I eat, trying to keep my movements as slow as possible.
In the Empire, they don't use forks. They eat with a small knife and their fingers. At least, there are two bowls of scented hot water on the table, so that one can clean their hands between a course and the other. The chicken is juicy, and a lot of different spices and ingredients dance on my tongue. It's such a complicated receipt, but it's likeable. Not to mention that I'm starving, so I would be complimenting even stale bread.
Ethirians drink a lot of wine during their meals, rather than water or juices.
That's why the small cups are already filled with a red liquid. It looks thick and strong from here. I take a sip, and I find out that it indeed is a wine full of aromas. I have to admit that it goes well with the food, though. They complement each other.
My meals have always been accompanied by water, and I always thought that anything else would hide the real taste of the food. However, it doesn't seem to be the case with this combination. My taste buds are melting, right now, and I can't help but close my eyes to better sense the softness of the meat.
When the first cup is over, I pour another one. I'm starting to feel dizzy, but thirst wins over worry.
My pledged husband observes me with curiosity, following my hand while it sinks in the closest bowl of warm water. He doesn't move his eyes away even when my clean fingers wrap the cup and bring it to my lips.
«Drink some water,» the Duke says, and he gets up to bring the carafe and a clean glass for me.
I choke, surprised. Has a noble just stopped eating and got up from the table only to serve a prisoner?
This is not some cultural difference, that's for sure. I've seen the expressions of the people in the throne hall, and the deference of the servants. I've seen the protocols they use while addressing the Emperor or another noble, and the manners reserved for commoners and war prisoners.
A Duke would never interrupt a meal for anyone other than his majesty himself. What is happening with my husband, then?
He's probably toying with me, but he's been rather polite and kind.
He didn't look too surprised when the Emperor declared our marriage, now that I think of it.
I sip the water, while the scenes from the throne hall pass in my mind. Then, I remember the only conversation we had before this day.
It was during the last negotiations for peace.
Polis' delegation had offered the use of the harbour for ten years, at first, but Ethiro refused. They said they wanted us to admit defeat and surrender.
As the negotiations got further, my strategist didn't see a way out. We had no other choice but to offer more.
In exchange for the life of the city, we gave up on our independence. We became part of the Empire.
Also, as war compensation, Polis offered a total of a hundred slaves. This Queen personally selected those that would become prisoners among a group of volunteers. Just like that, fifty young girls and fifty boys departed towards the capital.
After I arrived in the capital, I haven't seen anyone of them. The youths must have already been sent to the nobles they will serve. They were a tremendous sum to pay for a city of the dimensions of Polis.
When we presented our last offer, the Duke was there. He was standing a step behind the old general, and he was more relaxed than anyone his age would be in that position.
When I leaned the paper with the offers on the table, he looked at me with his black eyes, and he smiled.
«Will the Queen be among those hundred people?» he asked with a smirk that made me shiver. I didn't pay any attention to the fact that the generals didn't glare at him for the intrusion. My focus was on obtaining the most from the meeting.
«No,» I answered. «This Queen's life will be of Ethiro as per the next point of the offer.»
That same day, the abdication was signed.
And, a week from then, I am married to a citizen of the Ethiro Empire while my title is still valid. That must be the reason the Duke hasn't done anything improper.
From tomorrow, I'll just be the wife of a noble. Maybe he'll change his behaviour. I'm too tired to feel scared of this perspective.
The Empire's men are known to be easy to anger and hard to soothe. They treat their wives in ways most of the other countries loathe. However, if the Ethiro women can bear it, so will I.
I've finished all the food on my plate, but appetite hasn't left me. If my teachers didn't warn me times and times again not to overeat in front of delegations from Ethiro, I would have already taken a second serving.
In the Empire, they also think that a woman has to eat little. As if they live out of air and spirit. On the other hand, here, women are allowed to get drunk. I'm not sure how in the world those two things are compatible, but this will be my everyday life from now on.
Eat a little and drink a lot.
At least, the dizziness caused by the wine is distracting me from hunger. Hopefully, it will also help me survive the first night of marriage.
«It's better if you get used to the wine,» the Duke says, noticing the lost look in my eyes. «You should drink some every day until it doesn't affect you so much.»
«Will my life last enough to get used to it?» I ask before my brain can elaborate that it's not a good idea to tease a Duke's patience. It sounds like looking for death, but I just want to know whether to kill this tiny hope of mine at the start.
«We'll see,» he answers simply. «But I haven't met anyone that failed. It may take months, but everybody eventually builds some tolerance to alcohol.»
That must be the reason they can work well even if they continuously drink. The reason why I've avoided alcoholic drinks all my life is that I become useless after a few sips. And the work to be done can't wait for me to sleep enough to restore my full capabilities.
«Why would one want to feel like this?» I utter, confused. Why would one force their body to get used to poison? It's way simpler just to drink water, right?
«There are a few reasons. For example, you've stopped trembling like a newly-born kitten.»
I look down to my hands and, indeed, my fingers are still. Also, my movements aren't nervous like before. Does wine give you courage?
Rather than brave, now I feel tired and a bit sad. It's like all my energy has been drawn away by helplessly staring at the Duke, bringing me to listen to his words because of slackness rather than interest.
«Then, most people like the taste and the fact that everything feels different after a couple of glasses. The secret is not to drink too much. If you find the right quantity, it will help you to talk in public or make difficult decisions. If you drink too much, you'll forget how to talk and walk.»
He's talking rather informally to this Queen. Still, I don't feel bothered. It's not because I clearly don't have any right to be addressed politely. I don't understand myself either, but I feel like the Duke is talking like this more out of habit than intentionally. In the end, he probably owes respect only to the Emperor.
He might be doing it to comfort me, though. His tone is low, and he talks in length. He doesn't make any sudden movements, not to scare me.
Or maybe, this is all just a hallucination because of the wine.
«A magic potion against fear,» I say and giggle. Not just against fear, but also against any sound reasoning.
«Or a truth serum,» the Duke replies.
«Mhm?» I hum, turning my head in the Duke's direction.
He got up and is now getting rid of the jacket and the outer layers of his clothes. The blood rushes in my cheeks. It might be an effect of alcohol, but it doesn't seem to be the case.
The Duke has turned his back to me, so he can't see how my eyes analyse his figure, comparing it to those of the boys that offered themselves to me while I was a queen.
I should have accepted.
I didn't have the time or energy, back then. State affairs kept me busy all the time. If I knew earlier that this was going to happen, I would have taken the chance to learn how to make love. It's something that would have helped me in this situation.