10. Consequences #2
Elinora led her to a patio where a small table for two was set. It was laden with sweet pastries and a beautiful porcelain tea set. When they sat down, the servant poured a steaming coffee. Skylar let herself enjoy the heavenly aroma for a moment.
"So," started Elinora with a glint in her dark eyes. "That was some party, hm?"
Skylar's cheeks burned, and she looked down at her cup. "I apologise for making a spectacle."
"Don't worry about it, my dear." The Queen waved her hand dismissively. "In the end, no harm was done. Well, when we ignore Axel's ego, of course."
"Thank you for your intervention. I've heard you helped Gawyn to smooth things up afterwards."
"It's my duty as the Queen and the Gryphonheart. We care for our own more than anything. And that's why I offered to take you as my protegee. It will not only let you learn the ways of the court but also shield you from further sabotage attempts from other nobles."
"How so?"
"I'm the Queen, darling. No one dares to go against me. Everyone knows if they try anything, I'll crush them," she said with such an innocent face that Skylar felt a shiver running down her spine. She wouldn't like to be on the wrong side of that woman.
"Thank you. But to be honest, I'm still unsure if I ever manage to learn all the laws ruling this place," Skylar said with bitterness in her voice.
"Skylar, what you did yesterday is rather unprecedented, but so are you. We haven't had a brawl at the official royal banquet for decades."
"I failed to see any upsides of this situation."
Elinora smiled, and there was a ferocity in that expression. "You, my dear, showed everyone that you wouldn't let anyone mess with you. Tell me, what is the role of women at the royal court?"
Skylar unwillingly recalled her argument with Gawyn, and she couldn't suppress her annoyance. "Looking pretty and smiling politely?"
The Queen laughed. "That, my dear, is what men want us to be. Poor stupid men think they are so smart and cunning and know everything there is to know about the world around them. But they are all short-sighted morons."
Skylar's eyes opened wide, hearing the poised Queen using such brash words.
"Oh, don't be so shocked. You can't tell me you never realised that. You, darling, are a strong and resourceful person who could probably beat the crap out of more than half of the men at this court. But they patronise you because you are a woman. Even your husband. Especially him. Am I not right?"
"You are," nodded Skylar, feeling all her insides clenched. She agreed with every word Elinora said, yet she couldn't believe the person at the head of the royal court was saying that.
"You don't have to look so disgruntled. The truth is the man is only as strong as the woman backing him up. Just look at me. I hail from a dethroned and shamed family, yet I became the most powerful person in this kingdom. And you, my dear, you have the potential to go just as far as I did.
You are in a perfect place now, married to a powerful man. All you need to do is play on your strengths."
"I'm not even sure where to start."
"I can help you with that. You are a lot like me. There's so much anger and pride in you. You just have to learn how to channel it correctly."
Skylar was silent for a moment. She agreed with most things Elinora had said so far, but at the same time, there was something that made her hesitate.
It may be just a gut feeling or a cunning glint in the Queen's dark eyes.
This woman was extremely dangerous, and Skylar didn't know if her intentions were just as pure as helping her family out.
But truth be told, she didn't have much choice in the matter.
The Queen was the ally she needed to survive in this viper's nest that the royal court was.
Skylar looked up at Elinora. "I'd be forever grateful for your help."
"And my help you shall have," said the Queen with a sweet smile. "You will join my inner circle and accompany me during all my official duties. It will allow you to learn the ways of the court. But I also need you to work on your relationship with Gawyn."
Skylar's muscles tensed, and her fist clenched. "What do you mean?"
"It may sound harsh, but you alone are nobody. You were allowed to enter the royal court only because you married a powerful man. But to use this potential fully, you need to gain his absolute trust and support. There's no way around it.
And it is impossible to do if you're not even sleeping together."
Skylar's face burned, and her mouth became dry. She knew she was not supposed to talk about it, but Elinora was confident. "How could you possibly know that?"
The Queen laughed. "Firstly, because you're blushing like a little girl. We must work on that. Your face is like an open book. You are far too easy to read. Secondly, I just knew the moment I saw you together. Your touches lack this certain kind of intimacy, typical for two people who share a bed."
"Oh. I didn't know it was so obvious," Skylar said with a frown.