"Does anyone else wonder is Lady Lashby every gets bored of trying to bait you?" Maanah asked, her stunning face set in a bored frown as she watched Lady Lashby stalk passed, glaring at Marie-Fey.

"I think you're expecting a little too much depth from a two-dimensional character," Marie-Fey replied.

Lady Lashby stalled, gaping her at her and Marie-Fey turned a wicked grin her way.

"Is there a problem, Lady Lashby?" she sneered, taking a step towards her. "Please, speak your mind if you have something to share with the hall."

Lady Lashby stiffened.

Then turned up her pig nose and swept away.

Marie-Fey let out a laugh, Gharam and Maanah joining in, the sound chasing after her and Marie-Fey released a breath once she was out of earshot.

To think that woman had caused her such grief mere months before that she had resorted to Zaydan's hairbrained plan of pretending to be married. Regardless of the fact that it had worked, Lashby just didn't have the same... threatening quality she had had before. Her petty snipes and jibes didn't quite compare anymore to spending an afternoon running for her life in a labyrinth filled with corpses as a mortal god attempted to murder her.

She couldn't deny that having Maanah and Gharam visiting for the month almost helped immensely.

She looked around as a young man asked Gharam for the next dance, which she accepted – the gentle squeeze she gave Maanah's hand as she passed hidden behind their gowns.

"Are you not going to dance tonight?" Marie-Fey asked, linking arms with Maanah as they watched Gharam glide away.

It was both easier and harder with the shift in dynamics between herself and the other two. She no longer felt that divide that separated mistress and maids. She actually had them as the friends they had always been. They were her equals. Their families had dined with her family, hosting each other once a week to discuss business and leisure. She and her sisters went out with Maanah, Gharam and Gharam's sister for tea or walks or gallery trips. They called on each whenever they wanted just because they could.

But Marie-Fey had to remind herself they were no longer her maids and were equals. Two years of dynamics vanished in a moment and she had to catch herself before giving a command.

The first time it had happened, Gharam had looked at her in confusion and Marie-Fey had scrambled to apologise and correct herself. It had happened several times since but they, in their good nature, had not called her up on her behaviour and she was relearning her relationship with them.

"I'll see as the evening continues," Maanah said, "Dancing still hasn't grown on me. Maybe if Beldon finally arrives, he's easy to dance with."

"He should be here soon. I don't think he would risk missing this assembly after he was called back for diplomatic discussions and then fought his peers every step of the way."

"Well, one cannot blame him for not wanting to start yet another war. Diplomatic discussion is rich it sounds as if they just wanted to discuss the likelihood of the army marching out again within two months," Maanah muttered, both their eyes flicking to the towering archway of Lord Chen's assembly hall as Beldon was announced by the Master of Ceremonies.

"Speak of the devil," Marie-Fey said, rolling her eyes as people flocked to him – waylaying him from flocking to Luka.

"Are you dancing?" Maanah asked, steering her into a walk so they could take a turn around the hall, watching the dancers.

"Yes, I will," Marie-Fey said, nodding and smiling to Lord Charles as he raised his glass to her, knowing he would ask her to dance shortly.

It was all so... normal.

She didn't miss her little kingdom in the sand. She hadn't been happy there. But she realised that she was going to have to take up travelling a lot more. Exchanging the women's palace for her home kingdom wouldn't quite meet her requirements. Which was something she could only appreciate having experienced both with clarity and a broader point of view.

And that knowledge was fine.

She was happy to know more about what she wanted to do.

What she had told Zaydan months before still stood. She still wanted to marry. She still wanted children. But she was also ready for more.

And now, knowing that, offered a sense of peace.

It wasn't about running away anymore.

It was just about going further.

"Announcing Lord Zaydan and Lady Zaafira!"

Marie-Fey stalled at the Master of Ceremonies announcement and almost tripped Maanah over. Spinning her head to the archway, her eyes widened as Zaydan and Zaafira walked in, arm in arm, Zaafira looking her nose down at the hall – haughty as ever – as Zaydan smiled, shaking hands with Lord Chen who came to greet them.

"What's wrong?" Maanah asked, frowning at her.

"I didn't know Lord Zaydan was attending today," Marie-Fey stumbled out, "I... didn't even know he was in the country."

"Lord Zaydan?" she copied, looking around. "Are you interested in him?'

"No," Marie-Fey said quickly – which earned her a raised eyebrow.

"Indeed," Maanah said, her tone flat.

"I'm not. I just... we don't even know each other. I was just surprised."

"Why?"

"No reason," Marie-Fey sighed. "It's too difficult to explain. Shall we get drinks?"

Before Maanah could reply, she dragged to her to the closest servant who quickly handed over to glasses.

"Are you alright?" Maanah asked.

"I'm fine."

Maanah raised an eyebrow again.

"Really," she insisted. "I really am alright."

At that moment, Lord Charles arrived to ask if she would join him for the next dance, which she gratefully agreed to, waving Beldon over to dance with Maanah.

She never once looked Zaydan's way again. Not directly at least. But she could see him surrounded by businessmen, deep in conversation, never looking her way as the evening passed them by.

But why should he?

He would know of the Leigh Ladies. Marie-Fey was one of the Leigh Ladies, but that was it. She was just someone he would have heard of in passing.

"There you are."

Two hours later, a gentle hand touched her elbow and Marie-Fey looked away from studying her dance card, turning almost straight into Zaydan's chest, stepping back to look up at him.

He smiled at her.

That same old warm smile that lit up his endless eyes.

"Lord Zaydan," she said, her voice calm and very controlled.

His smile instantly brightened.

"You know me. Wonderful. Forgive me, I realise this is terrible impolite when we have yet to be formally introduced but I hoped to catch you before your dance card was completely full. Do you have any slots left?"

Marie-Fey stared at him for a moment, the nodded – because it was only polite. "Yes, I have the final slot free."

Zaydan let out a breath of relief. "Wonderful. I have no great interest in dancing tonight, but it felt paramount to try and ask for your hand."

Marie-Fey looked at him, then looked past to where she could see Zaafira talking to some of the ladies.

"Are you not dancing with your wife?" she asked, the words uncomfortable on her tongue.

"My wife?" Zaydan asked, looking back to see where she was looking. "Ah, Lady Zaafira. No, not my wife. My dear, dear friend and company for this evening. But no, I have yet to find myself married." He turned back to her with a smile. "I look forward to dancing with you."

He bowed and stepped away, walking towards a group of men to beckoned him over, before pausing and looking back at her.

He looked confused for a moment.

"Yes?" she finally asked.

"Sorry," he said, laughing, "This will sound strange and please do not think me out of turn. I just realised I've been looking for you for a very long time."

Marie-Fey stared at him and he quickly bowed again and walked away.

"Wh—wait," she started to say before Beldon touched her shoulder.

"He doesn't remember you," he said gently.

"But then why would he say that?"

Beldon chuckled. "Well, remember what I said back in the council. He had forgotten the last few years with you. But it doesn't change that he has lived many lives before this, and that he was looking for you in each of those lives."

Marie-Fey stared.

"Your story isn't over, Marie-Fey," Beldon said, laughing, "You're a Leigh Legend, correct?"

"So, there is almost more to the story," Marie-Fey said, rolling her eyes, laughing slightly before turning to her next dance partner, smiling as Zaydan nodded to her, gentle smile that she had spied in each lifetime shining through again.