Chapter 31 Tension Beneath Silk 420 Free Coins Naomi approached Fiona that day , yet the warmth that once danced in her eyes had cooled . She paused at a polite distance , voice clipped . " Thank you , " she said , nothing more . Gone was the affectionate form of address , the easy familiarity they once shared . In its place . lingered a formality that pricked like early frost . Fiona understood at once . Word of the meeting between Hannah and Alexander at Frostenden Temple had clearly reached Naomi , where they were scheming about Soren and Roxanne . In Naomi's mind , Fiona must have seemed an interloper between childhood sweethearts . A flicker of annoyance rose in Fiona . From beginning to end , the affair had nothing to do with her , yet here she was cast as the villain of someone else's romance . Still , she could not fault Hannah . Her grandmother loved her sincerely , although duty to the Niven family often forced her to make broader calculations . From Hannah's view , an alliance with the Zonfrillo family might shore up the family's fortunes - but only if Soren's heart could be won . Otherwise , any betrothal would be a hollow show . Naomi's smile snapped back into place as she turned to Roxanne . " Roxanne , that embroidered pouch you gave me ? I passed it to Soren . When will you make me another ? " At once , Fiona recalled her earlier collision with Soren . The pouch had swung at his waist- Roxanne's handiwork , no doubt . She was no fool ; Naomi's words were aimed squarely at her . If Fiona had any discernment , she would never wedge herself between a pair of inseparable childhood friends . Great heavens , I've been wronged ! Fiona's heart cried . My future husband is already chosen in my mind . I have never , ever measured Soren as a bargain husband , let alone plotted to steal him . Roxanne gave a gentle nod . " If you like , I'll stitch another the moment I return home . Did you tell Lord Soren I was the one who made the pouch ? " Naomi had , in fact , claimed the needlework as her own . Yet before Fiona , she could not admit it . She lifted her chin . ' Of course , I told him . " A blush crept up Roxanne's neck . " Then ... What pattern would you like this time ? " Naomi launched into a lively list - colors , knots , tassels , even the exact shade of silk thread . Roxanne listened carefully , committing every detail to memory . 1/3 14:43 Fri , Oct 10 Chapter 31 Tension Beneath Silk $ 20 Free Coins Finished , Roxanne turned back to Fiona with unfailing courtesy , " Fiona , you must be tired of standing . Let's find a place to sit ." Fiona's opinion of Roxanne climbed another notch . Whatever the undercurrents , Roxanne never allowed anyone to feel excluded . As for Naomi - straight - spoken , not malicious - Fiona harbored no grudge . Besides , antagonizing the prince's sister would be foolish . She let her gaze travel around the garden and finally settled on Harriet Fuller , the merchant's daughter . In her past life , Vincent and Harriet had weathered endless twists before securing an engagement - only for Vincent to die in battle and Harriet , unwilling to remarry , to end her own life . Fiona silently wished them a long , peaceful union this time . The Fuller family now stood among the most prominent in Jexburgh . Speak of wealth , and most minds leaped first to their name . From silk and emerald for the Imperial Palace to tea and cloth for roadside travelers , their fingers touched nearly every trade . Yet Duflana prized farmers above merchants . However rich a trader might be , he rarely entered an official's regard . Harriet's invitation that day owed partly to her remarkable talents - enough to earn admiration even in aristocratic circles - and partly to Alexander's gratitude . The Zonfrillo army's provisions had benefited from Fuller coffers , and he was not a man to forget a favor . For their part , the Fullers needed a powerful ally to safeguard their fortune . Mutual advantage , neatly aligned , Fiona had not come to the Zonfrillo Estate that day simply to enjoy Naomi's birthday festivities . A few days earlier , she had floated the idea of leasing just two storefronts , yet Meryl had declined without even blinking . If two shops were already too much in her aunt's eyes , asking for more was pointless . Still , Fiona could not abandon her plan . The Niven family bled silver on every side - not only because Joanna mismanaged the household accounts , but because Vincent's future campaigns would soon demand resources no one had yet set aside . Fiona carried plenty of money - making ideas . What she lacked was a partner - someone bold enough to turn those ideas into tangible profit . In her mind , Harriet , the quick - witted daughter of a merchant household , fit that role better than anyone . She drifted to Harriet's side , skirts brushing the painted tiles , and settled onto the lacquered bench as though it were the most natural destination in the world . " Harriet , " she said , pitching 2/3 14:43 Fri , Oct 10 Chapter 31 Tension Beneath Silk 420 +20 Free Coins her voice softly so the surrounding chatter would swallow the words before they could travel . Harriet looked up , surprise flickering across her eyes before she mastered it with practiced grace . A controlled smile lifted the corners of her mouth . " Ms. Fiona , " she replied , inclining her head in a polite greeting . Because of Vincent , Harriet had always nursed a quiet hope of drawing closer to Fiona . Fiona's sudden interest , therefore , felt less like a coincidence and more like an unexpected door swinging wide . For a moment , the conversation paused . Across the courtyard , an armored officer strode toward Naomi . The birthday girl's entire face lit up , her joyous cry ringing clear . " Tristan ! " That man was Tristan Zonfrillo , the eldest son of General Sebastian , who was the Prince's elder brother . Though already past thirty , he had rushed back from the frontier solely to celebrate Naomi's coming - of - age , a gesture that proved how tightly the younger generation of Zonfrillos still clung to one another . Fiona watched the reunion with a pang of memory . In her previous life , Soren and Tristan had shared only chilly nods , the distance between them as sharp as a drawn blade . Soren back then had been colder - fond of Naomi and Penelope , yes , but sparing with every syllable , every smile . She could not say what trials had etched that frost in his bones , yet the image hovered in her thoughts like breath on winter glass . With a thoughtful tilt of her head , she murmured to Harriet , " Naomi's cousins adore her , every one of them . " 3/3