Chapter 39
The Might of the Meddlesome
S oo Hebin lightly outlined the smooth slope of her neck with her fingertips, her oval face tilted in the mirror as she peered at her skin with satisfaction. Despite being in her forties, she looked remarkably young, but that of course was thanks to all of her painstaking efforts. Frankincense, rose oils, creams—only the best.
Lowering her eyes, she rose from the silk cushion of her stool, causing her four ladies’ maids to rise from the floor behind her.
“What word have we received from Lord Nam about the silk shipment?”
One of the maids replied, “He said that it is on time, Your Highness, and that there are even some other items on the vessel that will please you.”
Soo scoffed, but with a smile. “I’d say he was being impudent, but he does seem to know my taste.”
Lifting her chin despite the incredible weight of her bejeweled hair, laden with stiff gels and perfumes, the concubine glided toward the doors of her quarters until a knock stopped her in place.
“Your Highness?” an unfamiliar voice called out. Not that Soo Hebin, mother to the next emperor, really took note of her servants. “A Mr. Julian is here to see you with two guests?”
The corners of Soo Hebin’s mouth curved upward. “Already? This day is full of good news. Tell them I will see them now.”
The two doors slid open, and in stepped a man with sandy-brown hair, brown eyes, and pale skin. He wore Daxarian clothes: a dirty black coat that had four heavy buckles, dull-black trousers, and underneath, a faded tunic. He bowed to her, and then stepped aside for a man with similar coloring, but one in his late thirties who wore a plum-colored silk coat over a fine cream vest embroidered in gold. The material was without a doubt Zinferan, but the cut and style were Daxarian.
“Your Highness, my name is Ansar,” he said calmly with a bow.
When he straightened, he met Soo’s gaze, and her expression turned cool. Those below her station were not to meet her eyes. She would have to take it up with this man’s mistress. While he may have been her primary contact since the last time the daughter of the Gods had been in her company more than a decade ago, he was not an equal. Even if he was the closest confidant to the first witch.
Speaking of the daughter of the Gods… in swept the final guest, who stood with her hood drawn to shadow her face and did not say a word.
Soo raised an eyebrow, her displeasure growing as she lifted her left hand. “Leave us.”
The serving maidens filed out without a word of protest, their slippered feet gently whooshing over the polished dark wooden planks. The doors slid shut once more.
Soo Hebin waited as the figure slowly lowered her hood.
The redheaded woman in front of her was in her early twenties, was quite short, with wide hips and a slim torso, and steely, colorless eyes.
“Glad to see you have arrived without incident,” Soo said in greeting, her smile not quite matching her gaze.
“I’m glad to see you succeeded in growing your power,” the first witch returned calmly.
“I confess, your ancient beasts were quite helpful. Particularly with convincing the coven to stay out of my affairs.”
Tilting her head, Aradia looked toward Ansar. Soo had no idea what the look was supposed to mean, but it was already grating on her nerves.
“I appreciate the lengths you went to in order to help me escape Troivack,” the first witch continued. There was an air of superiority in her voice as her gaze roamed over the large room with its white walls, thick wooden beams, painted screens, plush red carpets, gilded mirrors, and exquisite Zinferan paintings.
“Yes, well, I would like your assistance in ensuring my son takes the throne. Daxaria has been far too quiet as of late, and I had a hunch that your escape would help keep them busy.”
Aradia didn’t respond as she moved farther into the room. “I made sure to change my appearance multiple times on my journey here so you will be free of suspicion.”
Soo scoffed. “I don’t fear Daxaria’s influence. They won’t want to risk a war yet, and I’ve ensured that chaos is reigning here in Zinfera. Even if they wanted to, they would struggle to figure out who is the enemy, and who is innocent.”
The first witch continued to study the room, as though inspecting it.
Soo knew better than to lash out at the first witch, and instead looked sharply at the man called Mr. Julian.
“I don’t remember you.”
At least this one hadn’t made eye contact.
“I was recruited by the first witch in Troivack when I served the crown prince of Daxaria more than seven years ago.” The stiffness that came into his shoulders made Soo’s eyes glitter.
“You mean Eric Reyes? The one who now sits on the Daxarian throne?”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Soo strode over to the young man and lifted his chin with her index knuckle. His eyes seemed innocent, and yet there was a keenness to them—a shiftiness that betrayed his true nature.
“Interesting,” Soo murmured.
“I take it there is more you believe I can do for you?” Aradia called out idly as she neared the end of her stroll around the concubine’s room.
Once again reminded that the daughter of the Gods was making herself far too comfortable in her quarters, Soo inclined her head regally and turned around. “Yes. Take that dragon of yours and make it stop attacking my ships.”
Aradia’s eyebrows pulled together. “Wixim has been sinking ships?”
The concubine couldn’t hide the twitch in her upper lip. She didn’t like repeating herself.
The first witch saw this and held the concubine’s eyes, appearing to be entertained, then dragged her gaze over to the corners of the room in thoughtful silence for a moment before daring to laugh. “I see. Well, I can help you with Wixim, of course. However, you will need to help me first.”
“I have already helped you.”
“Not quite. You paid your debt to me for the ancient beasts, and giving you access to Witch’s Brew both for profit and for consumption. I hear the emperor has been declining in health—quite impressive that he lasted so long while being dosed.” Aradia rounded the concubine to stand before her with Ansar. “Now you want me to move the dragon, and I’m saying I will require your assistance, though to be perfectly honest, what I’m asking for is beneficial for you as well.”
Soo waited, feigning patience.
“The devil is in Zinfera. You will help me locate him, and I have no doubt that if we find him, we’ll happen to find an Ashowan or two nearby.”
Unable to hide her shock, the concubine widened her eyes. Her mind spun through the implications of arguably the most powerful family in Daxaria getting anywhere near her.
