“So,” Mercy sniffed, “obviously, after meeting my son’s intended, I realized the dress I ordered to be made would not suit her. Considering her station and the historical event that’s about to occur, she obviously must have a dress that suits her, and she will. She’ll also have a wardrobe that suits a Dellish princess for a royal journey. And gold coins will be falling into our chests very shortly. In fact, I saw the guards bringing those already collected in the Thicket just this afternoon. So many of them, it would cover ten new wedding gowns and a wardrobe that would last years. Thus, I’m afraid there really isn’t much to discuss. Therefore, if you don’t mind, I’ll continue to be on my way.”

She began to make a turn when Carrington bit, “Mercy.”

Very slowly, she again gave her gaze to the horrible man.

“Mercy?” she asked quietly.

“We’ve known each other for over two decades,” he spat.

“And in that time, I have not given you leave to address me as such.”

“You should,” he returned.

“I believe it’s my decision whether I should or should not.”

He gave up on that and went on to something less enjoyable to discuss.

“You seem to view me as the enemy when I further detain you to share helpful advice. That being you are choosing the wrong side.”

“Side in what?” she asked, feigning ignorance.

“You know in what,” he returned.

“Carrington, if you wish to natter in riddles, really, can we do it sometime after all this wedding brouhaha is over and I can put my feet up by a fire and perhaps enjoy unraveling them?”

“This…” he hesitated as if searching for a word, “estrangement between you and the king will not go well for you. You may be queen, and my last wish would be to cause the least offense, but I feel it is in your best interests to share you are no longer young and not the renowned beauty you once were.”

She thought it impossible for him to get more obnoxious.

She had been wrong.

“As you say, I am queen, but I am also mother to the heir to the throne.”

“If you do not have the favor of the king—”

Mercy interrupted him.

“It is known wide Wilmer is prone to vacillating, it will shock no one I fall out of his favor for a time. Indeed, they’re probably surprised that hasn’t already happened a dozen times over throughout our marriage. Though I cannot imagine, for the Dellish who prize the faithfulness of a devoted spouse, should his eye wander, that will be well taken by the people. If, perchance, something like that were to happen, and then it was to get out.”

Carrington actually appeared stymied by that, proving he could get even more obnoxious.

But he was always obvious.