“My Lady.” She curtseyed, and I took a moment to take her in. She had slate-grey hair and eyes paired with dark black skin, the grey hue marking her out as being from Onyx Court. While the onyx black color they were known for had mostly been lost in its lords and ladies and replaced by gold, its people still often had black, grey, or other similarly dark shades.
“How can I help you today?” she asked, a smile firmly in place. As I explained what I came for, she nodded knowingly. “Of course, I have just the thing.”
While she went to grab the potion, I examined the large wall of finished potions she was rifling through. There were bottles of all shapes and sizes, filled with potions of every color imaginable.
“Here you are, my Lady,” the alchemist said, handing over a potion that was a shimmery dark purple, likely a combination of amethyst for increased clarity, opal for healing, and onyx for relaxing certain parts of the body.
“Thank you.” I gave her a tired smile and quickly drank the potion, feeling its effects immediately and sighing in relief. The alchemist tried to hide her smirk as I gave the empty bottle back, making me grin.
I saw myself out afterward and spent the rest of the morning relaxing. By the time lunch came, Amatista and Faiza were both waiting for me, with concerned looks on both their faces as I approached them. When I got close enough, they pulled me in for hugs, babbling a mile a minute as they tried to ask a million questions about what had happened.
Apparently, everyone had already heard about the attack and Zumra’s arrest. I’d nearly forgotten the entire ordeal after how I’d spent the rest of my night.
“I’m fine,” I promised them both. “I woke in time to prevent them from succeeding, thank the gods.”
“You could have been killed!” Faiza fretted, her fingers digging into the arms of her chair.
“I can’t believe Zumra went to such lengths.” Amatista tutted, shaking her head. “I knew she was awful, but I had no idea she was that stupid.”
I chuckled at Amatista’s comment. “I had the same thought myself. I have to assume she trusted that there wouldn’t be anyone to rat her out.”
“That’s an awfully big risk to take,” Faiza said, her face scrunched in thought. “Especially with all the security for the competition.”
“She was clearly desperate,” Amatista pondered. “Perhaps she felt that any risk was worth it?”
“She did seem to come here thinking she was going to sweep this competition and end up queen of Gemaria,” I added, making them both nod.
“That’s true. And you two didn’t get along from the start,” Faiza said, shaking her head. “Her elimination happened in the same round that the two of you had that little scuffle in the gardens as well. She must have blamed you.”
“That woman has no sense of personal responsibility.” Amatista sniffed in disdain, making Faiza and me chuckle, nodding in agreement.
“Lady Jacinth.” I froze at the sound of that voice, turning to see Lord Carnelian looking down at me.
“Lord Carnelian.” I forced out the words, pulling the veil of truth tight over myself, not letting the slightest hint of my real feelings escape. Knowing what had truly happened now, what he’d done, I wanted nothing more than to take my silverware and ram it through his eyeballs.
“I was hoping to check in and see how you were doing after last night,” He explained, putting on a front of care and concern, while dismissing my friends without saying a word. I ground my teeth behind my smile, nodding as pleasantly as I could manage.
“Of course, my Lord, that’s very kind of you.” I turned to Faiza and Amatista, “If you’ll excuse me, my ladies, I’ll return shortly,” I told them, hoping it would mean Carnelian would keep this short.
I stood up and joined him, taking his arm when he offered it. He walked us out of the main room and down the halls toward where his rooms were.
“Don’t worry, I won’t keep you long,” he promised, amusement crossing his face. “I have a meeting to keep, but I felt it necessary to ensure you were well enough to still carry out your mission,” he said as he closed the door behind us.
“Of course, my Lord,” I told him, nearly biting my tongue as I held myself back from attacking him now that we were alone.
“Zumra has always been overly emotional.” Carnelian hummed, taking a seat. “But as long as you can continue then no true harm was done. I’ll be able to pacify her father later.”
My nails cut into my palm at the reminder of the future he had planned. Of course, he’d surely free Zumra the moment I killed Azurill to get her father on his side. I wasn’t dumb enough to believe he had any plans to let me live now. Not when he’d likely figured outexactlywho I was. And more importantly, what that meant for his plans.
If they were going to succeed, I would have to die.
I didn’t know how he’d figured me out, but maybe my coloring and vague statements alone had been enough to get him thinking. Either way, it spelled doom for me unless I was able to act first.
“I’ll be just fine.” I smiled placidly, sitting back into the sofa across from him as I prepared to lie my ass off. “Azurill believes me to have real feelings for him, so he won’t see it coming.”
“Good.” Carnelian nodded in satisfaction. “As we approach the end, it’s more important than ever that you give your all to the competition. Do not let yourself get distracted.”
“Distracted?” I asked him, a lone pink brow rising in question.
