The Unlikely Queens

3

"My mother told me last night that she has been invited to be one of Queen Charlene's ladies," Adelaide tells the three of us in triumph, her head held high. "And if mother wishes, I may go with her."

"How exciting!" Cecily beams. 

"Can you imagine me at court? Perhaps I will catch King Vincent's eye." Adelaide says with a scandalous smile. 

It's an open secret that the king often has dalliances. The rumors from court travel slower in the country, but he has been with nearly every young woman at court, even the women who are married. Adelaide is beautiful with her honey blonde hair, green eyes, and petite features. The king will charm and romance her the second she arrives. I could easily imagine him abandoning his current affairs to focus wholly on Adelaide. She might even be able to flirt and tease her way into an official mistress position, set for life caring for illegitimate sons and daughters who will never be graced with a place in the line of succession beside King Vincent's two sickly sons. 

"I am confident you will." I tell her. 

She turns her head and smiles at me, "Thank you, Dahlia. You are always so supportive."

I smile back. Adelaide is clearly proud of her ambition and I will not be the one to tell her that she should have higher hopes than to have an affair with a married man. She will find out soon enough. She has been this way since childhood, jumping into the worst situations and wishing for the best. 

"Can you imagine how Queen Charlene must feel? All those women competing for her husband's attention while she is forced to watch?" Rosalind says sadly with a shake of her head. 

Cecily and I exchange uneasy glances. Our arms are linked, walking beside our two friends as Adelaide shoots Rosalind a glare from the corner of her eye. 

"It is not my fault His Majesty enjoys the company of other women. If he wanted to be loyal to the queen he would be. I am not even there yet and you are already judging me, Rosa." Adelaide cracks a smile despite the tense air about us. "Besides, I only said I might catch his eye. I do not want to do more than harmless flirting. I am still unwed and need to keep my reputation in tact. I hope to marry very well." 

Perhaps I judged my friend too soon, but I would not be surprised if more than harmless flirting happened between the monarch and young, pretty Adelaide. 

"There is no doubt you will marry well. You have received offers in the past and you will surely receive more when you go to court." Rosa smiles kindly before squeezing her hand. 

The girls begin talking about the offers Adelaide's father, the Earl of Iritor, has turned down for his daughter over the years. I gaze at the flowers in my friend's garden as my mind drifts to Chief Mohtali. The strongest and most handsome man I have ever seen. I can still feel the warmth radiating from his body as we rode together through the woods, still see how the sun makes his brown eyes glitter slightly green. I can't help but smile at the way he kept calling me Miss Dahlia. He didn't seem to think I would be afraid of him. He didn't approach me with caution, almost as if he immediately knew I did not hold the same prejudices as other Parandorians. 

I want to see him again. Even if it is only for a second. I hope I can see him again on my walk tomorrow. I did not walk today because when I woke up, I had a fear the Targanvor would not be as kind as they were yesterday if I sought them out, but all my apprehension has been swept aside for...I don't know. But I am so intrigued I know I have to see the chief again. 

"Dahlia, does that sound enjoyable?" Cecily asks me.

I focus my attention back on my friends, who are all looking at me inquisitively.