Chapter 24
Chapter Twenty-four
Jacinth
My nerves were completely fried after my date with Azurill. I wasn’t sure what to do, not after my slip up, nor after that kiss. I felt like a worm at the end of a hook, struggling to move, and just waiting for the end to come.
Faiza and Amatista were goddess-sent in that respect. They kept me company and encouraged me, and while they didn’t know the truth, I could share other aspects of what was going on with them.
“He kissed you?” Amatista nearly screeched, her purple eyes wide in excitement. She clapped her hands, a large smile on her face. “This is perfect! You’re absolutely going to be queen when this is over.”
I laughed slightly, shaking my head. “I wouldn’t go that far; it was just a kiss.”
“What do you think, Faiza?” Amatista turned to my other friend. “You’re close with his Majesty; you can give us some insight.”
“Well…” Faiza began, her turquoise brows rising. “Az can be a flirt. He certainly enjoys entertaining women, but I can’t say I’ve ever seen him actually show interest in one beyond that. We’ve often teased him about how fast his interest fades.”
“So the fact that he’s been entertaining our girl here since day one should say something, no?” Amatista wiggled her amethyst brows, making me giggle at her ridiculousness.
I found myself thankful for the two as they debated back and forth.
I’d never had friends before, or I hadn’t since childhood at least. There was only Ula, who was more of a mentor than a friend.
We certainly never sat together talking about boys or our feelings.
Any other girls I met on the street were to be viewed as competition.
For the best spot to sleep, for any food we could find, it was all too much of a battle for friendships to form.
Everyone knew you had to look out for yourself above all.
I had thought it would be the same here, especially as it was literally a competition, but Faiza and Amatista had both surprised me. Neither had any interest in being queen or Azurill’s wife, and both seemed to want to be actual friends. They were even rooting for me to win!
It made me feel blessed and cursed all at once.
Warm friendship versus the idea of their reactions later. The betrayal might gut me just as much as them.
I no longer knew what the best path forward was, and the uncertainty was eating me alive.
I had to get vengeance for my family, but I wasn’t quite as sure anymore that my parents would even want this. Or if I could even do it. Could I look at Azurill and watch him drink his end?
Would Carnelian kill me and Ula both if I didn’t?
“What about you, Tista?” I asked her, countering her teasing and trying to distract myself from the heavy thoughts assailing me.
“What about me?” She blinked innocently, taking a sip of her wine.
I narrowed my eyes at her playfully, “Oh, don’t play coy. Who’s the lucky man at home that you’d give up being queen for?”
Her smile fell as her eyes shot to Faiza and then to her lap. She played with her fingers for a moment, a nervous tick I’d seen before.
“I won’t say anything,” Faiza promised, grabbing one of her hands. “I have my own prospect I’d do near anything to be with if I could.”
I grabbed her other hand, creating a link between us all, “And I have no reason to judge.”
‘You can trust me’ sat at the tip of my tongue, but the words felt like ashes in my mouth, gritty and course, and like they didn’t belong. I could wish it was true, but I knew my lies and my mission meant it wasn’t to be.
“It’s not a man,” she finally whispered, looking up with teary amethyst eyes.
“So? Who cares?” I asked, squeezing her hand for comfort.
“Everyone does,” She laughed incredulously, “My father. My mother. The court.” Her lips trembled, “I love her so much, and she loves me, but keeping to the shadows while my father sells me off will be the end of us before long, I know it. She deserves better than to be someone’s dirty little secret. ”
Tears fell down her face, and I quickly pulled her into a hug, Faiza taking her other side cautiously. The two hadn’t been friends until I brought them together, so I was happy to see her freely offer her support as well.
“There must be a way,” I murmured to myself as I petted her purple hair and tried to soothe her. “Commoners are allowed to marry the same sex, and while I understand the nobility has heirs to consider, you’re not even in line to inherit as a woman. There’s no reason to deny you. Not beyond greed.”
“Maybe when you’re queen, you can make my father and the court allow it,” she whispered back, though her hopeless tone said otherwise.
My heart clenched in my chest, and tears came to my own eyes. I wasn’t sure if this was the reason she befriended me, perhaps thinking it the best shot for her future, or if that had only just occurred to her. After all, she hadn’t wanted to admit what was going on at first.
But either way, she deserved better. A chance to be with the woman she loved. And I had no way to tell her that I would be the last person able to help after this was over.
We were called to the throne room several days later to find out who would be eliminated. My palms were clammy, and I couldn’t seem to quiet my nerves. There was every chance my fuck up could spell doom for my chances.
Amatista grabbed my hand, squeezing it in support as we stood before the throne, waiting for Azurill to appear.
Faiza caught my eye from the crowd, sending me a smile that I tried to reciprocate, but it quickly faded as I watched Carnelian force his way to the front.
I immediately looked away, hoping he didn’t notice.
I didn’t have to ask to know how unhappy he’d be about me making connections among the court. His plans were firm and unwavering, while mine were crumbling. I had to be careful to maintain the veneer I always held with him and avoid facing his wrath.
When Azurill was finally announced and he made his way to the throne, his eyes locked with mine for a moment that felt like an eternity. I got lost in the swirling pools of teal that held layers I found myself desperate to unravel, needing to know the truth of him.
“Thank you, everyone,” he began with a charming smile. “For joining us for this elimination round of the Diamond Queen Competition!” The crowd cheered for a moment before he continued.
