He nodded. “Sure. Prince Victor’s up to his neck in shady shit already, but that’s an open secret. It’ll take more than that.”
“I’m well aware, which is why I want to undermine his support base first. Too many of the young lords and the greedy older lords support him. Mostly because he’ll let them do whatever they want. Victor wants power and prestige but not the drudgery that comes with ruling, another open secret. For that reason, I want you to look into Aurora.”
Tremon’s eyes narrowed. Both Captain Rowan and Sir Pedan tensed, gazes locked on me, obviously curious.
“Aurora,” Tremon said slowly, searching my expression, “is the investment fund Prince Victor started several years ago. It’s highly invested in by various lords, a way for them to make money without actually dirtying their hands. Why do you think… That is, what is it about the company that’s caught your interest?”
“I think it’s a shell for embezzlement,” I said easily. “Almost a paper company, in a sense. I need proof.”
Tremon let out a low whistle, sitting back in his chair. “If you’re right, and all the money is vanishing into Victor’s pocket to pay for his vices, then…”
“Oh, the lords who’ve invested in him will be very, very upset. Well, those of them who aren’t also embezzling. I have a feeling it’s not just Victor. At any rate, go forth and prove me right.”
Captain Rowan and Sir Pedan didn’t know me well enough to anticipate what I would do with this information. Tremon, however, did. He chuckled, eyes sparkling with mischief.
“You already have a plan on how to throw him out, don’t you? How thoroughly are you getting rid of this man?”
“Oh, if all goes well, he’ll be exiled from the capital and the royal family and live the rest of his—likely short—life in a sort of house arrest.” I buffed my nails against my shirt, smile benign. “The whole country will thank me for it.”
Tremon kept chuckling. “I do love working for you.”
“I give you good entertainment, I know.” I winked at him. “Okay, anything you need from me?”
He waved this off. “All I needed was a direction. I’ll report back to you when I have something substantial.”
“That’s fine. Stedman’s been given a month, just so you’re aware.”
“Understood.” Tremon stood, gave me a bow, and took himself off.
Shaking my head, I also stood and stretched. My energy was dropping, but I wanted to do one more thing. Time to do some shopping.
Neither knight questioned me as we went back out. My business office was in the shopping district, for ease of convenience really, so it wasn’t difficult to walk down to the corner and enter a bookstore.
Now, I knew Edwin’s taste very well and which authors were his favorites. I didn’t by any means know his entire library, but I still had a firm grasp on what he liked. It was no trouble at all to roam around the bookstore, look through their selection, and pick a book. A clerk assured me it had been released just the day before, so odds were Edwin hadn’t managed to get his hands on this one just yet.
Pleased with myself, I had them wrap it in brown paper before I left. A good courting gift needed to be wrapped.
Edwin’s schedule had him working every other Sunday. The palace didn’t function on a normal work week, since most of our parties and events were held on weekends. I knew he worked today, so I went straight for our palace office.
Almost immediately upon entering, I realized my mistake. It was high noon. Edwin, very much a creature of habit, would be eating lunch outside in his favorite spot. Really, that was all for the better, as that way I could speak with him privately.
I shooed Captain Rowan and Sir Pedan off, telling them to go find lunch in the kitchens, which gave me a wonderful opportunity to speak with Edwin one-on-one. A hard-won thing, that.
Finally alone, I passed by the kitchen doors, hearing people chattering from inside, the clinking of cutlery and pans, the hissing of grilling meat. Lovely sounds and smells, which sparked my appetite.
There, under the tree, sat Edwin. A fork in one hand, a book in the other. Perfect. I felt a surge of energy, mostly from my heart, as I walked quickly toward him.
“A good book?” I asked as I slung into the seat opposite his.
He glanced up, then did a double take when he realized it was me and closed the book altogether. “Ah, yes, quite a good one. What can I do for you, Your Highness?”
I didn’t like that I’d put him on a formal tone. “No, no, I’m not here on business. Rather, I wanted to ask if you’d grab lunch with me. Oh! I brought you something as well. I stopped by a bookstore on my way back.”
Edwin hesitantly accepted the book when I offered it to him. I wasn’t sure why he looked so uncertain and…uncomfortable? Hopefully I was reading him wrong. My Edwin had never been uncomfortable with me.
He unwrapped the brown paper and looked at the book, expression turning perplexed. “How did you know I like this author?”
“I’ve seen you read one of their books before.” On that I was confident.
