QUOTE : Rollo cleared his throat. “If you will excuse me, Princess Gwendafyn, Her Majesty Queen Luciee has some questions for you.”<br /><br />“I’ll translate for her,” Benjimir said in Elvish.<br /><br />“No,” Queen Luciee said in Calnoric, her voice encased in ice. “….don’t trust you…change words.”<br /><br />“Rollo, did the queen just imply Benjimir might not tell her the truth?” Gwendafyn murmured.<br /><br />“Um…yes,” the translator said.<br /><br />A muscle in Gwendafyn’s eyebrow jumped in irritation. “I see.” It’s a shame Queen Luciee was not bonded to Aunt Lorius. I’m certain they would get along splendidly. No, she is worse than my aunt. At least Aunt Lorius believes in what she presses upon me. Queen Luciee enjoys crushing the spirit of others. Gwendafyn had not missed the way the queen had shot down Princess Claire…<br /><br />“….Unnecessary, Luciee,” King Petyrr said. “Benjimir and Gwendafyn married….love each other,” he said.<br /><br />Queen Luciee narrowed her eyes. “I’ve thought…suspicious…an elf could love Benjimir.”<br /><br />Benjimir stiffened next to her, the expression on his face unreadable.<br /><br />In that moment, Gwendafyn wished she could wipe the smug look off the queen’s face. She knows Benjimir loves Yvrea—she must have been informed of it when he was sent into exile. How could she say such a hurtful thing to him when she is his mother?<br /><br />Anger rolled off Gwendafyn in waves. It was only years of experience in shoving her rage down that kept her from glaring. Instead, she fixed an unconcerned smile on her lips.<br /><br />Rollo cleared his throat. “Queen Luciee wishes to ask if it is true you sing a ballad to Prince Benjimir after lunch every day.”<br /><br />Benjimir squeezed her hand, but Gwendafyn ignored it and made a show of widening her eyes and fluttering them. I have no idea what she’s talking about, but I’m not going to let her try and make Benjimir look like an idiot.<br /><br />“Of course,” she said in Calnoric. When she glanced from Queen Luciee to King Petyrr she saw their look of confusion. Bother the grunts of Calnoric! They are so hard to achieve. I must be mangling this. “Rollo, could you tell them I said of course?”<br /><br />Rollo nodded. “Yes, Princess Gwendafyn.” He addressed the royal family across the table in flawless Calnoric.<br /><br />“In fact,” Gwendafyn continued in Elvish. “It is one of the most enjoyable parts of my day. We laugh—and once he even cried over a tragic ballad, though he will deny it—and enjoy each other’s company. I love spending time with Ben.”<br /><br />Benjimir twitched at the as-of-yet-unused nickname, but he managed to stare adoringly at her.<br /><br />Yvrea placed a hand over her heart. “How touching! I know you do not normally like to sing for others, sister. It is a testament to your love for Benji,” Yvrea said.<br /><br />“Yes,