From the way the Queen's eyes had flashed and how she’d barely managed to stop herself from whipping her head towards the speaker, Hilde knew she’d heard it too. They both slowly turned towards their aunt, who had been speaking to one of her attendants and was currently squinting at the bier in front. "What's that old spider thinking?"
It quickly became apparent whom she had been referring to.
"Perhaps the same thing you were this morning, Lady?" interjected the Queen, now displaying a hint of humor.
The jab found its target. Looking chagrined, Lady Ilse glanced at Hilde. "That ended well, at least. I'd even say very well indeed." She next trained her unflinching gaze at her older niece. "Some things we simply need to face head-on. If nothing else, to get past them sooner… or before the
