The two faced queen, p.5
The Two-Faced Queen, page 5
“It does, but that means I would have to tell the beautiful High Noble Raine Solarin I can no longer accompany her. She asked me so sweetly, and I don’t want to break her heart. No offense, Michael, but she’s much more attractive than you are.”
High Noble Raine Solarin had been the subject of affection of nearly every noble child when I had been younger. When we were seven, Kai had written a sonnet to invite her to the summer festival, only to find she had already accepted another’s invitation. It was children’s games and children’s priorities. And yet it had meant everything back then.
Someone knocked on the door to Dawn’s room, and she motioned for me to go to the window. So much for our bonding time.
“High Noble Danielle!” a voice said from behind the door. “Your guests are wondering where you went. Do you need assis—”
“I can get there on my own,” Dawn interrupted. “Once I’ve washed the slime off my hands from having to interact with all these star-chasers.”
There was a hesitation, and then the voice said, “I will let your father know, High Noble Danielle.”
Dawn held up a hand and then counted down from five before letting out a sigh. “I’m sorry we were unable to…” She trailed off, sadness turning into a playful smile. “Actually, is anyone expecting you?”
“Not really. Why?”
“Any desire to come join the party out there with me? It’s me and a bunch of suitors, and I could really use a friend to lean on.”
“Kai isn’t there?”
She shook her head. “My parents aren’t dumb. They know I wouldn’t interact with anyone else if he were. We’ve been so platonic that they didn’t even bother having a chaperone watch us when we were alone once we were of age. That’s how little they were worried about us doing something scandalous in private.” She folded her hands together. “Please, Michael?”
Her tone made her request seem more forceful than the words let on. “Isn’t someone going to notice me?” I tapped my brand. “It’s not as if I’m really inconspicuous.”
Dawn reached under her bed, rummaged around, and then tossed me a full face mask. It was pitch-black, with ornate gold lines around the eyes and mouth hole.
“Is everyone in masquerade?” I asked.
Dawn nodded with a smile. “Except me.”
I turned the mask in my hand. If I put my collar up, I could hide my face and brand. “You really want me there?”
“Stay for a bit,” she said. “Watch my signals and steal away any unwanted attention. That’s all I’m asking.”
“Only for you.” I held out my hand to help her up. “To make up for lost time.”
Dawn took my hand and pulled herself to her feet, legs becoming unnaturally defined once again. “How charming of you.” She reached into one of her dress’s pockets, pulled out a pin with a forget-me-not etched onto it, and then stuck it onto my lapel. “This will keep you from being bothered. It’s a sign of my favor.”
“How generous of you.” We left the room with arms locked together and made our way down a lavish hallway toward the source of excessive noise. “So while I imagine you hate them all, are any of your potential husbands at least slightly interesting?”
“Not really. But, to be fair, most of them aren’t at fault. Right now you could pluck the partner of my dreams out of my mind and I’d still find them dull. Choice is half the allure of falling in love, and arranged marriages strip that all away.” She paused to run her tongue over her teeth. “Part of me hopes someone who’s longed to talk to me will sneak into this event and steal me away and I can have one of those romances you read about in books.”
“I thought you didn’t want to be saved.”
We stopped in front of the large door to the ballroom where the courting event was being held. “It’s not about being saved. It’s about having an adventure… and who doesn’t want that?”
I said nothing, donned the mask, and watched as she opened the door. Dawn slipped away from me almost instantaneously as suitors caught sight of her and approached with a ravenous fervor.
Everyone was dressed extravagantly, way beyond what I had experienced during the Endless Waltz. Despite the fact that everyone was masked, it was easy to determine where some were from based on their jewelry, accessories, and even the style of clothes they wore. The Goldanis wore flashy jewelry that glittered in the light and could be taken off with ease to be used as collateral should a bet become too alluring to resist, while those from the Gold Coast wore looser clothes that showed off more of their skin. There were even a few from New Dracon City, as evidenced by their formfitting vests, striped trousers, and outrageous headwear. And there were even Mercenaries here.
Why were all these people from other countries here? Most High Nobles preferred to marry other nobles in Hollow to consolidate power rather than develop connections with foreign powers. Usually those were reserved for the Royals. Dawn must’ve chased off more nobles than I thought she had. Good for her.
With little to do but wait for a signal, I drank wine by myself as I watched Dawn interact with anyone brave enough to approach. She danced with them all and even went out of her way to approach those who stared from across the room. She was a woman of the people and it was the closest thing I had ever seen to someone emulating the behavior of a proper Royal. Only the guilt of watching her feet glide across the polished flooring and knowing what it cost made me unable to fully appreciate the moment.
“She’s captivating, isn’t she?” a handsome man at my side said. He had short black hair and bigger-than-normal ears, held his glass of wine like a proper High Noble between his middle and ring fingers, and had half of his face covered in a snow-white mask. The other half had intricate bone tattoos. A Skeleton. And one who had earned Dawn’s favor. The forget-me-not pin was on his lapel.
“She is,” I said as I took another sip of wine.
