“Do you spend much time here at court?” I asked her with a friendly grin, and she relaxed even further, her eyes sparkling.
“Oh no, I try to stay far away,” she said, her happiness dimming slightly. Before I could ask her what in Tartarus she was doing here then, another voice interrupted.
“Oh, would you look at that.” I turned to see a woman with long, curly emerald-green hair and bright eyes set beautifully against her tan skin. Another woman with pale white skin perfectly complemented by her cobalt-blue hair and eyes had her arm linked with the first woman.
“I didn’t realize the Diamond Queen Competition was open to everyone now. It’s so kind of High King Azurill to be charitable to the less fortunate.” The woman dressed in the matching emerald-green of her court said, her sweet tone so fake that it set my teeth on edge.
The cobalt-haired woman tittered beside her, covering her mouth with her hand. “I’m sure you’ll both make a valiant effort.”
My eyes narrowed as Lady Faiza seemed to wilt where she stood, like a flower falling to the freeze, and I set my sights on the two before me.
“As I’m sure you will, my ladies,” I told them in the same sickly-sweet tone. Faiza’s eyes widened, while the cobalt-haired woman, Safira, if I remembered correctly, blinked rapidly. But the emerald-haired one narrowed her eyes at me, a viciousness behind her own I recognized from years on the streets. The look of someone who’d do anything to keep what they viewed astheirs.
“I’m Lady Zumra Giada, daughter of Lord Khader Giada of Emerald Court.” She smiled that fake smile at me. “And who mightyoube?” She looked down her nose at me, sniffing in disdain.
I smiled slowly, “I’m Lady Jacinth Tawny, cousin of Lord Carnelian of Ruby Court, and the winner of this competition.”
Lady Zumra’s head reared back a bit, before she started laughing and shaking her head. Safira looked between us, seemingly uncertain, before laughing weakly.
“Oh, are you now?” Zumra asked, her laughter finally trailing off. I barely noticed some other ladies had joined us in the room while I was stuck dealing with the brat before me. “And I suppose I’m the next High King!”
Safira laughed dutifully at her joke, but looked distinctly uneasy, while Faiza looked almost scared on my behalf, shaking her head at me discreetly. Another woman with amethyst hair watched on with a critical eye.
“Let me make one thing clear, right now for you,Lady Jacinth.” Zumra smiled before leaning in, that smile disappearing to show her true face.Narrowed eyes and a sneer met my completely blank expression. “I will be the next Diamond Queen, no matter what it takes.”
Safira frowned at her side, clearly not agreeing. We were all here for the same reason—to competeagainstone another. Whatever friendship the two had, I had a feeling Safira was rapidly discovering that it didn’t extend to such high stakes as a queenship.
“We’ll see.” I shrugged casually, enraging Lady Zumra further.
“Yes, we will,” she said heavily, exposing all her teeth like a feral wolf snarling. “I’d be careful in the challenges. You never know what can happen.” She tutted before walking briskly away to another side of the room, talking quickly but quietly to Safira.
“Veritx, do you have a death wish?” Faiza asked me with wide eyes. I laughed, shaking my head.
“One thing I’ve learned is that you can never give in to those who think to demean you. If you allow it once, they’ll just continue. Standing up to them is the only way,” I told her, leaning in conspiratorially.
She shook her head. “I don’t think I could dare. My position doesn’t allow it.”
She looked down, as if ashamed, and I suddenly found that despite her being my competition and all that was riding on me winning, I could not in good conscience allow her to continue believing such bullshit.
“Your position does not define you,” I told her quietly, and she looked back up at me curiously. Surely, she’d been hearing the opposite her entire life. “You’re already more privileged than many out there, who would kill for the luxury of being an Earl’s daughter. You have more power than you think.”
The irony struck me, having disputed the same argument to Ula only a few days prior.
“But even despite that, what position you hold in society doesn’t define who you are as a person. Only you can do that. You can step outside the role you think you’re meant to play, and instead play the oneyouchoose.” I finished, happy to see the small smile she now wore.
“You make it sound so easy,” she said ruefully, reaching up to twirl a turquoise curl around her finger as she ruminated on what I’d said.
“It’s not.” I admitted, smiling wryly. “Just remember that you’re more than you think.” I looked her over for a moment, considering.
“Do youwantto be the Diamond Queen?” I asked her curiously.
Faiza looked around wildly, and upon seeing that everyone was a good distance away, she shook her head slightly in the negative.
“Then why are you here?” I couldn’t help asking, raising a brow at her.
She sighed heavily, her misery peeking through for the briefest moment. “They needed a woman with noble blood from Diamond, and I was the only one available who’s not related to Az—” Her eyes widened in fright. “Uh, High King Azurill.”
Hmm. Close enough to be on not only a first name, but a nickname basis, with the king?
