“How egalitarian,” she said through gritted teeth. “And what a promising world you must occupy to think there is any plan that will rescue me from this.”

She stopped in her pacing as understanding washed over her features.

“Khulood made a strange comment about lovers during lunch,” she said hoarsely. “She asked me if Idris had upset me that I had withdrawn some of my warmth. You are in love with him.”

I didn’t look away from her. That would have been cowardly when she had not flinched at my questioning her relationship with Aghraas.

“Yes,” I said, voice thick.

Her eyes widened. “You didn’t fall in love with him here … he knew. How long has he known you’re my double?”

At that I lowered my gaze. “From the first.”

“You were so resistant to taking my place in the marriage bed,” she said softly. “I didn’t think anything of it. Why did you agree in the end?”

“You were frightened. I was not,” I said simply.

She sat down across from me, her gaze distant and focused on the teapot between us. When she at last looked at me, her expression was almost fragile.

“No one else would have done what you did,” she said at last. My eyes widened. “No one else would— I know I don’t always make it easy for you. I know that I’m not—not loveable—”

“Maram—”

She wasn’t crying, but it seemed she was close to it, so I came around the table and laid my hand over hers.

“You don’t make it easy,” I said, and she laughed, a startled and hoarse sound. “But I am and will always be your friend.”

“You said once we were sisters,” she said.

“Is that what you want?” I asked her.

She nodded and leaned her head against my shoulder. “I will endeavor to be a sister to you, too. Better than I have been until now,” she said quietly, then sighed. “What a pair we make, hm? How unlucky we’ve been.”

“What are we going to do?”

“Do?” She huffed a laugh. “If I dissolved my marriage with Idris, I would lose what little support I have among his people. The peace treaty that legalized my father’s occupation of this planet would be in jeopardy, as well as my inheritance. We’re stuck, whether we want to admit it or not.”

I expected the look of panic I’d seen the day of her bedding night. Instead, she simply looked sad. Her gaze was unfocused, and I wondered if she thought of Aghraas.

“Sometimes,” she said quietly, “the state demands horrors of us.”

“It shouldn’t.”

At that, she smiled. “You are remarkably optimistic for someone in your position.”

“Because you give me hope,” I said with a small smile, trying to disappear the sad air. “You are stronger than I gave you credit for.”

“Oh?” she said, an eyebrow raised.