I looked down at Eleanor, a soft smile spreading across my lips as she reluctantly assigned her rank among my wives. She had placed herself squarely in second, a position she claimed almost hesitantly, yet honestly.
In truth, I currently considered her equal in value to Asthenia.
Asthenia was definitely sulking over the fact that she had been designated merely as the Second Queen, rather than the main one. Or, perhaps, she was purposefully holding back exactly because she was not the Main Queen. Was she wary of me? Constantly wondering how I might react if she began making independent, authoritative decisions? It was highly probable. Asthenia was far too intelligent to repeat the mistake she had made back when she presumptuously sat upon the Queen's throne.
She was probably confused by the sudden change in me and thus was playing it carefully.
Still, it would be a waste not to extract the very best from a woman of Asthenia's caliber.
