Percy turned red. Before he could launch an outburst of his own, he turned his head to spot the queen as she made her way down the corridor. With visible wrath he spun on his heel, making his way to his usual seat. As he sat, his neighbors gave him some distance, and the room settled around the queen’s arrival.
I sat next to Winnie, looking up at last to see a friend staring right back at me. Angharad offered a small wave, then made wide eyes toward the end of the table, tilting her head to where Percy sat; I replied with a smirk, rolling my eyes.
Queen Adelaide, now dressed like her usual self, took her seat at the head of the table, joined in short order by her son. The food was brought out, an excess that now felt gluttonous, and she didn’t take her time cutting into the boar that was served. Everyone began to eat, steadily recovering from the argument.
“Duke Minnick,” the queen said, loud enough for all to hear. “Please see that Lord Marius receives our thanks for extending his hospitality to my son and Lady Alana.”
I perked up at the mention of my name, feeling as much excitement as I did anxiety. The duke, halfway through a mouthful of bread, choked in his attempt to swallow quickly. Once his windpipe was cleared, he managed a reply. “Certainly, your majesty.”
“And let him know that I have decided to accept the proposal on the construction of the canal,” she resumed.
A butterknife dropped to the floor. All eyes fell to Percy, who clutched his fist so tightly that his knuckles turned white.
The queen’s eyes fell coldly to him. “Is there an issue?”
Percy froze for several moments, then shook his head. He retrieved the knife, handing it to a quick-reflexed servant who had already grabbed a spare for him.
Leaning closer, Winnie whispered. “How well do you know the family tree, my lady?”
“I confess, not well,” I replied, barely putting air to the words.
“Well, had the merger between Gallae and Hadria not occurred, Percy’s father Alphonse would have inheritedthe crown,” she explained quietly. “But Percy’s mother facilitated the meeting between Adelaide and King Elias.”
She paused as a servant filled our wine.
“Some say she did it deliberately; Alphonse had a cruel streak, and she feared what kind of king he’d make.”
I looked up just in time to catch Percy shooting a leer toward Nicolas.
“The queen was originally set to marry a suitor from Baselia, and she would have been shipped away, but then she fell headover-heels for the Hadrian prince. Her father, who ruled before her, ceded the throne to King Elias during the wedding ceremony.”
I shifted my gaze to Queen Adelaide. She’d come in and put a stop to that argument with little concern for Percy’s temper. Here was not only a queen, but a matriarch. The more I heard from Winnie, the more I wished to learn.
Chapter 17
“It’s been fartoo long since you and I have had any quality time together,” said Angharad, her arm hooked through mine. Behind us trailed a gaggle of our combined servants, though for once, Winnie was too preoccupied with chores to tag along. The viscount sat nearby, nose buried in a book. He occasionally spared us a glance, but he’d become more relaxed in his duties since leaving the border. Undoubtedly, he believed I had taken on some protection by bringing a witch into the court. “Tell me, how was Hadria?”
It was so easy to fall into conversations with Angharad, to forget that she’d been the one to tip me off about Percy. She was as dangerous a player as any within the court and, more importantly, she’d proven herself a friend.
“I can only speak for Pontarena, but it was lovely there. They threw a ball for us the day we arrived, and I got to dance with the prince,” I highlighted, watching Angharad’s expression enliven. “Up to then, our interactions were more…strategic, I should say. Though there were moments I thought he might eat me alive if I smiled the wrong way.”
Angharad laughed. “Yes, I would be willing to believe that. The man’s lust is palpable.”
I turned away to hide my embarrassment. “It was a nice holiday. I only wish I’d been there longer.”
“Oh, but there will be time for that!” Angharad soothed, patting my hand. “You and the prince will undoubtedly spend a great deal of time going back and forth across Antier, especially to check in on that littlecanalproject.”
I shivered at the memory of Percy’s seething malice, the way hebrooded when Nicolas put him in his place.
“That was a dreadful argument,” Angharad said. “It went on for quite some time before you arrived.”
“Do you suppose Percy has a right to his anger? It sounds as though the land was taken from him and given to what he perceives as a foreigner. He must have felt that Nicolas was waving it in his face, and right in front of the court…”
Angharad gave me a curious look. “Percy may feel how he wishes, but he has no right to question the prince. He’s lucky to be alive; tell me if I’m counting correctly, but I believe that was the second spectacle he put on in front of His Highness.”
I snorted, crinkling my nose in memory of Percy’s ruined breeches. “It was certainly quite a show.”
“Yes, a shit-show,” Angharad agreed. “But his outrage over the canal was a ruse to draw attention to his perceived injustice,” she continued. “Of course, only a fool would side against the queen. We must stand united, both as a court and with our brothers in Hadria; others might view any perceived weakness as an opportunity to sow further dissent or launch an attack.” I nodded.
