Total pages in book: 192
Estimated words: 192810 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 964(@200wpm)___ 771(@250wpm)___ 643(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 192810 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 964(@200wpm)___ 771(@250wpm)___ 643(@300wpm)
“Okay, Aleksei, but what could she possibly get out of harming you or me?”
“Revenge for being cast aside, something she is definitely not used to. Or a misguided notion that if you were not in the picture, I’d pull her back into mine. Remember, in the second attack, no one knew you and I had found each other yet.”
“But that doesn’t explain why the assassin turned his weapon on you.”
His lips twitched with vague amusement. “I’m uncertain of the assassin’s creed, but there could be dozens of reasons why he shifted targets. Bragging rights alone would be one.”
I hated to admit it, but this was true.
“And now…what?” I asked. “What if you find proof it was her?”
He took another sip of his drink. “This is part of my struggle. I’m hurt I lost a lifelong friend. I’m angry at her along with myself that I didn’t see through her and allowed it to go as far as it went. I’m stunned she may be behind this, because that puts her self-absorption and cossetted behavior in a bald and grim new light. And the last part is, this will be a diplomatic nightmare. We have one realm embroiled in an alarming internal struggle. Two more cannot be at each other’s throats because the Princess Royal is a spoiled bitch.”
He was so right.
And this was so messed up.
“I see why this is weighing heavily on you,” I mumbled my understatement.
That brought me a fully amused smile. “Indeed. And this means, unless we discover all that is behind it beforehand, which we might not, this will make the Midnight Masque very interesting.”
By the gods.
How had I forgotten?
The Midnight Masque, which happened at midnight on the first full moon of autumn, a night that was only a few weeks away, was a huge deal at the Palace. Everyone of consequence was invited, and they didn’t miss it.
This included all the royals, not only of the Four Realms, but of the realms across the seas.
Which meant Anna would be there.
And this year, I would too.
“It’s good Nata accepted the position as your aide,” Aleksei remarked while studying my face. “Allain will have her up to speed soon, and I won’t have to watch you freeze in shock at something someone will be attending to for you.”
Latest news: when offered the choice, Nata surprised both Aleksei and me by choosing me.
Her reasons were that she had given the Catalogues six years of her life, her work had been exemplary, and her director had rolled right over and demoted her projects, if he didn’t demote her role. Worse, he was prepared to let her go when a transfer position was offered to her, rather than fighting for her.
“It’ll be nice to have a boss who right away demonstrates she believes in me and is willing to fight for me,” she’d said.
Although I still worried that she’d miss it, I could see her reasoning.
Even if he done her wrong, the director had spluttered mild outrage that she left without notice.
He stopped doing that when Aleksei himself swung by the Catalogues to explain how things were going to be.
In other words, the True Heir had accepted his destiny not only “in chambers” but also at the Catalogues, which I assumed (and asked, and Aleksei confirmed) meant that “in chambers” consisted not only that he was the patriarch of the royal family, but that he was the big dragon of everything that had anything to do with the Palace.
“You’ll need to get her on that,” Aleksei warned. “It’s my understanding it takes so long to create gowns, females decide on designers in the spring.”
Dang it.
“I’ll comm her tomorrow,” I muttered.
He gave me another squeeze that was more akin to a reassuring shake.
“You needn’t worry, love. If Anna is the instigator of this, Dagsbrun will be embarrassed, and therefore, he’ll puff and prance. His ambassador will scurry and make demands and do her best to pick apart our evidence. But we won’t go to them unless it’s ironclad. So in the end, to avoid a massive PR disaster that might mean tensions between our realms, they’ll have no choice but to privately apologize for Anna’s actions.”
I made a face, got another smile from Aleksei, and he carried on talking.
“That’s not all. Night’s Fall will leave the situation holding a very big marker from Dawn’s Break. And Anna will be brought to heel, undoubtedly by marrying her off to a lesser aristocrat who will nevertheless be strong enough to keep her controlled. And this will be the height of punishment for Anna, I assure you. He could have masses of power and credit, and he still wouldn’t be good enough for Princess Anna of Dawn’s Break, according to her. But onward from this, I’ll continue to have to put up with her in those rare times we’re at the same events, which will not be easy, but I could do it. However, you’ll have to do the same, and that will prove most difficult, but I have no choice but to best the endeavor.”