The Royal Romance 2

Chapter 5

Maxwell and Bertrand slipped through the cars as the train sped toward Italy, careful not to draw attention from the other passengers. 

"The letter said to meet in the boutique, right?" Maxwell glanced around, trying to appear nonchalant. Though, it seemed like his efforts were drawing more attention. "And to come alone." He sighed, pulling at the tips of his fingers as if trying to relieve some anxiety. "It could be a trap." Maxwell whipped around, still scanning the perimeter, his unease evident. 

Bertrand took a deep breath, hoping the day would improve. "Or it could be a genuine offer to help. One we desperately need." Bertrand placed a firm hand on Maxwell's shoulder, trying to stop him from attracting unnecessary attention.

Riley stood by the doors, just outside the entrance to the boutique car. She glanced back at the two men, offering a wry smile. "Wish me luck, boys."

"If anything's amiss, shout for us," Bertrand said, giving her a stern and caring look like a worried father. He had begun to soften, she thought.

"And we'll bust in there, fists blazing!" Maxwell added, lifting his fists and scanning the area again. Riley let out a small chuckle, bracing herself for whatever awaited behind the door. She grasped the handle lightly and slid the door open. "Thanks... Alright, here we go."

Cautiously, she stepped into the empty boutique. The dull rumble of the train echoed in the quiet room. "Hello? I'm here." Chills crept down her legs, and she found herself frozen in place.

A door handle clicked, slowly drifting open. "I should've known it'd be too much to ask for you to arrive promptly, Riley."

Riley instantly recognized the voice. Standing there, with a familiar expression pinched by anger, was Olivia. Dressed in black jeans, red pumps, and a sparkly black shirt, her hand was glued to her hip. She was ever the fashionista and drama queen all at once.

"Olivia... Why all the subterfuge? You could've just texted," Riley said, letting out a breath she hadn't even realized she was holding.

"Where's the fun in that?" Olivia responded with a sly smile. "Besides, I need to at least make some attempts at secrecy." She moved around the room, pulling back the dresses as if checking for hidden eyes. "I don't want the wrong people seeing us together for too long. The less our enemies know, the better."

"What happened to you? It's not like you to go missing from court."

Olivia paused, carefully choosing her words. "You weren't the only one who was maligned the night of the Coronation Ball." A small sigh escaped her as she turned back to face Riley. "I was blackmailed too. Since the Coronation, I've been laying low, conducting my investigation into the mysterious blackmailer. I called you here because the time has come for us to work together and share what we've found."

"Information? What did you discover?" Riley asked, intrigued.

"It's small, but it's a start." Olivia motioned for them to sit on the small couch, her voice dropping to a quieter tone. "I was able to extract some details from the messenger who delivered the blackmail letter to me."

Riley sat down beside her, listening closely.

"I traced the letter," Olivia continued, "and found that it passed through at least six different middlemen before it reached me."

"That's... elaborate," Riley said, frowning. "I found something too. A maid at Applewood Manor directed Tariq to my room as part of some noble lady's 'prank.'"

"It's probably connected to the noble who sent the letters to the palace," Olivia said, clenching her fists in anger. "There are layers of duplicity at play here, but it all points to one of the ladies."