Araceli frowned. “Your acting wasamazing. Frankly, I thought your sister overacted a bit. You’re the one who convinced the ambassador that you were ready and willing to kill him. Don’t sell yourself short.”
“Oh, I didn’t mean it in a bad way! I’m relieved that Ysabel came to help.” Yet as soon as I spoke those words, they didn’t feel true. Why? I definitely hadn’t wanted to keep fumbling around alone. Still, I wished I’d been able to handle this entire mess without my sister’s help.
Ever since I’d been a small child, I’d relied on Ysabel to protect me more than my abusive father or my self-centered mother. Ysabel had put food on the table when we’d been poor. She’d protected our entire refugee camp from the wealthy and powerful. And she’d done it by draining her life. For years, I’d been too ashamed to look her in the eye because I knew she was dying to save us. But what could I do? It wasn’t just me—my little brother needed food and protection. I had never been able to tell her to stop. I’d known she wouldn’t listen to me, so it would have felt disingenuous to tell her to stop, as if I was merely unburdening my own conscience by pretending to give her away out that she couldn’t take. If only I’d had power, if only I’d been able to help her, then I could have told her to stop.
“It’s gotta be annoying sometimes, being the little sister of the famous Holy Maiden.” Araceli wiped a crumb off her lip. “Honestly, I find your sister a bit exhausting.”
I immediately defended her. “She’s bringing all her energy to help us pull off this act. It can be difficult when people compare us, but that’s notherfault.”
Araceli studied me as though she could see the truth in my eyes. “You can complain if you want. I won’t tell anyone. You certainly got the worse role in our little play, the villainess to her tragic heroine. A little jealousy would be normal. You can vent to me, and it will stay between the two of us.”
“No, it’s not like that. I don’t think so, anyway.” I hesitated. Was I jealous of my sister? Ysabel had always been more than me: more beautiful, more smart, more brave, more strong, more charming, and more magical. For that matter, she’d even won the unfortunate title of more tragic. She’d been doomed to die young from the moment her healing gift had manifested. I would have rather cut out my own tongue than presume to show jealousy to her face. Keeping it to myself was the absolute least I could do. Now that Kaine had found a way to save my sister from losing her life when she healed, did I have the right to feel jealous of her? Did the heavy feeling under my chest come from petty envy? Maybe a little. I’d never wished for Ysabel to be any less than the magnificent big sister I adored, but I wished I could be a bit more like her. Then she wouldn’t be the only person carrying all the burdens in our family.
I blurted out, “I wish I’d been able to handle this whole mess on my own, so my pregnant sister didn’t need to drag herself to a whole different country to rescue me. She should be resting at home. I’m glad to have her on my side, and I certainly think our odds of success are better with her. But I’ve always relied on Ysabel, and she’s never once relied on me. She’s done too much for our family since she was only a child herself. I wish I could be the one to protect her sometimes, too.”
Araceli gazed at me, a soft look in her eyes. “That’s just like you, Bora. I should have known. You’re not the type of person to get jealous.” She chuckled. “I love that kindness of yours.”
I looked down. “Uh, I don’t think my kindness is an asset at the moment, not when I’m pretending to be a villainess.”
“It’s the reason I’m still here,” Araceli said.
“Oh.” My cheeks warmed. I still thought I hadn’t done a very good job as the Blood Duchess, but if I’d convinced Araceli to stay, then at least I’d contributed something to the team. “Thank you. Talking to you helped me understand my feelings a bit better.”
But that didn’t change anything. If I just kept on doing what Ysabel said, then everything would turn out all right. Ysabel was the smartest person I knew. Right now, it was more important to save my country than to assuage my jealousy or pride. Even though I felt a bit disappointed in myself.
Ambassador Gen’le handed me the paper forfeiting the Dwarven Caves’ claim to Arahasnor. “Even if the Conclave of Kings doesn’t punish you, you’ll receive your karma someday.”
Since he had believed my threats to torture Ysabel, I couldn’t blame him. If anything, I admired his courage for being willing to say it. Even though I’d committed to playing the part of a villainess, sometimes it felt exhausting to be hated by everyone. How would a villainess react? I stuck my nose in the air and sneered. It probably looked like I was constipated.
Ambassador Gen’le opened the door to his carriage. “Come, Ma’qas. Let’s leave this evil place.”
Ma’qas cleared her throat. “I’m sorry. I’m staying here. You see, the Blood Duchess has fallen in love with me and demands me as her concubine.”
I choked. Then I remembered that we needed an excuse to keep Ma’qas around. It was of vital personal importance to me that she track down the duchess in my body. Even if I didn’t like the story she’d come up with one bit. “Uh, that’s right,” I said. “Muhahahahaha.” My evil laugh sounded weak even to my own ears.
Ma’qas placed a hand on her forehead. “After we left the throne room, she dragged me back to her quarters. I was helpless to resist.”
I what now? First my own sister falsely accused me of all nature of horrors, and now this? I felt faint.
Ambassador Gen’le puffed out his chest. “This is an outrage. No matter what devilish powers you may control, I can’t allow you to take one of my own people prisoner for your dark lusts.”
I had no idea what to say. How did this escalate so quickly? Even if I had to pretend to be a tyrant, a moral line must be drawn! I would not accept this false charge!
“No, I’ve decided to stay on my own.” Ma’qas reached up and captured my hand. “I’ve fallen in love with the duchess!”
I choked again, then turned it into an evil cackle.
Ma’qas swooned on top of me. “I already belong to Duchess Hedri, body and soul. I’m a helpless pawn of her evil wiles. My body can’t resist her. She’s completely conquered me.”
The dwarven ambassador stared at me with both horror and fascination, as if trying to penetrate the dark secrets of my seductive wiles.
Don’t look at me like that! I don’t know what the hell she’s talking about, either.Subtly, I tried to push Ma’qas off me.
“Are you certain?” Ambassador Gen’le demanded.
Ma’qas sighed and snuggled closer to me. “I’m sorry, sir. I can not give up this unimaginable pleasure.”
The ambassador’s eyebrows crawled to his hairline. He was looking at me with even more shock and perhaps curiosity. I couldn’t take it any longer. I grabbed Ma’qas’s arm to lift her off me.
