Chapter 12
Chapter Twelve
Jacinth
Isighed deeply as I woke, snuggling into luxurious blankets and a cloud-soft mattress I couldn’t have dreamed up a few months ago.
Of all the things I’d run from as a child, this might not have been the most heartbreaking, but it was certainly the most backbreaking.
I’d missed this. Fiercely. Passionately.
I was a person who loved sleeping comfortably, but who ended up sleeping on the ground more often than not. It was the cruelest of ironies.
I’d probably agree to assassinate anyone for a chance to sleep in one of these beds forever. Well, maybe not anyone—but close.
A knock sounded on my door, making me groan as I forced myself out of the warm and inviting cocoon of soft red sheets.
I threw on the grey and red velvet robe that came with the room to make my way to the door.
They’d really thought of everything. Every luxury I could think of was in this suite; enough that I’d never have to leave, outside the competitions, if I didn’t want to.
Someone obviously did want me to, however, as the knocking continued. I threw open my bedroom door to find Alfrikr, looking grumpier than usual with a scowl marring his uniquely handsome features.
“What’s wrong?” I asked wearily, leaning against the doorframe as a yawn overtook me.
“What’s wrong is I’ve been turned into a delivery service,” he groaned, stepping back and waving a hand toward the table in the living room. My eyes went wide as I took in the giant basket sitting on the black marble dining table.
“What is this?” I questioned him hesitantly.
“A gift from the High King,” he sighed, shaking his head. “There are two envelopes inside the basket, one with instructions for today, and the other with instructions for the next trial.”
“Okay.” I drew the word out as I stepped closer to the mysterious basket.
“Gift and message officially delivered.” Alfrikr rolled his eyes before stepping back out to his post at my door, probably anxious to be back among his fellow guards so they could complain about all of the uppity ladies they were being forced to protect.
I rolled my own eyes, even though he couldn’t see me any longer, but the basket quickly grabbed my attention again.
I unwrapped the fabric surrounding it and blinked in surprise as it revealed two very different outfits inside.
My fingers itched to inspect them, but I figured it was probably better to read the letters from the king first, since they’d likely answer any questions I had.
Taking the first envelope with Lady Jacinth Tawny inscribed on the outside, I unfolded the heavy diamond-dusted silver paper to read what he’d written in an elegant, looping script.
Dear Lady Jacinth (Mini-Dite),
Congratulations on winning the favor of both the crowd and me with your impressive show of talent.
It is difficult to get to know someone in the short bursts this competition has us interacting in, but I do believe that discovering what it is someone enjoys doing with their time allows one to gain a bit more insight into them.
Since this first competition had no elimination, I thought the additional time with me as a reward was a good trade-off.
Though I’m sure you’d say that was merely my ego talking.
I would like to get to know everyone better as we head into elimination rounds, and this will give me a chance to know more of you before that time comes.
I thought we could visit one of my favorite spots together for a picnic. A bit cliché, I know, however, I wanted an activity that would allow us to actually speak with one another.
I’ve included an outfit for you that will be appropriate for where we’re going. I look forward to the opportunity for us to speak again.
Yours (for today),
His Royal Majesty
High King Azurill Kyanite Alankar
aka Veri Full of Himself
I tried to stop the smile that lifted my lips at his farewell address, but it was somewhat impossible.
Murderer, I reminded myself. A murderer I plan to kill.
I sighed heavily, closing my eyes for a moment.
At times, this utterly overwhelming experience could almost lull one into thinking this a fairytale, but in reality, it was a tale of cold, hard revenge.
I picked up the second letter, which merely read Ruby Court Competitor on it, and was considerably less personal.
“Dear Diamond Queen Competitor,
The first trial was a mere practice run, but now we’re getting to the good stuff. Tomorrow, the first real challenge will begin. You’re to wear the outfit enclosed, with only the accessories provided. No additional weapons or magic are allowed and are grounds for disqualification.
Your guards will take you to the location of the competition at ten sharp, so be ready to go by then. I’m anxious to see how you all fare tomorrow. May the gods shine upon you.
His Royal Majesty
High King Azurill Kyanite Alankar”
I dove into the outfits immediately to see what hints I could get.
Thankfully, they’d been helpfully labeled.
The first garment bag had “Today” written on the tag attached to it.
Opening it up, I found a beautiful day dress with pearly-pink skirts and a cream bodice with pink embroidery on it.
The sweetheart neckline and cap sleeves were perfect for a picnic.
Azurill, or one of his staff, had helpfully included accessories as well.
There were sturdy slippers in the same pink as the skirts, along with a simple diamond lariat necklace, a matching pair of earrings, and a bracelet.
I noticed he hadn’t included any red, which made me more than a bit anxious.
I had to hope the colors were chosen because of my hair and not that he had any suspicions about the truth.
I shook my head at the silly thought, I wouldn’t have survived this long if Azurill had figured me out.
But just in case, I needed to be incredibly careful.
Opening the second garment bag, my eyes widened to find an outfit remarkably similar to the one I usually wore.
There were black leather pants, a black top with a leather corset that buckled over it, black knee-high boots, and a matching fitted jacket.
They’d even included accessories with this outfit, but instead of jewelry, there were shoulder pauldrons and a jeweled dagger.
It had a ruby set into the pommel, but diamond and kyanite had been worked in a swirling pattern down the hilt.
Interesting.
Were we going to be stealing or fighting, or some combination perhaps? I was too curious and would certainly be questioning Azurill about it today. If he were smart, he wouldn’t have given any hints about the upcoming trial before our little date.
Blech. Just thinking that word in association with him made me want to throw up.
Checking the time, I decided I'd better head to breakfast and worry about this later.
