Chapter 378: Boyfriend Battalion And One Dumb Redhead

"I don’t judge personal affairs, Mary. That’s not what this is." Blair stepped closer. "Interesting combination of men though. One gives you access to the King’s private chambers. The other gives you access to the eastern corridor and war room. Were you in that corridor last night, say around three in the morning, Mary?"

A flush crept up Mary’s neck. "Yes, Your Highness. I was visiting Marcus during his shift."

"Marcus didn’t work that shift last night. I was there, however. You were meeting with someone else. Who was it?"

Mary didn’t answer.

"No response. I see," Blair said after a long moment. "What is your real name, Mary?" ℯℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

"Your Highness?"

"Mary isn’t it. Emma is. Confirm."

The name landed on the throne room floor like a body.

Mary Sellsor’s face did not move. It was the composure of a woman who had nothing to hide.

Blair waited, planted like a statue that bills by the hour. Three feet away. Arms at her sides. She gave the woman nothing but the name and the kind of silence that says "I already fucked you, now I’m just waiting for you to notice."

Ten seconds passed.

Thirty.

One minute.

Then the mask cracked.

It started at the mouth. The corners twitched like they’d been waiting all night for permission to stop pretending. Mary Sellsor’s careful, servant-grade neutrality melted off her face and what crawled on was a smile that belonged to a far more dangerous bitch.

Emma let out a laugh and clapped three times. What came out of her mouth next was said in a voice that did not match the voice she had just been using at all.

"Well. Aren’t you fun. Gods, the pins were killing me. Seven weeks of buns. Do you know what that does to a woman’s scalp? Rhetorical. You do." She pulled out a hairpin and shook her head loose. "Much better. Now. Where were we? Right. You caught me."

Blair didn’t move a muscle.

"Do you know how long it’s been since someone made me break character?" She held up a hand. "Don’t answer. It’s been a while. Savor that. You are very good. I have to hand it to you. From one high IQ to another. Well done. And you enjoyed this. I can tell. So did I, for the record."

"You were good. But I was better," Blair replied. "Don’t confuse thoroughness with enjoyment though. I didn’t enjoy this."

"I want you to know I mean this sincerely. You are the most impressive person who has ever caught me. Congratulations. What’s your move? Or was the reveal where you peaked?"

"You are just an item on my to-do list, Emma. Don’t flatter yourself." Blair stated, unimpressed.

Emma flashed a lazy, delighted grin, like a cat watching a mouse. "Can I also just say thank the gods your brother left you in charge for a few days. Oh yes, princess. I know about you whipping those Dragon Lords into shape. I was rooting for you behind the scenes, for what it’s worth."

"Interesting," Blair said, voice calm. "You inferred they were gone from the chamber remodel. That tracks. How would you know what occurred in the council room? Outside of sleeping with Marek Navarre that is."

"Excellent guess. Wrong though. I’ll tell you if you guess right." Emma rolled her neck like a woman loosening up before something physical. "I know people who would pay a disgusting amount of money for someone with your pattern recognition, FYI. That’s a compliment. The recruitment pitch comes later. If you’re smart enough to hear it."

Blair’s expression didn’t change, which was the most threatening thing about it. "How about you answer my questions directly so I don’t call security. Why were you lying about your name, Emma?"

"Why does anyone lie about their name, Princess?" Emma replied. "But don’t take it personally. I lie about everything."

"I’m sure that line works on most people."

"It does."

"I’m not most people. I’m the woman who found you, which makes me the only person in this room you should be trying to impress, and so far? Underwhelming."

"Underwhelming. Got it." Emma nodded slowly. "Tell you what. When you figure out what I moved, where I moved it, and who I moved it to, you can call me underwhelming again. Until then?" She winked. "I’d call it a seven-week masterclass."

Blair’s eyes narrowed. "What were you doing with Marek Navarre last night?"

Emma placed a hand over her heart. "I’m genuinely aroused by your competence right now. Is that inappropriate? It feels inappropriate. But going right for the jugular? Brutal. I thought we’d dance a little longer. Get to know each other. Build some tension."

"You’re flirting because you’re nervous. You’ve been deflecting with charm since the mask came off. That works on men. It doesn’t work on me. Marek Navarre. Last night. Answer."

"Counter." Emma said. "I answer your questions and you answer mine. Even split. Transparent. We both walk out of this room knowing something we didn’t before." She held up a finger. "And before you say you’re the one in charge, remember. I’ve been inside your palace for seven weeks. I have things you want. You have things I want. That makes us partners whether you like the word or not."

"We are not partners."

Four words. Delivered at the temperature of ’fuck you.’

"Do you want information or not? Right now I’m playing along with your whole charade. I don’t have patience for slow, princess."

"There’s no charade. Patience is a luxury for people who aren’t caught, Emma."

"Really? We’re playing dumb." Emma exhaled through her nose, then looked up at the ceiling, like she was praying for patience. "I get this room is huge, but I’m not blind. All your boyfriends coming in with you? That’s when I knew you had me. None of them are inconspicuous. The Second, Third, and the dumb redhead that follows them around are standing near the back window. Your half brother is hiding behind the column." She held up one finger and sniffed once. "The other two, are they wolves? They are. Your face gave it away."

In front of the back window, Griffin was mouthing "I’m not dumb" at Ryker.