Jinky shrugged. “I don’t know. I’m not even sure which maid found it. None will speak of it. And I’d be afraid to inquire any further. If the note was missing at first, it means that someone didn’t want it to be found. Someone who has something to hide.”
I nodded. “You’re right. Don’t ask.” I read the note again. “Do you know anyone in the palace named Temo?”
Jinky shook her head. I almost blurted out the next thought, but I kept it to myself. I trusted Jinky, but that didn’t mean she wouldn’t tell someone else in her confidence. I was going to have to get into the king’s chambers and do some investigating myself.
“Thank you for this. Listen, I think we both need to clear our heads. You can have the rest of the evening off.” I had to distractJinky if I was going to get into the king’s chamber without anyone knowing.
She looked at me like I’d sprouted wings.
“Take a long, hot bath, maybe?” I suggested. “Read a book?”
“Why are you trying to get rid of me, Princess?” she asked, her eyes squinted.
“I’m not,” I protested. “It’s just that you’re always doing so much for me, and I don’t need anything right now. There’s nothing we can do about the letter presently, so you should take some time for yourself for once. Use my bathtub; it’s amazing. And then you’re right there if I need you.”
She still looked suspicious, but she also looked tempted. “I mean it,” I continued. “In fact, I order you. I’m just going to read in bed. I had a long day, and I want to stop thinking about my father’s death. We can think about this tomorrow. It’s not going anywhere.”
“Princess, this is such a generous offer. I can’t thank you enough for your kindness...” she said.
“It’s nothing! Take your time.” I picked up a random book and plopped onto my bed with it.Ensiklopedya ng Hayop at Halaman. “Homework,” I said, pointing to the book.
Jinky disappeared into the bathroom. I waited until I heard the water running and could smell the bubble bath wafting out from the steamy room. She began singing. I recognized the song or, at least, the melody of it. My mother used to hum it to me when I was very small. All that time it was a Biringan lullaby. Now it made sense why I never heard it anywhere else.
I had to go before I got distracted by nostalgia. Jinky wouldn’tbe in there for long. I stuck the note inside the book and left it on the nightstand.
“Temo was right.
It’s time to tell her the truth.”
About what?
What was my father hiding? And from whom?
Who is Temo?
The next problem was the guards. There was no good way around them. I could cause a distraction somehow, make them run toward it and away from here. But that could backfire, put the palace on alert, and then I’d be followed even more closely.
My other idea was... I didn’t have another one. I flopped down onto an oversized armchair and leaned my head back onto Jinky’s cloak, which was slung over the back of it. I was running out of time. This just wasn’t going to happen, at least not tonight.
Tell her the truth.
No, it had to happen. I wasn’t going to sleep until I looked for myself. I needed a better plan.
The water shut off. Jinky called out, “Are you sure you don’t mind me here?”
“Not at all,” I called back at the door. “Like I said, take your time.”
The water turned back on. I sighed and rubbed my face with my hands.
I needed a disguise.
I looked back at the door.
Before wasting another second, I grabbed Jinky’s cloak, threw it on, put the hood up over my head, and started for the door to thehallway. There was a tray sitting on a marble console table near the entryway. I picked that up and brought it with me so I looked like I was busy.
Heart racing, I opened the chamber door and stepped out into the hallway. As expected, two guards stood outside. I kept my head down and held the tray as if I was on my way to fetch something from the kitchens.
“Hey,” one of the guards said.
