"Do you still want a divorce?"
I'd stared at King Asher yesterday, my heart racing, and given him the only answer that made sense.
"No, Your Majesty. I don't."
He'd stared at me for a long moment. Then nodded once. "Good."
That was it. No explanation required. He'd simply walked me back to my chambers and left.
Now, the morning sun streamed through my windows, and I was facing a different kind of test.
"Your posture, my lady." Tala adjusted my shoulders gently. "Queens of Anex sit with their spine straight. Always."
I straightened. "Like this?"
"Perfect, my lady." She moved around me, checking every angle. "Now, when you're presented to foreign dignitaries, you nod. You don't bow. Bowing is for servants."
"Nod. Don't bow. Understood."
"And when addressing the king in public?"
"Your Majesty. Never by his name."
"Good, my lady." Tala smiled. "You're learning quickly."
She pulled out a thick ledger. "The queens of Anex have responsibilities. Charity events. Court functions. Managing household staff."
"What do the other queens do?"
"Queen Mireya oversees the winter ball. Queen Saphine manages the spring gardens. Queen Talienne handles diplomatic teas. Queen Isolde runs the chapel services."
"And me?"
"That's to be decided, my lady. Typically, the king assigns duties based on a queen's strengths."
A knock at the door interrupted us.
A young servant entered, curtsying deeply. "Your Grace, this arrived for you."
She held out a sealed letter. Expensive paper. Gold wax.
I opened it.
Your Grace,
I regret to inform you that I must postpone our tea this afternoon. An urgent matter regarding the winter ball requires my immediate attention. I do hope you'll forgive me.
We shall reschedule very soon.
Your devoted friend,
Lady Lyriana Halvek.
I read it twice. The timing felt deliberate. Convenient.
"Bad news, my lady?" Tala asked.
"Lady Lyriana has canceled our tea."
"I see." Tala's expression remained carefully neutral. "Perhaps that's for the best, my lady."
"Perhaps."
I set the letter aside. But something about it nagged at me.
Another knock. A different servant. Older this time.
"Your Grace, the king has sent for you. His study. One hour."
My stomach flipped. "Thank you."
The servant bowed and left.
Tala immediately moved to the wardrobe. "We need to dress you properly, my lady."
She pulled out several gowns. Studied them. Frowned.
"What's wrong?" I asked.
"These dresses, my lady. They're all borrowed from the palace collection." She held up a pale blue gown. "Beautiful, yes. But they're not yours."
"Does it matter?"
"Yes, my lady. It matters greatly." Tala looked at me seriously. "You need a wardrobe befitting a queen. Your own style. Your own colors. The court is watching. They'll notice if you keep wearing borrowed gowns."
"What should I do?"
"Request an allowance from the king, my lady. He provides one for each queen." She returned to the wardrobe. "But for now, let's make the best of what we have."
She pulled out a gown in deep sapphire blue. Fitted. Elegant. With silver embroidery at the collar and cuffs.
"This will complement your coloring perfectly, my lady."
She helped me dress. Fixed my hair in a simple but elegant style. Added the emerald necklace.
When I looked in the mirror, I looked like I belonged in a palace.
"You're ready, my lady."
The walk to the king's study felt both too long and too short. Tala led me through corridors I was beginning to recognize.
We stopped outside a heavy oak door.
Tala curtsied. "I'll wait here, my lady."
I knocked once.
"Enter."
I stepped inside.
The king's study was all dark wood and leather. Maps covered one wall. Bookshelves lined another. A massive desk dominated the center.
King Asher sat behind it, reading something. He looked up when I entered.
His eyes swept over me. The blue dress. My hair. My face.
Something flickered in his expression.
"Hazel. Sit."
I sat in the chair across from him.
He set down whatever he'd been reading. Studied me for a moment. "You look well."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
"Blue suits you."
"I'll remember that, Your Majesty."
He leaned back in his chair. "I've been considering your duties as fifth queen."
"Yes, Your Majesty?"
"The other queens have their responsibilities. Ceremonial things. Parties. Gardens. Prayer services." He waved his hand dismissively. "You need something different."
I waited.
"You told me you've read extensively. History. Philosophy. Strategy."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Can you write? Clearly and concisely?"
"Yes, Your Majesty. I kept journals for years."
His eyebrow rose. "Journals about what?"
"Everything I read. Everything I observed. My thoughts on politics, strategy, human nature."
He stared at me. "You kept strategic journals. In a tower. For no one to read."
"For myself to read, Your Majesty. To keep my mind sharp."
"Show me."
"I'm sorry, Your Majesty?"
