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Calling in a s blue eyes and sniffled, turning an ordinary body sound into so feminine and delicate
“What about Correne?” Ker, which is very naughty of you, Theran She hasn’t had her Virgin Night yet She shouldn’t go anywhere with a man without a chaperon”
“I took her hoe now”
“Why?She was my only friend here My only female friend,” she added hastily when he stiffened
He took the glass from her and set it on the table next to the chair Then he took her hands “She wasn’t a friend to you, although she hid her intentions well”
She jerked her hands out of his “Whatever are you talking about? Of course she’s my friend”
The headache was still there, gnawing inside his skull So he spoke without softening the blow “Because of her, you ht” He pulled back He should have asked this question before Hehad asked this question before But not so bluntly that he would have to have an answer “Maybe I’ve presu here after Cassidy ht you illing to becoht you had stayed to learn what the people here need fro influential people here to meet you so that they would support your intention to rule”
“What influential people?” Kermilla snapped “There are only a handful of aristo fao anywhere else”
“Influential doesn’t alwaysthe leash on his tehter, and he’s respected by other Warlord Princes and the surviving Queens because of it”
“He wasn’t very nice at dinner”
Kermilla stuck out her lower lip The pout usually s he’d like to do with her Today, with his head pounding unmercifully, it just made her mouth look puffy and unattractive
“You should have slapped Correne dohen she made that remark about Cassidy”
“Well, shewas called Lady Freckledy”
“That doesn’t matter She wasn’t the Queen of a Territory then Ferall didn’t join Cassidy’s court and he may not serve her directly, but hewas insulted on her behalf When you did nothing, you lost his support—and the support of the other three Warlord Princes who came with him That means you lost the support of any of the Queens who pay attention to how Ferall reacts to people who reat influence in our land”
“Why should he be insulted? You just said he wasn’t hers”
“You don’t knohat it’s like to live under a bad Queen I believe you would be a better Queen for Dena Nehele, but Cassidy has beenan effort to help the people, and the Queens and Warlord Princes are paying attention They aren’t interested in parties and concerts, Kermilla They’re interested in a harvest that will feed everyone through the winter”
“You just don’t want to have any fun”
“Fun is a luxury we can’t afford yet” He took her hands again “And there are soot the bills from the merchants today”
“Oh, Theran You’re not going to grumble about that too”
He released her hands andsome distance “I told themore”
She stared at him, clearly hurt and insulted