Present Day
Yelena had only just dressed for the day when Verina came to the chamber door. “The King wishes to see you,” she announced. “Come.”
Eustice hurriedly completed Yelena’s face. “He will have the court talking,” she muttered under her breath. “If he does not stop calling you to his side, My Lady.”
“He is confident in his subterfuges,” Yelena whispered back her eyes flicking to the mage who waited at the door. “Speak no more on this,” she cautioned her maid. “You know the consequences.”
“Mhm,” Eustice stepped back to allow Yelena to rise to her feet. Yelena could see that her maid wished to say more but didn’t dare to do so with the mage hovering within hearing distance. Eustice however still manage to communicate clearly her disapproval through her eyes as Yelena passed her.
“You need to watch that one,” Verina commented as they stepped out of the chamber and turned towards the Royal Rose Garden. “She is overly opinionated, and it will cost her head.”