"Your handwriting. Write something." He pushed paper and ink toward me. "Anything."
I picked up the quill. Wrote a few lines from memory. A passage from Sun Tzu about knowing your enemy.
He took the paper. Read it. His expression shifted.
"Your handwriting is excellent. Clear. Efficient." He set it down. "Good."
He stood. Moved to a cabinet. Pulled out a stack of documents.
"I need someone to manage my correspondence with the southern provinces. Reading reports. Summarizing key information. Writing responses." He set the stack on his desk. "It's tedious work. Most people find it boring."
"I don't bore easily, Your Majesty."
His lips curved slightly. "No. I don't think you do."
He pushed the stack toward me. "Start with these. Read them. Summarize the key points. Have it done by tomorrow."
I took the papers. They were heavy. Official. Important.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"And Hazel?"
"Yes, Your Majesty?"
"You'll need proper working clothes. Gowns suitable for long hours of reading and writing." He returned to his seat. "Request an allowance from the treasurer. Tell him I authorized it. Use it wisely."
Relief washed through me. "Thank you, Your Majesty."
"Don't thank me yet. If your work is poor, I'll give the duty to someone else."
"Understood, Your Majesty."
He picked up his own papers. "Dismissed."
I stood. Started toward the door.
"Hazel."
I stopped. "Yes, Your Majesty?"
He didn't look up. "You made the right choice yesterday. About the divorce."
My heart skipped. "Your Majesty?"
"You're useful. Intelligent. You don't bore me." He glanced up. Met my eyes. "Stay that way."
"I'll try, Your Majesty."
I left the study, my mind racing.
Tala was waiting. "How did it go, my lady?"
"He gave me duties. Correspondence management."
Her eyes widened. "That's significant, my lady. Real responsibility. Not ceremonial."
"Is that unusual?"
"Very, my lady. The other queens have parties and gardens. You have actual administrative work."
We started walking back toward my chambers.
"He also authorized a wardrobe allowance," I added.
Tala's face brightened. "Excellent, my lady. I'll arrange for the royal seamstress to visit this week."
We turned a corner.
And nearly walked straight into Queen Mireya.
She stood with Lady Seraphina Valcor and Lady Maelis Thornwick. All three women stopped when they saw me.
Mireya's eyes swept over my blue gown. My hair. The stack of papers in my arms.
Her expression shifted. Something cold flickered across her face.
"Well, well. The fifth queen." Her voice was honey over ice. "Looking very official."
"Your Grace." I inclined my head politely.
"Those are the king's papers, aren't they?" She gestured to the stack in my arms.
"Yes, Your Grace. His Majesty has assigned me duties."
"Has he now?" Mireya stepped closer. "What kind of duties?"
"Correspondence management, Your Grace."
Complete silence.
I watched the information land. Saw Lady Seraphina's eyes widen. Saw Lady Maelis exchange a glance with Queen Mireya.
Then Mireya laughed. But it wasn't a pleasant sound.
"Correspondence. How absolutely thrilling. I'm sure you'll enjoy reading endless reports about grain shipments and tax collections."
"I'm honored to serve, Your Grace."
"Of course you are." Mireya circled me slowly. "Tell me, dear. Have you spoken to Lady Lyriana today?"
"She sent a note, Your Grace. Postponing our tea."
"Ah yes. Too busy for tea." Mireya's smile widened. "Though I wonder what could be so urgent."
"Ball preparations, Your Grace. That's what she wrote."
"Ball preparations." Mireya stopped in front of me. "Is that what she called it?"
Something in her tone made my stomach tighten.
"I don't understand, Your Grace."
"Don't you?" Mireya tilted her head. "Sweet girl. You just left the king's study, didn't you?"
"Yes, Your Grace."
"And he gave you papers. Duties. Made you feel special."
"He gave me work, Your Grace. That's all."
"That's all." Mireya's smile turned sharp. "Tell me, when you left his study, did you happen to notice where he went?"
I frowned. "No, Your Grace. He dismissed me."
"Mm." Mireya glanced at Lady Seraphina. "What time did Lady Lyriana arrive at the east tower?"
Lady Seraphina checked a small watch pinned to her dress. "Nearly an hour ago, Your Grace."
"An hour." Mireya turned back to me. "The king's private chambers are in the east tower, dear. Did you know that?"
My blood went cold.
"And Lady Lyriana has been locked in there with him for over an hour now."
I kept my face perfectly calm. "Perhaps they're discussing the winter ball, Your Grace."
Mireya laughed. Actually laughed.
"Oh, darling. How naive." She stepped close. So close I could smell her perfume. "Do you really think you're the only one who interests him?"