18|| The Perfect Victim

“Dahlia, you won’t believe this!”

I looked up from the old library book in my lap and blinked. Poppy burst into the room, hair wild, a leaf stuck in it and a patch of dirt on her cheek. She was panting so hard I could almost feel her heartbeat. I handed her the glass of water I’d been drinking, and she drained it in one go before fixing those big eyes on me.

“I saw where she went,” she gasped. “Head Maid Smite, I followed her just like you said. She went right into Concubine Naomi’s quarters. Stayed there a good thirty minutes, then walked out like nothing happened and went straight back to her office.”

I frowned, rubbing my chin. “Concubine Naomi?” The name meant nothing to me. Which wasn’t surprising because ever since I arrived in the palace I’d spent most of my time inside my quarters. Still, why would someone I’d never even met want me ruined? “Who is she?”

Poppy threw up her hands. “How can you not know her? She’s the devil, that’s who. Everyone’s scared of her, if you cross her, she’ll make you regret it. One time a maid accidentally cut her while trimming her toenails, and Naomi poured boiling water over the poor girl’s face. Nobody dared say a word because she’s the king’s first official concubine.”

My brows rose. “First official concubine? Explain.”

Poppy nodded, still breathless. “Okay, listen. Since the Trials were created, only a handful of women have ever passed all of them and become official concubines. The king may have a hundred women sold to him, but only four have earned the official title of the king’s concubine and Naomi was the very first.”

She sat down beside me, tucking her legs under herself as she spoke faster. “She’s the precious daughter of the king’s general… and Advisor Saffron's little sister.”

My stomach tightened. I thought back to the white-haired man the way he’d looked at me the first day in the throne room, in a mocking smile, and again when he read out the king’s decision about the Temptation Trial but this time with a different smile. Had he known his sister was pulling trying to make my life miserable? Did he also hate me?

Poppy lowered her voice. “People say their whole family wants Naomi to make the king fall in love with her so that she could rise higher than anyone and maybe even be queen one day. I don’t know if that’ll happen, but one thing’s sure, her family holds a lot of power.”

I frowned and folded my arms, feeling uncomfortable. Why would a woman with everything power, rank, the king’s favor waste her time tormenting me? Denying me food and warm clothes right after I nearly died from the first trial, letting the servants mock me… that wasn't a strategy. That was cruelty.

I’d never met her or crossed her paths with her yet she’d been so comfortable almost killing me.

“Everyone’s scared to mess with her,” Poppy said, hugging her arms. “They do anything she asks. She’s… she’s really wicked.”

I walked around the room, rubbing my jaw. My thoughts were going crazy like a storm. If Naomi already knew I’d passed the second trial, she wouldn’t stay quiet. Someone that cruel wouldn’t stop until she saw me broken. That meant I had to be ready before she attacked.

Someone who had everything yet still found pleasure in tormenting the weak… wasn’t that straight out of Coralie’s playbook? No. Coralie was smarter, she played the long game and when she’s done with you, you won’t even know when she hit. Naomi is different. She’s openly aggressive and malicious that meant she wasn’t the brightest in the head. If I wanted to beat her, I’d have to outplay her.

I turned back to Poppy, who was watching me with wide, confused eyes. “She’ll probably send someone to call me,” I said slowly. “When they come, no matter who it is, tell them I’m unwell and resting. Got it?”

“But, Dahlia, you’re not sick, you’re…”

“Please.” I shook my head to stop her. “Just do as I say. And don’t let anyone inside. If they argue, talk to them at the door. If they push, lock it in their face.”

Poppy nodded, still looking nervous. I walked over and sat beside her.

“Poppy, things have to change. I have to change. If I don’t, they’ll do worse than take food and warm clothes, they’ll really hurt us. From now on I’m going to make choices you might not agree with, but I have to protect us both. You can’t shrink back because of them anymore. We both have to fight. You have to be confident, and I need you to stay loyal. I can’t have you beside me if you’re not.”

Poppy blinked at me, shocked by my speech. Then she reached for my hand.

“I’ve been a maid all my life,” she said quietly. “My mother was a maid, and I never even met my father. No one has ever treated me like a real person… until you. When you told me to call you by your first name, that tiny moment might have seemed like nothing to you, but to me, it meant everything. For the first time, I felt like I had a friend.”

I squeezed her hand. “You do. You’re more than a maid to me, Poppy. You’re my ally. And if I’m going to win, I need you standing behind me ready to support me at any moment.”

She swallowed hard, nodding. “I don’t know if I can be as strong as you.”

“I am not strong, I have never claimed to be strong. I am just tired of being weak so I’m going to try to fight,” I said gently. “I need you to fight with me, you just have to believe in us. Believe that we can survive this if we’re smart and together.”

Her lips trembled, then turned into a small, shaky smile. “Then I’ll do it. I’ll stand with you, no matter what.”

“Good.” I brushed a strand of hair from her face. “Whatever Naomi or Smite or anyone else throws at us, we’ll throw it right back and harder.”

Poppy let out a nervous laugh. “I’ve never even raised my voice at anyone before.”

I grinned. “Well, it’s a good thing my plan isn’t for us to raise our voice against anyone. My plan is for us to be the perfect victim.”

She raised her brow confused. “The perfect victim?”

“Just wait and see.”