Little Queen

38

Idalia's POV

:::

The next few days after the night Draven and I spent in the library go by quickly. Each day I keep myself busy until the sun is long gone, and my guards gently force me to bed. I've baked more sweets in the past five days than I have in months but after making myself sick nibbling on my creations I needed a break. Which is really how Sunny ended up outside in the garden with me, a dainty china tea set, and finger sandwiches.

Sunny isn't as tall as Draven and comes nowhere near as tall as Gio but his hands still make the sandwiches seem as if a giant is handling them. He's gone through a whole plate of triangle cucumber sandwiches making one of the maids run another out.

I grin at her in thanks and Sunny mumbles something as well but it's muffled by the food in his mouth.

"You know I really don't get why more people don't do this. Tea parties are awesome!"

I bark out a laugh when he washes down his mouthful with a sip of tea, properly cradling the saucer and cup with his pinky in the air.

"My friend Cat and I used to have tea parties biweekly. Father always thought it was silly but really it just meant we got yummy snacks and designated gossip time."

Sunny's face lights up, "Is that what we're doing? Is this gossiping?"

I hesitate, not wanting to burst his bubble.

"Uhm, not quite. I would say this is closer to just having a conversation than gossiping."

"Well then spill the tea sis, I want to have my first gossip session."

I giggle and sip at the earthy drink in front of me. My cup's filled with a dark oolong with just a hint of sugar, whereas Sunny has more milk and sugar in his cup than he does tea.

"We don't know any of the same people, how can we gossip? Besides you know everything going on in my life at the moment."

Which isn't quite true. He may know everything he sees me doing, but he doesn't know that these past five days I've only slept a total of 8 hours. Or that my nightmares have been getting so bad that I'm scared I'm going to wake someone with screams. He doesn't even know who I am outside of what Draven has told him.

We're definitely not gossiping.

Draven wasn't lying when he said he was going to be busy. I pretty much haven't seen him since our night in the library. Which I can only be thankful for right now, despite how much I miss him. He already thinks I'm not okay, he doesn't need me thrashing around in his bed in the middle of the night while he's exhausted.

"So what? Tell me about the gossip your friend told you. I don't need to know someone to know all of their deep dirty secrets."

My eyes widen exaggeratedly, "Sunny!" I admonish.

He stares at me expectantly until I finally break.

"Fine." I nibble at another sandwich while I search around for an interesting story Cat's told me.

"Oo! My papa's head maid, Patrice, started sleeping with the new stable hand right before I left! His name was Marcus and he was like, just barely 18."

Sunny seemed intrigued but skeptical, "Interesting but why does it matter that he's 18?"

I grin sipping from my cup and casually shrugging, "Because she's turning 60 next month."

That got the gasp I was waiting for... the same gasp I gave when Cat told me the news.

"Cat caught them going at it IN THE STABLES! My poor babies were probably traumatized who knows how many times. Not to mention Cat's eyes."