“And she was angry with our father for not recognizing her,” Ren added, more softly. “For not offering her the same opportunity he afforded the rest of us.”

“Why didn’t he acknowledge her when he acknowledged the rest of you?” Ambassador Ghoush asked. “Why not recognize all his bastards at once?”

Akeylah cleared her throat. “I believe he chose not to because he was ashamed of her origins, ambassador.”

“Who was her mother?” Rueno frowned, catching on immediately.

The girls traded glances. Finally, Akeylah answered. “Yasmin.”

The solarium broke out in gasps. Zofi caught more than a few scowls of disgust, and others gaped in shock.

“To judge by this reception, he wasn’t wrong to hide that information,” Zofi muttered.

Akeylah cleared her throat, almost loud enough to drown out Zofi’s words. “With your permission, lords and ladies, ambassadors, I’d like to motion to review Audrina’s crimes in more depth at a later meeting. After we’ve had time to complete a full investigation. Even my sisters and I may not know the full extent of her actions.”

A rumble of agreement passed around the table.

“Good.” Akeylah dared a small smile. “Now, in the meantime, we have several pressing issues on the table that we need to address.”

“The crop blight, for example,” Ambassador Kiril spoke up.

“Or the succession of the throne,” Ambassador Ghoush suggested, a single brow lifted. “We assumed we had an heir, since the king arrested his other two eligible daughters, but facts appear to have changed.”

“Facts have changed,” Ren said. “But our regard for Father’s decision has not.”

Rozalind spoke up for the first time. “Before he passed, my husband indicated that he wished to name Lady Akeylah his successor. It’s the announcement he planned to make, the evening he…” She hesitated, winced.

The room fell silent for a moment.

Under the table, Zofi saw Akeylah reach for Rozalind’s hand.

“For what it’s worth,” Ren said, after a pause, “my sisters and I are all in agreement with Father’s wishes, Sun guide his soul.”

“Akeylah is the best choice for queen,” Zofi added. “Do any of you object?”

A few nobles traded stares, but nobody replied. Even Lord Rueno sat quietly in his chair, though Zofi noted the way his gaze darted among the sisters. She could practically read his thought process. Well, Akeylah is the least of three evils.…

Finally, when no one offered an objection, Akeylah spoke again, her voice softer. “I am humbled by my family’s and your belief in me. I will do my best to live up to your expectations.” Her gaze drifted to Ambassador Kiril. “Ambassador, you spoke of the crop blight as another pressing concern.”