Ambassador Gen’le looked as though he might faint. “The sacred treasure of Ava!”
I wanted to faint even more than he did. What if I fell over dead from sacrilege? I’d begged everyone to let me use a fake, but they all said it wouldn’t glow properly. I was going to get struck by lightning from the Sun God. I’d never dare go outside again.
To falter now would ruin everything and waste all my efforts. Nothing for it but to keep pressing on with this act until the bitter end.
I yanked on my pearl necklace. “Hmm, these don’t look big enough. I still don’t feel satisfied. I desire more jewelry.” Actually, one more necklace might cause my neck to snap. Everything felt so heavy, I’d tip over if anyone pushed me. “Don’t you think I could fit fourrings on each finger?” I stretched out my hand. It took a lot of effort, given how weighed down I was. The bracelets rubbed uncomfortably against each other.Please, just let this be over already.
“This is all the jewelry in the royal coffers,” Donya said.
“Humph! Then I’ll have to send Kaine to conquer another country for me.” I turned to look at the two dwarves.
The ambassador took a step backward. His cheeks paled and his beard twitched.
With great effort, I stopped my head from nodding over under the weight of two crowns. “I’ve heard the Dwarven Caves mine the greatest treasures in the world. I know! I should conqueryournation next.”
Ambassador Gen’le clutched his assistant’s arm.
“Oh no! Please don’t!” Ysabel clasped her hands together. “I’m sure they never meant to try to claim what belongs to you. They’ll leave and never do it again.”
The ambassador nodded furiously. “We’d never dare stand up against your might. We’ll sign papers forfeiting all claim to Arahasnor, then leave at once.” And likely report me to the Conclave of Kings the instant they left, but I didn’t blame them for saying whatever they needed to in order to get out of this situation.
“Humph.” I tapped my chin, pretending to consider. “But I still desire jewels.”
“Your Grace, the dwarves predominantly mine gold and silver, not gems. Please have mercy on them,” Ysabel pleaded.
“Oh, well.” I leaned back on my chair. “I hardly need gold—I have too much of it already. Perhaps I can be merciful and merely demand a tribute of what gems they do possess. Get those two lowly creatures out of my sight.”
Ambassador Gen’le scrambled toward the door, casting Ysabel a look of gratitude and sympathy. Donya left quickly to prepare the meeting room for the next stage.
I narrowly stopped myself from collapsing. I had to keep my chin raised just a little longer, until they left. Then Donya would get them to sign the papers forfeiting any claim on Arahasnor and offer them the location of the treacherous treasury thief as compensation(and a distraction). Hopefully that would end this particular mess—especially because we still had quite a few more messes to go.
Secretary Ma’qas lowered her head and approached the throne. She was a mousy woman with short brown hair and beady eyes. Taking off a pink pearl bracelet, she held it out to me. “A tribute for Her Grace.”
I looked at her quizzically. Why would this woman offer me her jewelry when I hadn’t even asked for it? Had I terrorized the dwarves so deeply? I felt awful about stealing from someone. Unfortunately, I had no way to turn this down and remain in character. I’d find an excuse to return her bracelet to her later.
I reached out my hand. “It’s the least you can offer me, peasant.”
Before I could touch the bracelet, the door slammed open so hard it dented the wall. Araceli strode in. She wore a maid’s uniform, but she’d ripped open the front to make it more low cut and hiked up the skirt. Pouting, she posed with a hand on her hip. “You ugly bitch, how dare you try to seduce my darling with a trinket? Do you imagine you can rival me, the Blood Duchess’s current favorite?”
I had no idea what was going on. I hadn’t given Araceli any kind of cue about needing her help. I thought I was doing great. Plus, we’d almost been done, and the last thing I wanted was to drag this on even longer until the crowns gave me brain damage. But Araceli had thrown me a cue, so I needed to roll with it or else it would look strange.
“No one could rival your beauty, my darling.” I blew Araceli a kiss. “Come over here.”
Araceli boldly sauntered over and leaned her head against my shoulder. Lightly, fortunately, because just a little more weight would have sent me tumbling over. Her hair tickled my nose with a strawberry scent.
Secretary Ma’qas backed away. “I’m sorry to have offended.”
“Do you think an apology is enough to make up for insulting the duchess’s lover?” Araceli pursed her lips. “Darling, kill her for me.”
My spine went rigid. What was Araceli talking about? This wasn’t part of the plan. Obviously, I’d never kill someone, but I didn’t knowhow to get out of this. I bought myself time to think with another fake evil laugh. “Death wouldn’t make up for insulting you, my beauty. What if we torture her instead?” I gazed into Araceli’s eyes as if love-struck, trying to telepathically convey,What the hell are you doing?
Araceli simpered. “What a wonderful idea.” She reached out and caught Ma’qas’s wrist, forcing her to drop the bracelet. “You have lovely fingers, slut. Do you think you’ll still look as pretty after losing a few of them?”
“Enough!” Ambassador Gen’le cried. He looked terrified out of his mind, but to give him credit, he stomped forward and yanked Ma’qas away. “I must protest! This is a diplomatic mission. We have immunity.”
“Do you think diplomacy means anything to me? I could have both of your heads hanging from my throne in seconds.” I had no choice but to say that. After all, the entire plan hinged on the dwarven ambassador believing I was quite capable of killing him. But how was I going to back down now?
To my horror, a guard drew his sword. No! I hadn’t meant it!
