Page 75 of Seduce
“I didn’t want you to come through the front door, and there are too many people outside,” Cinder admonishes. I glance over my shoulder to see the groundskeeper watching with wide eyes.
Fuck a duck!
“Cinder,” I begin again, but she yanks me into the dark corridor, pulling the door closed behind me.
“I think you’ve gotten far too used to your freedom, Drizella,” she scoffs, her nails digging into my wrist. “Lana and I miss you, and my husband won’t leave because he wants to see you.”
“I couldn’t ask before, but why? I’ve never had anything to do with the king.” I feel as if I may be overstepping, however this has been eating at me. Charming has never been interested in me before.
“He has a task only you can provide.” Cinder shrugs. “My darling husband has decided that he needs to see you in person to demand it of you.”
My blood runs cold, because I have no idea what it could be. Cinder is also not about to tell me. I’m supposed to do whatever my queen and king tell me to, but neither of them seem to be right in the head. She rushes me through the halls, finally pushing me into a room where there are twelve other people inside. And Lana.
What the hell is going on?
“I found my gorgeous sister,” Cinder says casually as she sits at the head of the table. “I believe those were the last of the demands for backing my divorce from the King of Forbach.”
What the fuck.
My jaw drops at her words before I force myself to show composure, as if I knew what was happening the entire time.
“Why have you been out of the castle, Drizella?” an older woman asks. I believe she’s a duchess on the west coast of Forbach. “It was my understanding that you’ve been living here for the past year, though your step-sister kept you hidden away for much of it. She said you were feeling poorly.”
You could say that…
“Yes, that’s correct,” I lie, still standing. I have no idea why I’m here. “I’ve been doing some work for the queen outside of the castle.”
“She’s very talented,” Cinder gushes. She’s so full of shit, though. The only reason I’m being allowed out of her domain is because Andrya and the guys made me a condition to help her.
“We asked for your attendance for a specific reason,” the duchess says. “While Queen Cinder is an excellent ruler, we need to know all of the facts before we agree to this divorce. Come sit and tell us everything Forbach is facing as far as pros and cons for the future. You haven’t been at any of our meetings, and to be honest, your thoughts are always sought out because you are objective.”
This is why I’m beaten within an inch of life every time I’m forced into a meeting. These dignitaries think I have great ideas, and force me to discuss them. Fuck.
Cutting a look at my step-sister, she merely waves her hand drolly for me to join them at the table. “Come along, Drizella. We don’t have all day. I want my divorce, so lay it on the table. Everyone knows you know the kingdom’s politics as well as I do.”
That’s not entirely true. I had no idea how impoverished the people were. Nor did I have any idea of the shadier dealings my step-sister has been up to until I started searching for them.
“Yes, Your Majesty,” I respond on autopilot. For the next hour, I discuss the dealings in each quadrant, how Cinder deals with crime (the kind she doesn’t reward), and move into what her plans for each issue are. Unfortunately, I’ve sat in on so many of these meetings, I could talk about the issues in my sleep.
“Thank you, Drizella. The queen has told us that you’re going to be her advisor, is that correct?” the duchess asks.
I would rather eat broken glass, thank you.
“I believe Queen Cinder has yet to ask me,” I murmur diplomatically, struggling not to flinch when she kicks me. Dammit, that hurt.
“I was getting to it,” Cinder says gracelessly. The duchess frowns at the two of us. “Drizella was unaware of my plans to ask for a divorce since she hasn’t been home. Darling, ‘Zella, will you be my advisor? It means that you’ll be my right hand, and will be integral to all things in the kingdom. You can never leave me, as the post is for life.”
I can feel the blood leaving my face as I stare at her. Are my ears mistaken? Did she say forever?
Forcing myself to breathe, I struggle to nod enthusiastically. Cinder is a terrible actor, though her use of a nickname must have hurt her soul. I’m sure I’ll pay for that in some way as well. The constant carving of my soul is taking a toll on me.
“Alright then,” the duchess says with a nod. There are eight other people in this room, but not one of them has spoken during the last two and a half hours that I’ve been here. The guys have to be freaking out. “We will confer and then decide if we will release you from the marriage. He is rightfully the king, so this is a large request.”
“I absolutely understand, Kinsley. Thank you for coming to hear us out,” Cinder gushes with gratitude. I can almost hear the person that she was when she first became queen. She wasn’t always this twisted.
“Don’t thank me yet,” the duchess murmurs, standing to leave. “This will all hinge on the information that Drizella was so kind as to provide.”
I really hate this woman.If Cinder doesn’t get what she wants, she’ll make my life even more difficult than it already is. I gave the information with as much of a rose tint as possible without outright lying. I incline my head to the duchess and the eight other people she has with her as they leave, cursing up a storm in my head.