“You shut up!” Lexandrie snapped.
“I won’t!” Mireille seemed to try to raise herself up to Lexandrie’s height. She was entirely unsuccessful but seemed to be unaware of the fact. “Why shouldn’t the crown princess fall in love with Esofi?”
“Because that’s not how it works, you silly girl!”
“Yes,” cut in Esofi coldly. “No one could possibly want me simply by virtue of who I am. And she certainly could not want me for my face. The only explanation is that she sees me as a tool to further her own agenda.”
“And what’s the matter with that?” demanded Lexandrie. “You know that’s just the way it is for us.”
“No, not for us. Just for me!” cried Esofi. “You’ve never had any trouble believing that someone found you beautiful! It’s only when it comes to me that love is impossible.”
“You are in love with her,” Lexandrie announced. “Though I cannot imagine why. Surely you are not that desperate. At least meet her cousins first. They might even be proper suitors.”
“Of course I will meet them,” said Esofi. “You seem to have a rather low opinion of my intelligence right now, but I assure you that I am open to the possibility of either of them attempting to court me. Regardless of what you may think, my priority is still becoming the queen of Ieflaria.”
“Good,” said Lexandrie. “Because she is not in love with you. She finds you tedious and stifling. And on top of everything, she thinks you’re a religious fanatic, or had you forgotten that part already?”
“I find it suspicious and strange that you know the crown princess’s mind so well,” retorted Esofi. “Have you been meeting with her in secret?”
“I’m only telling you these things because nobody else will,” said Lexandrie. “There is no need for you to become so defensive.”
“That’s not true!” objected Mireille. “Nothing you’ve said is true! Anyone could love Esofi if they talked to her. You’re just, you can’t be happy for her, because you’re so jealous!”
“Jealous!?” Lexandrie practically screamed. “Why would I be jealous of—?”
“Enough!” cried Esofi. “All of you! Especially you, Lexandrie! You may occupy yourself elsewhere if you’ve nothing civil to say!”
“Fine!” Lexandrie turned around with a flourish. “What should you care for what I have to say when you could spend your days listening to the mindless praise of two girls who only pretend to be ladies?”
“You are dismissed, Lexandrie,” said Esofi. Fortunately, Lexandrie seemed to have no more to say and stormed away in the direction of the castle.
“What madness came over her?” wondered Mireille once she had gone. “I’ve never heard her speak in such a way before.”
“It is a strange habit she shares with my mother and sisters,” said Esofi bitterly. “She has been so pleasant these past months, I hoped that she left it behind in Rhodia.”
“Well, she is wrong,” proclaimed Mireille. “I think the crown princess does truly care for you. Why else would she apologize and speak so honestly with you?”
“I would like to believe that as well.” Esofi kept her voice quiet, just in case someone was listening. “But I am not without my doubts.”
“Even now?” Mireille looked up at her, wide-eyed. “Even after all she said to you?”
“She might have been lying,” Esofi reminded Mireille. “Just because I dislike the way Lexandrie spoke to me does not mean I think her suspicions are baseless.”
“I do not believe the crown princess is lying to you,” murmured Mireille, but she looked down at her hands. Then she gave Lisette a nudge. “What do you think?”
Lisette made a noncommittal noise. When Mireille nudged her again, she offered, “Lexandrie is jealous. Nobody is sitting through three-quarters of a service for her.”
Mireille giggled. “Quite right! She may have had plenty of suitors back home, but now everyone’s attention is on you, Princess. I don’t think she likes it.”
“Maybe so,” said Esofi, looking down at her skirts. “Lisette, I would like you to find out more of Adale’s history with Theodoar of Leikr. She claims they are not in a romantic relationship, but I know we must be realistic. If they…” Esofi’s voice trailed off as she found herself unable to complete the sentence. “Well. I trust your skills. Report back to me when you have discovered anything of interest. And if you find out anything about the twins, perhaps that will aid us as well.”
Lisette gave a sharp nod and hurried off, clearly glad to be excused. That left only Mireille with Esofi, which seemed to suit the baron’s daughter just fine.
“Then what shall we do today, if we are not visiting the hospital?” asked Mireille.
“We are going to walk,” said Esofi. “And perhaps, if we are fortunate, we shall encounter the crown princess’s cousins somewhere along the way.”
Chapter Four
ADALE
The twins, Brandt and Svana, had been born in the year between Albion and Adale. One might have assumed that the four would be close companions, but this was untrue. Adale and Albion had never liked spending time with the twins, and the twins seemed equally unhappy whenever circumstances forced the four together.
Brandt and Svana seemed to immediately dislike almost everyone they’d ever encountered, though they made an exception for one another. They were similar in many ways: both of medium height and oval-faced, with oddly light chestnut hair and blue eyes, quick to shout at servants and sneer at courtiers. Their one virtue was that they seemed to dislike life at court and spent most of their time at home.
Adale was in a terrible mood by the time she arrived in the throne room. She hadn’t wanted to leave Esofi to begin with, and now it seemed that the twins intended to call their engagement into question. And yes, perhaps Adale was still not entirely clear on what she actually wanted, but she knew she did not want her cousins anywhere near Esofi.
Besides, I still have the upper hand, Adale reminded herself. I am still the crown princess. Even if Esofi were to pick one of them over me, I am the only one who can make her a queen.
That, of course, was working under the optimistic assumption that Esofi would not simply assign her waiting lady to murder Adale in order to clear the way to the throne. But Adale was…fairly certain that Esofi would never do such a thing.
What Adale really had to worry about was the waiting lady deciding to murder her of her own initiative.
“Adale,” said her father as she entered the throne room. “There you are. You missed the arrival.” He glanced at the four figures standing before him: Adale’s aunt and uncle and their son and daughter. Adale plastered a bright smile across her face. Though she had no love for her cousins, her aunt and uncle were far more tolerable.
“Uncle Radulfr,” she said. “I had no idea you were coming to visit. If only I’d been told to expect you.”
“This was an unexpected excursion, I assure you,” said Radulfr, glancing down at his children with a hint of disapproval. Neither of them even bothered to pretend to smile at Adale.
Aunt Theu was the first one to move, wrapping Adale in one of her large, stifling hugs. “You are looking so well, Adale!” she gushed. “It seems every time I come to court, you are off with your companions. I feel as though I’ve not seen you in years.”
That was a bit of an exaggeration, for they had all seen each other at Albion’s funeral three months ago, but Adale did not contradict her.
“Well, I suppose we should come directly to the heart of the matter,” said Radulfr. “We have received word that Princess Esofi of Rhodia has refused to sign a marriage contract.”
“She has refused nothing,” said Adale quickly. Too quickly, she realized. “We’ve merely had some scheduling conflicts.”
“The point remains,” said Brandt. “She is without a fiancée.”
“Only until the contract is signed,” Adale insisted.