The days following her return flew by. Mint enjoyed all the benefits of her status. She was dressed, made breakfast in bed, and allowed to leisure around all day. Primarily, she enjoyed the castle's library. Some days she needed to display her domestic skills, such as sewing, music, and rune making, to prove she'd not forgotten her lessons. Otherwise her days comprised tea parties with the Queen and other noble ladies, and reading.
What brought her the greatest joy was that her mother, Mildred, was placed into her service. Perhaps as a kindness from her father. They couldn't openly speak, as they needed to keep up the appearance of master and servant, but she enjoyed the brief moments they got to spend together.
One more notable presence was that of Verk.
As her personal knight, he was present at almost every moment of her day. Only during the ladies only tea parties was he absent, with Lofie filling in. However, she knew Verk was not far, but recently he's been absent, with Tallian filling in.
"Sir Verk's reputation is rising rather quickly."
"Is it, Lady Franka?"
Presently Mint was attending a tea party with Queen Bellanyx. Marigold and her mother were in attendance as her attendants, with Lofie on guard duty.
"There's no need to be so formal, dear Minette. Please call me mother; you are my child after all." If there was malice in Queen Franka's eyes, Mint couldn't see it. However, it seemed cruel to call the Queen—Mother—when her mother was standing right behind her. "Of course, you need not feel forced to."
"Apologizes, Mother," Mint couldn't help but glance at her actual mother, who was utterly stone faced. "It does not come naturally."
If she and the queen were alone, they wouldn't have to put up this farce, but with the Queen's servants along with Marigold and Lofie, it was of the utmost importance she keeps up the 'hidden princess' façade.
"Of course," Queen Franka's smile curled as she closed her eyes. "I don't know if you were told, but you're not the first to be in this position."
"In what way?" It hadn't accorded her before, but how many of her half siblings were actually born from the Queen? The king surely had other nightly romps. But why bring this up now?
"The third princess was of similar stock, as was the fifth prince," Queen Franka's smile widened further. "Myself, of course."
Mint blinked as the air became heavy. "You were?"
"Oh, yes," the Queen nodded. "My father was quick to send me off when it was convenient. I was rather frigid about the matter for some time. Sometimes I still am. So when I see that young man working so hard, it makes me a little jealous."
"You mean Verk?"
"Who else? Surely you've heard rumors of his exploits, yes?" Mint regretfully shook her head. Despite being together most days, she and Verk rarely conversed. Not that they could speak freely with Lofie or Marigold constantly around. "You've been holed up in that library a bit too much, I suppose. He's been on a tear. Doing the most unappealing tasks from my understanding. He's all the buzz among the starlets."
"Is this true, Lofie?" Mint asked the one armed knight.
Lofie's face turned a light pink as she cleared her throat. "It's as Lady Franka says, I've heard very—impassioned—things from other starlets. Such things are below your notice, as they are quite vulgar."
"Please disclose exactly what has been said," Queen Franka insisted, Lofie's face turning a shade redder.
Apparently Verk's feats were so numerous all the female knights were gushing about how they'd like to be stabled with him. Being unsheltered as she was, Mint knew exactly what this meant. There was a certain rumor that unwed starlets—the tomboyish daughters of nobles—would be placed in the stables once they reached a certain age. It was effectively their forced retirement if they failed to wed a knight or other noble of worth for their family.
The honor of stable stud was rewarded to the most powerful knights of that season. A policy incited by the War Minister to encourage knights of low standing to give their all for the kingdom. Indirectly rewarding even commoner knights the chance to entwine their bloodline with a noble house.
Of course, it was just as likely the King and his most loyal retainers would venture through the stables. The point of the stables is that none of the 'mares' knew who the 'stud' was. That's why it was encouraged that the more rebellious noble daughters, the ones that made up the starlets, find a mate before one was chosen.
"I find Bellanyx's system unique," Queen Franka said, her smile softening. She too was a full-blooded Nyx, just as Mint and Mildred were . "My home, Hermosa in Hidalgo, adopted a unique tradition to keep our bloodlines pure, though it didn't work out in the end."
In order to keep the Nacht bloodline in Hermosa pure, the King Hermosa took a daughter of pureblood as his bride from every noble line, sired one child with each, and then sent them back to their family. The daughters would then be married off again and be allowed to marry outside the clan. This was to ensure every noble house always had at least one pureblood heir.
"That sounds complicated."
