Chapter 100 - Coffee Talk

"I'll be taking my leave, Lady Neredras," Yvonne said as she stood up. While catching up with Enya, she had lost track of time, fearing that she may have skipped the third thing on her schedule: Spending time in the Ladies' Room. "I'll come back later, if you please."

Enya smiled weakly, her brown eyes following Yvonne as she calmed the wrinkles on her dress. Much to her glee, Enya had had a wonderful time with Yvonne. This was the first time she was truly able to lay back in the palace and talk without any fear of judgement. 

"You're a woman of great character, Lady Sumner," Enya said quietly and shyly. 

Yvonne's eyes widened in surprise. She had never been appreciated this way before. In Clatoise, she had been called all sorts of names by fellow mistresses including but not limited to 'Cunning b*tch', 'Sly whore' and so much more. She never expected such kind words from a fellow competitor to the Empress's seat, so she was more touched than anything.

"Thank you, Lady Neredras." Yvonne smiled sweetly, the rouge on her face genuine. "I appreciate your warm words. Now, if you could excuse me..." Yvonne curtsied and click-clacked her way out of the infirmary, only stopping briefly near the open window to peer outside at the freshly watered roses. Then she silently made her way out.

Enya looked on, feeling better than she had before her visit. 

"What a lovely woman," Garnet commented light-heartedly. "She's a true gem in this hell hole of a palace."

"I heed your words," Enya sighed. "But we mustn't get attached, Garnet. Our only goal is survival till someone takes over, since I'm practically not even in the running."

Garnet sighed sadly. "But I so do wish you would associate yourself with the others more often. It pains me to see you left out." 

"Oh hush, Garnet." Enya pulled the covers over her waist as a cold gust of wind wafted past. "There's no need for that. Anyhow, I've been thinking about what Lady Sumner just said earlier, about how Lady Obsilia wants me dead. Is there any way we can use that information to our advantage?"

A slow smile creeped up Garnet's sharply featured face, and Enya leaned in to hear.

✿

Yvonne Sumner was much too exhausted to deal with the typical drama in the Ladies' Room. She was undeniably late, but it was a good thing since she didn't want to sit and talk anyways. 

"Hello, ladies," Yvonne said as she went inside. In a split of a second, her eyes scanned the room to know who was here and who was not. Elora, Yesenia and Enya, all three of them were absent. Odette sat reading a book on the tea table with her maid pouring her a cup of tea. 

Lorelei and Christabel sat in a corner near the tall window. They were engaged in a conversation, but when Yvonne got closer, she noticed that Lorelei was the only one doing all the talking. 

"Oh. Good day, Lady Sumner." Lorelei smiled as she turned her head in Yvonne's direction. 

Yvonne nodded. "Good day." Then she pointed a finger at Christabel who had her back to her, and Lorelei shook her head. Christabel still hadn't spoken.

Yvonne bit her lip as she thought about it. Was there any way to make her start speaking again? But why should she do that? It was none of her business. Yvonne decided against interfering with the two ladies and turned around to find another activity. 

Would it be better to have tea with Lady Odette Atraxil? Apparently, she had the most brains in the entire palace, probably even in the entire of Eyress. Yvonne decided to put that to the test.

"Good day, Lady Atraxil," Yvonne said as she approached the tea table.

Odette looked up from her book, seemingly annoyed at the new distraction. 

"Good day," she said coldly, then went back to reading. But that didn't stop Yvonne from pulling out a seat and sitting down opposite Odette. 

Odette's maid looked questionably at Yvonne, teapot raised in hand.

"Ah, yes. I'll have whatever she's having," Yvonne said, and promptly, she was poured a hot cup of tea with a minty fragrance. "Is this mint?"

Sighing, Odette put away her book and interlaced her fingers on the table. 

"Rosemary," she said crisply, looking Yvonne straight in the eye. "It's good for digestion and widely available. The minty fragrance is good to calm the mind, a sort of aromatherapy which can help in improving the mood and memory. The ursolic acid it contains is good for hair growth, whereas the anti-inflammatory compounds help to prevent inflammation. These are just some of the reasons one may enjoy rosemary tea. Plus, it tastes wonderful."

Yvonne blinked, the tea in her hand losing heat by the second. 

"Wow," she said, surprised. "I'm amazed. You really are a city of knowledge, just like I've heard."

