The Bound (Ascension #2)(73)
“Rise, Affiliates,” Queen Cassia commanded.
Cyrene rose and got a good look at the Queen for the first time. She was a short, plump woman with dark red hair that her eldest daughter mirrored. She wore a simple royal-blue gown made from the sheer material that seemed to be in vogue in the Eleysian palace. A choker of fat white pearls ringed her neck, and she had a sapphire as big as a coin in each ear. It was unsurprising to see that she was heading into her years, considering she had twelve children, including Dean, who was the youngest and fully grown. But for all of that, she was regal and dignified with sharp eyes and unmatched poise.
“Welcome to Lombardy palace and to the country of Eleysia.”
They each bobbed another curtsy.
“It is our pleasure, Your Majesty,” Cyrene said.
“It has been quite some time since we’ve had an official delegation from Byern in our homeland. To see two Affiliates in our royal throne room with the blessing of my son warms my heart. Though your presence is most unexpected,” she said, letting the words hang in the air between them. “How exactly did we get this great honor?”
“Your Majesty, I have your son, Prince Dean, to thank for all of this. I was in Aurum when we met, but I didn’t know who he was.”
The Queen’s eyebrows rose significantly, and her eyes shifted to her son for a split second before returning to Cyrene.
“We became friends, and then when we were together again at a ball at the Aurum court, he offered to take me and my friend to visit Eleysia. I had always wanted to see the country, and I accepted his kind offer.”
Cyrene figured that was mostly the truth. It would have to suffice for now because she wasn’t about to get into the specifics.
“I see,” Queen Cassia said with a half-smile. “The country is open to visitors of all sorts, of course. Though I would be careful about how you behave in Eleysia.”
At the threat in the Queen’s voice, Cyrene could feel Maelia tense next to her.
“Previous visitors from Byern have been less than accepting of different…ideologies. It would be best that, while you are here as a guest, you perhaps keep your own beliefs to yourself,” she said carefully.
“We understand,” Cyrene said.
If she had come here fresh from Byern without spending any time in other countries and kingdoms, without traveling hard across the countryside, and without friends who could guide her through different customs, she would have been uncertain of what that meant. But no longer. She knew many countries believed that Byern’s customs should remain their own and not foisted onto anyone else. For a long time, she had thought there was only one right way to rule. Now, she could see that there were as many right ways as there were kingdoms…or queendoms.
“Neither myself or my companion have any interest in pushing our beliefs about Byern onto anyone else. In fact, I’m very interested to learn about your own beliefs and customs and to seamlessly assimilate into your court, Your Highness.”
Queen Cassia’s mouth quirked on one side. “Is that so?”
“Your Majesty,” Dean interrupted, “if I might shed some additional light on the situation…”
“By all means.”
Dean came to stand beside Cyrene. She warily smiled at him. She had expected it to be tough to deal with the issue of having Affiliates in their palace when they were practically banned from the country, but she hadn’t expected Dean to speak up on her account.
“Affiliate Cyrene has my full support. When we met, neither of us knew who the other was. We were not an Affiliate of Byern and a Prince of Eleysia, and yet, we fostered a close relationship. Isn’t that exactly what we want from diplomacy with Byern? That is how we enact change. And though I’ve only known her a short time, she has proven herself greatly,” Dean said.
His eyes found hers, and Cyrene took a sharp breath. If she could see the affection blatant on his face, then so could everyone else in the room.
“Pray tell me how,” the Queen asked.
“When I was in Aurum, Byern guardsmen came into the countryside, seeking an Affiliate who had been kidnapped. As you can imagine, it was contentious, having Byern soldiers on foreign soil. I thought, surely, war would break out between the countries. But in the end, it turned out, they rescued the girl and detained her within the castle.”
“How fortunate.”
Cyrene’s heart raced as he recounted his version of the story to his parents. She wondered how much he would tell. Would the whole world soon know about my magic?
“But the Affiliate hadn’t been kidnapped. In fact, she was fleeing the countryside, seeking asylum. When confronted with the ruler who was to bring her back, I fought for her leave, and she selflessly offered herself up to return to her country if I could but live.”
The throne room had gone deadly silent. And Cyrene’s ears were buzzing. That had happened, but she had never thought of it that way. She just couldn’t fathom someone getting hurt for her mission. But the way he told the story made her seem like a hero when she had thought all along that Dean was the hero of the story.
“I see.”
“I—” Cyrene began, but the Queen held up her hand.
“If you saved my son’s life, then the country owes you a great deal. He is our only son, and I birthed eleven children to get to him. We are in your debt,” the Queen said as she inclined her head to Cyrene.