The Queen's garden was beautiful. Gradients of carefully manicured flowers formed simulated landscapes; rivers of blue, plains of green grass, and geometric starbursts representing cities. The ocean itself was an actual lake, with small wooden boats tied at every "port."

  The paths could take you across the whole breadth of this miniature Lombardi domain. Doromare itself was a grand gazebo at the edge of it all, lightly obscured by hanging vines.

  This is where the Queen had summoned me, after one of her consorts had caught me waiting for Adrian by the lake.

  The smoke from her pipe gathered under the roof in a hazy cloud, and her foot grazed lightly on my leg as she leaned in towards me.

  "I hear that you've been making moves to finalize your engagement with the Hiems' boy."

  She practically purred as she laid her hand over mine.

  I was helpless to resist the soft touch of her fingers as they traced delicate patterns on me, as it was taking all my concentration just to remain lucid within the vast waves of floral scent that threatened to capsize my resolve with her every breath.

  "Is there nothing I could do to change your mind?"

  For my part, I was sitting as straight as possible, trying to will myself to become as stone. Something boring, something that wouldn't be interesting to play with. Her amused smile told me it wasn't working.

  "I apologize, Your Majesty, but I don't believe so. There are things I want that require me to join the Hiems' family. I hope you understand that this decision isn't a reflection of my feelings towards His Highness or yourself."

  She smirked. "How interesting. How very, very interesting, Sophia. Has one of their maids caught your eye? Or perhaps the Duchess herself?"

  She laughed a bit to herself, but I didn't dare ask what was funny.

  She leaned in, bidding a servant to hand over a small wooden box.

  "Well, from one young woman to another, let me offer you this by way of warning. Caesar may be a bit... eager, but the Hiems' boy has an amusing hobby of his own. Here's something I happened to acquire from his study."

  She stood up and motioned to the little cakes and fruits that sat uneaten on the table.

  "Feel free to stay and eat as much as you'd like, if you're still hungry. And do let me know as soon as possible if you'd like to reconsider my offer. If you tell me what it is you're after, I'm sure I can arrange a suitable replacement."

  "There's no replacing Diana," I thought bitterly. The thought of Diana's concept brought back just enough anger that my resolve briefly cracked, and a flicker of the Queen's magic slipped through my defenses.

  The Queen leaned back in, this time so close to my shoulder that she was practically touching her lips to my ear.

  "My, my. How angry we are. I'm sure you're thinking that there's no replacing whatever it is you're after. But I assure you, Sophia, I can show you things much better than what they have to offer."

  As she left, she winked. "There's still time for you to give Caesar your first dance at my next ball. I'll be sure to send an invitation if you'd only ask."

  I watched her go, my face and ears burning hot, and finally took in my first breath of fresh air since she had arrived.

  These cakes looked delicious, but a servant remained to make sure I opened the box before eating.

  "Oh... gods..."

  Inside of the box was a dead bird. A dove, perhaps. It was pinned to a small board, with various parts labeled with smaller pins.

  I didn't feel all that hungry anymore.

  ---

  Adrian was still there when I approached our meeting spot by the edge of the lake, looking no less pleased than usual to see me.

  "My apologies, Lord Adrian. Her Majesty requested my presence."

  He raced over to me eagerly, grabbing my hand to hold it tight.

  "No need to apologize, my lady. Come, let's continue our conversation on one of these boats. Aren't they delightful?"

  I hesitated for just a moment, thinking of what the Queen had shown me, and he ended up tugging on my hand a bit forcefully in his rush to head towards the dock.

  He cocked his head playfully, but his smile was forced.

  "Is something the matter, Lady Sophia?"

  "Ah, I'm just..."

  I glanced around, trying to think of an excuse.

  "I'm just a bit afraid of the water, my lord. My apologies."

  His eyes searched my face for a moment, and he seemed ready to argue, but his smile slowly became genuinely playful again.

  "Ahh... of course."

  His hand, the one not still gripping my wrist, reached up to caress the side of my neck, causing me to shudder.

  "You would be, wouldn't you? Drowning is certainly a bad way to go."

  His eyes searched mine, narrowing with a cooler sort of curiosity.

  "You had stopped breathing. In the library. Did you know that?

  An icy chill ran down my entire spine.

  "You shouldn't have been able to come back from something like that. Without breathing."

  He leaned in close, his hands still trapping me, his eyes hungry.

  "And what you did in the ballroom... When I watched as you cut off your own hand, so confident that it would work... you were beautiful. Have you ever wondered how far it can go? Have you ever tried testing your limits?"

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  I gathered up enough courage to step away from him, out of his grasp.

  "I believe that's not something that would be proper to discuss with someone who is not yet my husband, Lord Adrian."

  A flash of anger furrowed his brow for just a moment before he grinned wide once more.

  "Something easily rectified. I'll have to speak with my mother once again about the idea of helping you pay your dowry..."

  I coughed, cautiously interrupting him.

  "About that, Adrian. Given everything, I believe that my father was not negotiating with your family in good faith. Considering all that I have to offer, I believe that the sum of ten thousand in coin should be enough to convince your mother to agree to our engagement."

  Rather than being pleased, he was frowning rather severely, and looking quite annoyed.

  "Of course, Adrian, if you'd still like to help me... I would much appreciate some dresses that you'd... like to see me in? And enough funds to pay for transport to your domain."

  The moment I said his name, uncouched by any formality, his annoyance broke and was converted into sheer euphoria.

