“Owning a bakery? Quite the freedom for a captive,” the Queen said, her eyes narrowing. “Correct me if I’m wrong, but prisoners don’t get to have successful careers as a baker or otherwise.”
“Maybe there wasn’t much choice in my career change.”
“The rumor also said that not only were you a spectacular baker, but that it was your passion. That doesn’t seem like a forced career change.”
Marietta tilted her head, asking, “Are you not passionate about the things you have a talent for, my Queen?” She picked up her tea and took a sip.
Queen Valeriya contemplated her answer, her face pensive as she stared into the garden as dark clouds rolled in. “I suppose I do. I also did some other digging into your background in Enomenos. Who is Tilan Reid to you?”
Marietta choked on her tea, sending her into a coughing fit. The Queen said she dug into her background but hearing Tilan’s name on her lips…. Gods, Queen Valeriya realized Tilan was her husband. She bit down on her lip as her coughing subsided.
Queen Valeriya continued, “Yes, I know. He is someone to you. I may have discovered that the human was your husband.”
Marietta’s thoughts raced. “It was a forced marriage by my captors,” she lied, the action knotting her stomach.
“Is that so? You’re telling me this man forced you to marry him and to open a bakery?”
“That’s the truth, Your Grace.”
“And this Tilan Reid... he was a blacksmith, was he not? You met him through your previous business?”
Marietta kept her face straight at the memory. “That’s correct.”
The Queen paused, glancing at Marietta. “So you also were aware of his position in the Exisotis?”
For a moment, there was silence. “Of course. I lived with Tilan, didn’t I?” she answered with quickened breath. What in the gods was the Exisotis?
“Then please, enlighten me. Tell me about your captors. What were the Exisotis doing?” she asked with a wicked smile, knowing she backed Marietta into a corner.
Marietta sat stewing. The Queen had more information than she realized.
Queen Valeriya cocked her head, red curls falling over her shoulder. “The Exisotis is a resistance group, opposing Syllogi for the oppression of pilinos with the goal to usurp the leaders of the Syllogian Council, like my husband and I. You didn’t know that Marietta, did you? Or that Tilan, a man you willingly married after your marriage to Keyain, was a member of this group?”
Marietta’s chest ached as she let out a heavy breath. The Queen had won and now rubbed salt in the wound. “Tilan was just a blacksmith, not a part of a resistance group.” Whispers of the group had reached her ears, but never the name. Tilan was in the Exisotis? No, it wasn’t true. It couldn’t be.
“I wouldn’t be so sure. Tilan held meetings in his smithy, and we have proof.” The Queen sipped her tea, then continued. “Regardless of your feelings, it would appear that you were under the influence of the Exisotis.”
Marietta’s mask cracked as tears swelled in her eyes.
“Just admit it,” Queen Valeriya whispered, bringing a hand to her chest. “You loved this Tilan. You loved a man who ranked so high in the Exisotis. I promise to keep it just between us.”
“It’s a lie,” Marietta said in a cracked voice.
“It isn’t, and I know it isn’t, Marietta.”
“Why would I trust you?”
Queen Valeriya leaned forward, setting her teacup down, whispering to Marietta. “I mean you no harm. I believe you know nothing about the Exisotis, which is all I need to share with my husband. The other parts are for me to understand you better.” As she spoke, her hand found Marietta’s. “You are in my court, and I can’t help you with the other ladies if you aren’t honest with me.”
All logic told her not to trust the Queen. Gods, even Keyain told her not to trust her; yet, at that moment, Marietta could feel the Queen’s sincerity. There was honesty in her tenderness.
She swallowed hard. “I loved Tilan, and I chose to marry him.”
“You know what, Lady Marietta?”
“What, Your Grace?”
“You don’t love Keyain and you never wished to marry him. But why would he risk his career to save you? That’s what I can’t figure out,” she said, her voice trailing as she thought.
