The other women giggled, dainty and graceful, but every laugh landed like a dagger, mocking the backwardness of Alpengard.
"Princess of Alpengard," said the bronze-skinned one again, hiding her smirk behind an ornate fan, "you'd do well to learn how to please the emperor. Who knows, he might spare your little kingdom if he takes a liking to you."
Alpengard was still an empire, damn it. I had full confidence that Dylan's military could crush most of the nations these girls came from.
Oh... Was I actually, feeling offended on behalf of Alpengard?
That wasn't even my real homeland.
"If you'd like," chimed another, "we could teach you how."
Poison wrapped in honey. If their methods truly worked, they wouldn't be standing here ganging up on the new girl like some elite prep school clique.
I didn't drop my mask over a few barbs like that. I was just about to respond when a deep voice sliced through the sugar-coated venom of their sisterly act.
