Cheating Royalty (Chasing Royalty #2)

18

I can't contain my excitement, "Does this mean you will tell us the plan?"

Florentine hesitates for a second, "Yes, I suppose." She checks the clock hanging from the wall. "We still have a few hours before we need to eat. Please, come to my office. It appears as though we have even more to discuss."

I struggle to keep a smile off my face as we walk to her study. We will finally learn the plan of how I will become Queen. All my questions will be answered.

Florentine ushers us inside her study and we take a seat on the same cushion chairs.

I wait expectantly, while Florentine leisurely takes a sip of from the cup sitting on her desk.

She slowly sets it down and says, "Every single detail of the plan has not yet been figured out. It all depends on how different people react to different aspects of the plan. It is likely we will have to change parts of the plan to accommodate people's reactions. I will only give you a vague description."

I don't care. I'm willing to learn whatever I can.

Florentine takes a deep breath, "We have evidence against Alexanne, showing that she is the murderer. Strong evidence. Alexanne won't be able to ignore it, and neither will the castle officials or the public. Alexanne won't be able to lie or weasel her way around it. She will have to address this, and it won't likely end well for her."

I smile, "Good. So we can show that she is the murderer and then she will be executed? I will be able to become queen in her place."

"Not quite. You must remember, the public thinks you are a traitor and dead. You can't stroll into the castle and expect the crown to be placed on your head. Even if you are the last blood heir, there's nothing people hate more than traitors. Sadly, your idea of a plan won't work so easily."

"Then what will?" I ask.

"We won't reveal the evidence, at least not to the public. We will secretly show it to Alexanne ,as blackmail. In order to keep us from revealing it, she must take back all the accusations against you as a traitor and allow you to come back into the castle, as Princess Admira, once again."

"But even if she takes back the accusations as me being a murderer, that still won't make up for the fact that I was supposedly executed."

"Alexanne will say that she knew all along that you weren't a traitor. She helped you escape from your execution. She was waiting to become the Queen before she revealed that you were still alive. Alexanne will tell the public that this has been her plan all along, and that she did it to protect you. Your reputation will be restored in the public eye. Alexanne's reputation of being innocent will be saved as well, because we won't release the evidence against her. In order to keep her position as Queen and her life, Alexanne will have to let you back into the kingdom."

"But isn't that what Alexanne wants? She's been searching for me for days. She wants to recapture me so that she can kill me, or at least have me under her control. If I am staying in the same castle as her, doesn't that give her exactly what she wants? It won't be hard for her to find a way to kill me. She managed to kill my other sisters in a castle filled with several guards."

"Which gives her even more incentive to accept our offer. However, you will Antonin, a commander of the guards, and a couple other guards loyal to our cause, who will guard you every hour of the day. As long as you are logical and accept their protection, you will be completely safe. But, I know that when your sisters were being murdered, you weren't particularly keen on allowing the guards to protect you every minute of the day. Will you allow yourself to be saved, Admira?"

"Yes, of course. When I escaped the guards watch, I didn't realize that the murderer was inside the castle, at my side, nearly every hour of the day. If I had, I would have certainly listened to the guards."

Florentine nods, "Good. It would be a pity if you messed up our entire plan for some foolish act of bravery in independence. You realize that this plan isn't being put into action to only benefit you."

"Yes, of course. However, just out of curiosity, who else is this plan benefiting? Who else could it?"

Florentine brushes my suspicion aside, "Why, the entire kingdom. Don't you see that it would certainly be better for you to serve as Queen than your sister? You could do so much for the people, I know you can."

I bow my head, "Thank you. I apologize if that question sounded rude. I'm just afraid of becoming a type of puppet for people hidden behind me. That is something I plan to avoid."

Florentine smiles, "My dear, Admira, I know that at times I can seem controlling and strict. I'm simply trying to help you. I can promise you that. All I want is what is best for my kingdom and for the people inside of it. I'm not worried about the nobles and the royals living peacefully away in their multistoried mansions. I'm worried about the motherless children on the street, and the husbandless women with no true work. I'm worried about the broken and elderly, unable to earn a living. Alexanne, who has done so much to help herself, will have nothing to offer these people. They will be left helpless in the streets with nothing more than puddles to drink from. It is they you must help. Make that your mission."

Surely, I can't refuse becoming queen, after everything she's just said, for she is right. Alexanne displayed very little affection for the helpless when we were princesses. Now that she no longer needs to put on an act of who she isn't, will she have any compassion left?

I need to remember to be selfless, help the people who can't help themselves.

But is being Queen the only way to do that?

I force the worries out of my head, just like before. I say, "How will Alexanne be able to convince the people that I'm not a traitor? I know how much they love their conspiracies. Will they trust Alexanne? After everything they've done to the...the midwives, what might they do to me?"

"We have someone to pass the blame on to. They will be willing, I'm sure. They support your cause more than you will ever know."

"Who is it?" Surely I should recognize their name, if they support me enough to give up their reputation.

"The person is just a servant. You don't need to concern yourself with their identity at this moment. You will have plenty of opportunities to thank them."

I smile, "Good. They deserve everything I can give them after giving up so much for me."

"Yes, I'm sure. Any other questions?"

I think back to the letter Grace found about Antonin. He said that we wouldn't be happy, knowing that Grace and I wouldn't be together. Florentine mentioned nothing about us having to be separated.

I say, forcing my voice light, "It's good, that I am able to be a princess again that means Grace will be able to be my lady in waiting. I was worried that we would have to be separated as I went back into the castle. It will be a relief to have her with me."

I watch Florentine's face carefully as I say this.

She smiles, "I'm sure that you and Grace will be able to remain close, yes."

Maybe the letter we found between her and Antonin was from an earlier date, speaking of an earlier plan. Florentine said herself that they would have to change the details of the plan as different people reacted. Perhaps a better opportunity came along and they no longer needed to split us up. Maybe they found the piece of evidence against Alexanne after the letter and were able to change it for the better.

Florentine says, "Anything else?"

I nod, "One more thing. So I become Princess Admira once again. But from there, how will I become Queen? Will you then release the evidence about her being a murderer? Will you have a midwife reveal the true birth order?"

"No, I'm afraid those are all too risky, too easy for Alexanne to slip her way out of. We know what she is capable of and we can never underestimate her. We will...we will have to..." Her face says enough.

We will have to kill her. Death is the only thing that Alexanne won't be able to escape.

Will I be the one to kill her? Do I want to be, for all the revenge I have lusted after? Can I kill her?

Florentine recognizes the confliction flickering across my face, "Don't worry about it, Admira. First of all, you must remind yourself of everything she has done to you. But, if you do not want the pleasure of disposing of her, there are plenty of people who would be willing to take your place. Do not let it worry you. It will be your decision in the end."

"No." I say, "I want to be the one to avenge Alexanne for everything that she has done. I want to see her face when she realizes the pain of being betrayed. I want her to know that I am the one cheating her out of her royalty."