“It’s a shame her brother doesn’t have half the grace she does,” the man said. “Anyone who mingles with the Corrupt Prince is little more than scum in my eyes.”
I nearly choked on my drink. He definitely wasn’t from Hollow if he was bold enough to insult a High Noble and the Corrupt Prince in the same sentence. “I don’t think it’s wise to insult the brother of the person you’re looking to marry.”
The Skeleton shrugged. “I doubt she thinks differently. But she may be in denial about it. People rarely see the bad in their family until it’s too late.” He examined the table of food we were leaning against. “So, call me curious, what did you do to earn her favor?”
“We’re childhood friends. And you?”
“Rich and powerful. The usual. It’s not that interesting. But I’m a little shocked. I didn’t think she had many childhood friends. Well, besides the obvious ones.”
“ ‘The obvious ones’?”
“Those Kingman traitors.” The Skeleton took one of the decorative slices of lemon and sucked all the juices from it. “Have you ever met one? I’ve wanted to but haven’t had the chance yet.”
“No,” I said levelly. “I haven’t.”
“That’s a shame. I thought you might be able to help me.”
“Why do you want to meet one so badly?” I asked, curiosity getting the best of me.
The Skeleton looked at me, something in his eyes turning hard and venomous. “Isn’t it obvious? I want to—”
A short man tapped me on the shoulder and interrupted our conversation. He had the posture and air of someone who’d had the same haircut since they were ten and the suggestion of getting something different would send them into an unstoppable fury. He stared at me with his arms crossed behind his back.
“Yes?” I said cautiously.
“Can I get your name, profession, and origin?”
“Ren Arsenius,” I began, relying on an old childhood alias. “I’m a Mercenary of Machina Company. Does it really matter where I’m from?”
“Another Mercenary? Ridiculous. What were they thinking?” The short man rolled his eyes. “Follow me, Mercenary.”
I put my wineglass down at a nearby table as the Skeleton waved me goodbye. I didn’t want to cause a scene and create further problems for Dawn, so I followed the short man with the plan to sneak away the first moment I could. I didn’t have any chance until he ushered me into a plush side room filled with cushions, wine and food, and an almost see-through black curtain separating the room in two. Someone moved on the other side of the room, but I couldn’t identify anything about them. The door was locked behind me with an audible click.
“I’m sorry you got dragged into this,” the woman behind the curtain said. There was a sound of a liquid being poured into a cup. “There’s wine nearby if you want something to drink.” And then, under her breath, she added, “I know I need it.”
“What is this?” I took a seat on a cushion so big I sank into it.
“Surveying for potential suitors.” The woman sat down somewhere with a plop. “High Noble Danielle Margaux’s family was generous enough to hold this event for the both of us. Even if I would rather be anywhere else.”
“You must be pretty important to have this be so secretive.” I pushed my tongue against the inside of my cheek. “Are you Princess Serena Hollow?”
“God no,” she said quickly. “No offense, but she’s a bitch. I don’t know what her nobles think of her, but everyone outside of Hollow hates her and her manipulative tendencies. I like to think I have a little more tact and grace.”
Nothing the woman on the other side of the curtain had said convinced me it might not be Serena. Insulting myself would have been exactly what I would have done if I had been trying to remain hidden when confronted with my true identity. But since she seemed to be talking freely, I might as well take advantage of the opportunity. Especially since she had no reason to suspect I would have been able to get in here unnoticed.
“Fair,” I said. “So, besides your name, can I ask whatever I want?”
“Pretty much.”
“If a suitor brought you a gift, would you rather it be flowers, sweets, or jewelry?”
“What kind of sweets?” she asked without hesitation.
“Sun drop cakes.” It was Serena’s favorite as a child.
“Sun drop cakes. No contest.”
More evidence to support my theory. “What was your favorite game as a child?”
“Hide-and-seek,” she said happily. “And I was the absolute best hider in the whole wide world.”
So was Serena. One time we played, it took me all day to find her in the castle, only to discover she had been following me the entire time. And since I was so focused on going forward, it never occurred to me to look behind. She was clever like that. Always hiding in plain sight.
“What kind of stories do you like?”
“Tragedies,” she said firmly. “There’s something hauntingly beautiful about a story that can make me cry.”
“Like what happened to Goro Lafette?” I clarified.
“No, not like that at all. That’s a romantic tragedy, not a heroic one.” She huffed. “That story just makes me mad. What woman wants to be left a note on their wedding day from their beloved saying they can’t go through with it? Especially when it’s rumored Goro Lafette left because he was in love with another woman.”
Another similarity with Serena. I had once caught her reading a story about Goro Lafette and asked that very question about the difference between heroic and romantic tragedies. I had received a similar—yet much longer—rant about why they were very different and why the distinction was important. A heroic tragedy was a good cry, while a romantic tragedy was a bad one.
If this really was Serena—and I was all but certain it was—she hadn’t changed much since childhood. She still had the same taste, but, just to make sure, I asked a more blatant question. “Have you ever had someone you would consider a best friend?”
The woman behind the curtain made a ticking sound with her tongue. “People like me don’t get to have best friends. It’s an occupational hazard.”
