I quickly grabbed a drink to wash the heavy thoughts away and began moving again. Faiza and Amatista were across the room, but I’d made them aware of my goal for the night already. I spoke to courtiers as they came up to me, either congratulating me on my performance so far, trying to find out more about me, or wanting gossip about the attack. I took the time to speak to them all, since it helped play into my own game.
Allirea was a bit of a loner here, so I knew she would stick close to her brother. When I’d finally wandered close enough to where they were standing, I headed to a nearby sofa and sat down, sipping my green champagne.
Another tactic. Showing people that Zumra and Emerald Court had failed where I succeeded.
But the most important tactic: isolating myself.
Left all alone, near Allirea, within her eyeline even, I watched the crowd as I waited. Sure enough, her eyes caught on my form, and her lips twitched down.
I had to hope my overtures of friendship so far would see me through this plan. Her promise made me think that it would, and I found myself feeling a bit bad that I was using her here. But it was necessary, and it wasn’t like I wouldn’t want to befriend her. She was kind, and I hadn’t met many genuinely kind people in my life before now.
I watched her elbow her brother, his opal eyebrows shooting up as his head swung toward me. Allirea whispered in his ear before he sighed, dipping his head in a nod.
I hid my smirk in my drink as they made their way over. My eyes shot up, only to catch on teal ones across the ballroom.Watching. My slow smile was even more important to hide now, but knowing Azurill couldn’t take his eyes off me left me feeling many things.
Cherished, in a way I’d never felt before. That he would seek to protect me even in so public a space.
Hot, like my skin could catch fire at any time from the heat in his gaze.
Excited, knowing the possibility of a real future was before me.
Terrified, knowing how easily it could slip through my fingers once I told him the truth.
Instead of dealing with all of that, I focused on my mission, looking up at Allirea and Laxus as they approached.
“Lady Jacinth, do you mind if we join you?” She asked, and I smiled up at her.
“Of course, Lady Allirea,” I told her. “Please, sit.”
“This is my brother, Lord Laxus Beryl, heir of Opal Court.” She introduced us, looking at him fondly.
“My Lady.” He kissed my offered hand, and I returned his greeting as they both sat down. Laxus took the chair beside the sofa while Allirea sat next to me, putting me in the middle.
We spoke for a while about trivial matters, getting to know one another a bit, while I waited patiently for the right moment.
“Do you mind if I ask, my Lady,” Laxus began, looking curious. “What do you plan to do if you don’t win the competition?”
I laughed lightly, shaking my head. “I haven’t thought that far. Why? Interested in adding yourself to my dance card?” I teased him, making it clear I wasn’t serious as my eyebrows danced up and down. Allirea giggled into her hand as her brother huffed a laugh.
“No, I’m afraid my dance card is already full,” Laxus responded, his dark skin blushing slightly. “I just find myself curious what all of the ladies plans are. Only one can win, and I know some of them have other plans already.”
He looked knowingly at his sister, who smiled back at him. It seemed he at least accepted his sister’s wish to be a healer instead of a wife, even if their father didn’t.
“Oh? What are your plans then?” I asked him, resting my elbow on the sofa’s edge to lean toward him slightly. “Maybe you’ll inspire me into a solution.”
“Well…” he drew the word out, glancing again to his sister, who nodded back at him. My brows rose, wondering if my assignment wasn’t some arbitrary task to prove my effectiveness, and there was a reason that the crown was interested in this knowledge.
“I have my eye on Lady Safira’s younger sister, Celestine,” he admitted, but his opal orbs glimmered brightly. “I hope to speak to her father about it, but I need to wait to see if Lady Safira wins or not.”
“Ah, because it’ll be easier to convince them if they already have a loss under them?” I asked him, smiling lightly to take any sting out of the words.
“Exactly.” His lips curled ruefully.
“Well, I think you have a good chance either way,” I told him truthfully. “I know Sapphire Court is ambitious, holding dreams of a high queen in their future. Especially since their cousins managed to marry into the royal line last time. But for a second daughter? Opal Court is a great place for her.”
“That’s what I’ve told him,” Allirea interjected, rolling her eyes. “But he’s a stubborn one.” She teased her brother, and I could see the love between them so clearly, making me ache for my family. While I’d never had a brother, I knew my parents had been trying for one, they’d just never had the chance.
And then there was Peony, my cousin who had been like a sister to me, whose loss had left a gaping wound inside me.
