Chapter Seven: Tia
“I-IT’S nice to meet you, Prince Grey… My name is Tia Danzes, and starting today, I’ll be your handmaid. I look forward to serving you!”
Remember to blush and act as though you’re somewhat unreliable.
“You’re very kind, Prince Grey. Even when I make mistakes, you still praise me.”
While you pretend to be a klutz, also lay the respect on thick. And would you look at that? He’s eating from the palm of your hand.
With that, the prince fell for Tia’s wiles, and the game concluded. She’d always loved pastimes in which you achieved results by playing your cards right and using your head. Thinking up her own games and seizing victory had always delighted her as well.
When Tia’s father ordered her to become the prince’s handmaid, she turned winning his heart into entertainment. Once she’d succeeded, her next game was convincing the prince to break off his engagement with Rosemary. By taking advantage of the gossip network, she spread rumors that Rosemary victimized her. Later, she even fabricated evidence of Rosemary harassing her.
Tia’s father chose the Marquis of Hubert—Rosemary’s father—as his personal opponent. Over time, he drove the Marquis into an increasingly tight corner.
My, how the effects compound when games collide, she thought as she pretended to tremble in fear before Prince Grey. Of course, the prince embraced her to put her at ease.
Yet, in the middle of the game, Rosemary issued Tia a single warning.
“What you have done to others will someday befall you as well.”
What are you, some kind of prophetess?
This occurred when Rosemary was in prison waiting for her execution. Hearing this from the loser of the game rankled Tia. Even so, Rosemary’s execution was scheduled a few days later. Tia was the victor.
And so, Rosemary was executed, and Tia became Prince Grey’s fiancée. The ease of the game soured Tia’s enjoyment. Though she searched for other amusements, none could compare to the ones she’d enjoyed ’til now.
However, one person seemed like a promising opponent. During Rosemary’s execution, Tia spotted a young boy. Tears poured from Reynaldo Hubert’s eyes as he grieved Rosemary’s death. After looking at his beloved sister hanging from a rope, he turned his glare upon Tia. His murderous rage made Tia bubble with anticipatory delight. Yet, contrary to her expectations, this new game had never been set into motion, even after her wedding.
Later, Tia was ordered to have a child with her husband, whom she’d already grown tired of playing with. Nevertheless, she performed her wifely duties, eventually giving birth to a prince.
I never want to do that again, she thought after the delivery.
Childbirth wasn’t fun enough to be considered a game. While experiencing pain for the first time, Tia shed tears despite her desire to remain composed. Even so, she’d somehow pushed the child out of her womb.
Who knew giving birth could be so painful?
As a woman of leisure, Tia was sensitive to pain. Nothing brought one back to reality like physical anguish. Tia cared for nothing but playing games. She’d despised childbirth—the epitome of pain. Thankfully, her first child was a boy, meaning she would never have to endure pregnancy again.
With time, Tia finally noticed signs of a new game being set into motion. Reports of Reynaldo Hubert conquering the small northern tribes reached the palace. Lately, Tia’s hands had been far too idle, with only small amusements to keep her stimulated. On most days, she made sport of her husband’s jealousy and participated in wild merrymaking that was unthinkable to the average person.
At long last, the young boy had challenged her to a game.
What sort of challenge will he bring to me? Tia wondered. Should I do anything to prepare?
First, she hired a spy to increase the pawns at her disposal. Unfortunately, her role as queen limited her actions. She strategized as best she could, but her position wavered as the name of Duke Reynaldo Rose spread throughout the palace.
At this rate, he’ll win, Tia thought. I need to secure an escape route in case of an emergency.
She did just that, uncovering an old secret passageway no one knew about. Should anything happen, she would be able to escape from there. Next, she secured a means of transportation out of the capital. A few noble families connected to the Danzes faction supported Tia. They would prove useful, as she’d won them over with riches and indolence.
Later, Tia sought a trump card against Reynaldo in secrecy. As a result of covert investigations into his actions, she learned of his private mausoleum. While this was splendid information, Tia still agonized over how to use it.
Lastly, Tia contacted the small tribes of the northern region without anyone’s knowledge. Reynaldo became the sworn enemy of these tribes after he deceived them and stole their lands. If the Ice Duke sought revenge against Tia, she simply needed to turn the same vengefulness against him. Though the small tribes didn’t wish for much, they thirsted for Reynaldo’s blood. In that sense, their goals aligned with Tia’s.
Ah, what a thrilling game.
Tia swelled with delight, for she hadn’t played such a splendid game in so long. After she escaped the palace, her subordinates aided her flight, allowing her to relocate to a fortress belonging to a small tribe. From within those walls, she crafted her next plan alongside them. Not long afterward, Tia learned that Reynaldo was building a memorial for Rosemary in his homeland.
“We can’t let this opportunity pass us by,” Tia said in a conversation with the tribespeople.
According to her servants still hiding in the palace, Reynaldo had developed an interest in some nondescript handmaid.
I could use her as another trump card, Tia thought.
To enact this plan, she hired two Northmen to kidnap the handmaid from the secret passageway. If Tia played her cards right, she would be able to capture Reynaldo.
Her entire game centered around the so-called Ice Duke. He wanted to avenge Rosemary. Thus, Tia selected the small tribes as her champions; they sought vengeance as well. Tia agreed to work with them under one condition. After winning this game, she would rely on them to move her base of operations somewhere distant. The new tribal leader agreed to this. His people’s desire for vengeance ran deep, after all. This stirred Tia’s excitement, reminding her of a certain young boy glaring at her.
This is shaping up to be a most interesting game.
Tia regarded her status as queen as nothing more than a piece in a game. Nothing mattered except winning. As she transported Rosemary’s coffin back to the fortress, her face split into a wide grin. Stealing Prince Grey, having a young woman falsely executed, and now this battle with Reynaldo—all these most delightful games involved Rosemary.
“Never stop entertaining me, Lady Rosemary.”
As she spoke to the coffin, Tia wore an innocent smile—the same one she’d used to deceive Rosemary and Grey as a young woman. When Reynaldo hadn’t revealed himself, she’d left a message for him on the remaining carriage.
“Tonight, Rosemary’s coffin will be incinerated per her original punishment,” the note read.
Most people in Dirésias were buried, but criminals were cremated to prevent them from ever walking the earth again. Two decades ago, Reynaldo stole Rosemary’s remains after her execution. Upon learning of her incineration, he would reveal himself, despite knowing full well that it was a trap.
Furthermore, Tia’s men had most likely captured Mary. Even if Reynaldo showed no interest in the coffin, how would he react to this second trump card?
So she waited with anticipation swelling in her chest.
“Queen Tia.” One of her servants joined her by the coffin. “The men in the capital were arrested while trying to capture the handmaid, but one of their companions brought her in their stead. He’s asking for payment.”
“I see,” Tia replied. “Well then, give him the money. If the other two were caught, our enemies will learn of this location before long. Reynaldo will come as well.”
When Tia favored the man with a leisurely smile, his face reddened before he ran off to deliver her message to the tribal leader.
Other than Tia, there were also northern soldiers guarding this fortress. They could hold their position for the time being, even if knights were sent from the capital. Keeping her escape route in mind, she waited for the game to begin, her heart racing with excitement.