Her Reputation (The Empire: Book 1) by Laura R Cole
*
Phoenix looked at Regina across from her at the table. The girl was even more fidgety than usual. She pushed a basket of something across the table to her.
“I baked you some more sweetrolls,” Regina said. Phoenix lifted the napkin that covered them and inhaled the sweet aroma.
“They smell delicious. Thank you.”
“I have a confession to make,” Regina blurted out. “I’m so sorry.”
Phoenix looked at her, confused. “What kind of confession?”
“About Gavin…” She looked anywhere but at Phoenix. “I may have sort-of told him that you weren’t really interested in him. I’m afraid it’s my fault he attacked you! Maybe he just cracked that you were leading him on, and…” She wrung her hands together and her face turned red. “I had a bit of a crush on him myself, and when you said that you were just enjoying his affection for the moment, I was jealous. I know I shouldn’t have but…”
The poor girl looked so distressed that Phoenix felt bad for her, though her confession almost made Phoenix laugh in relief. She had been afraid that the girl was going to tell her that she was somehow involved in the horrible plot. As it was, it was clear that Regina had no idea what was really going on.
Biting back her laughter, Phoenix rose from the table and went over to hug her friend tightly. “It’s not your fault; I promise. Knowing that he couldn’t gain anything by marrying me might have played a small part in their choices, I suppose, but the plot went much deeper than that. I assure you, anything you said to him did not make him try to kill me.”
“Are you sure?” Regina squeaked out.
“Positive. And I apologize as well, I knew you also liked him and I still let him sweep me along with the possibility of a relationship.”
“I thought you said you didn’t like him?”
Phoenix sighed. “I don’t know. I was holding out for some fantasy, but was coming to realize that it was just that; a fantasy. And I did enjoy his company until I found out his true nature. I’m so glad that we both were saved from him.”
“Me too.”
Phoenix’s mother arrived just then, and Regina was gone before Layna could even say “hello” to the woman. Her mother watched Regina scurry out with a raised brow.
Phoenix waved away the unasked question. “She’s worried she had something to do with Gavin’s attack because she told him that I didn’t like him.”
“If only it had been that simple,” her mother commented, taking the seat Regina had abandoned. She opened the basket and plucked a sweetroll from it, taking a bite. She closed her eyes in mock ecstasy for a moment. “These are so good,” she gushed. “When I was your age, I would never have had these.” She shook the roll at Phoenix who rolled her eyes at her mother.
They sat in comfortable silence while Layna finished her sweetroll, but then the Queen sighed. “There’s been more information about the situation.”
Phoenix looked at her expectantly.
“Remember the second man that was attacked, Lord Donnovan?” At Phoenix’s nod she continued. “Gavin confessed that he was the one who was meeting him in the stables the day he was attacked. It was Gavin’s footprints we found at the scene, though he maintains that the man was already unconscious when he arrived.”
“No wonder he was so eager to point out that he had been with me for the afternoon.” Phoenix scoffed. “He was protecting himself, not me.”
“Indeed,” Layna agreed. “Lady Aria is resigning as First Advisor, though we have determined she didn’t know of the scheme. She feels that she should have, and I can’t totally disagree with her. While part of me can understand wanting her child to have a more normal life – especially when my daughter has been depressed that her friends aren’t treating her like a normal person – I can’t imagine not being with you. I don’t know how she can justify not knowing her own son. She says that she did know of Noam’s ambitious nature – a large part of why she pushed to have him stay away from the capital – but hadn’t realized the extent that it had rubbed off onto their son. They apparently fought about it many times since his arrival with Gavin here. She asked me to pass along her sincerest apologies.”
A knock sounded at the door and both women looked up in surprise. Natalya poked her head out and then shut the door to announce that it was the heralds. Phoenix had almost forgotten their presence with all the excitement. If you can call it that, she thought sourly.
At Queen Layna’s nod, Natalya opened the door and seemingly the entire entourage from the Tyekath Empire flowed into the room.
“We were so sorry to hear of the attempt made upon your life!” Herald Siajan exclaimed with sincerity. He rushed forward and knelt before her, clasping her hand in his.
Herald Kedum was slightly more reserved. He bowed to both the Queen and Phoenix. “Please let us know if there is anything at all that we can do to help.”
Layna spoke. “Thank you for the kind words. We apologize for this incident happening while you were under our protection. I assure you that extreme measures have been taken to ensure your safety.”
No one pointed out that similar measures had been put into place to protect Phoenix to no avail.
Siajan rose and waved away the Queen’s apology. “You have shown us nothing but hospitality and respect. And all of us feel quite safe in your care.” He glanced around at his comrades who all nodded agreeably. All except Nathiwen who stood stoically at the back of the group, unmoving.
Phoenix met the boy’s eyes briefly and thought she saw the corners of his mouth twitch into the slightest of smiles. She smiled back before her attention was once again drawn to Siajan as he spoke.
“We shall soon need to return to our home in order to begin preparations for the celebration of Her Favor.”
“When is this celebration?”
“It shall happen in six weeks time, Your Majesty, so we will need to make preparations for the journey straightaway.” He paused and smiled at her. “But we would like to invite a party of your people to come so that we can repay you for your hospitality.
Queen Layna nodded. “Thank you, Herald Siajan.” She paused a moment, then beamed at the man. “We will have to throw you a grand going-away party as well.”
Herald Siajan and Kedum had both become very popular among the courtiers, and though the majority of the rest of their party was more reticent than the two heralds, all were polite and courteous. A farewell party was sure to be well-attended.
Phoenix held her smile, and took a deep breath through her nose. No doubt such an excursion by her parents would create the perfect opportunity in their eyes for her to practice being the reigning monarch before she officially took the throne. Technically, her eighteenth birthday marked her eligibility for her ascension to the throne, but between the assassination attempt and the recent events with the visitors, she had hoped to be able to put it off.
“Unfortunately,” Siajan said, “I regret to inform you that if you and King Gryffon would like to be a part of this party, for your own safety we must insist that your talents be dampened – which we can accomplish via potion – for the duration. The Empress laments the need for this restriction, but it is necessary.”
Phoenix glanced at her mother’s reaction. The Queen looked taken-aback. Phoenix cut in, “Perhaps I might be allowed to make this excursion in lieu of the King and Queen seeing as how I have no talent to speak of?” She turned to her mother. “It would also provide me with an excellent opportunity to hone my skills before actually taking the throne.” Not to mention hopefully postpone the event until I’m ready.
“That would be wonderful!” Siajan nodded.
Queen Layna gave her a rather stern look, then turned to the heralds. “We shall have to discuss this matter with the King and the Council, of course, but I thank you for the offer.”
“Of course, Your Majesty.” Both heralds bowed. “We will take our leave
The entire entourage bowed now and left, leaving Phoenix to face her mother’s displeasure alone. “You could have waited until we were alone to make the suggestion of you going,” Layna accused Phoenix once the door was safely shut.
“Aren’t I supposed to be starting to make these types of decisions myself?” Phoenix asked innocently. “And it is the perfect solution. I know you and father won’t want to give up your talents – at least not when it would be dampened by magic you don’t understand and might not get it back – so my going in your stead is the perfect compromise. The Empress will not be put out by substitution, and you will be sure to retain your power.”
Her mother narrowed her eyes at Phoenix. “We’ll see.”