Frustration and Realization

The Queen's words gave Noble pause. The room had been silent for so long before her laugh. Now she had really stepped into trouble. 

Noble would have been content to never speak throughout the meal, but Emira expected more from her reluctant dinner company.

Since Noble was the only other person at the table, she was the only one available to answer the queen's pointed question.

'Lucky me.'

Before the meal, Noble had dismissed her protectors to get their own dinner free from the burden of the presence of Brenna's aunt.

Counsel had moderately objected, but in the end, he agreed it was for the best. 

That decision had left the two royal ladies to eat in peace but also seemed to take their ability to converse with it.

However, that was more likely due to their strange interaction earlier that day than it was to anything else. 

And Emira had not sent away dishes like during their first meal, allowing Noble to eat at least half of each course before it was removed. That had also stifled the conversation. 

Which is why the Queen's sudden question had caused Noble to jump. She had nearly forgotten Emira was there. 

"Is there something important that I want to tell you?" Noble repeated the question, scrambling for the words to answer. There was only one thing that came to her mind just then. "There is, actually. I had something to tell you about dinner the other night..." 

"Dinner? Was it unsatisfactory?" Her Majesty frowned. 

"No, that isn't what I was going to say." Noble didn't like how Emira could pull the conversation so easily.

It was a manipulative talent the monarch had all but perfected, leaving Noble to fight the current to keep from simply following in her wake.

The Queen took no note of her frustration. "If complaining about the palace cook is the first thing you want to talk about, then I suppose that means Lord Alyx was not able to convince you to abandon your folly. Such a shame. I had hoped the absence of your counsel was a positive step." 

'Ah, that was her aim all along. It wouldn't have mattered what I said...' Noble took a deep breath. 

"I am afraid that Alyx and I do not see eye to eye on almost anything. He is too full of himself to ever have my best interest at heart. So the likelihood of him getting me to agree to abandon Counsel was nearly impossible." Noble felt the temperature in the room increase.

She covertly called forth her fire charm and tucked it into a fold in her gown. While it didn't lessen the heat, it would at least protect her if Emira decided to do more than just express her displeasure. 

"Your loyalty should be to your family. To your parents if not to me." Emira's eyes lit with flames. "Why must you be so petulant? Stop being a child!"

"Are you certain I am the one being a child in this?" Noble's eyes kept the gaze of the Queen. "I am not the one who is demanding something without giving a reason." 

The light in Emira's eyes was blinding. Noble felt her own begin to water under the fierceness of the other woman's glare. She was forced to look away. 

"We both have our childlike moments, but you certainly have the Symncus's share," Emira rubbed her head. "I can see this will get us nowhere tonight." 

"Agreed." Noble sighed. She once again became reluctant to speak. The aunt and niece's relationship was rocky, and every time they spoke felt like it was an argument. 

But when glasses of wine came with the next course, Noble felt compelled to speak at last. 

When the servant tried to give her the cup, she politely refused. 

"You will not drink at my table?" The Queen looked even more offended than when Noble had said she did not care for Alyx. 

"I will drink water, but not wine, Your Majesty. I do not think you should either." The professor braced herself for the retort. 

"You would tell me how to behave? What gives you the right to tell me what to do in my own home?" Emira took the cup in her hand defiantly.

"What I wanted to tell you about dinner the other night is that the wine you gave me...was poisoned." Noble waited for the shock in the other woman to register. 

But instead, there was a very different emotion coming from the Queen. 

"I know." Emira quirked a small smile. 

Pushing down the small amount of doubt, Noble tried to make sense of the words. "You knew?" 

"Perhaps knew is a strong word. I suspected when Kosi got sick that it was my drink that was poisoned. I appreciate you confirming it." It was the first time Emira had expressed any sort of gratitude. 

Her words affirmed what Noble believed. If Emira needed confirmation that there was poison, then she hadn't been behind the assassination attempt. 

But a new question came to her. "How did you know about Kosi?" 

Emira eyed her niece with supreme disappointment. "Few things escape my notice in this palace. You would be wise to remember that." 

"I see." The professor felt an unconscious chill run down her spine. 

The Queen could not keep her sour expression for long. Another subtle smile crept onto her face. 

"Why do you look so happy?" Noble had no other word for the strange expression on the monarch's face. 

"Isn't it obvious? If you are telling me about the poison then you aren't the one trying to kill me. That would be most unfortunate, but something I did consider." Emira's casualness confused the younger woman. 

'Me? A suspect?' The professor had never considered how the situation might look from the other side. Since Emira had found out about the poison through less direct means, it did look like Noble was trying to hide her own failed scheme. 

She hurried to clear the air.

"I would never poison you! When Counsel discovered that the wine was tainted, he had wanted to come and tell you immediately. I am the one who held off to make sure you were not the one hoping to kill me," Noble explained. It felt good to come clean. 

"I am sure Counsel would have loved to take credit for saving me." Emira's expression darkened.

"He has been investigating to find the culprit," Noble put in, hoping it would help his case. 

The Queen scoffed. "He can stop. I will find out who did this and act accordingly. I have already replaced the kitchen staff and my taste tester. Things should be safe once again. " 

That was a relief at least. Even if Noble were not a target, she had considered the possibility of getting some of the Queen's food by accident. 

The Queen continued to eat her food as if they had been talking about the weather. Why was she not more concerned by the fact that someone wanted her dead? 

"Do things like this happen often?" Noble blurted.

"They usually do not get so close to being successful," Emira admitted with a shrug. "As I said, few things happen here without me knowing." She set down her fork and folded her hands. "And I know why you were really in the library. You must stop. Now."