Tala stared at me like I'd just suggested we jump off the palace walls.
"Run?" she repeated slowly. "My lady, you can't be serious."
"I'm completely serious." I moved away from the window. "Help me. Please. You said you were kind. Prove it."
She shook her head, her face going pale. "My lady, you don't understand."
"Then make me understand."
Tala looked at the door. Then back at me. When she spoke again, her voice was barely a whisper.
"Running from the Demon King is death. Slow, painful death." She moved closer. "Do you know what he did to the last servant who tried to escape?"
I shook my head.
"He was a stable boy. Seventeen. He'd stolen a horse and made it three miles before they caught him." She swallowed hard. "The king had him dragged back. Made the entire palace watch as he was whipped. Fifty lashes. The boy didn't survive past thirty."
My stomach turned.
"That was for a servant," Tala continued. "For a queen? His wife?" She shook her head. "He would make an example of you. To show the other kingdoms what happens when you try to leave him."
I sank onto the edge of the bed. "So I'm just supposed to accept this? To stay here and..."
"To survive," Tala said firmly. She sat beside me. "My lady, listen to me. I've served in this palace for ten years. I've seen queens come and go. I've seen what happens to the ones who fight."
"What happens to them?"
"They break." Her voice was soft. Sad. "They either bend to his will, or they shatter completely."
I looked at her. "Which one are you hoping I do?"
"Neither." She took my hands in hers. "I'm hoping you're smart enough to walk the line between them."
"I don't understand."
Tala glanced at the door again. Then leaned in close.
"The king is dangerous, yes. But he's not cruel for cruelty's sake. He values strength. Intelligence. Loyalty." She squeezed my hands. "Give him those things, and he'll protect you. Fight him, and he'll destroy you."
"So I should just... submit?"
"No. You should survive." She stood, moved to pour us both water. "There's a difference between submission and strategy, my lady."
I took the glass she offered. "Tell me how to survive then."
Tala sat across from me, her expression serious.
"First rule: never trust the other queens. Especially Queen Mireya."
"The first wife?"
"Yes. She's been here the longest. Seven years. She believes her seniority gives her power." Tala's voice dropped. "She's had three maids dismissed in the last year. One simply disappeared."
My blood went cold. "Disappeared?"
"The king said she ran away. But her things were still in her room. Her family never heard from her." Tala looked me in the eye. "Mireya wanted her gone. So she was gone."
"And the king allowed it?"
"The king doesn't care about servant politics. As long as his queens don't disturb his peace, he lets them handle their own affairs." She paused. "Which means they can handle you however they want."
"What about the other queens?"
"Queen Saphine is the beautiful one. Vain. Emotional. She'll hate you because you're younger and the king actually looked at you." Tala counted on her fingers. "Queen Talienne is the smart one. Political. She'll see you as a threat to the balance of power."
"And the fourth?"
"Queen Isolde. The religious one." Tala's voice went flat. "She already believes you're cursed. She'll want you gone on principle."
I set down my water glass. "So all four of them want me dead."
"Not dead. Not yet." Tala leaned forward. "They want to test you first. See if you're weak. If you are, they'll destroy you slowly. Rumors. Accidents. Poison in your tea."
"Poison?"
"It's happened before." She said it so casually. Like poison was just another part of palace life. "That's why you never eat or drink anything I haven't tasted first. Understand?"
I nodded, my throat tight.
"Second rule," Tala continued. "Stay away from the north tower. That's where the queens live. Their territory. You go there, you're prey."
"The king already told me that."
"Good. He's trying to keep you alive." She stood, began turning down my bed. "Third rule: be polite to everyone. The servants talk. What they say reaches the queens. What the queens hear reaches the king."
"So I can't trust anyone."
"You can trust me." Tala met my eyes. "I'm assigned to you. My fate is tied to yours now. If you fail, I fail."
"That's supposed to be comforting?"
"It means I'll do everything in my power to keep you alive." She smiled slightly. "Because I quite like living."
Despite everything, I almost smiled.
"What about the king?" I asked quietly. "How do I... survive him?"
Tala was quiet for a long moment. Then she came and sat beside me again.
"The king is complicated. He's ruthless, yes. Dangerous. But he's also..." She paused, choosing her words carefully. "Lonely."
"Lonely? He has four wives."
"Four wives he doesn't touch. Doesn't speak to. Doesn't see." Tala looked at me. "When was the last time any of them dined with him privately?"
"I don't know."
"Never. Not once. In seven years, Queen Mireya has never set foot in his private chambers." She let that sink in. "But you did. On your first day."
"Because he's curious about me."
"Exactly. And curiosity is good. It means he'll keep you close. Pay attention to you. Protect you from the others."
"Until he gets bored."
"Then don't let him get bored." Tala stood. "Be interesting. Be smart. Be different from the others." She moved toward the door. "And whatever you do, don't fall in love with him."
The words caught me off guard. "I would never..."
"They all said that." Tala's voice was sad. "Every single one of them. And look where it got them."
She opened the door. "Get some rest, my lady. Tomorrow will be difficult."
"Why?"
"Because tomorrow, you exist. And existence in this palace is a battlefield."
She started to leave.
"Tala?"
She turned back.
"Thank you. For being honest with me."
She smiled. A real smile this time. "You remind me of someone. Someone who was also kind in a place that punished kindness."
"Who?"
"Someone who didn't survive." Her smile faded. "Don't make her mistakes, my lady. Don't be too soft. Don't trust too easily. And don't ever, ever show weakness."
Then she left.
I sat there in the silence, my mind racing.
Four queens who wanted me gone. A king who was obsessed with me. A palace full of people who would kill me if given the chance.
And my only ally was a maid who'd just told me kindness was a death sentence.
I moved to the window. Stared out at the moonlit gardens.
At the walls I couldn't climb.
At the freedom I'd never have.
I was still standing there when I heard the knock.
Soft. Hesitant.
I opened the door.
A young girl stood there. Fourteen, maybe fifteen. Plain dress. Nervous eyes.
"Yes?" I asked.
She curtsied quickly. "Forgive the intrusion, my lady. I'm Elira. Queen Mireya's personal maid."
My blood went cold.
"Queen Mireya requests your presence tomorrow morning. Nine o'clock. In the Queens' Court." She wouldn't meet my eyes. "It's... tradition. When a new queen arrives."
I kept my voice steady. "What happens in the Queens' Court?"
Elira's hands twisted in her apron. "The queens... assess the newcomer. Welcome her properly."
The way she said 'welcome' made it sound like a threat.
"Tell Queen Mireya I'll be there."
Elira curtsied again. Started to leave.
"Elira?"
She stopped.
"What should I expect tomorrow?"
She finally looked at me. And what I saw in her eyes was pity.
"Survive, my lady. That's all any of us can do."
Then she disappeared into the shadows.
I closed the door. Leaned against it.
Tomorrow morning. Nine o'clock. The Queens' Court.
Where four women who hated me would be waiting.
And I would walk into their territory completely alone.