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The king’s paraemstones were absent froht while his fingers intertwined with the king’s Prince Robert of House Iral He had not a drop of royal blood, but held the title for decades at the king’s orders Like the queen, he wore a riot of ge by his black dress uniforh was h the banquet hall Coriane thought he had a kind look--a strange thing for one so long at court It comforted her a little, until she noticed his own house seated next to hi eyes and feral smiles She tried to remember their names, but knew only one--his sister, Lady Ara, the head of House Iral, seeaze, Ara’s dark eyes flashed to Coriane’s, and she had to look elsewhere

To the prince Tiberias the Sixth one day, but only Tiberias now A teenager, Julian’s age, with the shadow of his father’s beard splotched unevenly across his jaw He favored wine, judging by the e refilled and the silver blush bloo across his cheeks She re stoic by a grave Now he grinned easily, trading jokes with hisover Queen Anabel’s shoulder to lock on to the Jacos girl in an old dress He nodded quickly, acknowledging her stare, before returning to his antics and his wine

"I can’t believe she allows it," said a voice across the table

Coriane turned to find Elara Merandus also staring at the royals, her keen and angled eyes narrowed in distaste Like her parents’, Elara’s outfit sparkled, dark blue silk and studded white geh she wore a wrapped blouse with slashed, cape sleeves instead of a gown Her hair was long, violently straight, falling in an ash curtain of blond over one shoulder, revealing an ear studded with crystal brilliance The rest of her was just asdark lashes, skin race of so polished and pruned into court perfection Already self-conscious, Coriane tugged at the golden sash around her waist She wished nothing more than to walk out of the hall and all the way back to the town house

"I’iveher best to keep her voice even Elara was not known for her kindness, or hter of a ruling lord, Coriane realized she knew little of the whisper girl "What are you talking about?"

Elara rolled bright blue eyes with the grace of a swan "The queen, of course I don’t kno she stands to share a table with her husband’s whore, ain, Coriane glanced at Prince Robert His presence see, and if the queen truly minded, she didn’t show it As she watched, all three crowned royals hispering together in gentle conversation But the crown prince and his wineglass were gone

"I wouldn’t allow it," Elara continued, pushing her plate away It was eh to eat her food "And it would be ht and no one else’s"

So she’ll be co in Queenstrial, then

"Of course I will"

Fear snapped through Coriane, chilling her Did she--?

"Yes" A wicked s in Coriane and she nearly fell back in shock She felt nothing, not even a brush inside her head, no indication that Elara was listening to her thoughts "I--" she sputtered "Excusethrough thirteen courses But still under her oer, thankfully Blank blank blank blank, she thought, picturing white walls and white paper and white nothing in her head Elara only watched, giggling into her hand

"Cori--?" she heard Julian say, but he didn’t stop her Neither did Jessamine, ould not want to cause a scene And her father didn’t notice at all,

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