Page 89 of Dewpoint
She was on a mission and didn’t care about the waves she made this time.
“No woman deserves to be cheated on. This isn’t even personal. I’m not upset forme, but that there is no pushback from women. Is this who we are as women in Thovudin?” She gave an elegant snort and crossed her legs. “I always thought the sirens were harsh on us—many were at school who said that we were outdated, but now I see their side.
“Our women are our own worst enemy. Half of those panels werewomensaying I should have expected it because he wasso much more attractive than me. I should have expected unfaithfulness? Someone had the audacity to utter that and multiple women agreed with that for all to hear. Is there no shame in Thovudin anymore?”
“You don’t normally push back like this,” I hedged, curious but also worried all of this would be cut.
I still needed to know what was going on either way.
“No, I don’t, so maybe people will listen for once,” she said but then sadness filled her eyes. “But I doubt it. I don’t have any hope that this will be anything more than another mocked soundbite and that breaks my heart. Not for me, but for the women who aren’t as supported as I am. For the women in Thovudin who are experiencing thesame thing.
“That’s who I’m so upset for. Those normal women who just heard that it’s acceptable for aqueento be cheated on if she’s not pretty enough…” Shock rocked me when she quickly touched the corner of her eye. “No woman deserves to be cheated on. Not ever. We deserve faithfulness. I’m the most powerful woman in Thovudin and it happened to me.
“I’m disappointed in the women of our nation for not having a conversation that we clearly need. Othernationshad them.” She nodded when I didn’t respond. “In Bodach, they played a clip of one of those panels and had the number of one of their mental health lines at the bottom so women in the same position could find support.
“Other nations too. Those places too many dragons look down on as justanimalssupport their women better—expect more of their men.” She looked directly at the camera. “So to the women who are experiencing or have experienced what I did, hear it directly from your queen—you did nothing wrong. You are perfect andIsupport you.
“You are strong and wonderful, and the gods are miraculous to have created you. You keep your head up and knowheis broken.Heis the fool who lost someone special. You are amazing all on your own or maybe you will try again one day after you’ve healed.
“Whatever you feel is best and know you are not alone. It happens to too many of us and will only stop when we demand better—teach our sons better. The shame is never yours.” She snorted and looked back at me. “Or in my case, theirs. My mother saw that woman as a protégé—my parents gave her everything and it was never enough.
“She wanted to be me and my life. Women know that betrayal, andwomenall over the media and in interviews are cracking jokes that clearly she was willing to give him what I wasn’t. How horrible are we as a society? Poor Kole Conley that aprincessdidn’t fall at his feet and give him anything and everything he wanted so he could be an unfaithful prince?
“How does no one else hear how insane that is? How sexist and…” She blew out a slow breath. “I knew the sexism was worse than other nations having done so much schooling there, but it is like people stopped hiding it when I took over.” She met my gaze again. “I wish sanity and decency would return to the nation I love. That’s what I want, June.”
“I’d like to see it as well, and I’m sorry for how horrible we’ve been to you. Really, I am.”
Shock flashed in her eyes. “You were never horrible to me. You were harsh but mostly questioning things I understood. Horrible is jeering at people’s pain and… You were never horrible.”
We talked about the updates to a list of other things including the interim police chief of the capital. He was working out well, but Sagan wanted to give it more time. She was honest that the police chief for one of the biggest capitals and commerce areas in the world wasn’t a small decision.
There were still more candidates to consider and positions in the police department that needed replacing.
Then she broke a huge story that was being whispered about that too many Queen’s Guards were loyal to the elders and were out. That for now some of the royal family’s private security were filling in certain roles and they were talking about a temporary contract.
But Sagan was considering breaking tradition and keeping a contract always. She thought it was a good balance to make sure that this situation never happened again. Too much darkness had seeped into the castle and she didn’t know how to get it all out safely and not make things worse.
I gave her an apologetic look when we reached the end and she nodded. We both knew we needed to talk about her mating contest. It was what people wanted no matter how… Childish?
Her mating wasn’t childish, but people’s interest in the “contest” part like they could vote someone back or—it was all vile. The opinions and media frenzy around it were downright vile.
“It seems there’s some potential among the candidates already,” I said evenly.
“The leading families have a lot to offer Thovudin and I would expect nothing less,” she said, her tone making it clear she gave zero fucks.
Which gave me nothing to work with and this was the sticking point of what people really wanted.
She seemed to realize my dilemma and threw me a bone. “Since we’ve already discussed what happened with Kole Conley and I’m apparently no longer staying quiet, it seems the right time to remind people of a few things.”
“Please do,” I accepted, having a feeling I knew what and it was something Toni had already said in a statement.
“Idid not pick the prospective mating candidates. I’ve had no input. At all. So even the Beta who made the snarky comment at a meeting that people could just be switched out for their uncles if they make meunhappyor whatever drivel catty people are saying—I had no input. Alpha Vex put his brother up for consideration.”
“At Onyx Conley’s request from what we’ve heard,” I pushed, smirking when she didn’t say anything. “You met before.”
“I’ve met many people in the Alpha families,” she deflected easily, the mask back on.
“Yes, but I found out you actually gave a guest lecture when he was the professor.”
