A Game of Cards

Chapter XIX: Onyx Ying

I sat there at the banquet in a stiff black gown, fighting the urge to shift in my seat. I had traded my commanding general's uniform for something that looked less threatening, a modest black ballroom gown like those that Daemia women wore, but the lace of the gown made it terribly itchy and uncomfortable, even more so than my stiff uniform.

A plate of food lay cold and untouched in front of me. Clovish delicacies. I have always liked the food here, Clovers was clearly a country very practiced in the culinary arts, but there was no way I could stomach any food now, just days after the Chengdi military base was infiltrated. It was a Clovish tradition to discuss controversial topics and politics over a warm plate of food, a feast would be held even over topics such as war and doomsday. I had always hated this tradition – formal settings were always preferable to me, it was much easier to remain neutral in times of crisis – but when I asked Tamar about it once, he just laughed and said that everybody would be in a better mood over a bowl of piping hot soup. Looking at the smiling faces across the dining table, I could tell such was the case, though it was hardly appropriate following the recent events. There were even a court jesters providing entertainment in the corner of the room.

Clovers had always been the place where international conflict was discussed, quite ironic, considering that this was the Land of Peace, but it was as neutral as neutral territory could get, and one of the safer places compared to the current Spades or Diamonds. I grimaced internally when I thought of the Land of Merchandise. Things really were a mess there, and I had been the one under fire because two Spadian sisters were the ones to mess things up. Well, those two are back in Spades now, so the situation over there should blow over soon. Still...I had a sense that they would try something funny and stir up some conflict back home instead. I felt mentally drained just thinking about it.

The gown was terribly stuffy as well, I realized suddenly as I felt a lick of heat flare on my waist. I dabbed at my nose in what I hoped was a dainty manner, trying to keep the sweat from smearing my makeup. The table was organized not my age, but by title, so Dane and Cozbi were both seated further down the table, along with the other children of high nobility—Mace included. The two were currently shooting the prince of Hearts dirty looks, gossiping quietly to each other. I longed to join them. Even if I rarely contribute to their conversations, listening to their chatter would be far more entertaining than listening to the Heartisian general Irisberg's pitiful attempts at striking a conversation with the Clovish commanding general. I couldn't blame General Ahamada for not wanting to talk to that general. Even though the Clovish general was young, being only ten years of age, he was a prodigy after all, and he couldn't have appreciated General Irisberg's patronizing tone much. My gaze slid to a certain annoying prince of Hearts, who was conversing merrily with Briana, the girl blushing nonstop. I had to keep my eyes trained on her gem-encrusts goblet to keep myself from rolling my eyes. Even though she insists that she is the Tulip Mistress, I personally believed her to be the other version of her Impersonation, the Two-Lip Mistress, instead. I had never interacted with her beyond our encounter in the Opaque Towers, but I've seen the way she treats others, especially those less wealthy than her. She acts as though she is superior simply because of her status, and that is something that I could never respect. The prince continuously stole distasteful looks my way, which I gladly returned.

I rubbed my fingertips on the table, mind hollow from boredom. My fingers itched to pull out the book I was keeping in my two of spades card. The only thing keeping me from doing so was the appropriateness of this action, considering the setting. Then again, they had court jesters providing entertainment in the corner of the room, and that was hardly what I would call appropriate. Just as I was about to summon the card, a harsh and annoyed voice spoke, cutting through the music, a cold contrast to the heartwarming environment that our graceful host tried so hard to create.