” Amryth said with a crooked smile. “The other day, I walked in on Marietta with just about no clothes on after a sensual night with Keyain. I didn’t even blink.”
“Oh, my gods,” Elyse said, clenching her eyes as her face turned red. “I don’t want to think about Keyain having sex.”
Marietta snorted, pulling her down the hallway back towards the stairs. “You were with him for five years. What did you two do during that time, if not sex?”
“It was never like that,” she said, grabbing Marietta’s arm.
Marietta caught Amryth’s bemused grin. “It’s alright. Even if you did, it wouldn’t be your fault. You didn’t know I existed.” Marietta didn’t even know she was married to Keyain. “So, what did you do when you spent time together?”
“Read most of the time, though Keyain’s books were boring,” she said, a smile cracking her face. “Who wants to read about war tactics when they’re not working?”
“Thank you!” Marietta raised her free arm for emphasis. “I told you, Amryth! Keyain has the worst taste in books.”
Amryth chuckled, shaking her head. “As if I don’t also enjoy those books.”
“I’d always bring my own,” Elyse said. “Two—to make sure I wouldn’t need to borrow one.”
“And were they smutty like that lovely little letter?” Marietta asked, teasing with her brows flicking up and down.
“I should ask Keyain to select some more smutty books for the suite,” Amryth said with a sly grin. “Maybe then you’ll make it more than two paragraphs before daydreaming.”
“I can make it more than two.”
“Two and a half.” Amryth gave Elyse an unimpressed look that caused her to laugh.
“That’s still more than two.” Marietta smiled, the warmth flaring in her chest. “How did you ever respond to that letter? I’ve been dying to know.”
“Well,” Elyse said, hesitating with her cheeks still red. “I may have drawn a portrait of myself. Topless.”
Marietta whooped with delight. “Elyse, I don’t know if Brynden could handle such an image of his goddess. His guided hands will be doing a lot of nightly prayers.”
“His what?” Amryth stopped, bent over from laughing. “Does that male seriously call you the goddess?”
Elyse smiled through her blush as she told Amryth the story at the bottom of the staircase. Marietta, of course, chimed in with quotes about his effective ways of praying.
“Gods, I’m going to have to stand guard over you four when you go into the city.” Amryth shook her head.
“I didn’t even think about that,” Marietta said with a laugh. “Do you think you can hold a straight face when I ask Brynden about his prayer schedule in front of Keyain?”
They busted out laughing, paying no mind to the other waiting ladies—or the lack thereof.
“Ladies,” Queen Valeriya called. Marietta turned to see her standing at the top of the stairs with a smile. “Teatime is about to start.”