The Royal Curse

Nine - Media Overrule

Senna Aldorban

I reread the letter that was scrunched in my pocket.

...promised interview...

How was I going to explain this to Kace? He was already about to go feral when he found out I had all the information about Lord Astley. What would stop him from killing me? Locking me up?

Guards flanked around me as I walked up and down the corridors, peeking through doors to find that annoying prince. Fortunately and unfortunately, I couldn't find him.

"Is there something we can assist you with, Princess Senna?" the towering guard said, coming up next to me.

"Where is Kace?" I asked, stopping in my tracks.

The guard glanced at the others and jerked his head. Some scattered, so I supposed they went to find him.

"In the gardens," the guard replied.

Strangely enough. A man capable of killing spent his free time picking flowers in a garden. Didn't he have allergies? "Why did you send them off, then?"

"To make sure you don't try escaping under our noses," the guard simply said, leading me out the library. "Do you plan on informing Prince Kace of his surprise interview?"

"Well, it wouldn't be much of a surprise if I did tell, now would it?" I quipped, speeding ahead to no avail.

This guard was different from the others; harder to respect him and trick. He reminded me of my personal guard Odaya. Her sad marriage to Kace only happened a month ago and she was left in shambles after what happened between her and Rysdan.

After Princess Valarya kissed Rysdan thinking Odaya wouldn't see. Valarya cheated my brother and her cousin, and like hell I would tolerate this. Once I found her, there would be many words exchanged—and not the fond ones.

"Odaya is coming today, yes?" I told the guard, remembering that I asked him to inform the envoy to send for her.

The guard remained quiet, his hand on the emerald base of his sword. A well-equipped man. Was I seriously that bad?

Or perhaps what Kace was doing was secretive enough to hide from everyone.

It didn't matter, though; I was going to get to the bottom of Lord Astley's illegal trading and find out what Nicholyn did years ago.

In the distance beyond the marble pillars, a raven-haired woman stood by Kace, her arms flailing around. It had to be her. Quickly racing ahead, I hopped down the steps, but an arm held me back.

I didn't need to ask why.

"—then go to him, for all I care! This bullshit is tiring to listen to. You managed to lie to me constantly, and you expect me to tolerate that as your husband?" Kace yelled, his scarlet face stained with streaks on his cheeks.

Odaya stood there, hands reaching to touch his arm before he swatted her away.

"Go fuck Rysdan. Go fuck yourself, Odaya. I'm tired of you. This whole thing is tiring because of you and your stupid relations with Kandose."