"It was," Queen Franka smiled. "Imagine how complicated it was when that king died, leaving every family a claim to the throne?"
"Wouldn't he have selected his heir?"
"He did, but he lived a full 200 years; you can imagine how many offspring that creates. Not to mention the first prince partook in the practice. Can you imagine the factions born out of such practice?"
Every family knew they had a child born from the king, that child knew he's born from the king, thus everyone has a claim to the throne. Why not take the chance with the king's passing to take over?
"I find Bellanyx's 'anonymous' breeding slightly less offensive, but still on the barbaric side." Queen Franka let out a sigh. "It's ironic, we night-elves are so few, practically nonexistent compared to our cousins, and yet we can't help but fall over ourselves clinging to something we lost long ago. I wonder how that makes us any different from humans."
"Pardon my asking, but where is this leading?"
"Where indeed," Queen Franka sipped her tea while eyeing Mildred behind Mint. "All of you, leave us for a moment."
"Your Majesty, you know we cannot allow that."
"It will be only for a moment, but if eases your worries, Mildred can stay." Queen Franka gestured to Lofie and Marigold. "Dismiss them as well, Minette."
She did as asked, Marigold and Lofie exiting the Queen's retainers. Leaving only her, the Queen, and her mother. Mint couldn't recall where such a thing had happened before.
"Mildred," Queen Franka raised her cup, her mother silently refreshing it. She bowed and stepped to the side.
"Your engagement will soon be decided; Festus has been absolutely giddy about your new proposals. Your worth is apparently larger than expected." Franka tapped the table with a frown. "It's more than a generous offer—it's a baffling one. It sounds too good to be true."
"What is this offer?"
"A full-blooded, third generation Nyx male."
"That's impossible!" A third generation Nyx? A Nyx that still possesses divine blood? They were thought to be extinct, wiped out in the early days of the Holy War.
"Don't I know it," The Queen replied. "But it's apparently true. They even provided proof via a vial of blood."
"And I'm to be this mysterious male's bride?"
"No," Franka said sharply. "You're not his bride. We're trading you for him. This isn't a marriage proposal; it's more similar to a prisoner exchange."
A thousand thoughts ran through Mint's mind. What did this all mean? She's not a bride, but a prisoner now? In another way, she's already a prisoner, but what was this about?
"Who made the offer?" That was what was most important. Who could have such a valuable person in their clutches, and why would they give them up for her? Before Mint even pondered, Queen Franka spoke.
"Marduk made the offer."
"Marduk… a Minervian nation is offering one of Elfania's grandchildren, for me?"
"So it seems," Queen Franka set her cup down with a look of displeasure. "It's such a tempting offer. I can't help but find it unsettling. Of course, there are others voicing their opposition, but the confirmation of the Nyx's blood silenced them. It pains me Verk's efforts to ingratiate himself to the kingdom will be for not. Speaking as Queen, I cannot see any reason to trade off mistress's offspring for such a valuable prize. However, speaking a mother…" Franka looked towards Mildred. "I find this exchange appalling."
"What would you have me do?" If they could recover a third generation Nyx, they could revive their divine bloodline, they could produce fourth generation Nyx again. It was everything the Nacht wanted.
"Speak honestly with me, Minette," Queen Franka said sternly. "Why do the Minervians want you so badly?"
"They—huh?" She suddenly coughed, her throat practically collapsing as the hidden brand on her arm burned. "They—want…" Try as she might, she could not disclose what Biwanari had told her. She couldn't warn them. The Minervians were going to sacrifice her to summon Lilith. "They want me to pay my debt."
Both Queen Franka and her mother's eyes widened, realizing she'd formed a contract with Minerva. She bowed her head in shame. "It was a moment of weakness, its why we were attacked. I prayed to all the goddesses to spare me from my fate, and they all replied." She smiled, her lips quivering. "Elfania spared me, Solaris saved me, Minerva even sent Biwanari to fetch me. I've dug a hole that can't be filled."
"Indeed, you have," Queen Franka said, standing. "I will try to sway Festus, but I fear I will not be heard. I pray Verk returns before a decision is made; you best prepare yourself." Franka walked towards the door with Mildred in tow, but paused and gave Mint a sympathetic glance. "Speaking one last time as a mother, and perhaps the last, all I hope for you is a happy life."
They left with Mint feeling a cold pit in her gut. She hoped for Verk to return swiftly. Perhaps he could save her from fate once more.
Days passed, and he did not return in time.