Ruled by the Princess

Chapter 18

Chapter Eighteen

Exhaustion accompanied Kit to the morning meal and promised to stay with her for the rest of the day. By the time she’d finally fallen asleep, the sun was coming up, the first rays of light spilling in beneath and between her curtains, and it seemed like only moments later Avinia was urging her to climb from under her blankets and start the day.

Any idea of protesting had morphed into something else when Kit remembered what she had witnessed the night before. A rush of panic and repugnance overtook her, and Kit had sprung from her bed so rapidly, Avinia had asked if she was well.

“No, I’m not,” Kit had replied, though she wasn’t sure how much she should disclose. Somehow, she’d managed to put off her cousins’ questions as they prepared her, but now, sitting next to the queen, every ounce of flesh on Kit’s entire body seemed to be crawling with tiny insects, and all she wanted to do was throw her plate at her mother and scream in her face.

She didn’t do that, though, only kept her eyes trained forward and avoided all of her mother’s attempts to draw her into conversation. If the queen had any idea that her daughter had been spying on her the night before, she gave no indication. Kit didn’t think her mother would be able to conceal a revelation of such magnitude, but then if the queen was saving that information to use against Kit later, she would take whatever actions necessary to keep Kit from knowing she was aware of her daughter’s scheme.

Eventually, Rona gave up, telling Kit she was “in a vulgar mood” and turned her attention to Nill. Kit was glad for the reprieve, but every time she looked at Pierce, sitting across the table from Gavin, eating his eggs as if they were the most delicious thing he’d ever had in his mouth, her stomach squirmed as she imagined what else had been there recently.

Junno’s hand came down on her knee, and Kit turned her head toward her grandmother, who gave her a sympathetic smile. It was apparent the Queen Mother knew what had transpired. Kit’s eyes went to Eli, but he was pretending not to be observing every movement she made. He wasn’t fooling her. She knew for certain she couldn’t take a breath without him knowing how long it had taken her to inhale. If he had been the one to tell her grandmother, Kit would not get that information from a quick glance in his direction.

It would do her no good to ask now since the queen was also keenly observant. Thankfully, Rona announced a few moments later that she would be off to her chambers to prepare for the archery contest. Kit glanced at her mother’s gown and wondered what in the world she needed to change but didn’t argue. Once her mother and her attendants were gone, Kit returned her attention to her grandmother who had stayed, telling the queen she needed to finish her porridge.

“How do you know?” Kit whispered as her grandmother scooped up the last bit of the thick cereal.

Junno shrugged. “I am old, but I am not blind or deaf, dear. I see things. I hear things.”

“But you didn’t see or hear me last night did you?” Kit’s heart leapt into her chest. If Junno had noticed her, chances were so had others.

“No, no, honey. As far as I know, your mother is unaware that you have any inkling whatsoever about what is going on between her and that man.”

Relieved, Kit took a deep breath and a sip from her goblet, which only contained water. “Then how do you know?”

“Eli came to me, asking advice. He is concerned about your... audacity.”

It seemed like a strange word choice, one that Kit found more than a little offensive. “I needed to know what he was up to.” She hoped that her grandmother would insinuate that by “he” she meant Pierce.

“Yes, yes. I don’t blame you. It’s only... should you choose to call her out, you must know there will be consequences.”

“But she’s broken so many laws!” Junno cautioned her granddaughter to lower her voice, and Kit looked around. As far as she knew, the only person in the room more loyal to the queen than to herself was Pierce, but her grandmother was right to use caution.

“I understand that, dear. And more members of the council are also aware now than had been previously. But we cannot simply bring charges against the queen, not for something of this nature. We will need more, and even then, it will be difficult. Her guards are incredibly loyal, and while I do believe many members of the military would follow, it is hard to say for certain. And they are not a presence in the castle the way her henchmen are.”

Kit mulled her grandmother’s cautionary tale over in her mind and knew that she was right. It helped to hear the voice of wisdom also be the voice of reason. Junno had a way of dissuading her that Eli had not yet mastered. “What do you think she would do if I dismissed him?”

“Would you ask her permission first?”

Kit only shook her head.

“She would be outraged. I have no idea what he might do, but I’m certain she would seek vengeance.”

“And... if she does so, and we can catch her in the act, would that be enough for the council to act?”

