Chapter 10
Lucy: Meeting the Competition
The same harried woman was waiting for them outside the throne room. She gestured for them. “I am Lady Himari Soto, your guide for the event. If you’ll follow me,” she said, turning and striding down the halls.
“Lady Soto seems a little stressed,” Sebastian mumbled in an undertone.
“Well, wouldn’t you be? She’s responsible for one of four teams in this competition, and that one team is terribly late. It’s not a good look on her,” Lucy said. “Come on, let’s not make her life any more difficult.” She took off after their guide.
Lady Soto led them to a sunny, spacious room at the far side of the palace. Peeking into the rooms on either side, Lucy could see the other teams getting unpacked. Well, that at least would make it easy for them to interrogate the other competitors.
Lady Soto pointed to the packages in the corner, packages Lucy vaguely recognized as the supplies Sebastian had packed in the cart. “I think we’ve delivered everything, but if anything is missing, please let us know.”
Sebastian nodded, bending down to inspect them. “Thank you, my lady.”
“If you require anything, please ring that bell and I or my servants will attend to you,” Lady Soto said, before breezing out of the room.
“She doesn’t waste time on small talk, I’ll give her that,” Sebastian said, lifting one of the boxes and putting it on the worktable. “I can appreciate that about a person.”
“You never were one for small talk,” Lucy agreed, picking up another. “Where do you want this one?”
Sebastian stopped unpacking the package he’d been working on and peered into the one she’d been holding. “Oh, I’ll take care of these.” He took the box from her and put it next to the one he’d been working on.
“Oh. Okay. Is there a box you’d trust me to unpack?” Lucy asked, slightly miffed.
“It’s not that I don’t trust you,” Sebastian said.
“I have a vision of where I’d like everything to go, and it would take more time for me to explain it to you than it would to do it myself.
” He offered an apologetic smile. “Maybe you could try to track down the people who are actually supposed to be designing the emperor’s new clothes? ”
Lucy nodded. “Of…of course.” Her face crimson, she backed out of the room. She watched from the doorway as Sebastian began fluttering around the room, immediately lost in his creative process.
Lucy shook her head. “Idiot,” she whispered as she started down the hall.
“Pardon?” She started when she realized she wasn’t alone. One of the women from the Umberian team was standing not far off. “Did you say something?” the woman asked. Her Moyarian was perfect, with a little accent. She studied Lucy with distaste, making her feel tiny.
“No, no, it was…it was nothing,” Lucy said. She wasn’t sure it was possible for her face to get any redder, but if it could, it did. To cover her embarrassment, she stuck her chin out and offered her hand out to the woman. “I’m Lucy Savage.”
“Mai Ito,” the woman said, shaking Lucy’s hand with two fingers, as if she couldn’t bear to touch her. “I’m Aiako’s business partner.”
Lucy’s jaw dropped. “I’ve heard of you. Didn’t you design the Empress’s wedding dress?”
“Oh, you heard about that minor triumph?” Mai said, lowering her head in false modesty. “Everyone thought Aiako had the job for months, but then the emperor chose my design. Aiako was furious.” The woman cackled.
“I was not furious. Merely surprised,” the other Umberian team member said, entering the hallway. “Honestly, Mai, you always exaggerate.”
“Of course, Ai. And the reason that the Coleuran vase I gave you got smashed the day the emperor made the announcement was that you were just surprised,” Mai sneered.
“I told you, that was an accident,” Aiako said through gritted teeth. She turned her attention to Lucy. “Oh, you poor dear. Didn’t anyone ever tell you that redheads should never wear pastels?”
Lucy glanced down at her pale pink gown. Sebastian had given it to her on her birthday when they were still courting, and it was still one of her favorites. “I beg your pardon?” she asked, her tone brittle.
“I mean, it’s not as if you’re a great beauty or anything, but surely you know to wear clothes that flatter you. And you could do with a little work, dear. I know a fabulous—”
“Good morning, ladies.” Sebastian appeared at Lucy’s elbow. His expression was carefully blank, but she could hear the anger in his tone. “Is there some kind of party out here no one told me about?”
Aiako and Mai let their gazes rove over Sebastian’s body. “No, but I think there should be,” Mai purred, running her fingers over Sebastian’s broad shoulders. “Perhaps after we finish our work for the day, I can show you around Umber. I know the very best place to have a quiet little drink.”
Sebastian stepped out of reach. “I’d be delighted, madame, as long as my partner can come, too.” He looped his arm around Lucy’s waist and drew her close to him. “An artist can never be far from his muse, after all.”
The two women stared at him, stupefied. “She’s…she…”
“I don’t believe we’ve been introduced. Sebastian Doyle,” he said.
“Doyle? I don’t think I’ve heard of you before,” Aiako said.
“You wouldn’t have,” Lucy said. “He’s an up-and-coming artist. But the Grand Duke of Moyar and Princess Joanna have worn his designs at several important events.
” Sebastian’s grip on her tightened ever so slightly, and she mentally kicked herself.
His work for Oliver and Joanna was supposed to be a secret.
“An up-and-coming artist who has already designed for King Alastair’s family? Well, that is quite a coup,” Mai said. “We’ll have to keep an eye on you, won’t we?”
“Here, what’s this?” Lucy turned to see the two tailors from Zaffyre approaching. The short one had spoken, his eyes glued to her. “Monopolizing all the attention for yourself, Moyar?”
