“How curious… what else have you heard?” Luelle asked.
Finally, some gossip.
The seamstress perked up and said in a low, conspiratorial voice, “Well, just between you and me, I heard he rejected the Madam’s ladies the other night. What a gentleman he is.” She released a deep sigh as if she admired the king for being such a good man, and continued, “As you know, it is time for him to choose a wife. That’s what Advisor Meir announced when King Ael left, remember? Upon his return, he would select a wife. Some women were planning to make themselves more known to him tonight, myself included. Do you think he’s being honorable by not taking those filthy whores?”
“Oh yes… King Ael isveryhonorable.” Luelle rolled her eyes as the seamstress looked down. She did not remember Meir making this announcement. How had it slipped past her?
Maybe she really wasn’t the best spy.
“Are you also planning on trying for the king’s hand in marriage?” she asked Luelle as she placed a pin in her mouth, pretending to focus on her stitch.
Luelle burst into laughter, causing the seamstress to jump back in surprise and drop the pin from her lips. “I’m sorry. Butno. King Ael and I do not see each other that way. You can stop poking me with the needle now. I’m not competition.”
The seamstress’s cheeks turned bright pink, and she went back to finishing up the dress. It was beautiful. The deep, wine-colored silk ran to the ground and hugged her curves. The breasts were trimmed with vines with little red flowers, and the slit ran up her thigh.
“You look stunning, madam,” the seamstress said, stepping back to take in her work. Luelle turned to face the full-length mirror.
“This is perfect,” she replied. She ran her fingers up the vines that acted as straps over her shoulders and admired the work. “I will makesure to call you next time. As long as you promise not to prick me again with those damn needles.”
The seamstress looked away, appearing ashamed. “I would love the work. Do you think you could put in a word for me to the king?” she asked.
“I’ll be sure to say something to him,” Luelle answered with a smile. She was definitelynotputting in a word for her, but she would complain and warn Ael that tonight he would be bombarded with floozies.
Luelle changed back into the boring gown she had shown up in and thanked the girl when she left the room. She stepped out into the long hall and watched as the Fae scurried around, getting ready for tonight’s festivities, hauling decorations, food, and other supplies.
She turned a corner and glanced back, checking to see if anyone was watching. Seeing it was clear, she pushed a luxurious tapestry to the side and walked into a dark corridor hidden away from view.
The dark hallways used to serve as the servants’ passages before Ael ruled. When he took the throne, the servants were treated with greater respect and weren’t forced to hide from the upper-class Fae of Umbrea. As a result, they hadn’t been used regularly in over two hundred years.
They were perfect for Luelle. Most had forgotten about their existence, and she used them to navigate the castle in private, listening in on private conversations and observing suspicious individuals who had no idea she was watching them.
For the past few years, the castle had been pretty dull without Ael, and she was hoping to hear something exciting now that he was back.
She made her way through the long, narrow hallways, passing by the backs of paintings and furniture, where she could overhear dull conversations. She rolled her eyes as she peeked through a gap at a large man, chatting about all the food he planned to eat later.
She continued walking and paused when she heard moaning from the other side of a painting. She gazed into the tiny hole, curious to know who was now fucking whom.
There was a Fae woman with shoulder-length, curly, dark hair and large breasts on full display, on top of someone in bed. She was quickly rotating her hips, and the bed was thumping against the wall, her breasts bouncing with the movement.
Who was with her?
She looked more closely into the hole and saw a gray, scruffy beard emerge.
Disgusting!
Meir flipped the woman over and took her from behind, his tiny, hairy ass clenched together as he thrusted himself into the woman.
Luelle backed away, deeply disgusted by the sight—one she would painfully never forget—but she heard Meir say, “I will make you a queen, my Neoma.”
That caught her attention, and she promptly stopped in her tracks.
She hesitated before glancing back into the hole once more.
“You do this for me, and you will help rule,” Meir said.
Do what for him? She usually never watched over Meir.He was an uninspiring advisor,constantly in the library and strictly adhering to every rule, even when they were foolish.
“I want to be a queen.” The woman let out a soft moan as she pretended to come undone under Meir.
