Royal Intrigue

Subterfuge

Elsewhere in the palace, all was not calm. The price of failure when in service to nobles was well known, but that didn't stop the sniveling servant from trying to plead with their mistress. 

"I couldn't have known that they were acquainted. Their meeting must have been outside of typical palace hours, the princess sneaking around behind our backs. I'm just as surprised as you are. She may have earned an ally, but that doesn't mean we can't turn this to our advantage." The maid bowed deeply, hoping that her words would save her life and that of her family from the irate noble pacing the floor in from of her. 

"How exactly do you plan to use this to our advantage. Not only does the little brat have the favor of her father here, but now she has gained allies in other kingdoms, allies who aren't afraid to speak up for her. How am I meant to run her into the ground and ensure that she has nowhere to turn but taking orders if she is climbing the social ladder. You have disappointed me." The last words were punctuated by a teapot breaking mere inches from the maid's head, shards of ceramic flying out to catch the exposed skin of her hands and the soft skin on her face. 

"My lady, allies she may have, but friends of her own s*x she does not. While she may be acquainted with the young woman, it is much more likely that she is close with the brother. The ambassador, while he is a score as an ally, he is also a man and so many things can happen between men and women that bring shame to even the most loved princesses. It's simple. We use this to our advantage by caging her with her own friends." The maid hoped that her plan was sound enough to save her life. 

The lady stopped pacing almost instantly, coming to kneel in front of the servant as well with a frantic bounce. Her brightly colored Kimono sleeves contracted with the servant's own pale sleeve, bright red almost like blood on a plain yellow. The color combination reminding her of blood on skin, the same as that dripping down her face. The sudden change in mood and imagery made her blood run cold, the single finger beneath her chin forcing her to meet the harsh gaze of the lady sending a chill down her spine. 

"Caging her with her own friends? We can't even get her in trouble for being out of her rooms in the middle of the night as a virginal bargaining piece, what makes you think that we can use this foreign minister to trap her. What makes him different from the rest of the court? Because from here this sounds like an attempt to save yourself, not an attempt to fix the mistakes you have made." 

The maid was never happier that she had an actual answer than she was at that moment. "Because he's not from our court. He doesn't know the rules, he doesn't know how to make sure that he isn't caught. We aren't relying on the princess to make a mistake, but a foreigner from a land that is inferior to our own." She tried to make herself sound sure and smug, knowing that her mistress would take her queues from her own reactions. 

"Ah yes, but he is learned, in favor of the emperor, and is obviously smart enough to have earned a place here in our court. Last night shows that he is willing to put himself on the line for the princess as well, so he likely understands how important she is at court. It stands to reason that he would avoid her at all costs, cultivating a small friendship that can be denied if need be."

"My lady, that may be true, but a little bird told me the princess has decided to take his sister under her wing. She will be spending lots of time in the foreign wing if this is true, making it easy for things to appear as they are not. Most nobles don't have eyes and ears among the foreigners as they prefer their own staff, all we have to do is make it appear as if she is misbehaving within our own court. His own behavior will simply confirm what everyone else already knows." 

"What if this fails, what if once again he manages to come to her rescue and then we are exposed. How will you feel when I sacrifice you to save myself, denying any knowledge of anything you have done when your plan comes hurtling towards the ground?" The lady sounded almost bored as she pushed up off the ground and resumed her pacing, waiting quietly for the servant to answer her question. 

"While I do not feel that we will fail, and I am even more sure that there will not be a chance to expose our involvement, should the time come I would be happy to die in the service of my lady. It is an honor to serve you and your family and the positions that you have secured for my younger sisters and my parents are worth more than my life would ever be. You know me to be a person of honor and that I would happily give me all in service to you." The maid was careful not to let her voice shake, trying her hardest to keep level and calm, avoiding eye contact with her lady. 

"Very well then, you are dismissed. Get out of my sight and clean yourself up. Dirty blood such as yours shouldn't be spilled freely. Send someone in to replace this floor." The lady waved her away, not even watching as she retreated, heart in her throat, trying her hardest to breathe through the panic that she felt. Next time she wouldn't be so lucky. The knowledge that she had barely survived pushing her towards an almost fanatic dedication towards the well being of her lady.