The Tyrant's Queen

25: season of the weeds

Having walked from the garden to Letellia's room, Thalia and Karlieus conversed in hushed tones, while Letellia continued in her slumber.

After some prompting, Karlieus opened up about his life on the pirate ship.

He talked about the fight rings he was thrust into, the betrayals and stabbings that occurred late in the night, and his rise through the ranks on the ship.

Thalia recounted her life before Lucien. Letellia's illness, her late father's debts- everything he asked.

Everything about her life, excluding the years as Hiris.

As naturally as possible, Thalia drank a vial of the drug that she'd tucked away in her dress.

The discreetness, it became apparent, was unwarranted- Karlieus noticed, but didn't ask questions.

The almost scentless, tasteless liquid was a sweet relief, like water for a man in the desert. Even when the thirst was quenched, she wished she'd brought another vial.

This time, like a little girl who wanted just one more bar of chocolate, despite having had a meal. What would be the end of this addiction?

"Perhaps Lady Letellia would want some more peace and quiet. I have been trespassing on your time for too long, ma'am," Karlieus winced apologetically, getting up from the sofa by Letellia's side.

"Oh, no. I..." Thalia glanced at Letellia's tranquil sleeping face, and smiled, a little ironically. "I know she will be surprised- but happy- that I brought a friend over."

"A...friend, ma'am?" Karlieus started, clearly surprised.

"I must have gotten ahead of myself. I won't be hurt if you say we're not friends, after speaking about our lives for the past...six hours," Thalia shrugged theatrically. "I won't be hurt at all."

She shouldn't have mentioned the six hours. Karlieus's mouth parted, as he hastily checked his wristwatch.

"I have truly trespassed on your valuable time, ma'am."

"Well, I have trespassed on your valuable off-day. Very well, we're even."

To have methodically and willfully pulled him into the whirl storm of politics for her benefit, and to have actually enjoyed their conversation, too. She truly had no shame.

Stretching out a hand, Thalia smiled. "Will you allow me to trespass on your time another day, too?"

It'd felt good. So shamefully good, listening to the stories of someone else's life, telling the stories of her own life.

Laughing so much as she never had the past few years, and listening to someone else's laughs.

Bracing herself for another hesitation, another look of guardedness from Karlieus, Thalia prepared to wait.

But without a pause, only with a warm, amused smile, Karlieus took her hand, and pressed his lips against it.

Taking in a quick inward breath, Thalia froze. She'd intended a handshake.

Lifting his lips from her hand, but still holding it in his own, Karlieus raised his eyes to her face. "It would be my greatest honor, Your Majesty."

~ * ~

The smile that had lingered thinly on Thalia's face even after parting from Karlieus, dropped the moment she entered her chamber.

Ulla and Viva stood side by side in the center of the room, with Ulla's cheeks stricken with tears, and Viva's face ashen.