Junno lowered her eyes and stared at her empty bowl for a moment, puzzled. “I’m not certain, Katrinetta, but it would be a great risk. Someone could get hurt. Or worse.” Her grandmother’s eyes went to Eli before she turned toward Kit, and the princess understood what she was implying.

“I suppose the same could be said if I were to Room him.” This time, she hoped Junno knew she meant Eli.

“That, I believe, she is expecting—eventually. She would never consent to it, but she has said more than once she dreads the day it happens.”

“Would she harm him again?”

“Not right away, I don’t think,” Junno replied with a shake of her head that made her white curls dance. “But if you should give any indication that you intend to make him the winner....”

“There will be no winner, Grandmother. I intend to keep all seven.”

Junno’s eyebrows arched. “You do? Forever?”

Kit nodded, hoping her grandmother would understand.

A smile pulled up the corners of Junno’s mouth, and she let out a giggle. “I can’t say as though I blame you, child. I suppose your plan is to amend the law that says you must choose before you can rule then?”

“Yes. Either that or I’ll have to call myself something other than the ridiculous title my mother carries around.”

“I feel as if the council will understand your reasoning, granddaughter, and amend the law, should you successfully manage to end this reign of self-righteous indignation, so I wouldn’t worry on that. As far as I can see, it is the least of your problems.”

Kit was pleased to hear her grandmother thought she may be able to persuade the council to extend her Choosing indefinitely, but she knew Junno was right. Taking the crown would be far more dangerous.

Her mind had wandered away to how that might transpire when Junno said, “You know, she wasn’t always like this.”

Kit’s head swiveled around. “What do you mean?”

“Your mother. There was a time, when she was younger, when her disposition was sweet. Much closer to yours or mine than the monster we see before us now.”

Cocking her head to the side, Kit asked, “What happened? Why did she change?”

Junno pulled in a deep breath. “It didn’t happen overnight, but I believe it was the appearance of a woman claiming to be an illegitimate daughter of my older sister’s that caused her to become consumed with gaining the crown. She showed up one day, returned from a neighboring realm, and demanded to be made queen. I assured Rona that her claim was pure rubbish, but she panicked and insisted I do whatever I could to make the woman go away. So I did.”

Kit’s eyes widened. “You didn’t....”

“Heavens no!” Junno laughed. “Unlike other queens, I am not one for taking the lives of innocents, Katrinetta. You know that.” Kit felt silly for reaching that conclusion. “No, I paid her off, that’s all. And she went back to her own realm. After that, Rona became infatuated with gaining the throne so much that I eventually abdicated to her, not because of some ridiculous illness but because I was hopeful that having what she’d always longed for would return her to the sweet girl I’d once known.”

“But it didn’t.”

A solemn expression overtook Junno’s face. “No, she grew exponentially worse. Now, I’m afraid she cannot be saved, and the only way I can rectify the harm I’ve bestowed upon the realm is to strip her of her power.”

Kit patted her grandmother on the shoulder. “I’m so sorry. I can’t imagine what it’s been like to watch your daughter become something so heinous.”

“You are the last one who should be apologizing, darling. I can’t imagine what it’s like to know your mother would do anything within her power to hold onto the throne, including harming the one person she should love above all others, including herself. But, Katrinetta, dear, make no mistake. If it comes down to deciding between what is best for the queen or anyone else, Rona will choose herself every single time.”

Junno stood, patting Kit on the shoulder, and then made her way off of the dais. Kit didn’t even respond when her grandmother said she’d see her at the archery contest because she’d been so lost in thought. It took Cassius standing in front of her waving his hand to get Kit to snap out of the disposition her grandmother’s words had left her in. Not that any of it was a surprise, but it still hurt to hear someone she respected so much tell her what she already knew about the person who should’ve loved her most of all.

“Are you well, Princess?” Cassius asked.

“Fine. Thank you. Only thinking.”

He gave her a small smile that let her know he’d also been informed about her discovery. “Perhaps the archery contest will take your mind off of other, more serious matters for a time.”

“Perhaps. If you do as well this time as you did the last, I shall at least be amused.”

“Well, it’s nice to hear recent activities haven’t taken away your sense of humor, my Lady.” He grinned at her, and Kit felt a bit of the weight she’d been carrying on her shoulders dissolve for a moment. “Are you going straight to the field, or do you need to return to your chambers first?”

