The Saintess and the Villainess

Chapter 58

There was a moment of silence in which everyone watched Corvina for her reaction.

Crovina sighed and shook her head. She was getting a stress headache again. She should have known that things had been going too smoothly lately. But still, of all the things that could have gone wrong...

"Don't just stand there gawking," Corvina said to Sebastian. "Get in the carriage already. It's early morning and this is a back alley but we should try to minimize the chance that someone sees you."

"Oh, right," said Sebastian. Eva opened the door for him so he could get in the carriage.

"We'll need a story for why the Crown Prince has suddenly disappeared, and it's not the right moment for the kidnapping yet," said Corvina. She tapped her chin thoughtfully. "We'll say he went on a sudden hunting trip on a whim. That will be believable enough. I'm sure I can count on you all to spread the rumor."

Corvina looked at the Bastards' Club. Nia shrugged, Collette nodded enthusiastically, and Belle gave a resigned sigh.

"Helen," said Corvina.

Helen ran up to Corvina's side and saluted. "Ma'am," she said.

"I need you to run to the palace. Find the stable hand Wilfred Tathame and have him pass the message on to manservant Landan Harforde and Baron Beorhtric. I need all of them to leave the city for the next two weeks to give the impression that the Prince is traveling with a retinue. I have a preexisting agreement with all of them so they shouldn't ask questions. Tell them to bring... just a moment."

Corvina approached the carriage and knocked on the door. Sebastian opened it a crack. "Yes?" he asked sheepishly.

"What's the name of your favorite horse right now?"

"Oh," said Sebastian. "Lately I've been really favoring this beautiful gray mare named Hildegard. She's very gentle, but she can really get up to a great speed on a gallop, and she—"

Corvina turned back to Helen. "Tell them to bring the gray mare Hildegard with them. If anyone asks for specifics we'll tell them Prince Sebastian has gone to Orrinshire. There are good hunting grounds around there, and it's far enough away from Longren and the Sacred Forest that it won't be suspicious, but close enough to that area to make the kidnapping believable when we need it to be."

"Understood, my lady!" said Helen. Helen turned towards Agis and was sure to catch his eye, giving him a smile and a wave before she headed off to follow Corvina's instructions.

Corvina sighed again. This should be enough to avert the immediate crisis, but properly selling this story would take a lot of additional work. Which was fine. It's not like Corvina wasn't used to changing and adapting her plans last second out of necessity. Flexibility was key in properly responding to the ever-evolving political situation of life in the empire. But something about this particular situation was irritating her more than normal.

Anne stood nearby, fidgeting sheepishly. "I'm sorry, Corvina," she said. "I just felt like he deserved to know."

"It's fine," said Corvina, turning her face away. "I just... I thought you said you trusted me."

"I do trust you!" said Anne.

"Then why did you do the one thing I asked you not to do?" asked Corvina. "Help me understand."

"Because I also trust Sebastian! And you know..." Anne squared her shoulders and puffed up her chest like she was psyching herself up to make some big declaration. "Trust should go both ways!"

Corvina looked at Anne, her mouth hanging open. "What is that supposed to mean?"

"It means you don't trust me, or Sebastian, or anyone! Not really." said Anne. "And I know I'm not as smart or good at politics as you are, but I'm not a total moron and I have my own skills! Like, I'm really good with people. And if nothing else, everyone has their own unique perspective, so if you actually shared your thoughts and plans with me I might occasionally be able to see something you don't. For example, I could tell you how shitty it feels to have something bad sprung on you out of nowhere and then have someone you care about smiling about it and telling you it's all according to plan."