Chapter 283: An envoy from the Roclands!
All the women groaned internally. The queen leaned her head against Sienna’s shoulder. She truly didn’t like spending time with this sister-in-law of hers. The dignity of the royal family always took a hit when she was around.
The crowd applauded and all of them looked at the front. Gael was sliding a ring on Vera’s finger. In return, Vera offered him a carved jade pendant, a traditional token of her clan, etched with the image of a prowling tiger. The crowd murmured approval, the air thick with incense and the faint sweetness of fox fruit wine.
"What is going on with your mother?" Lina asked Cyra. "Why is she guarding your father as if she was hired to be his personal bodyguard for the night?"
Sienna sniggered, turning her head to look at the flowers. They were clusters of yellow beeswax blossoms arranged in tall crystal vases, their petals trembling as if alive. The scent was heady, almost intoxicating.
Lina repeated the question and Cyra groaned. "Blame Sienna," she blurted. "In the last two weeks, Sienna had introduced eight potential new wives to my father. All the women that came knocking at her gates to meet Geo were sent to my father, instead. Now, my mother has become paranoid that every female creature in existence is a trap laid out by Sienna to destroy her. I have to say Sienna got her revenge."
Apart from Cyra, the other women laughed.
Lina gasped. "Sienna. Bestie, you are so bad."
Before Lina could chatter on, the queen said to Sienna, "Has Elias mentioned to you that he was offered the position of Prime Envoy two weeks ago. He turned it down. It remains empty because the king is hoping he will change his mind." She righted her head and sipped wine, eyes glinting. "If he truly doesn’t want it, I wonder if you would be open to taking it."
Sienna nearly choked on her tea, which she had chosen over wine. "Me? No. I have no desire to take on a job that requires me to clock in and out at an exact given time and travel every other week to supervise other tribes. I love my lazy job. I like deciding my work hours and where I want to work from, depending on my mood."
Mija tilted her head, the scales on her neck catching the lantern light. "Then allow me to pitch in by suggesting the position be given to my cousin George. He is eloquent, and the people in our tribe respect him. He could be the bridge between the coastal tribes and the royal family."
Cyra chimed in, voice brisk. "Why should the position be given to serpents? Your tribes are the biggest cause of strife along the coast. I think Lady Maris of the Hawk Court is a better option. She had the discipline, and her strategies during the empire’s skirmishes with the Orc clans of Nether planet were brilliant. She would command respect."
Lina interrupted waving her jeweled hand. "Nonsense. The Prime Envoy must be someone charming, someone who dazzles. Their job is to be pretty, not smart. Lord Vipris of the Peacock Pavilion would be perfect. He makes everyone laugh, and his feathers are beautiful. No...divine." She laughed at her own words, oblivious the insult implied. Basically, she meant the envoy’s role was mere decoration.
Sienna shook her head, smiling faintly. "If you want someone steady, someone who will not be swayed by flattery or fear, give it to my grandfather or my uncle Jorik. He was a soldier and apparently fought in one war against the Orc clans. He is very steady, law abiding and he knows the value of patience. He would not seek glory, only balance."
"Ho! so you dethroned the former envoy and you want the position to be taken by a member of your family! Seems suspicious to me." Lina laughed, waving her fan.
The queen meanwhile, was seriously considering this, tapping her fingers against the table. "Sienna, you know that I take your recommendations seriously, especially when we are having a serious conversation. So, I will relay this to the king. Perhaps what we need is someone with quiet strength instead of flashy fur and feathers."
The crowd applauded, drawing their attention for a moment. Musicians plucked at crystal stringed zithers, their notes rising like birds. Servants carried trays of sweet pastries and desserts shaped like tiny foxes, while tiger cubs danced in a circle, their black and white striped fur cloaks fluttering.
Gael and Vera bowed to the elders, then to the stars, lifting their joined hands toward the ceiling where constellations were painted in gold.
Sienna frowned as the beeswax blossoms were replaced with moon lilies that glowed faintly, their petals a light blue and white frost orchids that shed tiny flakes of ice which melted before they touched the ground. The air came alive with a different kind of fragrance, mingling with the savory aroma of sweet desserts.
Lina prattled on, now critiquing Gael’s suit. "I can’t believe that Cadelaria allowed him to wear such a simple suit. He is a fox prince. He should be dressed in white, not black. His outfit should have been embroidered with gold, not silver. Did Mona Twindell empty your coffers to such an extent?" She leaned towards Cyra. "Are you poor now?"
Cyra only raised an eyebrow, unwilling to waste energy correcting her.
Mija’s fork tapped against her plate. "Can we talk about a more important subject, like the position of Prime Envoy. Why can’t my cousin be considered. If we are looking at more than a pretty face, he is more than suitable for the job. The envoy needs to be someone who can endure criticism without losing composure."
Sienna scoffed. "Sounds like Uncle Jorik. Mija, your family is well off and well connected, my maternal family is not. The Rocland’s need the opportunity and it so happens that they have qualified candidates within. Besides, show me a family more desperate to prove their loyalty to the king right now."
With Paris’s treasonous past hanging over their heads, they would work hard for the empire to clear the slate. They were also accepting of humans and willing to pursue justice. Elias would help when he could, and so would she. It couldn’t be more perfect.
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