Janaan brought the promised letter to Marie-Fey's ladies by lunchtime and they held onto it until Marie-Fey reappeared from the tower.

She didn't recognise the handwriting, but she didn't know everyone's handwritings. She could only recognise around 70% of the women's written work and often enough it was when they were learning her language so it was messy and unsteady. They had no reason to learn a neat hand like Marie-Fey did so she'd never pressed for good handwriting.

This was written in their native language, the writing short and tight.

That told her one thing for sure.

Azeeza hadn't written this.

She was picking up her new language fast enough but this was the scrawl of someone who'd learnt this language first, it was second nature to the writer to scrawl out the characters on the page.

There was personality in the penmanship and a voice in the chosen words.

Marie-Fey folded the letter over, running nails along the crease down the middle as she frowned across her parlour at the piano opposite her sofa – not really seeing it.

She didn't look around when Gharam ushered Azeeza into the room, just frowned at she ran through all the images of handwriting in her mind, trying to place a similar scrawl but coming up empty.

"I didn't say anything," Azeeza instantly said, the second she was in the room.

Marie-Fey didn't acknowledge her and that set Azeeza's back up, making her stalk across the room.

Maanah was in her path in an instant, blocking the girl with her taller, stronger body, the glare she sent down at the child making Azeeza back off.

"I didn't tell anyone!" she insisted around Maanah.

"Yes, you said," Marie-Fey said, then set the letter aside and looked at her, resting her cheek on her knuckles. "So how did that rumour start?"

"I swear I didn't say anything!" Azeeza cried.

Marie-Fey blew out a breath. "I'm not accusing you, I'm asking for your advice," she said and Azeeza looked at her startled.

"A... advice?" she copied.

"Give me your ideas," Marie-Fey said.

"But... but I don't have any," Azeeza said, confused, "It was... there was no one near up to eavesdrop. Everyone else in that room was too far away and busy with their own conversations."

"Who was in that room with us?"

Azeeza rattled off a dozen names without a second thought, mentioned one name to indicate the woman had left half way through their conversation and Marie-Fey smiled. She pointed at the girl but directed her gaze to her ladies.

"It's always impressive watching the trained women of court, no?" she said.

Azeeza blinked then glanced at the other two before looking at Marie-Fey.

"I just..." she trailed off.

"Your father was an idiot to give you away," Marie-Fey said with a cold smile, "He didn't know what sort of a brain he was giving up and does not deserve you. I'll have to thank him for handing you off to me."

Azeeza visibly bristled, her eyes going glassy. "I thought I was handed off to your husband," she struggled to get out, holding her nerve.

"You're mine until he says otherwise," Marie-Fey replied with a dismissive flick of the hand. "I don't bring people into my inner circle. Ever. Be honoured."

Maanah and Gharam openly eyed Azeeza with cool looks, eyes narrowed and Azeeza tried to inch away from their scrutiny.

"Why?" she asked, looking at Marie-Fey, "I haven't done anything to deserve your trust."

Marie-Fey laughed. "I don't trust you," she said, "I don't trust anyone here."

Gharam looked openly hurt by that and Maanah didn't quite hide that look of open dislike before catching Marie-Fey's eye.

Marie-Fey gave her a raised eyebrow and Maanah looked away, expression smooth again.

"I simply haven't found a reason to openly dislike you or dismiss you," Marie-Fey clarified. "But that is unimportant right now. I still need to know who spread rumours."

"Only Lord Zaydan was close enough to hear," Azeeza muttered.

Marie-Fey raised an eyebrow. "Oh yes?"

"He must have been," Azeeza said, eyes on the floor, "I heard him when I left you. When he joined you, he commented on your patience... he must have been close enough to hear. Or at least see... we were relatively close to one of the doorways, so perhaps..."

Marie-Fey looked at Azeeza for a long, long moment.

"He wouldn't."

The voice was a breath and everyone was looking at Gharam. Her face was pale, eyes wide. She looked distraught by the idea.

"Why not?" Marie-Fey asked coolly.

"He just... he wouldn't do that... not to you," Gharam said, sounding like she was trying to convince herself as much as the room, "He was genuinely baffled when I called for his help to stop the competition earlier. And he was still confused when he followed you upstairs."

"He's from court," Azeeza said, frowning at Gharam as if she thought her naïve, "And he's clever. Royal courts here can't be any different from royal courts back home."

She looked at Marie-Fey.

"We're all actors," she said.

Marie-Fey considered her for a moment before her gaze slid away to the doors that led to one of the small gardens.

"We're all actors," she agreed.

"Yes but..." Gharam sounded almost desperate but Marie-Fey waved her off when she failed to continue.

"I'll consider him," she said and Gharam's voice was slightly strangled. Marie-Fey glared at her. "What? Why such loyalty to him? You are not friends and he is not your master."

"But he openly cares about you," Gharam said, spreading her hands out in a plea for Marie-Fey to reconsider. "He's working to build your trust. Why would be sabotage that? Why now? He... how could he know you'd react so badly to a whip just because he overheard something?"

She shot a look at Azeeza.

"Did my lady say it could lead to a near-breakdown?" she snapped – the hardest Marie-Fey had ever heard Gharam's voice.

"No," Azeeza said, "but—"

"You did not see her," Gharam spat and the other women stared at her. "You didn't see what that sound did to her. Lord Zaydan would not do that to her."

"Maybe he didn't know and just wanted to scare her," Azeeza shot back.

"He's not trying to scare her."

"How can you be sure?" Maanah asked, finally speaking up and, surprisingly, against Gharam.

Gharam gave her a helpless look.

"I... I can't be," she stressed, "I just... I just...!"

"You just want to see the best in everyone," Marie-Fey finished.

Gharam latched onto that and nodded.

Marie-Fey wasn't convinced that was her actual reason but she gave her the out nonetheless.

Instead she to swept to her feet and the others moved back.

She picked up her fan and snapped it open, considering the three before her when a knock at the door drew their attention.

One of the servants walked in with a bow.

"Nabeela is looking for Azeeza," she said and Azeeza flinched.

"Why?" Marie-Fey said coolly, "Azeeza works in laundry. What does the Head of the Baths want with her?"

"I'm sorry for bothering you," Nabeela said, walking in with a bow before shooting Azeeza a glower, "Azeeza has caused something of a stir between some of my girls and her lot. I wanted to retrieve her, to resolve with it."

Marie-Fey shot Azeeza a raised brow.

"They started it. So I finished it," Azeeza hissed.

"What happened?" Marie-Fey asked but Nabeela waved it off.

"Petty nonsense," she assured her, "But I would like it dealt with quickly. The palace is in enough of a state at the moment without adding to things."

"Oh?" Marie-Fey said.

Nabeela glanced at her. "You... certainly caused a stir this morning," she said carefully.

"I certainly did," Marie-Fey replied.

"And... some of the ladies are... airing their grievances with each other presently," Nabeela tactfully explained.

Marie-Fey's smile turned bright and nasty.

"My lady, in confidence, Zaafira is raging," Nabeela said, her voice low though the outside staff had departed. "Lord Zaydan was furious when he returned from talking with you. Just..."

"Mind myself?" Marie-Fey filled in and Nabeela nodded before straightening.

"Azeeza, we should leave Our Lady and go." And with that, she walked out.

Azeeza glanced at Marie-Fey and Marie-Fey smiled back at her.

"Go listen," she ordered simply before turning away.

*Hurls Wattpad payment plan out the window and slams folder on the table*