Kit couldn’t think of any reason why she’d need to go back to her room. “I’ll be proceeding straight to the field.”

“May I escort you?” He offered his arm despite the fact that the table was still between them.

“Yes, of course.” Kit took another sip of her water and then made her way around the table, meeting him at the end, and slid her hand around his massive bicep. Her ladies followed but at a distance. Many of the other Representatives had already vacated the room or were finishing up. A few paused to watch them, but no one came over, not even Eli who was obviously aware of the pair passing through the doorway even without turning his head.

Cassius was quiet as the guards dropped in behind her ladies, also giving them space. He didn’t say anything until they were through the heavy wooden doors that led outside. Even then, he waited a bit before he spoke. When he did, his voice was low. “I was sorry to hear of your discovery last night.”

“Not as sorry as I was,” Kit muttered, trying to keep the conversation nonchalant so that she didn’t well up with emotion again. The cool breeze brushing against her face helped her hold back her tears.

“I can’t say I’m shocked to hear of it, only surprised that you were able to see it firsthand.”

Bile rose in her throat again as she pushed the images in her mind aside. “I only wish I knew what to do about it.”

“Eli hopes you will do nothing—for now.”

Kit turned and looked at Cassius but didn’t speak. She had a feeling he wasn’t finished.

He wasn’t. “I’m not sure I agree. But... it will have consequences.”

“You knew what I was up to, and yet you didn’t tell him. Why?”

Cassius shrugged. “Who am I to determine what of your business is passed along to the other Representatives? If I had thought you were in any danger, I would’ve stopped you myself.”

His answer was much more acceptable than the response Eli had given her the night before. “Do you think I shall be in danger if I do address the situation?”

Cassius was reflective for a moment, his forehead crinkling from the weight of the inquiry. “Possibly, but we won’t let anything happen to you, Princess. It isn’t you I’m concerned about at this point.”

“What do you mean?” They were almost to the field where several of the other Representatives were readying bows, discussing angles, and checking out the targets, so Kit stopped walking. Those following behind also came to a halt.

“I believe your mother will be more apt to harm those you love before she aims at you specifically, Princess. If that’s the case, I’m concerned she may bring her wrath down on your father, Junno, or....”

“Eli.”

Cassius nodded. “I’m certain he can take care of himself under most circumstances, but we should all be leery of an increase in force over the last time she lashed out at him. If she sends in her entire guard to arrest him, like she did the time we foiled her plan, he will not be able to escape her without our help.”

Kit considered his words carefully. “We will have to be vigilant from now on.”

“Indeed.”

“What of my father?” She didn’t believe Rona would lash out at the Queen Mother, not yet, because she was fairly certain her mother was of the opinion that Junno supported her. But Remont was a different story altogether.

“In my opinion, it is time for him to leave this place, until peace is re-established. I have mentioned it a few times, but others are concerned it will be a signal to your mother that something is amiss. So we’ve waited.”

“Is it even possible? My mother’s guard follows him wherever he goes.”

“It is possible. Wrenbrook has secrets beyond what you are aware of.”

Kit raised an eyebrow, assuming he meant there was a passage her father could take, an interesting idea to her. She couldn’t imagine her mother would put him in a room he could escape from, but then, there was the possibility even she was unaware of all of the secrets the castle held. “Where would he go?”

“A safe haven. One has been established. I fear telling you more as I wouldn’t want to put either of you at risk should questions arise.”

The princess nodded. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a familiar form strolling down the steps leading from the castle and turned her head to take him in. Pierce, a jovial grin on his face, sauntering toward them as if everything in the world was amicable. It made the bitter taste in her mouth rise again.

“Make preparations,” Kit said, turning her face back to Cassius. “If it’s possible for him to be spirited away at a moment’s notice, I want everything ready.”

“Yes, of course, Princess. It’s just....”

“What is it?” She could see there was something more he was struggling to tell her.

Cassius let out a deep breath. “He may not listen to me, even if I say the order has come from you. He is the one who disagrees with my assessment.”

Kit’s forehead crinkled. “Whatever do you mean? Whomever it is spearheading this operation—and I assume I know who that is—simply needs to convey to my father that the princess has given a direct order.”

“It isn’t that simple, Kit.”

“Why ever not?”

“Because... Remont is the one spearheading this operation.”