Queen of Shattered Dreams

11 - A Plan

Photo by Polina Tankilevitch on Pexels

I pace the floor of my room as I wait for Lady Bryde's arrival. Of the six ladies of the court, she is the closest to my own age. Our interactions have been brief over the two weeks I've been queen. She seems the one most inclined to fill me in on this place, though hesitant to do so in front of the other ladies. And we are with the other ladies everyday. Hassiba's warning has not been far from my mind. I've watched the members of the court, I've tried to learn more about them but our interactions thus far have been too shallow. Lady Bryde might be a good source of information but I can't take my chances that she'll simply open up because we have tea together.

I've arranged for Lady Bryde to meet me in my personal chambers. I center the bottle of wine on the table where a tea tray should be. I recall the way the wedding wine had lowered my defenses. I had said things I'd intended to keep in my head that night. I'm hoping Lady Bryde won't object to the wine. Especially since it will explain away the loose lips spell I've put on her glass.

This is a victory for Lady Bryde, being the first courtier to receive a private invitation from the new queen. She likely will go along with anything I suggest. I wonder if she is one who has something to gain—or something to hide.

There's a knock at the door and a servant opens, letting in Lady Bryde. "Queen Mila." She curtsies.

"Lady Bryde." I hold out my hands so she can grab them as if we are old friends, happy to see each other. "Please, sit." I gesture to the table.

She takes a seat, smiling, and for a moment I feel bad about how I'm using her—but only for a moment. It's not as though I'm putting her life at risk or causing her harm in any way. It's only gossip I'm after. And who knows, maybe we will become friends.

Her eyes land on the bottle, but before I can give my excuse her eyebrows shoot up and she grins. "Clearly this is to be the best tea time."

I laugh, easy and genuine, which surprises me. "I'm so glad you feel the same. Tea felt like something for our mothers to do."

Lady Bryde holds up her glass. "To our stuffy mothers. Let the fun begin." Her eyes are bright with excitement and she's rather pretty, though her nose is too large and her hair is a dull color, but other than that...

I pour each of us a glass. She throws her head back and empties hers. This is already going better than I imagined. Even if my spell doesn't work, she's likely to be drunk enough to start telling secrets in a matter of minutes. I pour her some more.

She raises the glass as if to say "cheers" and takes a long sip. I find that I like her. There's something charming about her lack of propriety. Something relatable. I bet she'd go running through the gardens barefoot with me if I suggested it. It could all be an act to get me to trust her more easily. But who can drink so much alcohol and still act? If she can, there's so much I could learn from her.

"What's it like, having a step-daughter only a few years younger than you?" She raises a hand toward her mouth. "I shouldn't have asked that. She's a darling child, isn't she? I'm sure it's been a pleasure getting to know her."

I raise an eyebrow. Either she knows some redeeming quality about Princess Dendrite that I can't seem to find, or she's a very good liar, even with an enchanted drinking glass.

"I wasn't aware the courtiers would have had much interaction with her." I say instead of responding to her questions and assumptions.

Lady Bryde's face reddens. "Well—she's been attending our gatherings for a few months after her mother..."

It's hard to imagine Dendrite in that oversized room with the ladies of the court, drinking tea and sharing inane gossip. I don't even want to attend those daily gatherings, why would a twelve-year-old girl? Is she that desperate to be queen? I suppose now that I'm here, there's no need for the little princess to play at being queen. She can go back to skulking or torturing animals or whatever it is that she does with her time.