Nothing you say could ever upset me, my king–
I shook my head.Josefa…I am not Rogelio. I am Rafael, his grandson.
Josefa, if possible, looked even paler than before. Her already white skin turned gray. The heart-rate machine next to her increased, the blood pressure machine beeping as it sky-rocketed, but her breathing only grew a little shallow.
Rafael. G-grandson to the k-king?
Rogelio is dead. My mother, Ramira, succeeds him.
Josefa sucked in a ragged breath.
I am twenty-eight years old,I went on.Josefa, with this information, can you tell me how long you have been here?
I was brought here on coronation day to King Rogelio II.
I cursed inwardly. It was just as I’d thought. Rogelio II, my grandfather’s father had done this. Rogelio I lived to be old as shit, I was pretty sure, so Rogelio II was already forty when he took the throne. My grandfather, Rogelio III, was fifteen years old at the time.
That’s why Albert thought he’d only been down here thirteen years when I told him my age.
I thought for sure his son would come for me,Josefa said in a small voice.B-but he didn’t?
No,I replied softly.Unfortunately, Rogelio III ended up making his father look like a saint.
Josefa winced.
These people had expected a lot from my grandfather. I wondered what kind of a kid he’d been to make them feel that way.
And…your mother is a Telepath?Josefa asked the question carefully.
She’s trying her best, but it is her only affinity.
I didn’t bother sugarcoating it. Somehow, Josefa’s expression fell even further.
Madam,Wyatt said from next to me.Please. Who put you here? Why?
Rogelio II,she answered after a moment of thought.He hid away the Palace Sensors after his second assassination attempt.
Marion was his personal Healer that day,I told Wyatt.A Telekinetic tried to squish him.
You know Marion?Josefa’s expression changed, just barely, her eyes widening in…I’m not sure what.She’s here? You’ve spoken with her?
I shook my head slowly.No, Marion is free. She’s served as the Palace’s head Healer for longer than I’ve been alive.
Josefa considered that for several long seconds.
And…Rogelio III?Josefa asked slowly.What was his fate?
Cancer,I answered.Marion was attending to him personally.
Does that mean anything to you?Wyatt asked. I gave him a look, but he only shrugged. I didn’t want to make the woman feel as if she were being interrogated.
Josefa’s brow furrowed just slightly.
Rogelio III…died of cancer? He was not fully connected to his Chain?
We thought he was, but now I’m learning that may not have been the case,I replied.It’s an old wives’ tale these days that fully connected Chains don’t get sick.
It’s no wives’ tale,Josefa replied almost sharply.Rogelio II put us here to hide his secret.