  He rushed over to pick me up and spin me around, and I allowed it, keeping my face looking as happy as I could manage.

  "Of course, my lady. Of course! What a wonderful idea. I'm sure that I can convince Mother of the value you'd bring to our family. You just worry about being the prettiest fiance you can be, and I'll settle the rest."

  He practically skipped off in the direction of the palace, coming to a stop at the end of the dock to look back at me.

  "See you soon, Sophia."

  And with that I was left alone to collapse to my knees and shudder with disgust at the memory of his touch.

  "I'm almost on my way, Diana. But I'm not sure if I can bear this forever. Please still be there..."

  ---

  Erika was silent as we rode Adrian's carriage out of the palace grounds. Although he was not here with us, his presence was felt in the design of his personal transport.

  White, to match his hair. Blue gems, to match his eyes. White gold gilding. The wolf of House Hiems on the side.

  It turned out that this small shopping trip would be a useful cover for us, and Erika had seemed initially pleased with the safe excuse to leave the palace grounds.

  Her enthusiasm faded with every twist and turn through Doromare that brought us closer to the Faraldi merchant house.

  When we were nearly there, I risked breaking her concentration.

  "So the Faraldi Merchant house sells dresses?"

  "...To VIPs."

  "...Are we... VIPs?"

  "...Yes."

  The silence returned, even more oppressive than before.

  "Erika? If I'm being fit for dresses, that means I'll be going in this time, right?"

  "...Right."

  Erika stared out the window, her eyes filled with focus. I caught her eyes darting back and forth to track the activities of the people outside on the street.

  "So, what should I say? I know you're... you know."

  Erika's face twitched a bit with annoyance, and motioned with her thumb towards the coachman's seat on the other side of the cabin wall.

  "Sophie, please. We'll talk when we get there."

  I reached out my hand to hold hers, and she accepted it, squeezing me tight.

  "This side of Erika is... a bit frightening."

  ---

  The Faraldi office was no less crowded than it had been on the day we arrived at Doromare. The faces were different, and so were the signs and sundry brought by the eager merchants, but the store maintained its aura of status. Everyone wanted inside that deep-green building, but the guards out front denied entry to all except those bearing papers or seals or other tokens of entry.

  Erika held no such token, but she hadn't held one last time either. I had ordered the coachman to find somewhere else to be for the duration, and he had obliged, leaving us alone in the crowd.

  We pushed our way to the front, and Erika leaned in to whisper something in the guard's ear.

  Despite my attempts not to hear, I still caught a single word: killdeer.

  Immediately, his stern expression turned to deference, and we were waved inside, to the protest of the crowd.

  The reception area of the office was less colorful, but it still quietly demonstrated the Faraldis' wealth.

  Each marble tile was an individually beautiful piece, likely hand picked. Any cracks in the tiles were filled in with gold, in much the same style of the King's palace.

  The attendant's desk was a rich, deeply colored wood, and I noticed that the top was cut from a single piece, and not glued or locked from multiple planks.

  The hall itself was grand in size, and I could see multiple passages leading to private rooms, the stairs to the upper levels, and other areas for the employees.

  Once inside, Erika didn't wait for anyone. She led me past the receptionist with nothing more than a wave, which he returned with a courteous nod, and directly up the stairs to the next level.

  The second floor was a large lounge dominated by many small tables. Various merchants and other gentlemen were drinking coffee by slit windows that allowed them to see the streets outside. Papers were being shuffled, laughter and handshakes exchanged. Erika didn't stop here, either, and led me further up the stairs.

  This final floor of the building had more private rooms, but each one had a simple slate on the front with reservations listed in chalk. I followed Erika to one in the back that simply said "E.K." on it in her own handwriting.

  Once inside, she finally let out a sigh of relief and collapsed onto a softened leather seat in the corner of the room.

  The room was sparse. Erika's chair. A cheap wooden table. A thin window that let in just enough light to see by. A desk with some writing supplies.

  I looked to Erika, waiting for her to finally explain what was happening.

  "I'm sorry, Sophia. I can't tell you everything, right now. I'll go fetch the seamstress in a moment. Just let me gather my strength, first."

  I sat down on the arm of her chair, holding my dress carefully to prevent it from creasing, and turned to run my fingers through her hair as she closed her eyes. She was trembling, slightly.

  "What can you tell me?"

  "This is a place where merchants come to buy, sell, and trade information with one another. It's also a place where you can buy secrecy, should the Faraldis ever come into possession of something you don't want sold."

  I thought for a moment, and furrowed my brow.

  "Is this where you've been getting all the money?"

  Erika gave a slow, trepidatious nod.

  "Then... what have you been selling?"

  She opened her eyes to look into mine.

  "Nothing of yours, Sophie. Never anything of yours. That's all I'll say."

  She closed her eyes again.

  My heart beat just a bit faster as I started to come to an understanding of what Erika had been risking.

  "Erika, you could have been killed if Father caught you."

  She shook her head.

  "He doesn't know I can read."

  My eye twitched just a bit.

  "So what are you here to sell, this time? What could possibly be worth ten thousand gold?"

  She shook her head.

  "It's better for you not to know, Sophie. Please. Trust me."

  Erika stood up and carefully composed herself into a mask of confidence before walking over to the door.

  As she left, she paused in the doorway.

  "Please, Sophie. Don't look too far into this. As I said, this is a place where people can buy secrecy. That can mean... a lot of dangerous things for the people that know too much."

  And then the door closed, leaving me alone.