Adallie

“He loves me, and I reward his love by forcing on him something he hates. In the evening, after we dance, he rarely returns to the throne; he dances with others or moves from place to place through the room. The court thinks he is trying to be gracious, sharing his attention. Only I see that he moves always to the empty spot and the court always moves after him. He is like a dog trying to escape his own tail. He indulged himself in one brief moment of privacy, and almost died of it. Relius, he hates being king.”
― Megan Whalen Turner, The King of Attolia

“He wondered how the Attolians thought Eugenides had managed to become king if he was the idiot they assumed him to be. Perhaps because they had never seen him as the Thief, with his head thrown back and a glint in his eye that made the hair on the back of a man’s neck rise up.”
― Megan Whalen Turner, The King of Attolia

“Your Majesty, is it true that your cousins held you down in a water cache? Is it also true that they wouldn't let you out until you agreed to repeat insults about your own family?"
"I could send you to ask them."
"It would be a long trip, your Majesty. I would much rather hear the answer from you."
"Oh the trip would be much faster than you think. Most of my male cousins are dead."
"Forgive me, Your Majesty, if I offended.”
― Megan Whalen Turner, The King of Attolia

“I did not say that I am afraid. He is, though, I think. Afraid of his own desire for power.”
― Megan Whalen Turner, The King of Attolia