“Yeah, she thinks that you like the countess.” Antonia studied my face. “If you like Araceli, then you should tell her. Then she’ll feel better. And I won’t have to turn you into a slug and step on you.” Antonia skipped out of the office.
I was dumbstruck. Did I like Donya? I used to have a crush on her. But I’d never seriously seen her as a real possibility. Before I’d met her, she’d been my celebrity crush, someone I admired for all the activism work she did, and after I’d met her, she’d been even more awesome in person, but also even more unattainable. I’d adored her more as an ideal than as a person. I’d found her attractive, but I’d never seriously imagined a life together with her. Not the way I’d been fantasizing about living and growing old together with Araceli.
These were two very different feelings. I’d had a crush on Donya, but I was in love with Araceli.
Love. I tested the weight of the word, trying to see if it fit. Perhaps it was a little early to say love, but I was definitely falling hard in that direction.
Queen Antonia was right. I had to talk to Araceli. I couldn’t possibly let her think that I had used her for a brief moment of comfort while liking someone else. If there was a chance that my feelings might be mutual, then I wanted to seize it.
I leapt to my feet—then immediately developed doubts. Was I dressed well enough for this talk? I’d put on a rather formal gown from the duchess’s closet. Maybe I should have gone with somethinga bit sexier. Had I checked my teeth since breakfast? Did my breath smell?
I needed to primp myself first. Just then, a guard threw my door open. “Your Grace! You’re needed at once.”
I should have locked the door. Bad things always seemed to happen when I left my door unlocked. It had started to feel like a jinx. “Unless it’s a city-wide crisis, it can wait.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
I started to close my bedroom door. (This time, I would lock it.) The guard stuck his hand in the way, shouting, “What are you doing, Your Grace?”
I stopped before I hurt him. “Didn’t you say it could wait?”
“I meant yes, it’s a city-wide crisis, Your Grace.”
I groaned. “Have you told my—Holy Maiden Ysabel?”
“That’s the problem, Your Grace.” The guard hopped from foot to foot. “A mob of concerned citizens is storming the palace, demanding that you release the Holy Maiden from your evil claws. Their words, not mine.”
Chapter Twenty
Why did it constantly feel like I was careening from one enemy trying to kill me to another? I barely had time to think as I raced for the front gate. According to the guard, my sister had already headed over. If she planned to put on an act, then she would need my help. I was worried about what my sister’s husband and bodyguard might do.
I found a mob of concerned citizens waving pitchforks at the front gate and shouting, “Free Holy Maiden Ysabel!”
Where was my sister? Hadn’t the guard said that she’d come out first?
“Noble citizens!” Ysabel’s voice pierced the air. She stood on a balcony above. “The Sun God thanks you for coming to my aid during this difficult time. However, the Sun God has a plan. I have accepted this plan, even though my role is difficult.” Her shoulders heaved. She pretended to brush a tear from her eye. Then she buried her face in her hands and fake-sobbed. “You must leave, or the Blood Duchess’s cruel wrath will descend upon you. But do not fear. The Sun God will protect me.”
A hefty woman wielding a rolling pin stood in front of the mob and eyed my sister. “Everyone, it’s okay! She’s just faking it again!”
A relieved sigh went up from the crowd. A man muttered, “She clearly has the duchess under her control, just like how she controlled Dark Lord Kaine. Good for her.”
“No wonder we’ve been getting paid for all our old labor at the Games if Her Holiness has taken charge.”
“Yeah, I wondered about the signs advertising free doctors. The Blood Duchess would never do such a thing. I should have known our Ysabel would be pulling the strings.”
A woman in the back cupped her hands to her mouth and shouted, “Keep it up, Holy Maiden! Congratulations on the baby!”
I couldn’t help but feel indignant that my sister was getting all the credit for the ideas and plans we’d come up with together. On second thought, the alternative would be the duchess getting credit. Between those two options, my sister was better. I got no credit either way.
Ysabel’s hands dropped from her face. Her tragic martyr expression was replaced by a scowl. “Hey, what do you mean about faking itagain?”
Before my sister could do anything stupid, I took the stairs at a run.
By the time I reached the balcony, the mob had dispersed.
Ysabel paced, muttering, “I still don’t see what she meant aboutagain.”
I guided her inside. “You’re important to people in this city. I noticed as soon as I came here. On my very first day, everyone saved my life for your sake. I’m glad you’ve got people who care about you. Hurry up and come inside. It’s freezing, and you’re not even wearing a coat.” I put my arms around her to warm her up.
