"You dreadful cunt!
Josiah snarled, digging his fingers into his thick dark hair.
Drigo raised his gaze from the book he was reading; he reclined on a plush cushion.
Josiah had just badged into the courtyard unannounced, roaring like a depressed lion.
"To what do I owe this unpleasant visit?"
Drigo retorted plainly, flipping the pages of his book.
"Don't play dumb. You know what you did, or do I have to spell it out for you!"
"Save your time, Josiah; I have a lot of work to handle. I do not need you heckling down the building with your voice." Drigo said dryly, not sparing Josiah a glare.
"You tried to turn the queen dowager against me. I am the master of coin; the coins I wager have nothing to do with you, especially if it concerns the affairs within the walls of the castle!
He said, and Drigo shrugged lightly.
"I agree, but then again, I recently found out you hardly paid homage to the windows as instructed by the queen dowager, Selena. Instead, you are embezzling the funds."
Drigo said bluntly, his words stirred a knot in Josiah's chest.
Josiah wanted to say something, but he ran out of insults to rain down at his nemesis. He refrained from saying anything else and simply stormed out of the room just the way he had come.
It was after he left that Drigo finally raised his gaze; a leering smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.
The footsteps of Micah echoed in the loud corridors as she made her way to the outer court. The blue gown she was wearing billowed from behind her, and her black wavy hair was pinned up in a neat bun; some strands were left to fall on her face.
Today she dressed simply…like always. Only a coral earring on both sides of her ears and a golden bangle melange on her wrist, yet she was still an oracle of beauty.
She stepped out into the outer court, elegantly making her way to where a swing was, a book dangling in her left hand.
As she approached the swing, she saw that there was already someone seated on it; it was Josiah. She immediately made up her mind to go back inside, but after a fleeting thought, she made her way to the bench swing and sat beside Josiah.
Josiah immediately rose to his feet, bowed, and wanted to take his leave.
"You do not have to leave; I want to talk to you." Micah said curtly.
Josiah arched his brows, a bit stunned. It was least expected. He had wanted to give her the respect she deserves as a queen by giving her some space.
"Of what use am I to the queen that cares?"
He retorted, taking his seat back on the bench.
Micah pursed her lips.
"Do people still call me that… The queen that cares?
"You earned the title, and it sings on their lips; it would take a while before it wards off."
"I see."
Micah said, sighing between, she had a lot of things to say, but she was holding back.
"The Lord of Whispers… that's what they call you. Am I mistaken?"
Josiah smiled wearily.
"You are not." He answered.
Micah was silent, contemplating whether or not to say what she intended to talk about.
"I do not bite; lay down your mind before me, your grace." He chipped in, invading her thoughts.
Micah swallowed hard. She languidly trailed her gaze to the book in front of her.
"You know everything that goes on within the walls of the castle…"
"Not everything."
He corrected, and Micah nodded in approval courteously.
"What whispers do you hear about me?" Micah finally hits the nail on the head.
Josiah smiled faintly; the wrinkles at the side of his mouth widened. He scratched his beard, then reclined on the bench.
"It depends, your grace. What do you want to hear?"
He was playing games, trying to unveil what was in Micah's mind.
"What do people say about me, the queens, the maids…even the king?" Micah questioned, shifting uncomfortably on the bench.
"I do like to get something in exchange for my knowledge." He said.
Micah's eyes flickered in confusion at first, but soon realization hit her. She understood what he wanted.
She took off the golden bangle on her wrist and then placed it before him.
"If you sell this, it would give you more than enough coins in return." She said and then raised her gaze to look at him. Josiah was pleased by her gesture.
"Other queens would have forced their sovereignty on me, but you are benevolent. This is a weakness."
Josiah said, and Micah blinked her eyes rapidly, taking in what he had just said.
"A weakness? I am only giving you what you ask for."
She said, then crossed her legs demurely.
"I will go straight to the point." Josiah said, leaning forward, crossing both his hands together.
"The queens may all have different thoughts, but the common one is the fact that you are not from a noble background. It stirs a lot of gossip from the maid too."
Micah felt her throat get dry from his words.
"They look down on me," she said, avoiding his gaze. This discussion was getting embarrassing.
"They see you to be inferior; you do not take advantage of the authority that comes along with the title of being a queen."
"What do they expect of me then?" Her voice was slightly raised in annoyance.
"To oppress the maids, or force myself to curry favor from the king? I would rather rot in the walls of my chamber than do any of that."
Micah hissed, her breath ragged, and Josiah laughed; she turned to look at him.
"What is funny?"
She asked, looking confused.
"I will be honest, it will take a while, but eventually you will get adapted to the system that runs within the palace walls. You will learn the ways of a dynamite queen because soon enough, your benevolence will take you nowhere."
His words stung Micah like sharp claws tearing away her heart. Right there she felt stupid for even deciding to ask him anything in the first place.
She rose to her feet, then adjusted her gown before sparing him a glare.
"You have a sharp tongue." She snarled.
"I do not sugarcoat words to please anyone, unless the need arises. I am only being frank with you, your grace."
"I can now see why people don't like you very much." Micah said before turning to leave.
"Can I say something, your grace?"
Josiah said with a cold tone, rising to his feet. Micah did not turn to look at him; she crossed her hand around her chest tentatively.
"Go on."
She said, giving a dry reply.
"I have been within the walls of this castle for years. I will be generous to tell you three things I have learned."
"Will it cost me more jewelry?"
Micah said with a mocking tone she was terribly displeased by the discussion they just had.
She got no reply.
"If you try to impress anyone at the risk of your own comfort, you will end up eliminated." Josiah started off, then crossed both his hands behind his back.
Micah was silent for a while.
"Why are you telling me this?"
Micah felt his words were indirectly pointing at her, like he was trying to say something but was holding back.
"Because I am courteous, and you need to hear it." He said before inching closer, his eyes fixed on the ground.
"The second thing I want you to know is that the system of the castle doesn't show mercy to weakness. The other queens have silent allies, and they play little games to get what they want."
Micah's shoulders dropped.
"Is that all?"
She asked, getting agitated.
There was no reply.
Instead she heard the sound of footsteps approaching; when she raised her gaze, Josiah was now standing in front of her.
"Trust no one."
He said before placing the bangle she had given to him in her palms. He bowed slightly and then took his leave.
Micah felt cold shivers running through her veins. She looked down at the bangle, caressing it.
Why didn't he take it along?
She was rooted to the spot for a while before walking back to the bench; she sat on it, her thoughts in a whirlwind.
After a while she gazes down at the book she had brought along to read.
The title was boldly inscribed on the cover of the book…
"How to become politically dominant."