“The devil has not been seen in years. However, amongst the sailors, they talk of a man who wields darkness that can swallow you whole. And he happened to be traveling to Zinfera’s shores.”
Soo composed herself. “Rumors.”
“Perhaps, but it is interesting that they started around the time of my escape. And now you say ships are being attacked by an ancient beast… I’m inclined to think all this chaos is starting to bring everyone, and everything, crashing together.”
Wordlessly, the concubine moved toward a short, ornate wooden desk near a darkened window.
“I will contact my informants in Lord Jiho Ryu’s household and see if he has any visitors, or if he is traveling. That peasant playing dress-up has been the Ashowans’ source of information for years,” Soo explained. She lowered herself to the white pillow and reached for her ink well.
“I’ll need soldiers. Soldiers skilled in stealth and capture,” Aradia declared evenly.
Soo Hebin paused.
One day, she would make the daughter of the Gods bow before her and rue the day she ever thought she could dominate her…
“How many?”
… But for now, Soo needed to guarantee her son’s ascension to the throne. The first witch was the ticket, and who knew? Maybe if some Ashowans were lured to her, she’d find uses for them, too.
◆◆◆
Tam stood quietly with his shoulder pressed against the doorframe as he watched Luca with his tutor.
He could see by his son’s slumped shoulders that he wasn’t paying attention at all as the stern Zinferan man continued to explain the mathematical equation he had written down on the piece of slate in his hands.
“He’s the best tutor in Junya,” Eli informed Tam, almost startling her employer into jumping. Almost. Tam had grown used to getting caught off guard by her.
“I read your notes,” he said with a nod. “He’s smart, but… I think Luca hasn’t learned to focus while sitting down. It’ll take some time.”
The pair continued to watch the lesson until Luca let out a long yawn. Both Tam and Eli wordlessly decided that it was best if they moved back into the house before either of them felt the need to interrupt.
“Jeong and Bong say there is a boat launch ceremony in two days, and both Lord Guk and Yangban will be there,” Tam started seriously. “Would you prefer to stay back?”
Eli sighed. “As much as I’d like to say no, it is too risky for me to go.”
Tam slid a discreet glance in her direction. “Because your brother most likely will be attending?”
Eli stopped in her tracks and looked up at Tam, her expression hard as stone, until… it cracked.
The future duke hoped he hid his surprise quickly enough to prompt her to keep talking.
“I don’t know what he wants or why he’s looking for me. I was legally removed from the family. They owe me nothing, and I can ask for nothing.” A breath of annoyance rushed out of her nose. “It’d also be problematic for you if I talked and acknowledged him.”
“It might be riskier not to at the rate he’s pursuing you,” Tam pointed out gently.
Eli fell quiet, her brow crinkled in serious thought.
Haewon appeared. “Mr. and Mrs. Voll, there is a young man here to see Mrs. Voll.”
Tam and Eli stared, dumbfounded. “Did—Did he give a name?” Eli closed her eyes as though mentally kicking herself for stammering.
“He did not, but he did say he tried to speak with you at the party last evening?” Haewon supplied helpfully.
“Alright, thank you.” Eli tried to smile but she didn’t succeed, and her eyes were filled with dread.
“Mrs. Voll, shall I tell him to come back another time?”
“He can… He can come in for a cup of tea.”
Haewon nodded and smiled encouragingly at Eli. “I’ll prepare a pot for the two of you.”
“My husband will be there as well,” Eli blurted in a rush.
Haewon’s lips twitched toward a grimace. Then, remembering herself, she bowed respectfully and left.
Tam looked after the housekeeper, and once he was certain she was no longer within earshot, he shook his head. “Gods, she really hates me.”
“I’m sorry.”
He turned, startled, toward Eli.
“For making our time here more complicated, I—”
“I disappeared for three days, thanks to my magic. You are the least problematic of anyone in this house.”
“Bong and Jeong aren’t problematic.”
“Bong when drunk is a bloody nuisance. He fell asleep in the tree when he got home last night. When Jeong went to help him out, he bruised his shoulder. And speaking of Jeong—do I really need to elaborate on why he is a menace? A lovable one, of course, but do I?”
The last comment chipped free a small smile from the assistant.
“Besides.” Tam slipped his hands into his pockets and leaned against the wall behind him, his eyes homed on Eli, who was wearing the powder-blue shirt she looked the most stunning in. “I’m your husband. I need to look out for you.”
Eli blushed, started to fidget, then stopped. “I thought you said you’d wait for me to say—”
“I’m just stating facts. It’s what a husband does.”
“W-while that may be… you are saying it while looking at me like that.”
“Like what?” Tam raised his eyebrows innocently.
“Like you really think of yourself as my…” She trailed off, evidently unable to find the words.
“Would you like me to act indifferently?” Tam’s voice lowered, but the question was sincere.
He watched her cheeks flush. “Not… Not really. Maybe?”
Tam smiled and lowered his chin. “Message received. Now, we spoke of the devil; let’s go face him.”
Eli’s eyes snapped up in alarm. Tam realized that during his subtle flirtation, she had completely forgotten about their impromptu guest.
“Let’s go greet your brother,” he clarified, his smile lightening.
“Oh, right. Yes, let’s do that! I promise I won’t reveal your identity, my lord—I mean Ta—Joe!” Eli turned and hurried ahead of him as voices sounding down the hall drifted back toward them, signaling that Chul Nam was already in the house.
While Tam was worried about how the exchange could affect Eli, he had to silently confess that his mood had been difficult to dampen, especially when he’d noticed a subtle smile from Eli when he first referred to himself as her husband.
Who knows… Maybe if I’m patient, I can say it without it being a lie.