A Dove's Tale

Chapter 40

The bright sunlight filtering through Prince Chevalier's bedroom windows seemed to mock the throbbing in my heart. I didn't really know the guard who died, but I remembered his bright smile and his cheerful 'Hello' when he opened the gates for me every morning. The guards rotated throughout the day, and sometimes his post late in the afternoon was just outside the servants' entrance, so I saw him on my way out, too.

He was there the day of the assassination attempt, wasn't he? Smiling and waving his goodbye as I left for the afternoon. And he was gone the next morning, when I came to the palace happy and unprepared for what lay in store for me with Prince Chevalier.

How long after I left did the assassin kill that guard?

Was that why Prince Chevalier was so aggressive the next morning? Not just because of a perceived danger, but because I narrowly missed death at the hands of that assassin, and he wanted to ensure it wouldn't happen again?

I felt sick. My heart hurt for that guard and his family, and my stomach twisted in knots with fear. If anything happened to me, what would happen to Mother? Would the Stotts take her in? That was a huge commitment and a heavy burden for them to take, and I wouldn't blame them for not doing it.

But I couldn't let myself think about it, the same way I couldn't let myself think about her death. There was here and now, and that was all. I did my best for her with what I had. That had to be enough. And, although the princes kept trying to dissuade me, staying at the palace was still my best option. Consistent hours, steady pay, and relative safety, even considering all the hidden threats. There were always threats. Outside of the palace, I dealt with them on my own. Here, I didn't.

Walking into the bright, sunny library was a breath of fresh air. For two days, I worked by candlelight, listening to raindrops on glass. Today, I didn't need any candles, and the birds perched on the windowsills outside chirping happily reminded me that worrying wasn't helping me. I propped open the door to Prince Chevalier's back room and got to work, determined to hold on to the positivity I had when the day started.

And when I retreated to the alcove for my lunch break, I found The Romance of the Rose waiting there, the book in Prince Chevalier's collection that I most wanted to read. A warmth blossomed in my chest. He must have noticed me looking at it so often. I settled onto the cushion and picked it up, my fingers brushing against Midnight Cinderella beneath it. My happiness faltered, just for a moment, until I forced my eyes back to The Romance of the Rose.

It was a warm, fuzzy, almost sickly-sweet book. Prince Chevalier must have hated it.

"You owe me."

I looked up to see Prince Nokto leaning over me. His forearm rested against the bookcase behind my back, and his silver hair fell around his face, casting shadows on his crimson eyes. But he was smiling, that sly grin that I recognized all too well.

"I don't owe you anything, Prince Nokto," I replied, looking away from him to the clock. It was time for me to get back to work, anyway, so his interruption was timely, if nothing else. "I made a request, and you agreed to honor it. That's all."

He shook his head. "It isn't easy keeping a secret from Chevalier. If you want me to do this, then I need something in return."

I closed the book and set it down. "We didn't make a deal, your highness. There are no terms to discuss."

"We didn't discuss terms because you pulled that sad little girl act," he replied, catching my arm when I stood up and tried to walk past him. "You're very good at that, by the way."

There was none of the usual seductive allure in his eyes, just amusement. I lifted my chin and met his gaze head on.

"It wasn't an act, your highness," I said, pulling my arm free from him. "Although I'll confess that, once you pointed out how it looked, I wasn't above playing on that image to get what I wanted."