There was only one way to truly know, but it was unfortunately a risk that I couldn’t afford to take.
After thanking Dalia and promising that I would find her when this was done to let her know the outcome, Alfrikr and I made our way back to the palace, my mind no less troubled than before.
But I had a challenge to win, and maybe in doing so, some of those troubles would be resolved as well.
Entering the palace, Alfrikr instructed me to wait while he spoke to Lady Arianell to find out when I could use the Gemlab that Prince Ruri apparently frequented for my trial. Each lady still in the competition would be overseen while creating their potion, and I couldn’t help but wonder who exactly would be present.
I hadn’t thought much about how they would test the effectiveness of the potions. Surely, some of them would have obvious results, but mine would be quite difficult to judge. If all went well, I would learn the truth, but the judges would not see what it showed me.
Alfrikr returned with the news that I would be next up after Lady Safira finished, and I let out a slow breath at the news. I didn’t know whether to be elated that I would soon know the absolute truth or terrified to experience that night once more, let alone the ramifications once I knew.
I didn’t allow myself to dwell on what those might be. It was a moot point. Either way, I would have big decisions to make once it was done, but nothing could be decided before then.
When my turn finally came, I took a steadying breath, stilling my shaking hands as I gathered my gems and made my way to the Gemlab, ready to brew my potion. Walking in, I stopped short as I found Azurill waiting, leaning casually back against a table.
“My King.” I curtseyed, raising a brow at him.
His smirk quickly turned into a smile as he saw me, but his own eyebrow spiked up as he took in my pink dress. “My Lady.” He nearly purred.
I bit my lower lip, trying to contain all the words desperate to spill out, but his eyes locked onto the motion, and he licked his lip in turn. I shook my head, breaking our stare and moving forward to the table to deposit my materials.
I took a look around the room, taking in the arched, wooden bookshelves stuffed full of books, potion bottles, and more. The room had been lined with what I knew to be spelled rock, as many Gemlabs were, to keep magic contained within the room. Unlike Carnelian’s Gemlab, which was very cold in appearance, this had an old-world charm that I loved. Fern leaves fell from the tops of the bookshelves, and warm diamond-shaped teardrop-style lanterns hung from the ceiling.
“I had our original Gemlab repurposed for solely our alchemists’ use, and built this one for my brother,” Azurill said softly as he stepped up to the other side of the table, running his hands across the wooden surface. “He goes to Ceridwen Academy in Amethyst and has found that he loves nothing more than experimenting with magic.”
I couldn’t help returning his smile, even as my eyes refused to meet his, skittering down to the table to unpack my gems. “You’re a good brother. Many wouldn’t make them a lab for their own personal use.”
I looked up at him then, unable to help raising a brow, a twinkle in my eye, “Though I can’t help but wonder why you’ve commandeered your brother’s lab for this competition instead of having us use the other.”
Azurill chuckled deeply, making a shiver run down my spine. “I’m afraid Ruri’s got the alchemists working around the clock on potions for our protection, just in case. This was the only way we’d get you all in. And he was very insistent that the competition includes a challenge such as this.”
My hands stilled briefly as I reached for a large potion bottle, but I forced myself to keep moving. It shouldn’t be a surprise; Prince Ruri was clearly all too aware of the daggers at their back.
“So, how does this work then?” I asked, my hands flourishing over the table. “I was given Diamond Court and decided on a truth potion, but I will be the only one to see it when I drink it, so how will you judge its effectiveness?”
“What truth are you aiming to see?” Azurill hummed, looking me over carefully.
“The only one that matters,” I responded quietly, pain shuddering through my words despite my best efforts to suppress it. “The one that will tell me how to move forward.”
I met his eyes carefully, and the intrigue and caution in his gaze were mixed with a soft affection and fierce lust, creating a look as complex as the potion I was about to brew. How was it possible for this man to feel so much at once?
Azurill rounded the table and moved to stand before me, slowly raising his hand until he was cupping my cheek. My eyes closed as I leaned into it, unable to help myself. The desire to lose myself in the present was too much, especially when the past awaited.
I opened my eyes, meeting Azurill’s teal orbs, to find him watching me intensely.
“It will show you something of the past?” he asked, raising a brow, eyes briefly flitting to the combination of gems now sitting on the table. I nodded into his palm, and his lips tilted up into a smirk. “Then I’ll be able to tell if it worked. Your eyes will give it away.”
“How so?” I asked as he stepped back, my brows furrowing.
His head cocked to the side curiously. “Have you never seen a potion like this in action?”
I dipped my head down briefly, but made myself lift it back up to meet his eyes. The shame I felt for not receiving the education I should have was present, but I was also proud of all that I had managed to teach myself while living on the streets. I took the foundation my parents and teachers had instilled in me and let it grow like an out-of-control weed. I sucked up anyknowledge I could everywhere we went. But still, I knew there were things I was lacking in.
That was never more apparent than now, as my entire house of cards threatened to crumble before the High King. Any noble daughter would have been taught this, making it glaringly obvious that something about my story was off.
“Well,” Azurill continued, allowing my silence to be his answer. “Your eyes will cloud over as you see the truth you are seeking. The colors of the potion will swirl through your eyes, and that will be all the indication I need to know it worked.”
I nodded sharply as he smiled softly, and wanting to prevent any further slips in my armor, I quickly got to work.