“Not at all,” Sebastian said. “Just having a friendly chat with a few of the other artists.”
“See, I told you, Tomasso,” the tall one said. “There’s no big conspiracy here.” He turned to the group and gave a little bow. “Emilio Rossi, at your service.”
“Tomasso Lemorta,” grumbled the short one.
“Pleased to meet you,” the rest of the designers chorused, and they went around making introductions.
“I don’t think I’ve met either of you before,” Aiako said, tilting her head and studying the man. “Have you designed for anyone we might have heard of?”
Emilio shrugged. “Perhaps. A gentleman never kisses and tells.” He narrowed his eyes at Sebastian and Lucy.
Sebastian’s face darkened at the aspersion.
Lucy squeezed his hand. “Ah, but we’re not members of the press,” she pointed out. “Just a few other artists trading war stories.” Sebastian winced slightly at her choice of words but said nothing.
Mai nodded. “Indeed. What style do you prefer, Mr. Rossi?”
Emilio frowned. “Style?”
“Why, of course! For instance, Aiako and I prefer bold, brave patterns and innovative designs. Things that will shine a spotlight on our customers. What about you and Miss Savage, Mr. Doyle? Surely if you’ve already started designing for the royal family, you must have settled on some style,” Mai said, turning her gleaming eyes on Sebastian.
The young soldier didn’t even have to think.
“I prefer elegant with a twist, but I think it’s important to choose a style that reflects the owner.
For instance, Ol—the grand duke prefers to remain out of the spotlight.
If I were to choose anything too bold, I’m not sure he’d ever wear anything I made him. ”
“Even if the client’s style doesn’t work well with your own?” Aiako asked in disbelief.
“If it doesn’t work well with my own, I’d suggest that the client find another designer. But I’ve been able to strike the balance with all the people I’ve designed for, so I haven’t had to do so yet,” Sebastian said.
Easy to say when you’ve only designed for three or four people, Lucy told herself, then kicked herself for the cruel thought.
The other designers were staring at him as if he’d lost his mind. “But…but…what about staying true to your art?” Mai protested.
“I can stay true to my art without completely overshadowing the person,” Sebastian said resolutely. “But I’m taking over the conversation. Miss Ito was wondering what type of designs you favor, Mr. Rossi?”
The Zaffyren artist scowled, then brightened. “Well…I really wouldn’t want to give too much away, but Tomasso and I are working on a new technique.”
“Oh?” Mai’s eyes sparkled with interest. “What type of technique would that be?”
“Well, we weave our own fabrics,” Emilio said flippantly.
“That’s not special, of course. Nearly everyone does these days.
” Lucy and Sebastian exchanged looks. Was that true?
If so, that would put them at a distinct disadvantage.
“But the fabric we’ve brought with us for this competition is special.
Any clothes made of this cloth have a unique quality.
They become invisible to those who are unusually stupid or are unfit for their office. ”
The other designers gasped in astonishment. “However did you manage that?” Aiako asked. “It sounds like something out of a story.”
“Oh, we mustn’t give too much away,” Tomasso chortled. Lucy was uncomfortably aware that he was still focused on her. “After all, we’ll want to surprise everyone tomorrow at the judging.”
Aiako and Mai nodded. “Oh. Oh, of course. Could I…I mean, could we get a look at the fabric you’re using?” Mai wondered.
“Not right now,” Tomasso said. “We really must get to work setting up our studio. But perhaps this evening?”
“Oh. Oh, yes, that would be perfect,” Aiako purred, batting her eyes at all the men present. “And we’d better get back to work as well. It was a pleasure to meet you all.”
“The pleasure was all ours,” Sebastian said, watching the competitors disperse before drawing Lucy back into their studio and carefully shutting the door behind them. “Well…that was interesting.”
“You’re not joking,” Lucy said. “I’d love to get a look at that fabric they’re using.”
“Me, too.” Sebastian grimaced. “I didn’t know everyone was choosing to weave their own fabric. It’s not something I’d ever thought to do. I hope our actual designers already knew that and will come prepared.”
“Well, maybe they were just bragging,” Lucy said.
“Besides, it’s not like you’ve ever cheaped out on fabrics.
And your Fey magic lets you create the most interesting patterns on your designs.
” She ran her fingers over the silver detailing on her dress, remembering the Umberian designers’ cruel words.
“Hey.” Sebastian lifted her chin. “Don’t pay any attention to those witches. You’d look gorgeous in anything. And I’d never make a gown for you that would cause you to look or feel anything less than you already are.”
Lucy offered him a tremulous smile. “You’re just saying that.”
“I never say anything I don’t mean,” Sebastian said, turning away from her.
Did you mean it, then, when you said you loved me? Lucy couldn’t make herself ask the question. Instead, she moved to the window. The sun had hidden behind a thick wall of clouds, and she couldn’t hold back a shiver.
She cleared her throat. “Did you hear what Mai said? Aiako was furious when the emperor went with Mai’s designs, rather than hers. Do you think she would have been angry enough to want to go along with an assassination attempt?”
“I think if she was going to kill anyone, she would have killed Mai,” Sebastian said, grinning.
“Unless I’m mistaken, their partnership is fairly new, and, from what little I’ve seen, they don’t seem to get along.
But you might be right. We’ll have to monitor—” Before he could finish, the door to the workroom slammed open.