“Not even when you were young? Children don’t normally care about crowns.”
“No, they don’t, but… wait, I… I never said I wore a crown.”
“Crowns, thrones, legacies, and last names… it’s all the same. Every important person in the world has at least one,” I said evenly, heat rising up my face. “I may not know who you—”
“You’re lying.”
I couldn’t suppress my smile. Even without seeing my face, Serena could still always tell when I was lying. At this point, there was nothing I could do but tell the truth. “You’re right. I am.” I exhaled and feigned as much courage as I could. “Hello, Serena.”
Silence.
“Do you need me to say my name, or do you already know who I am?”
She rose from her seat, right hand gripped tightly around her left wrist to ease the shaking. “How?”
“We have mutual friends.”
“God dammit, Dawn,” she muttered under her breath. “You should leave. Before I lose my temper.”
“Don’t want to listen to what I have to say?”
“Leave,” she growled.
For once, I listened to royal instruction and left, apologizing to the poor sparrow-masked fool who was about to wander into Serena’s room after me. Dawn skipped over to me from across the room with childish glee when she saw me emerge.
“You set me up,” I said.
“Did I?” she asked. “What reason would I have to do that?”
“I don’t know, but you did. Those pins weren’t signaling your favor, were they? You were choosing candidates for Serena.” I massaged my temples, wondering whether the screams I could hear behind me were Serena’s or not. “Are you and Serena friends or something?”
Dawn lost her smile. “No. Not anymore, at least. We haven’t talked more than a few sentences since she was a child. To be frank, apart from her Ravens, I don’t know if she has any friends. I handed out the pins from the goodness of my heart. The courting process is a nightmare for me… I can’t even imagine what it’s like for her.”
“Why did you give one to me, though? You know she hates me.”
“She hates what she thinks you did,” Dawn corrected. “If you’re to have any chance of convincing her otherwise, you have to catch her off guard. She needs to see the real you—the fool—not the king killer or the villain you pretend to be.”
I was getting a headache—no fault of Dawn’s. Everything when it concerned Serena made me pause and go over our interactions, searching for something or anything that would calm my beating heart. As always, nothing did. “I don’t know how to do that.”
“Just be yourself.” Dawn shifted from one foot to the other. “Are you annoyed at what I did?”
“No, you did the right thing. Serena and I have to keep interacting if there’s any hope of us repairing our relationship.” I scratched at my brand. “Do you have plans for dinner? We could continue to catch up then, since I think Serena might come for my head if I stay here much longer.”
“I was planning to see Kai before Joey’s surgery tomorrow and eat at Ryder Keep… but maybe I should let them have some family time.” A pause. “Will you be there for the surgery? Kai mentioned he told you about it.”
“Wouldn’t miss it for anything.”
“That settles it, then. I’ll come to Kingman Keep for dinner after I see Kai. It’ll distract me. Do you need anything?”
“Bowls. We don’t have any.”
“Bowls?” she questioned.
I cupped my hand as if I were holding a ball. “They look like this.”
“Oh! Soup holders!” She smiled broadly and rubbed the back of her head. “Sorry. I must’ve forgotten that word at some point because of Fabrication use.” She hesitated again. “Do you have anything in Kingman Keep?”
“We have a table.”
“Let me see what I can do.”
I left Margaux Keep the same way I entered, savoring the time alone to collect my thoughts about Serena. Once out of the maze and over the outer wall, I had the day to myself… until I saw Dark leaning against the wall, waiting for me.
My Mercenary mentor kept his hair tied back with the sides shaved, his cool grey eyes never revealed his thoughts, and he openly wore a hatchet and one of the twin revolvers. He was tall and made of hard muscle, and overly optimistic: dressed for summer rather than the end of winter. His shadow was nowhere to be seen, absent in the dim light.
After having my memories manipulated by Darkness Fabrications for over a decade, I had begun to take note of everyone’s shadow. If only to make sure no one I cared about was suffering the same trauma and fate I had been. My family’s shadows were whole and healthy—unlike mine, which had flickered in and out—but since Dark’s was currently missing… I couldn’t know for certain about his own memories yet. The last thing I wanted to do was work with someone who was blind to the truth. But could Darkness Fabricators even have their memories manipulated? I didn’t know, but I’d find out soon enough.
“How’d you find me?” I asked as I approached him.
He moved off the wall he was leaning on. “You’re predictable.”
I’d have to work on that. “What do you want?”
“Did you get the company tattoo?”
I nodded. The skin was no longer raw, but I could still feel Orbis Company’s symbol of an ever-burning torch on my inner bicep. Just like the brand of treason on my neck, I had another mark that would shun me from certain circles. I was a Mercenary and would be for the rest of my life… whether I liked it or not.
“Do you need to see it?”
Dark shook his head. “Lying about it would only get you killed.”
“Always so kind. Are you going to tell me where you were this past month? Or why you made me send a letter about myself to someplace near New Dracon City?”
“Where I’ve been is my business,” he said. “But the letter was for Nonna. It’s best not to question her demands. She probably wanted information that would help her catalogue the natural order of events. That’s all she ever cares about.”
