We pass by four of my guards on either side of the atrium’s doorway, their sure footsteps following behind us as we begin the long journey down the stairs.
“Thank you for inviting me to tea and for the tour of your atrium, Your Majesty.”
“Of course. I do hope you’ll come again,” I reply.
I wait, hoping for her to bring up the one topic we’ve both been dancing around all afternoon, but she says nothing. My teeth start clenching together again.
By the time we reach the first floor, Lady Helayna’s handmaidens are already there, waiting with her coat and hat. She draws her mourning veil back up, hooking it to the hat that her lady places on her head, features going muddled behind the sheer black fabric that drapes over her face.
Once she’s helped into her coat, she turns to me. I keep the pleasant smile on my face, though beneath it, I’m fuming, going over everything I could have done or said differently, wondering if another tactic would’ve worked. Calculating which of the nobles might still be swayed even without her.
Lady Helayna curtsies, her dress sweeping across the worn golden floors. “My queen.”
I give her my hand, though my smile is tight. An entire day. I wasted an entire day on her and—
Her grip tightens on mine in a friendly squeeze, face slightly obscured as she leans in conspiratorially. “You have my full support of ruling Sixth in your husband’s stead.”
I pause, the cool, smooth victory spreading through me like fresh ice. The cold is a balm to my spirit, a win that brings me that much closer to keeping control.
I may not have been born with magic, but I’m going to prove to Tyndall, to my court, to my entire kingdom, that I hold my own kind of power. With it, Sixth Kingdom will become stronger than ever. I will become stronger than ever.
“The fact that any of the other noble houses are hesitant is beyond me,” she says, and I can almost feel the roll of her eyes. “A Colier has ruled Sixth for generations and will continue to do so. You can rule here, while the king continues to aid Fifth Kingdom and secure our borders.”
This time, the smile that curls my lips is genuine. Having a female head of house is a rare thing, and I knew it was the perfect opportunity to gain a foothold inside the noble circles. A simple afternoon of pandering, and I’ve got her.
Having the countess in my corner will make it easier to gain the trust of the other noblewomen. I know for a fact that they all speak to one another, and Lady Helayna is the one they look to as a leader amongst them. If I can get all of the women on my side, it’ll be a major victory.
The women might not all be the heads of their houses, but they speak into the ears of the men who are. If done right, those whispered encouragements can become the subconscious thoughts of ignorant men.
“You have my thanks, Lady Helayna. The crown is ever grateful for your support.”
“We women have to stick together,” she says, a coy smile barely visible behind her veil. “Have a pleasant day, Your Majesty.”
“And you,” I reply with a conspiratorial tilt of my head.
The moment Lady Helayna is gone, my advisors come in, like birds of prey dropping in a swoop. “Your Majesty.”
“I’ve got Lady Helayna’s backing,” I say smugly, looking at the three of them. Barthal, Wilcox, and Uwen—advisors to my husband who were left behind to run Highbell. Now, they answer to me.
“You do?” Wilcox asks, clear disbelief on his aged face.
I nod. “As I told you before, gentleman, there is nothing wrong with me ruling in my husband’s absence.”
“Of course, my queen,” Uwen says, hand holding the belt at his hip to keep his stomach from overflowing over the top of it. “Our concern was simply that King Midas gave us very clear instructions. We were to continue business as usual and send a hawk for any concerns as well as regular updates. He was to make the decisions, and—”
“I will be making the decisions.”
I’ve been working nonstop to tighten my tentative hold on the kingdom, and the three of them are my most vocal doubters. Which is why I’ve been doing everything in my power to prove them wrong, to put them in their place.
“As I told you before, we have no need for hawks. Any updates and concerns will come to me,” I tell them.
I turn and begin to walk up the stairs, though I get immense pleasure from the fact that they start hurrying after me, like trained dogs come to heel.
“But the nobles...” Barthal begins.
“The nobles, as I have shown you all week, are loyal to the Colier family,” I say firmly, my steps silent on the golden carpet.
“You have met with many nobles this week, that is true,” Barthal admits.