After the ceremony, the most prominent guests were invited to dinner for a new Queen, and Noble and Sarai found themselves in the middle of yet another crowd of people.
Nickel had left the palace, or at least the part of it where Noble was. She could no longer sense his presence among the multitude.
How were there so many people?!
They were eating and drinking and being merry. It was like the horrific death of Gavin and the destroyed Great Hall had been erased from their memories. Well, at least from the younger members of the new court.
Counsel was drinking more heavily than any of them. His greatest triumph had come to fruition. He made his rounds, passing out as much alcohol as he consumed.
All his restraint from years of subservience was gone, replaced with only mirth.
The Old Guard at least had the decorum to be more subdued. They watched him and the others but did not share in their raucous laughter.
Sarai was subdued as well. The discomfort she had experienced in the throne room as well as her unfortunate freeze had left her very quiet during the boisterous celebration.
Which actually worked in the former queen's favor.
Usually, no one would want to interact with Emira due to her temper, so most assumed her lack of speech was to keep her anger in check for the sake of her niece.
Sitting next to Noble, Sarai tried to make herself as invisible as possible.
This only made the handsome blond protector of the Queen determined to goad her. After yet another glass of something fermented, he decided to give the beautiful redhead all of his attention.
"What do you think of the festivities, Your Grace?" Counsel asked the former queen as he sauntered toward her seat.
"They are worthy of the new Queen," the woman who looked like Emira answered.
"And what about the food? Have you ever seen such a wonderful feast?" Counsel prodded, his breath filled with an acrid smell.
"My aunt has had more feasts like this than she could ever count. Why once she even had something called popped corn with her meat! I thought it was ludicrous at the time, but it was better than I expected. Surely after so many unique experiences in her life, this meal would surely lose by comparison..." Noble sent a small smile toward Sarai.
Popcorn and steak had been one of many meals they had shared together over the years. They both preferred a quiet brunch over these crazy affairs. Who wouldn't?
"As a food expert, I will say this meal is quite good." Sarai offered.
"Quite a compliment from our former monarch," Counsel noted. "This requires a toast! Someone get Her Grace's special brew!"
'Special brew?' Sarai asked through their connection. Her beautiful eyes could not hide her worry.
'Emira had a special drink made for her fiery temper.' Noble told her friend.
It was also the same kind of drink that had been used to poison Emira before. Since then the Queen had only had it when dining privately with Noble. It was too easy to hide a foul smell inside its icy coolness.
But before Noble could convey the thought to her friend, a large goblet was put in Counsel's hand to pass to the Queen.
He smiled warmly, which set off alarm bells in Noble's mind.
"Attention everyone!" Counsel swayed slightly.
"What are you doing?!" Noble reached out and tugged on the man's sleeve as she spoke through her teeth.
"Just a toast. Don't worry, Your Majesty." Counsel pounded his fist on the corner of the table between the ladies until those closest to them quieted.
"I propose a toast to the new reign of Queen Brenna! May she live a long and healthy life." Counsel held out the glass to the former queen.
Sarai hesitated.
"What's wrong, Your Grace?" Counsel leaned uncomfortably close.
Noble stood up and whispered hurriedly in his ear. "That's enough. Leave her alone."
"What? If she won't drink to your health, I will!" The man brought the cup to his lips and took a deep drink.
"Counsel," Noble did not like his tone, but Sarai cut her off.
"It is fine. Give me the glass." The redhead stood with the other two and took the cup. "To Queen Brenna!"
The chalice came to her mouth amid cheers from the guests. Everyone toasted their glorious leader.
"Will you look at that? I never thought I would see the day when slave and sovereign would share the same cup." Counsel smirked.
'That tasted sour.' Sarai noted with a frown. 'Emira has terrible taste.'
'It shouldn't be sour…' Noble took the cup and sniffed at it. 'This is just the regular vintage. I guess Counsel wanted to bother you by bringing you the wrong drink. He really is trying to test your temper this evening.' Noble chewed her lip.
The man was rubbing Emira's face in his victory.
'He doesn't like me very much, does he?' Sarai asked sarcastically. She pushed the drink away and gulped down her water instead.
'The feeling was mutual, I assure you. If Emira were still with us right now, Counsel would be separated from his head instead of enjoying too much alcohol.' Noble tried to remind herself how much stress the protector had been under. But at the same time, she would need to have a talk with him about boundaries. 'I will speak with him when he is sober. He cannot treat you that way.'
'Don't be too hard on him,' Sarai furrowed her brow. 'I am fine.'
Noble let the matter rest for now. Counsel seemed to be finished with his amusement, except for towards the end of the evening when he offered Sarai another cup of wine.
This time she politely refused claiming to be full, and he went away leaving the glass on the edge of the table. At least the second one had been Emira's actual wine.
Maybe he had been trying to make up for his prank earlier in the evening. Or he was just trying to keep the former queen on her toes?
It was hard to tell.
Thankfully, Noble had been able to avoid dancing. The Great Hall would have been the place for so many people, and it was not currently fit for such an affair.
Finally, something that Noble could thank the original Emira for. She would not have to spend the night dancing with an insufferable amount of suitors.
With the wine cut off and the food taken away at Noble's orders, the guests finally took the hint and went home.
'Being Queen does have its perks.' Noble shrugged.
She had thought to take away the food long before, but didn't want to be a bad hostess. By the end, she no longer cared.
"Your Majesty," Counsel caught up with her and Kosi, the latter who had spent most of the evening watching the reverie with a judgmental glare.
The Symncus gave one such look to the staggering Awakened now. Counsel ignored it.
"We did it!" He clapped. "You are Queen!"
"Indeed, we did it." Noble smiled tolerantly. "Goodnight!"
"Now that you are queen," Counsel barreled onward, "I have something important I want to discuss with you." He paused, confused. "Wait, why aren't you heading to your new quarters by the throne room?"
"I want to keep my same room," Noble explained wearily.
Counsel clicked his tongue. "No matter. We can solve that issue tomorrow. What I really want to discuss is our futures."
"I am all talked out right now, Counsel." Noble rubbed her forehead. This day's ups and downs were more than she could bear. "I need some sleep."
"But…there is something I must tell you. My soul may burst if I do not share what is there." He took her hand.
Feeling his emotions, Noble pushed him away. "You are drunk. Do not say what you are thinking right now. You will regret it. You should get some rest as well."
"It's the man who has your heart. He has come between us again. That coward!" Counsel spat.
"Don't call him that. He is the bravest man I know. Never say that again." Not waiting for an answer, Noble rushed toward the stairs.
"You think he cares, but what has he done that I have not?" Counsel tried to follow until Kosi blocked his path.
The Symncus bared his teeth, roaring a warning at the man. Counsel blanched and stepped back. He called to the Queen.
"Is this how you treat your loyal subjects? You keep them at arm's length?"
He kept speaking but Noble was no longer listening.
For just now the woman desired to be more than an arm's-length from the amorous drunk man.
She wanted to be a world away.