A Dove's Tale

Chapter 20

I tried to work in the library as if nothing had happened, but I couldn't focus. The silence was suffocating, amplifying every sound. The creak of the floorboards was Jack sneaking up on me; a leaf blown into a window was him tapping at the panes; the rustle of a page was him grabbing at my dress. I kept freezing up, my heart pounding wildly as I looked around for any sign of him. This was hopeless. I couldn't even dust a shelf properly. But what else was I supposed to do? Go home? Risk running into him again? Keep lying to Mother, try not to fall apart in front of her? Find Prince Chevalier? Tell him - what? That I couldn't function, that I could barely breathe? What was he supposed to do? What was anybody supposed to do?

What was I supposed to do?

I hated this. I hated all of this.

Noon finally came, and I sat in the alcove, picking up my book out of habit, though there was no point in trying to read. I hadn't even gone to the kitchens on the pretense of grabbing a quick lunch. There was no way I could eat. I hadn't eaten since lunch yesterday, and the emptiness of my stomach was nothing compared to the cold emptiness in my chest.

Everything was cold and empty. Even the gardens outside the window. It was a beautiful day, but I couldn't feel the warmth of the sunshine. The roses were as vibrant as ever, a constant source of quiet elegance, but their colors were painfully bright. I couldn't see their thorns from this distance, but I could all too easily imagine them raking across my skin. I sighed and looked back at the book, closing it and hugging it tightly to my chest. Then I noticed black boots and a white cloak out of the corner of my eye. I looked up, surprised to see Prince Chevalier standing next to me. He stood with his arms crossed over his chest, staring down at me with those cold blue eyes. There was no telling what he was thinking, or how long he'd been standing there. I didn't know what to say.

"He's been arrested."

His voice was as impassive as his face.

"Oh."

That was good news. I should feel better, then. Why didn't I feel better? I looked back down at my lap, biting my lip. Prince Chevalier still hadn't moved. What did he want from me?

"My office," he finally said. "Bring that if you like."

He spun on his heel and headed for the door. I rose and followed him, still hugging the book to my chest, still looking down at the floor. There was about a half hour left of my lunch break. Would this day never end?

At least his office was empty. I didn't think I could handle any of his brothers right now. He directed me to a chair in the corner, and then he went to his desk and started going through a stack of paperwork piled neatly to one side. I opened the book and tried to read, unsuccessfully. The soft rustle of paper and the scratch of a quill were the only sounds to be heard. The silence was deafening. Slowly, the hands of the clock made their rounds, and finally it was one o'clock. I stood up to leave, and although he glanced up at me, he said nothing. I opened the door and stepped out into the hallway - just as Jack emerged from Prince Leon's office next door.

"There you are, you trumped up, no good little tart!" Jack spat angrily, his eyes blazing as he struggled against his bonds and the guards holding him back.

I froze in shock and terror, unable to breathe, let alone move. The book fell from my hands.

"You're nothing but the daughter of a whore, and you'll never amount to anything but a whore yourself!"

Prince Chevalier was suddenly at my side, pulling me back and stepping in front of me as he drew his sword. Metal clashed against metal as Prince Leon appeared in front of him, blocking Prince Chevalier's sword from hitting Jack. Prince Licht was in the doorway behind Prince Leon.