Ambassador Gen’le startled, noticing Ysabel for the first time. She’d been crouching behind the throne before. “Who is this? What have you done to this poor woman?”
“I have taken the Holy Maiden hostage! I have no fear of the Conclave of Kings or Dark Lord Kaine. If you take one step forward, then I’ll strangle her pretty little throat.” Good, I remembered my line. My voice didn’t waver—I was getting better at this. Was I supposed to do something now? Belatedly, I yanked on the chain again.
“Please, don’t hurt me!” Ysabel gazed up, clasping her hands pleadingly. Her curls fell artfully over one eye. My sister had a talent for weeping beautifully. Her sobs sounded delicate instead of grating on the ears. Her shoulders heaved in a way that showed off her chest. Even her makeup remained intact.
Ambassador Gen’le shuddered. “You … how could you do such a horrible thing? Do you want Dark Lord Kaine to devastate the world? The Conclave barely stopped him the first time! Everyone knows he adores his wife.”
“That’s exactly why I’ve done it. As long as I control the Holy Maiden, then Dark Lord Kaine himself is my servant. I’ll be unstoppable.”
“Please, someone save me.” Ysabel batted her eyes imploringly. Her tone was filled with heart-wrenching terror. But I knew better. When my older sister was actually scared, she tried to hide it behind a mask. She was too proud to let other people see her fear. In my sisterly eyes, I could tell she was having fun playing this role.
Ambassador Gen’le, however, looked completely taken in by my sister’s act. He stepped forward, reaching out a hand as if to help her. His secretary grabbed him and pulled him back.
“Uh-uh.” I wagged my finger as if at a disobedient child. “Do you want your kingdom to burn under my armies and Kaine’s power?”
“You’re holding the leash on a dragon,” Ambassador Gen’le growled. “Kaine can’t be controlled.”
I agreed. After what had happened earlier, I was fairly certain if I’d been actually threatening Ysabel, then I’d already be dead. But the knowledge it was all fake lent me courage. I jerked on the chain again. “Kaine won’t dare make a move as long as I have his darling wife in my possession.”
Ysabel buried her face in her hands. “Please, forget about me. Even though the Blood Duchess threatened to rip off all my fingernails and use my blood for her facial massage. She said she would cut off my flesh bit by bit. Even if I die, it will be worth it to stop this madwoman. She even threatened to slaughter every woman prettier than her in the city.”
I what now? Yzzy, are you framing me for more crimes? This is like our childhood all over again.Then I remembered that I was supposed to be a villainess, so Ysabel was helping me. I put a finger to my lips and laughed from my belly. “Oh-ho-ho-ho-ho! Why stop at the women? Any man prettier than me should die, too! Unless they’re willing to serve in my bed, of course.”
Ysabel dabbed her eyes. “When I think about what she did to that horse who bit her …”
Even the crime of animal abuse had been hung around my neck now? What was I supposed to have done to some poor, innocenthorse? Despite the lack of details, Ambassador Gen’le looked deeply impressed and intimidated.
“She even threatened to rip the fetus from my womb early and send it back in a box to my husband!” Ysabel clutched at her stomach.
Big sister, you’re going a bit too far!I didn’t want to become quite that twisted. How had she even thought of something so deranged?
Ambassador Gen’le gasped and swayed on his feet. “A new dark lord has arisen! The most terrible one yet!”
Hey, I hadn’t even done anything yet. At least this meant everything was going according to plan. Was it time to move on to the next stage yet?
Sure enough, Donya flung open the door and strode in. She was followed by a series of maids holding jewelry boxes. “Your Grace, please accept these offerings, and in exchange, don’t hurt the Holy Maiden any longer.”
Ysabel fell over sideways as if just being in my general presence sickened her.
The maids paraded forward, presenting the Royal Jewels. The sacred treasures of our kingdom for centuries—which, frankly, was the only reason they hadn’t been sold off yet.
The dwarven ambassador and his secretary gaped as each treasure was presented. A pearl necklace, an emerald ring, a string of rubies, a diamond-studded circlet. The maids placed each one on my body, including a crown on top of the first crown. The flow kept coming, until I was wearing half a dozen necklaces, three rings on each finger, and bracelets nearly to my elbow.
So heavy! I could barely move!
Finally, Donya knelt down and presented an emerald set in a golden flower brooch. It glowed brightly, casting rainbows across the room.
Ambassador Gen’le inhaled deeply. He knew the legend behind this particular piece: Holy Maiden Ava was said to have blessed it such that as long as the brooch remained in Arahasnor’s borders, the royal line would always continue. The perpetual light it exuded was proof of its divine power. Because it was so important, the brooch was neverworn. It was kept locked up in a safe in the palace treasure room and guarded at all times. For Arahasnor to bring this out and offer it to me was a violation of our traditions and a sign of complete and utter submission.
I turned up my lip. As planned, I recited my line: “You dare offer me anemerald? Don’t you see that I’m wearing red? This doesn’t match my outfit at all!”
“This is the greatest treasure of Arahasnor,” Donya said. “You ordered us to bring all treasures to you.” Not the best actress—her delivery came out flat. Perhaps we could pass it off as numb terror?
Summoning all my nerve, my heart pounding in my chest, I picked up the brooch. Then I threw it at Donya’s face.
As it bounced off her nose and hit the floor, I wanted to sob. So much money! More than I’d ever touched in my entire life! Enough to feed my entire village! I wanted to sink into the floor and die. Instead, I composed my lips into a smile. “Oops, sorry, my hand slipped. Maybe because your greatest treasure was a bit too lightweight? Don’t you think that a proper gemstone should be double that size?”
Donya knelt down and picked up the brooch. “I’m very sorry, Your Grace.” The gem looked intact. I thought. I hoped. It had better be intact, or I would be in so much theological trouble. Wait, did I see … a tiny chip? My heart attempted to leap out of my throat and strangle me.
