Chapter Nineteen: She knows

Rieka sat in front of a mirror in her new chambers. Maids worked behind her silently, brushing and smoothing her hair with their practiced hands. Professional to a fault, tension lingered in the air from them. She could hear their hushed gossip when they thought she wasn't paying attention. "She doesn't look like a queen," one maid had muttered earlier, earning a sharp glare from another. "She's beautiful, though," another had reluctantly admitted. Rieka smiled faintly to herself. Let them talk. Their opinions didn't matter. What mattered was the path she had chosen and the plan she had set in motion. The soft knocking at the door broke the quiet rhythm of the brushing. One of the guards entered, bowing slightly. "Lady Rieka, the king has requested your presence." The maids stepped back, their hands stilled, as Rieka rose with grace. She adjusted her gown, deep emerald green and matching her piercing eyes, and nodded. "Lead the way." >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> The hall was poorly lit with flickering torches, their light stretching long shadows across the smooth stone walls. King Illeus stood near the head of the long dining table, his imposing figure shrouded in a dark robe. His sharp, predatory gaze softened slightly as Rieka entered the room. "Rieka," he greeted, his voice deep and commanding. "Thank you for coming. Rieka tipped her head. "You summoned me, my king. How could I refuse?" He motioned her to a chair at the table, where a light meal was spread. "Tonight, I have not summoned you for a matter of court nor strategy. I simply wish to know you, and you to know me. Rieka sat down, her grace and deliberateness part of every movement. She let her eyes meet his, her lips arcing into a small smile. "Knowing you, my king, will not be difficult at all." Illeus raised a brow, intrigued. "Is that so?" She nodded, reaching for a goblet of wine. "Your favorite food is roasted venison with honey-glazed carrots. You prefer your wine aged and full-bodied, and you despise sweets." She paused, watching his expression shift. "Your temperament is… fiery, to say the least. You are quick to anger and merciless in your wrath. When someone crosses you, they rarely live to see another day. Illeus leaned back in his chair, dumbfounded. "How do you know this?" he asked sharply, but with curiosity laced in his tone. "Are you some kind of sorcerer?" Rieka shook her head, her smile undeterred. "No, my king. I am no sorcerer. I simply observe and understand. Everything will be revealed in time. Her enigmatic response only deepened his fascination. 'You speak as though you've known me for years," he said, his voice quieter now, more thoughtful. 'And yet, we've only just met." 'Perhaps some things are destined," Rieka replied, her tone cryptic. Illeus considered her for a long time, his piercing gaze searching hers. He was a man who easily trusted no one but, surmisingly, there was just something about Rieka that disarmed him. She was like nobody he had ever met before—a puzzle he was keen on solving. "Well," he finally said, his lips playing with a faint smile. "You are full of surprises." Following that, they ate in comparative silence, the only sound being the crackling of the torches. Rieka took small bites. Her mind was hard at work behind her serene exterior, calculating every word and every glance. She was convinced she had already sown a seed of intrigue into the king's mind and that she needed only to nurture it now. As the meal drew to a close, Ileus finally stood, his imposing form blotting out much of the candlelight. "Thank you for indulging me tonight," he said. "I look forward to uncovering more of your secrets, Rieka." She rose, her face impassive. "And I look forward to revealing them—when the time is right." >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Rieka returned to her chambers, her heart beating steadily. Everything had gone just as she'd hoped: the king was intrigued, perhaps enchanted, and his curiosity would only build with time. She leaned back against the window, staring out into the gardens below bathed in moonlight. Her reflection in the glass stared back at her, a reminder of who she had been, who she was now. She thought of all her past life, of the betrayal and humiliation she had faced at the hands of people who had sworn loyalty upon their honor. The elders, the servants, the so-called allies-they had all turned against her, driven by greed and fear. And in trying to appease them, she had lost everything. "This time," she whispered to herself, "things will be different. Her fists clenched at her sides, her resolve hardening. She would not be the naive girl she once was. She would play her cards carefully, striking at the right moment to ensure her enemies paid for their treachery. A soft knock at the door pulled her from her thoughts. "Come in," she said, her voice steady. One of the maids entered, bowing. "My lady, is there anything else you require tonight? Rieka shook her head. "No. You may go." As the maid left, Rieka settled onto the chaise near the hearth, letting the fire's warmth envelop her. She allowed herself a small moment of satisfaction. The wheels were in motion, and soon she would be in a position of true power. Illeus sat by the fire of his own chambers, a goblet of wine warming in his hand. His mind was consumed by Rieka. How could this simple peasant girl know so much about him? Why would her words brush his skin like an old glove-as if they carried echoes of another time? "She's not what she seems," he murmured to himself. For the first time in years, Ileus felt a twist of doubt-a feeling to which he was unused. But accompanying it was an undeniable thrill of excitement. Rieka was an enigma, and he was going to unravel it. As night wore on, the king and fiancée took themselves to their beds, their minds filled with thoughts of each other. Rieka's heart was bursting with expectations, while Illeus's was ablaze with curiosity. The game had now begun, and neither of them was prepared for how things would end.