I cut my thoughts off immediately. The confusion I’ve been living with since arriving here was always a steady presence in the background, but now was the time to don my veil of truth and pretend to be an insipid noble desperate to be queen.
“My Lords and Ladies, the Diamond Queen Competition is all about finding the best High Queen for Gemaria,” Azurill began with a smirk firmly in place and a twinkle in his teal eyes, “As such, our competitors face trials that test them on different challenges they would face as queen. Our fourth trial was a test of child rearing. A queen is, after all, expected to produce children one day, and raise them to be the next kings, princes, and princesses of the realm.”
A cheer rose from the crowd, all of them eager, or pretending to be, for the safety of a secured succession.
“Each of the ladies was assigned a child to take care of over the last few days, and each was measured according to how well they did,” he continued, his smirk falling as he looked out among us.
“Each lady revealed much about what type of wife, mother, and queen they would be during this challenge, and I look forward to the next trials to learn even more about our competitors. But sadly, one must be eliminated today.” Azurill said, and his eyes fell to my right.
“Lady Zumra Giada, I thank you for your participation in the Diamond Queen Competition. You’ve done Emerald Court proud, but it’s unfortunately your time for elimination,” he announced heavily, and the gasp that rang around the room at his words had me fighting a smirk.
Zumra’s jaw had actually dropped as she stared at Azurill with wide, emerald eyes. Her emerald and teal gown studded with diamonds showed her confidence in an alliance that she was now realizing had slipped through her fingers.
“Me?” she stuttered, unable to believe what was happening. “But?—”
Lord Emrys stepped forward then, his opal-white hair gleaming in the light of the throne room, and he grabbed Zumra lightly by the shoulders to lead her out of the room. His job handling inter-court relations had to be getting tested quite thoroughly during this competition. I didn’t envy him in the least.
I breathed a sigh of relief, knowing I was safe for another trial, and as a bonus, I’d no longer have to deal with Zumra’s cattiness. Azurill’s eyes met mine briefly, and I knew the small smile that snuck onto his lips was all for me, making my heart pound within my chest, even as he hid it just as fast, turning to face the court at large.
“Our next challenge is one my own brother devised,” Azurill told the crowd, smiling proudly as he nodded to Prince Ruri, who was standing to the right of the throne. He bowed theatrically, making the crowd go crazy.
“Our realm is one based upon magic, and every ruler needs to be adept at that magic. For this trial, each lady will be assigned a type of potion to create. She will have the flexibility to decide the details and what goes into it, as long as it creates a result within the parameters we’ve set,” he explained, spreading his hands wide as he did so, his eyes focusing in on all of us who remained in the competition.
Our number was ever smaller, making me breathe a sigh of relief even as I straightened, realizing that the time to make a decision about how to move forward loomed ever closer.
“Each of you will need to acquire the right gems and carry out the alchemy to make the potion. You will then test the potion yourself, and the results will determine your competency with magic, as well as your place in this competition.” Azurill told us, his voice kind but stern.
“Your guards will bring each of you to the gem markets tomorrow morning to get started.” He instructed, before turning to the opal-haired lady standing off to the side. “Please see Lady Arianell to get your assigned task for this trial.”
With that, he was quick to leave, and I could hardly blame him when I spied the lord and lady of Emerald Court, looking fit to be tied as they struggled to make their way over to him. I shook my head at their folly. Did they truly think they could change the result? Or were they hoping to at least get something else out of their daughter’s failure?
I could easily see Azurill and his council offering discounted trade or more spots on said council as a way to shut them up.
I made my way to Lady Arianell when Amatista was done, looking quite pleased with whatever she’d been assigned. I tried not to let my nerves show. I knewhowto do alchemy to create a potion, having done some on the streets on rare occasions, but nothing of the caliber I was sure they were going to expect.
I was going to have to create something way out of my magical league.
My palms were sweating by the time I’d reached Arianell.
“Lady Jacinth.” She smiled kindly, her opal eyes swirling with color and looking like magic themselves. “You’ve been assigned the task of creating a potion related to the values of Diamond Court. Meaning it will need to relate to truth, power, or courage in some way,” she explained, and I breathed a sigh of relief at how open-ended that was.
I thanked her briefly before letting my mind wander. There were so many ways to mix gems together that would create an infinite number of reactions, and I was going to have to narrow in on what I could make before tomorrow. Perhaps something easy that not even I could fuck up.
“What did you get?” Amatista appeared at my side, linking our arms together as we left the throne room.
“What didyouget?” I countered, matching her smile as best I could. She laughed, throwing her head back.
“I was assigned Pearl Court,” she explained, and my breath caught in my throat. My hands went to my neck, where my mother’s necklace lay hidden beneath my dress. “I think a boring love potion should suffice, or perhaps one to increase lust? Either way, it’ll be fine.” She forced a smile now, making me curious about where her mind had gone.
“Nowwill you tell me what you got?” She nudged me, raising an amethyst brow. I explained what Arianell told me, and Amatista looked excited, her eyes and smile wide.
“You could create such wonderful magic for that!” she told me as we walked down the hall. “Perhaps a truth potion? Find out how Azurill really feels?” she teased, but I stilled, actually completely stilled, my feet not moving another step as it hit me in a dizzying rush.
A truth potion.
But for what I needed…if I wanted to know the truth…if I could find out what really happened to my family,whyit happened…and how Azurill and Carnelian both played into it…
Diamond for truth. To reveal the unknown.
