He nodded. “She’s degrading my honor. They’re just words, Princess. They can’t hurt me the way she wants.”
“If His Majesty does not see to your immediate removal from his daughter’s influence, I willscreamof your encouragement for her ruin, and I will scream of his brat’s indecency. I will see to it that everyone hears of her letters. Do not tempt me, Ser! I must do what I feel is right.”
“You can say whatever it is you want to say,” he explained. “Do whatever you want to do. But will anyone believe an old, hateful woman? Probably not. You’re not exactly well-liked inthese parts. You’re tolerated upon the King’s invitation and his invitation alone, but go ahead and speak to him. Tell him everything it is you think is true. I’m sure I’ll enjoy how very disappointing it will be for you to find that he won’t ever release me though. Not even if I were as awful as you have decided. No, I’m here forever, Miss Hellveig. Are you?”
She frowned. “Likability is nothing when it comes to a lady. You don’t understand this, as you are privileged to be a man, but she does. She understands because I have told her, and because I won’t ever lie to her or coddle her mistakes. She understands that I am not so successful a woman by allowing myself to be pushed around by men who think they have such power. I am her only real support in this world, and I am the only one who wins this game for her, Lord Commander. She knows that if I tell anyone, anyone at all about what she’s done, it doesn’t matter if it’s true or not. They will listen. Theywantto listen; theywantto see her trip and fall, and they want whatever words I say to be true. That’s why people gossip.”
“She doesn’t believe you,” he said.
“Elías,” I breathed in. “Please. You’re making it worse.”
“Go to your room,” he said.
“Yes. Go on, Your Highness,” she agreed. “Listen to the man. Do as you’re told.”
“Just apologize to her, Ser,” I begged.
“No,”he said. “And you–”
“Please,” I said. I met her eyes and stepped closer. “Miss Hellveig. Please. He’s sorry.I’msorry. Just leave him alone. He isn’t bad. Not like me.”
She shook her head.
“He’s not! He’s not bad,” I said. “And he doesn’t makemebad! I’m bad all on my own!”
“Svana,” Elías said, he angled in my direction, reaching for my arm.
I pulled away. “Ser, please!” I told him. “We can’t win.”
“Good girl,” Hellveig said.
“I’ll do whatever you ask,” I promised her. “Just leave him alone. Please. He’s important to me.”
Her face softened, then it wound into an evil shape and she tsked. “Your Highness, he’s poisoned your mind against what’s right. Don’t you see?”
“That isn’t true,” Elías said.
“It is though,” she went on. “And do you think he would stay? If everyone knew who you really were? Would your knight stay beside you?”
“I… I think so, yes,” I said.
She shook her head. “I don’t.”
Eli stepped between us; his glove forced itself into the folds of my dress and pulled me by it, back toward the hall. I halted, shocked.
“Svana,” he said sternly. “Leave. Now.”
“N-No,” I said.
“Even the Princess sees you’re in the wrong,” Hellveig replied. “Don’t you think it’s time you come to terms with it?”
He approached her; she stepped back.
“You’ve no right to touch her the way you have,” Elías said. “You’ve no right to lie to her, toconvinceher that she is so alone.”
“And you’ve the right to convince her she isn’t?” she asked. “Doyouhave to marry a man for peace? Or are you quite comfortable in your lifestyle as it is, Ser? Do you not remain here once she is gone?”
“I should hurt you the way you’ve hurt her,”he muttered.
