She snickered and ducked her head in a mock bow, “Oh, my gracious and fabulous and sexy Lords, I shall endeavor to kiss your precious feet and wipe your fine asses like the lowly female that I am.”
My head tipped back as I laughed. Tears formed in the corner of my eyes. I held my stomach as it started to cramp, but I kept on chuckling.
Adelie jumped to her feet and lifted both hands into the air, her voice full of assurance and conviction. “I told you! I knew you had this. You’re going to be the best damn queen ever.”
I raised both of my hands too and high-fived her with gusto. “You bet your ass I am.”
Still grinning like a fool, she flopped down onto the study room’s ornate chair, her hands flying in the air with excitement. “So tell me all about it. Was it everything you thought it would be?”
My head tipped in thought. I took a moment to consider that as I sat on the rolling chair next to the desk. I tapped my foot and wiggled my shoulders. “Actually, it was. It was stimulating and interesting and full of political intrigue. Just like we always guessed it would be. Those fucking overlords are too slick for their own good.”
Her brows rose. “Too much ego?”
“Perhaps. But I believe some of it is well deserved. They are more of a challenge than I thought they’d be.”
A finger point in my direction. “Ah, so too much ego there.”
“Probably,” I conceded. “But they sure as hell know how to get under my skin.”
“And that…,” she threw her hands up into the air, “…is what it’s like to be the official candidate. It’s their job to get you riled up. They need to know what you’re made of.”
“They’re definitely seeing my bitchy side.” My lips twitched.
My friend side-eyed me, her lips thinning. “Do I even want to know?”
“I would say no,” I evaded. I tapped my fingers on my desk, staring at the black computer screen. I hesitated, and then mumbled, “These trials are going to really test me. I have this gut feeling it won’t be good.”
She hummed softly, her brown eyes capturing mine. “It won’t be easy to be queen. You need to be tested.”
“I know.” I nodded. “I’m just a little nervous.”
“Which means you care if you lose or not.”
“You know, when I’m queen, you can’t leave me. Not right away.”
She snickered. “What would I do? I’m old enough that I need some new experiences in my life. And being a queen’s personal assistant would definitely be one. I’m definitely not going back to my jewelry business.”
I blinked. “Wait. You’re doing what this time?”
“Jewelry.” She waved a bored hand into the air. “It helps me express my creative side.”
“You are an amazing artist, my friend.” I sighed and smiled in contentment, resting back in my chair to stare up at the ceiling, pretending I could see the night sky from here. “This is one of the best days of my life.”
Bang. Bang. Bang.
Adelie popped up from her chair. “Hold that thought. That’s not happy knocking.”
I tipped my head, watching as she opened the front door.
“This is for candidate Gwynnore.” An assistant held an envelope out. “She is to read it immediately.”
Adelie grabbed the envelope and merely slammed the door in his face.
She may have a natural creative talent, but you just couldn’t take the snobbish upbringing out of her. Money had raised her, and it showed. Just as it did with me, but I didn’t try to hide it like she did. I figured I am who I am. While she wanted to change who she was—constantly.
Her head of red hair dipped as she evaluated the envelope. “Looks like it’s from the overlords. It’s sealed with their stamp. You probably should read it now.” She tossed it on my lap before flopping back down onto her vacated seat.
My eyes narrowed on the envelope, not touching it. “What do you think it is?”