“For this trial, the ladies had to arrange a date for us at an assigned time and come up with something for us to do that fit into that slot. The ladies did admirably, and I enjoyed getting to know you all a bit better,” he said, turning his eyes to each lady in turn.
The fire in his eyes as he looked at me made me want to melt into the floor. Considering the glare Zumra shot me afterwards, I knew I wasn’t imagining it either.
“Unfortunately, one must be eliminated today, while the other ladies continue to the next trial,” Azurill said, while looking over the lords and ladies in the crowd.
I was sure they would all be unhappy if their own candidates were eliminated, and with only one able to be chosen in the end, Azurill would likely have to do a lot of politicking to appease them afterwards.
At least since Diamond’s candidate was eliminated first, they couldn’t claim he was playing favorites.
“Lady Ophira Nephrite,” Azurill looked to the woman in question, “While you’ve performed admirably, and I thank you for competing on behalf of Onyx Court, unfortunately, you won’t be continuing to the next trial.”
Ophira bowed her head sedately, “Thank you for the opportunity, Your Majesty. It’s been an honor.”
I couldn’t make out any discernible emotion on her face, positive or negative. It was completely blank in a way I envied. Though that facade likely hadn’t made her a thrilling date either.
Still, I breathed a slight sigh of relief, at least until my eyes caught Carnelian’s across the floor. His hard gemstone eyes drilled into me, but he nodded slightly, and I returned the gesture. I was safe for another trial.
“Our next challenge will take place tomorrow,” Azurill announced. “Ladies, your guards will lead you to the place where you need to be in the morning. This trial will take several days, and…” he smirked, looking among us. “I suggest wearing something you don’t mind getting dirty.”
That was suitably ominous, and we all looked among one another, curious as to what we’d be doing next.
When court adjourned, Carnelian was quick to find me, giving me a smug smile as he offered his arm.
“Cousin, come walk with me,” he demanded, raising a ruby red eyebrow at me expectantly.
I dipped my head in agreement and took his arm, letting him lead us away from the crowd. He brought us outside to the gardens, where flowers and gems were tended into a beautiful symphony.
A deserted one, with everyone currently inside.
“You’ve done well so far, much better than I’d expected,” Carnelian said, his voice was even, but the words put me on edge immediately.
“Isn’t that a good thing?” I asked, adding a touch of confusion to my tone.
“Of course, of course.” He nodded slowly, but I could practically see the gears spinning in his mind. “But it is curious. After all, you’re not truly a noble.”
I swore my heart came to a stop, or maybe the world did. Everything froze, and I nearly tripped before covering and making the step in time to keep up with him.
“But living on the streets clearly gave you the skills necessary to pull the deception off,” he continued, and my heart resumed beating in my chest.
It was silly. I knew he was unaware, but the words had still left the ground falling out from beneath my feet.
“Yes,” I agreed quickly, “I had to play many roles through the years.”
“Hmm.” Carnelian hummed with a slight nod of acknowledgment. “I suppose that explains the High King, then.” He practically spat the title, and I nearly flinched at the venom in his voice before I caught myself.
I couldn’t let myself slip up in front of him. Ula’s life remained in his hands, and if I was going to save her, I had to make him think I was following his orders exactly.
Which I was, wasn’t I?
“What do you mean?” I probed when he didn’t continue.
“The flirting.” His upper lip curled in distaste. “At least, it seems to be working on Azurill. He seems quite taken with you.”
“That is the goal.” I reminded him, trying to figure out what his issue was.
“It is.” He grunted in recognition before humming slightly again, as he seemed to do when testing people.
It was a tell he somehow hadn’t curbed in all his years of ruling.
“I’m merely concerned. I don’t want you to lose sight of your purpose here.
After all, you’ve never experienced such luxury.
I’m sure pretending to be a noble and getting all the benefits of one would lead anyone to want to remain in that situation. ”
Ah. This wasn’t about the flirting, not really. He thought a few fancy dresses might turn my head, making me want to remain here instead of fulfilling my mission.
The luxuries here were the least of the temptations I was experiencing, however.
“Well, don’t fret,” I told him solemnly. “I won’t be losing sight of my goal, not when it comes to him.” I made sure to infuse my voice with all the distaste I felt for Azurill before meeting him. It wasn’t difficult, not when half of me still felt that way.
It was the other half that was the problem, and I buried it quite effectively the moment Carnelian had dragged me away.
“Good,” Carnelian responded sharply, a slight smirk on his face, but his eyes remained hard. Looking into those red depths was always a chilling experience, but watching him now, I could see something complicated going on behind those eyes. Something I couldn’t begin to suss out.
“You never did tell me what Azurill did to your family for you to hate him so much,” Carnelian said casually as he resumed walking us around the garden.
I froze.
It took all my reflexes and talents at deception to make my body move in step with his again, ensuring the lord couldn’t see the chaos he’d just caused within me.
I’d never said anything about my family to him.
He had no way to know that was why I hated Azurill.
He shouldn’t even know that Azurill had done anything at all.
I’d only told him that my circumstances in poverty had prompted my hate of the high king.
Was he assuming something more personal happened, and landed on my family as a guess? Or was there something else going on here?
I shook my head, pushing aside my turmoil before Carnelian noticed it.
“No, I didn’t,” I answered, side-eyeing him so I could see his face. The upturn of his lips was subtle, but it told me everything I needed to know.
Carnelian knew something.
Panic flared within me, all-consuming. For him to know anything about my family…he’d have to know who I really was.