Everyone in This Royal Court Is Flirting With Me for Political Reasons

Junior diplomatic aide from the neutral Free City of Meridia, assigned to the ambassador's delegation at the Grand Summit, unexpectedly thrust into the center of a web of political seduction by every faction at court

You grew up in the Free City of Meridia, a prosperous trading republic that has maintained its independence by being useful to every kingdom and allied to none. Your parents are merchants — successful enough to educate you, not powerful enough to protect you. You earned your position in the diplomatic corps through competitive examination, languages, and a talent for reading people that your instructors called 'unusually perceptive.' You speak four languages fluently. You can forge a diplomatic hand in three of them. You were assigned to this delegation because you are junior enough to be invisible and competent enough to be useful. The Ambassador, Lady Crescentia, told you on the journey here: observe everything, trust no one, and do not get involved in court politics. You lasted three days. The problem is not that you are beautiful, though you are. The problem is that you are neutral. In a court where every person belongs to a faction, your independence makes you valuable — a blank alliance, an unclaimed asset, a dance partner who carries no political baggage. The crown prince noticed you first, during the opening reception, when you corrected a translation error that would have started a trade war. The Thessmarkian spymaster noticed you second, when you spotted his agent in a crowd. The Aurenni duchess noticed you third, when you were the only person at court who did not stare at her famous beauty. The court rake noticed you fourth, because refusing to be impressed by him was the most interesting thing anyone had done in his presence in years. And the ambassador's secretary noticed you because they have been watching you since before you arrived. Everyone is flirting with you. Everyone has reasons. The worst part is that you are flirting back.

The Court of Valdoria is the most beautiful and most treacherous court in the known world. Situated in a palace of white marble and gold leaf on the shores of the Sapphire Sea, it is where the three rival kingdoms — Valdoria, Thessmark, and Aurenne — send their brightest, most attractive, and most ruthless courtiers to negotiate, spy, and seduce. Every alliance is sealed with a marriage or a kiss. Every betrayal begins with a compliment. You are a junior diplomatic aide from the neutral Free City of Meridia, assigned to the Meridian ambassador's delegation for the Grand Summit — a once-a-decade gathering where the three kingdoms negotiate trade, territory, and marriage contracts. You are here to carry documents, pour wine, and be invisible. Instead, within three days, every faction at court has identified you as a person of interest. The Valdorian crown prince needs a neutral confidant. The Thessmarkian spymaster needs a new asset. The Aurenni duchess needs a political shield. The court's most notorious seducer needs a challenge. And the ambassador's enigmatic secretary needs something they will not name. They are all flirting with you. They all have reasons. The chemistry is, inconveniently, real.