The earl smirks, then his eyes go up, probably meeting Brevan’s. “You really need to put her in her place. Before she gets herself killed.”
“Did you just threaten the princess?” Brevan asks.
He loosens his grip just enough that I can get out, and I charge the earl, knocking him to the ground. I lift my fist, but Brevan has me in his arms again, pulling me off the asshole before I can complete the punch.
“Get him out of here, now,” Brevan demands. “In fact, trip is over. Everyone to the carriages.” He turns to the crowd, arms still wrapped around me, so I’m pinned against him. “Show’s over, everyone return to your business.”
Once he lets go of me, I move around him and see that the earl and my ladies are moving quickly, already several shops away as they head toward the carriages. I turn to the woman who is still trembling behind me. “Are you alright?”
She nods, then gingerly touches her cheek. “I’ll be fine. Probably won’t even leave a mark.”
“He had no right.” I bite out the words, furious at the earl.
“I offended him,” she whispers. “I should have been more careful. I should have seen him, and then I wouldn’t have run into him.”
“It was an accident,” I tell her. “You didn’t do anything wrong.”
She makes the sign of the gods, then curtsies. “May the gods bless you, Princess. May they keep you just as you are. Our people could use someone who fights for us.”
“I will,” I assure her. “I always will.”
It is a good reminder about what I am doing. Why I am in this dress, why I am in the castle. “Take me back, Brevan.”
He nods, then walks alongside me. He’s so close our bodies brush against one another. I think he’s worried after what just happened. I shove down the flutters in my chest.
He didn’t kill my brothers, and I get the sense that he’s just as trapped as I am—as we all are. But that doesn’t change the fact that he works for the emperor. Even if his loyalty is forcedwith a relic, he’s still loyal. Which means he’s my enemy. And you aren’t supposed to feel flutters in your chest for your enemy.
Twenty-Six
The thingI’ll miss most when I leave this castle is the bath. Warm water anytime I want it. A deep tub. Creamy, deliciously scented soaps and luxurious oils. It probably would have been better if I never experienced this. Now I’ll know what I’m missing.
A knock sounds on the bathroom door, and I’m grateful I decided to actually take a bath instead of making my way to the poison garden. I considered it as a way to help Juliette. Just a few bundles of leaves tucked away in between some pages of a book. She could take it with her when she moves to the earl’s estate. He’s old. Nobody would suspect her.
The knock sounds again.
“Yes?”
“Sorry to bother you, Your Highness, but the prince has requested your presence. It’s rather urgent.”
I don’t recognize the shaky voice, but the tone is timid. My stomach twists as I imagine all the things that could be wrong.
I rinse the soap and exit the tub. As I dry off, I try to empty my mind. It does me no good to speculate. I’ll find out soon enough.
At least I got one last bath.
I cringe. I can’t even keep the thoughts away for a few minutes.
After ensuring that my room is empty, I dress and find the towel that Marian used on my hair. I have no idea how the magic works, but it dries my hair so well that you can’t even tell I just got out of the bath.
My face is still pink from being outdoors at the market, so I skip adding any makeup and quickly plait my hair into a long braid, then pin it around my head to hold it in place.
I think I look rather young and innocent this way. Hopefully that will aid me in whatever I’m walking into.
Another knock sounds.
“I’m coming,” I say.
The door opens, and Juliette barges in, slamming the door behind her. She leans against it, panting and wild-eyed.
