Page 104 of The Concubine King
He shifted, looking away from her anger.“Let me speak to Lyrian first,” he said.“Then we’ll discuss it.”
“Discuss what?”Poyut asked angrily.“Gionan was the head attendant for twenty-five years!He would never do something so unprofessional.Don’t you see what he’s doing?The head cook, the head attendant…”
“The cook left of her own volition,” Ethyr reminded her.
“Yorith filled this palace with whoever he wanted and no one batted an eye,” Lyrian butt in.“I don’t appreciate being persecuted for doing the same under good reason.”Poyut glared.
“Poyut,” Ethyr said firmly.She closed her mouth, looking down at him in desperate exasperation.“Please.Let me talk to Lyrian.”
She clenched her jaw, the fingers on her sword tightening.Then she turned and stalked out.
Ethyr exhaled out his tension and quietly closed the door.He stared at the dark oak, humiliation creeping up his spine and digging its needle fingers into his gut.He couldn’t turn around and face Lyrian.He had to.
He swallowed and forced his shoulders to turn, detaching his feet from the floor to turn with them.He stared at Lyrian’s shoes rather than meet his gaze, which he knew was steadily on him.
“She acts on emotion, not intellect.”Lyrian said.“I know you’re fond of her, but someone like that shouldn’t be in a position of authority.”
“Why did you dismiss Gionan?”he asked quietly.
Lyrian sighed, long and weary.“I didn’t want to tell you… Like Poyut said, I thought he’d be more professional and it wouldn’t be a problem.”
“Tell me what?”
“That day, during…”
Ethyr pressed a hand over his face.“Yes,” he interrupted before it could be said out loud.
“I saw Gionan walk by the room.He saw everything.”
Ethyr moved his fingers from his forehead to his eyes, squeezing them shut.He not only made advances, he did it with the door wide open.How stupid could he be?There was no world in which that wouldn’t have repercussions.
“But your attendant saw us too,” Ethyr pointed out.“How do you know it wasn’t her?”
“Because she wouldn’t sully my reputation.She practically raised me, she has no reason to do that.Gionan, on the other hand…”
Ethyr gnawed on his lip.Gionan wasn’t as vocal about his disdain as Poyut, but Ethyr had gotten the sense he didn’t like Lyrian.In fact, it seemed most everyone in the palace didn’t.The man hadn’t been exaggerating when he said Yorith filled it with people who hated him.
“I asked around and followed the trail of gossip, and it all led back to Gionan.I had no choice, Ethyr.Once I knew it was him I had to take decisive action, that kind of behavior cannot go unchecked.Even if he didn’t mean to spread a rumor and had only mentioned it to someone, it still got out.”
“I understand,” Ethyr sighed.“Though I wish you had informed me before doing it.”
“Do you?I had a feeling you would rather avoid my company.I didn’t want to force it on you.”
Embarrassment colored his face.He raised his shoulders, wondering how Lyrian could be so astute as to ascertain even that.“Th… thank you.”He cleared his throat.“That’s very considerate of you.But I would rather avoid situations like this.In the future, discuss such decisions with me before taking it into your own hands.”
The long pause finally brought Ethyr’s eyes up to Lyrian’s.The man watched him with laid-back regard, and for some reason it echoed Ethyr’s own words back at him.Taking it into your own hands.It was a good thing he was already flushed, because the rush of heat to his face would have been shamefully unambiguous.
“Of course, Your Divinity,” Lyrian finally replied with cool cordiality, dipping his head.“As I said, I value your opinion.Such actions won’t be taken again without your consent.”
Ethyr’s swallow was unfortunately not as inconspicuous as his blushing.“Good,” he said with as final an air as possible.“And Poyut is King’s Guard and the steward of palace guards.She deserves your respect, no matter your personal feelings about her.”
Lyrian gave no response to that.Ethyr left to find her and do what he could to mend her perceived offenses.Once again, Lyrian was taking her ire while only trying to protect him.
Poyut was pacing in the main hall, agitation written across her face.She hardly slowed when Ethyr approached.
“Poyut—”
“What possible justification does Lyrian have for this?”she interrupted before he could get a word out.“I know Gionan got on your nerves, but you know he would never spread such disgusting falsities.He has integrity.”
