In Which Jeda Has That Conversation

January 6, 1182

The weight of the crown was an undue annoyance, but Ietrin had insisted. At least he hadn't forced her into new gowns in his family colors. If he had, it might as well have been the end. Jeda's own family colors were the last shred of a separate identity that she had--that was official now.

Queen Jedaline of Naroni. By mere virtue of being married to King Ietrin of Naroni. Even if she was--on paper--the most powerful woman in the kingdom, it was only because she was locked up in this hellhole of a castle, trapped with him until that lucky day when one of them finally died. Better she'd been born a peasant.

And after all these years of hearing Roderick--God, she didn't think she'd miss Roderick!--rant about this horrible bitch of a woman when he'd had a little too much to drink, she could not in the slightest blame Geneva for leaving.

"It's not seemly for a queen to spend so much time alone."

Of course he was here. "What is it, Ietrin?"

"Do I need an excuse to check up on my reclusive wife every now and then?"

That would have made sense if they loved each other, or even if they liked each other. He either wanted to try for a son again, or to chastise her about some little thing that was apparently a big deal. She didn't want either, but God forbid she would have a say in the matter. "I'm sure you'll explain yourself in any case."

He grunted. There was little a queen could say to a king that wasn't too rude. Poor Laralita had proven that days prior. "Stand up."

Jeda stood. That bench had never been comfortable anyway. "Well?"

"Don't talk out of turn. And don't slouch either." As if he gave a damn about her back. "I just got out of conference with Lord Severin, and it seems that my father has legislated me into an inconvenient corner."

"How--?"

"Never mind how. It isn't your job to be concerned about legal minutiae." Then why had he brought it up? "You know what your job is, even if it is ten years later and you still haven't done it."

"Is this about you trying to get your bastard on the throne? Because honestly, if it gets you to leave me alone--"

"What did I tell you about talking out of turn?" He glared at her, then turned his eyes to the bed. Of course it was about his bastard, and sons in general. "Now, my sisters both love this certain book, and I heard Leara telling Raia about this one scene with a very wise king and his daughter-in-law. He needed her to give him a grandson, and it got to the point where he had to tell her that he'd give her a year to have a baby. Or, no--he was generous. He told her he'd give her a year to get pregnant."

And if Jeda still had a father-in-law, she wouldn't have been having this conversation. Or, no--this was Ietrin. "And if she didn't?"

"Oh, that's not fit for a lady's ears, and suffice to say I'll go comparatively easy on you." And if that was what he thought, than whatever this 'wise' king had threatened to do to his daughter-in-law must have been horrific indeed. "If you haven't at least missed a course by this time next year, you'll find that certain liberties will no longer be your privileges. No more books. No more friends. No more of your silly stitching projects. No more indulging the girls with foolish playtime nonsense. You will do what is expected of a queen, and you will do your duty to me, but until that duty actually pays off, you will not have the luxury of leisure time. Are we clear?"

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