Chapter 347: They came for tea.
Not surprisingly, Lord Grace laughed. He did that a lot, Sienna had noticed. It was not malicious laughter, but the kind an elder uses when a child is being silly.
"Can’t I just pay a visit to my favorite granddaughter?" He asked.
Sienna rolled her eyes. He liked to call her that, even though she never accepted the title. More people showed up on her ship, followed by her guards. The first group was Grace’s attendants, moving boxes wrapped in velvet and silk inside.
Grace took one box that was palm sized and glass. Inside were about six candies, the kind children clutched in sticky hands. He pushed the box into her hands, and she frowned. "Candy? Is this for Ali? Don’t bother, I have long taught my daughter not to accept candy from strangers."
"It’s for you." He gestured to the other boxes which her guards were opening. They were all toys--wooden animals, carved puzzles, plushies, trinkets that seemed absurd to give a woman in her twenties as gifts. "These are things you should have had as a child. One gift for every year of your life before you met me. And don’t worry, your grandfather is not biased. I sent gifts to Soren too. I considered Ali and Eli, but I don’t want to overstretch my hand and anger you."
Sienna raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. "Why are you laying it on so thick? This grandfather stuff."
Lord Grace laughed, his voice echoing in the corridor. "Because we will be family soon."
Sienna ignored the words, her patience thinning. "I would not be in such a hurry to make assumptions like that. Get off my ship. I want to go home."
Instead of leaving, he handed her a folded parchment. Three names were written in bold strokes. He used his mental strength to temporarily block off the sound around them, so they could talk privately.
"The first two names," he explained, "are men you should make your personal guards. Don’t worry, they are not my men, they are just two people in need of jobs right now. I have already greased the palms for you and convinced them to meet you, if you seek them out within a week--it is up to you to convince them to work for you. They were once underground assassins. Their loyalty will be priceless. Your aunt Linera is the wife of the Prime Envoy and sooner or later, she will have to start doing political duties instead of following you around like a shadow. Some people on the King’s council are already attacking your uncle over this. Not everybody is happy about how he got the job."
Sienna wished she could refute his words, but what he said made sense.
"Like I told you, granddaughter, build your own protection. Don’t just rely on your husband or his family. Don’t even rely on me. A wise person holds all their closest cards to their chest." He added.
Sienna lifted the parchment. "And the third name?"
"That one you must invite to your husband’s birthday party. He has something to tell you about your maternal grandparents. You will need to hear it."
Sienna’s grip tightened on the parchment.
Lord Grace leaned closer, his tone grave. "Keep an eye on your mother. Her parents will soon reach out, from what I have heard. If they do, they will drag her into the criminal world. You could be dragged along with her. I hate to appear as a schemer, but her marriage to my son is her only protection. People think twice about touching a noble."
Sienna’s voice was sharp. "Is it possible that you are the one pulling the strings to put my family in the line of danger so that we can rely on you?"
He laughed again, shaking his head. "If I were, I would gain nothing. A puppeteer who tangles his own strings strangles himself first. I just think an alliance between you and I would benefit both of our families." Grace backed away, and waved with a smirk. "Goodnight, granddaughter."
After he left, Sienna settled into a chair and closed her eyes. Mija joined her, but the woman said nothing. She didn’t ask why Grace had been there, but she did laugh at the childish gifts. The journey home was quiet, Sienna’s mind racing with suspicions, the list of three names heavy in her pocket.
But when she arrived in her courtyard, the quiet shattered.
Visitors crowded the ground--nobles, wealthy merchants, butlers of different families and aides. The servants were busy, moving through the guests with silver trays that clinked. Tea was poured, snacks were given, laughter rang hollow.
The inside of her house was also occupied by guests Jess approved of. People that were considered friends of the family and Veythar relatives--some that Sienna had never met.
"They are everywhere." Her mother hissed, pulling her into the kitchen. "They all claim that they came for tea! Who goes to someone house for tea in the middle of winter?"
Sienna tiptoed and peeked out of the kitchen door. Some of the guests were relatives of the royal family. What would people like them be doing having tea in her house? The palace kitchens had better tea leaves compared to hers.
"Why does everyone keep saying we are having a party and requesting for details and a venue?" Her mother asked.
Sienna’s sharp mind caught the truth. They were not there for tea, they were there for invitations.
Invitations to her husband’s birthday.
It wasn’t something she had planned to do in secret. With Lina in the house, it was impossible to keep such a secret. But, she had not expected word to spread so quickly before she even started the actual party planning!
It seemed like every noble had been craving for a place to show off the outfits they had prepared for Lina’s canceled wedding.
"In the kitchen." A woman shouted excitedly, "Lady Sienna is in the kitchen."
Sienna’s eyes widened as the guests turned toward her, smiles too wide, eyes too hungry. She knew there and then, it was too late to cancel the party.