Odette traced an engraved pattern on the cover of the book she had been reading. 

"I'd rather not be called that. 'The City of Knowledge'. It sounds much tackier than some of the other names I've been given. I'm just good at providing apt information when it comes to the circumstances. One could say I have a good memory."

"Is that so?" Yvonne took a small sip of her tea, her mouth instantly being enveloped by all the marrying flavors. "This really is a wonderful blend."

Yvonne saw Odette smile for the first time.

"Thank you," she said, cupping her own cup with her hands. "It's tailored to my own recipe. Would you like to taste another blend I created?"

Yvonne raised her eyebrows, surprised at the initiated offer. "I'm not really much of a tea person. In Clatoise, we usually enjoyed a hot cup of coffee. Have you ever tried that?"

Odette shook her head, intrigued. "I've heard of it, but I never got my hands on it. I heard it's a delicacy, made only in the most prestigious of private farms. Is there any way I could get a taste of it?"

Yvonne nodded. "Of course! Amongst the luggage I brought from Clatoise, I also recall throwing in a jar of processed coffee grains ready to stir into either water or milk. I prefer my coffee milky, against the preference of many others."

Odette frowned. "I always thought coffee was to be made with milk."

Yvonne smiled as she sipped on her tea. "So did I. But apparently, some people like to drink it black. When I get back to my chambers, I'll be sure to send you the coffee jar as a present."

Odette blushed. The warm personality of Lady Sumner, who she had thought would be cold and haughty, comforted her. She took off her monocle, which she had put on before she started reading the book. With her bare face exposed, Yvonne could really tell why the Emperor had taken her in in the first place. She wasn't what one would call beautiful at a first glance. Her skin was fair and her hair was dark, creating a stark contrast to the eye. But what really grabbed one's attention to her were her intelligent pair of eyes, so deep and mysterious. 

Yvonne gazed in awe at Odette, who looked back, puzzled.

"Have I got something on my face?"

"No," Yvonne laughed musically. "I was just dazed by your beauty for a moment there. You really are very pretty."

The rouge on Odette's face increased swiftly. "T-Thank you."

Yvonne's laugh trailed away as she wondered if it was time to ask what she had wanted to, in the first place.

"Lady Atraxil," Yvonne said, circling the rim of her cup. "Has the Emperor ever slept with you?"

The question was much too sudden. Nobody was ready for that. Odette was taken aback, the color draining away from her cheeks. "I'm sorry?"

Yvonne interlaced her fingers on the table, looking gravely at Odette. Tranced by her icy gaze, Odette was rooted to her spot.

"You've been here for a long time. Has the Emperor ever slept with you since your arrival at this palace?" 

Odette's mouth opened in shock. Was she even hearing correctly?

"I-I'd rather not speak about this," Odette said, clearing her throat uncomfortably.

Yvonne leaned back in her chair and crossed one leg over the other. She was in no hurry to leave, and Odette knew this. The maids against the wall exchanged worried, uncertain glances.

"You don't need to be ashamed of admitting to this," Yvonne shrugged. "We're all women belonging to the same man. Now tell me, have you?"

Odette shuffled uncomfortably in her chair. "Um..."

Yvonne blinked. She then sighed. "I see. I heard the Emperor boasting to somebody once about how great you were in bed. I was worried, since it was clearly a confidential topic. How do you feel about him expressing his thoughts about you so clearly?"

Yvonne's eyes remained fixed on Odette's. The slight tremble in Odette's body did not go unnoticed by anyone in the room. 

"Are you telling the truth?" Odette hissed, outraged. 

Yvonne nodded confidently. "He shouldn't have done that."

To everyone's surprise, angry tears started flowing down Odette's face. Yvonne jerked forward, not knowing how she had triggered such a reaction.

"A-Are you alright?" Yvonne said as she handed her a handkerchief, which Odette didn't reach to take.

"How dare he?" Odette muttered, her voice barely a whisper. "How dare he boast when he's never once even approached my lonely chambers. Sometimes, I think I'm not good enough to be his woman. May-Maybe that's why he refuses to even pay me any attention while caresses all the other mistresses. All he cares about concerning me is joining hands with my father."

Yvonne raised a sharp eyebrow. How interesting. So it meant that he indeed had never slept with Odette. So why would he lie about it? Yvonne leaned closer, intrigued despite her tears.. Oh, how she was dying to know more.