I made my way back to my bedroom, and knowing it was likely to be a full hall, I changed into a red and white off-the-shoulder gown.
It dipped down from the shoulders to between my breasts in a gentle slope, where the fabric then twisted together, merging the white on top with the red below.
Diaphanous bell sleeves paired wonderfully with the high-low skirt that looked like it had been dipped in diamonds around its edges.
I made my way out of the suite and raised my eyebrows expectantly at Alfrikr. He grunted and began following me after offering a nod to the few guards remaining in the hall. Most of the ladies seemed to already be up and out for the day.
We made our way down to the room where meals were served.
It was a massive, domed hall with silver walls and a blue ceiling, with twisting columns made of amethyst, emerald, opal, onyx, pearl, ruby, and sapphire.
The gems had clearly been added later, as blue and silver remained the dominant colors, a holdover from when House Alankar were merely the kings of Diamond as opposed to high kings of Gemaria.
Most of the ladies had already arrived, but Faiza waved me down to an empty seat near her own.
Unfortunately, that put me directly across from Zumra, who at least seemed to be busy glaring at Sania and Ophira, since they were sitting next to Azurill this morning.
Faiza was seated beside a man I recognized but didn’t know the name of on one side, with Prince Ruri on her other, leaving me to take a seat next to him.
“Jac, have you met Ruri and Balthazar?” Faiza asked, her voice weirdly high-pitched, as if she was slightly nervous. I narrowed my eyes at her, tilting my head slightly.
“I can’t say I’ve had the pleasure yet,” I murmured in response, watching her carefully to try to figure out what was going on.
“This is Prince Ruri, of course, and Balthazar is Az’s best friend as well as the head of his guard,” she explained with a smile.
“Lady Jacinth.” Balthazar nodded stiffly, but Prince Ruri turned a charming smile my way and lifted his hand in expectation. I placed mine in it and allowed him to kiss it softly.
“Lady Jacinth,” he murmured, but I caught Balthazar watching the interaction, his eyes cutting back to us constantly.
“Prince Ruri, it’s wonderful to finally meet you,” I told him, wondering if he could scent the lie, as his smile turned sharp.
“Oh, I’ve been waiting for the opportunity,” he said, as his sharp smile turned into a charming smirk.
“We were all surprised to hear of you. I don’t think your name has been uttered a single time at court before now, and for a lady related to the lord of Ruby himself?
” He whistled softly, but my anxiety spiked as I realized why Faiza was nervous.
The prince and the head of the guard catching me at breakfast was far from unintentional.
“Oh.” I looked down, letting my hair become a curtain to hide my face, as if I was bashful. “I suppose I’m too minor a figure in Ruby Court to matter much.”
“Nonsense!” Prince Ruri replied, his frosty blue eyes peering through my hair to see my own. “Come, tell me about yourself.”
“There’s not much to say, my Prince.” I sighed, as if disappointed I didn’t have much gossip for him. “I spend most of my time at home.”
“Is that where you learned to dance?” he asked, lightning quick.
I swallowed hard, trying to think of the best way to answer. I knew Azurill was suspicious of Lord Carnelian, and with good reason, but I couldn’t understand why he’d sick his younger brother on me when he was going to meet with me today.
“I had wonderful instructors, yes.” I smiled placidly at the prince, but his mouth pinched together like he was frustrated.
“Brother.” Azurill suddenly appeared, clamping a hand down on his shoulder, “Stop harassing the ladies here to see me and go find your own.”
Ruri laughed, shaking his head at his older brother, but his eyes were tight as the two traded a loaded look.
I needed to charm the fuck out of Azurill today.
Anything to make him trust me enough to get through to the end of this. Where I could finally bring my family peace, and a vengeance that I’d long thought out of my grasp, but was now so tantalizingly close.
“Oh, he’s no bother, Your Majesty.” I smiled at them both. “I’d love to get to know your family better as well.”
“We’ll have to make time for that later, unfortunately. Ruri is needed elsewhere,” Azurill said, eyeing his brother sternly before pulling him up. Something told me that Ruri had stepped over a line somewhere.
“Lady Jacinth.” Prince Ruri nodded in farewell, a light in his eyes I couldn’t quite make sense of.
“Don’t mind them.” Faiza leaned in, trying to reassure me in a whisper, but we were unfortunately too close to the others for them not to overhear.
“Prince Ruri does have a point.” Zumra sniffed in disdain. “How exactly have you hidden yourself away before now?” she questioned, leaning across the table toward me, her emerald eyes blazing with ill intent.
I glared back at her. “I wasn’t hiding.”
I kept the veil of truth over myself, especially when telling such a blatant, bold-faced lie.
It was too important that no one here glean anything that indicated I wasn’t telling the full truth.
Carnelian was already distrusted, and my sudden appearance had clearly stirred suspicion.
I needed to diffuse it if I had any chance at succeeding.
“You could have fooled me.” She laughed, a nasty thing that set my teeth on edge.
“Some people don’t feel the need to make themselves the center of attention to validate their own existence,” I told her with a bright smile, cutting into my food and plopping a piece in my mouth, keeping my smile around the fork.
Zumra’s face instantly dropped, and I heard several people beside us trying to smother their laughter, only to fall totally silent as she speared each with a look in turn.
“I will figure out the truth,” she hissed at me, throwing her napkin on the table as she stood, her chair making a racket as she flung it back. “And when I do, well—”
She smiled widely, exposing all her teeth, even as she trembled slightly from the sheer force of her rage, her emerald-green eyes burning with hatred. “You can kiss any far-fetched dreams of being the Diamond Queen goodbye.”
If I had any dreams of such to begin with, maybe I would be worried, but as it stood, my only concern was this damn woman getting in the way of me gaining the trust I needed to win to achieve my real goal.