I furrowed my brow. Fraleigh knew everything, did that mean she knew Riyan was a Hyton heir all along? Was she sitting comfortably amongst her riches while Riyan suffered for years, tapping her sharp finger against her chin as she puzzled why Riyan had not figured out the truth of his lineage to seekher help?
If Fraleigh knew Riyan was a Hyton, it seemed that Rosaline womanknew also.
I clenched my teeth as Riyan kept his eyes on Rosaline. “She’s going to have to speak to Fraleigh for me. I think I’ll have towait outside.”
I turned to Rosaline. “I am Baroness Bloodstone, his wife.” More envy blossomed out of my voice than I wanted, but I kept firm. “I need to see Fraleigh as soonas possible.”
Rosaline glanced at Riyan then back at me. I ground my teeth behind tight lips as I silently dared her to say anything. After a heartbeat, Rosaline shrugged. “All right, I suppose she is in a good enough mood toreceive you.”
Rosaline opened the door wider and gestured for me to follow her inside. I jutted my chin in the air and took a single, powerful step inside the palace, but the glory of the entrance sapped the rest of the confidence outof me.
The polished stone floor and rows of columns flanking the entrance reflected the glow of gold like man-made sunlight. Gilded friezes of winged beasts crowned the walls. Filigrees of gold curled on the tops of each column. At the center of the room was a staircase that spiraled upward, the railings gilded and shining so one could ascend with the touch of gold at every step. Extravagance. Luxury. A testament to Fraleigh’s powerand influence.
The door closed behind us with a loud bang and shut Riyan out. Rosaline stepped forward and led me through the foyer. Instead of taking me up the staircase like I expected, she turned right and led me through a small and unassumingwooden door.
I followed Rosaline through the door. We entered a conservatory with large windows looking out on the Western Sea. Unlike the Duke’s conservatory, the room was circular, with plush purple benches attached to the wall underneath themassive windows.
My heart stopped when I saw Fraleigh. She wore simple grey robes and no jewelry aside from her golden collar. She sat on one of the benches with her legs tucked underneath her and looked out at the pink and blue sky surrounding the setting sun over thepeaceful waves.
“Your majesty,” Rosaline said calmly, “you havea visitor.”
Fraleigh slowly turned her head to face us and her golden eyes blinked in soft surprise. Her face stiffened when she focusedon me.
“Ah, Baroness Bloodstone,” Fraleigh said cooly. She turned toward me but stayed on the bench with her hands folded neatly in her lap. “I am surprised you took so longto come.”
Fraleigh nodded to Rosaline, dismissing her. Rosaline bowed to Fraleigh and then disappeared out of the same door wecame through.
A sharp chill ran through me when I realized my tired mind forgot my manners. I quickly corrected myself, clumsily dropping into a kneel and bowingbefore her.
“Get up,”Fraleigh clipped.
I placed my hands on my leg and struggled to heave my exhausted body back up. I stacked each part of my spine as I reverted back to all of Ashmore’s lessons in proper posture. My head buzzed with exhaustion, but I folded my hands in front of me and presented like the perfect lady I was trainedto be.
“Your majesty,” my voice was cool and respectful, “I seekyour help.”
“I only serve the House of Hyton,”Fraleigh said.
“Riyan is a Hyton heir. I only ask for your magic tohelp him.”
“He is a Hyton heir, but you?” Fraleigh said with a wicked smile. “If you want my magic,I require…payment.”
Payment. I instinctively grabbed the side of my skirt and held the lump of my stashed goods. I fumbled in my pocket and pulled out the amethyst pendant. I held the jewel out in front of me and my arm trembled with a mixture of fearand fatigue.
Fraleigh’s eyes widened slightly, like she did not expect me to produce anything valuable. She reluctantly stood up and she approached me so gracefully she could have glided on the stone floor. She took the pendant in her hands and her head quirked up like she hadheard something.
I held my breath, trying to detect the smallest noise, but Iheard nothing.
Fraleigh slowly walked back over to the bench. She sat down and tossed the pendant onto the cushion next to her. She crossed her legs underneath the long fabric of her robe and looked back up atme expectantly.
“Go on,” she said with almosta sigh.
“Y-your majesty,” I stammered, “as you know, my husband is afflictedwith…with magic.”
“Afflicted?” Fraleigh said with a laugh as she leaned back and lounged against the window. “How can one be afflictedwith magic?”
“He was always large, you see,” my voice trembled even more. Why was she asking? She knew everything. I gulped, trying to swallow my fear down. “Now he is the size of a giant. We need him tobe smaller.”
Fraleigh smirked and raised her thin eyebrow at me. “I think you are the first woman in the Dukedom to want a smaller husband. What do you meanby smaller?”
