“I’ll see you at dinner,” Caiden says.
I glance over at Brevan, my brow furrowed in silent question. He shakes his head, then turns his attention to the crowd, avoiding looking at me.
I spend the rest of the afternoon terrified about what I might find when we return. Have I left anything in my room that mightgive me away? Did someone reveal my secret? Has a rebel who knows of our plan been captured and confessed?
My ears buzz, and I do my best to be happy with the others, but the joy is gone. I needed that reminder, though. Even if this isn’t about me, I need to refocus. I should be reading the books in my room, not out here shopping like an aristocrat.
Brevan hands me a flatbread filled with some kind of meat. “You need to eat. You look like a ghost.”
I take it from him. “What happened back there? Why did he leave?”
“There’s always something,” he says. “But it’s nothing you need to worry about.”
I hate that his words actually loosen the knot in my stomach. If it were about me, I think he’d give me a hint. Then again, why should he? He’d be the first to turn on me if the truth came out.
I look over at him, remembering that he could be in my head right now. “Do you listen to people while you’re out like this?”
“Only if I have to,” he says. “There’s so much noise. So many thoughts. If I try to listen, it’s overwhelming. It’s better to ignore it unless I have a reason.”
I take a bite of the food. It’s warm and flavorful. I don’t recognize any of the spices, but they’re delicious. I eat every bite.
“Do you know who I am?” the earl shouts at a vendor. “I could have you killed. Or I could kill you myself and nobody would say anything.”
Brevan and I exchange a glance, then we both hurry toward the disturbance.
In the middle of the street, a woman is cowering in front of the earl. She’s hugging herself while she bites her lip and tries not to break down completely.
A crowd has gathered to watch, all of them silent, none of them approaching.
“You need to be taught a lesson.” The earl slaps the woman across the face twice.
She gasps, then puts her hand to her red cheek.
I push my way through the crowd and dart in front of her just as the earl lowers his hand to slap her again. He hits me instead.
He recoils. “Your Highness, I didn’t mean…Where did you come from?”
My cheek burns, but I don’t dare show him how badly that slap hurt. I glare at him. “Turn around. Walk away. Now.”
Brevan moves in front of me, his back to me, and I can imagine the look of disdain he must be giving the earl.
“Return to your carriage,” Brevan says. “Your visit here is complete.”
“I was well within my right to retaliate,” the earl says. “Just look at what she did to me.”
“It was an accident,” the woman behind me whimpers.
I peer around Brevan just enough to see that the earl is pointing to his shirt. It’s doused in mulled wine.
“I didn’t see him,” she says. “I didn’t mean to bump into him.”
“This is because someone bumped into you?” I march toward the earl. “You cowardly, terrible excuse for a human being.”
Brevan grabs me and pulls me to his chest. “He’s not worth it.”
“I will be telling the emperor about your behavior, Princess. Here in Pendralia, women know their place.”
I grunt as I try to break out of Brevan’s hold. “You piece of dung. You’re a worthless waste of air.”
