“And queens,” Nix whispered.
“We do hereby and henceforth declare the accused, Althea Ramos, a human healer residing in Biringan of her own free will and accord...”
“Wow,” I muttered under my breath. “Free will?”
“...is guilty of the crime of murder.”
There was an eruption of voices and activity in the room, as people began shouting out their disagreements, while others were cheering the judge’s decision. But Althea said nothing. She uttered not a word of protest even as the guards hauled her away.
She was resigned to her fate. Humans never got justice in Biringan, Nix had said. They were always found guilty of any crime in this realm. Althea knew she never had a chance.
“What now? How long does she go to prison?” I asked Lucas.
He pointed to the front of the room, where the judge was still standing. He was waiting for the chatter to stop again. Once it did, he made one final announcement: “Thereby, this board of justices has unanimously sentenced the convicted... to death.” Then the judge banged his gavel.
34
I didn’t realizeI needed a date for the Coronation Eve Ball until Lucas mentioned it the day before. After we left Althea’s trial and the calesa brought us back to the palace, he took his leave, saying he wanted to check in on his men and how they were doing with the search for Fortunada. “So, um, about tomorrow night,” he said, with a strange look on his face.
“What about it?” I asked him.
“Do you need an escort, maybe?”
“Are you asking if you can take me?” It was the furthest from my mind after the shock of Althea’s sentence. But the gears of the coronation kept turning—no matter what happened, I still had to participate in all the festivities that would ultimately see me crowned queen. (Or not.)
“Do you want me to?” He had his hand on the carriage door, and he looked so nervous I didn’t feel like teasing him anymore.
“I would love it,” I told him. “Thank you for asking.”
In answer, he took my hand and pressed it to his lips once more. “It will be my honor.”
“Okay! You guys can find a room!” Nix interjected. “Third wheel here!”
We laughed.
“It’s okay, Nix. I can take you, too,” he said with a wink.
“You sure will! I’m not going in alone!” she threatened.
***
The next eveningwhen the door opened and Lucas walked in to escort me and Nix to the Coronation Eve Ball, I could not have been more nervous than I already was. Jinky had styled my hair into an elaborate French chignon, and this time I wore the gold circlet that marked me as the princess of the Sirena Court. I wore a gold-and-ivory dress embroidered with sampaguita flowers, with stiff butterfly sleeves and a deep V neckline, and carried a matching fan.
Lucas bowed when he entered. He was so dashing in a black barong Tagalog, his dark hair slicked back from his forehead.
“Wow,” he said when he saw me.
I flushed with pleasure. “You look wow yourself.”
“Ahem!” Nix said, clearing her throat.
“You look good, too, Nix.” He laughed.
“Why, thank you, kind sir.” She batted her eyelashes. In honor of the event and her heritage, Nix wore a red qipao, a tight-fitting silk dress with a mandarin collar, along with a beautiful pair of jade-and-diamond earrings. “My mom’s,” she explained. “And we wear red for celebrations.”
“Shall we?” Lucas held out an arm for each of us. “It’s a long walk to the other side of the palace.” The ball was being held in—where else?—the ballroom.
It was off the back of the palace, an airy dome with floor-to-ceiling windows and French doors all around, leading out to the gardens.
