I let myself into the stall, approaching Azzurra slowly.She lifted her head to nuzzle my hand, exhausted but alert."You did so well, beautiful girl.I'm so proud of you."
Betty joined me, reaching out to stroke the mare's neck."She's amazing.They're all amazing."
We stayed there for a while, watching the foals figure out how to exist in the world.The filly was bolder, already attempting to nurse.The colt was more cautious, staying close to his sister.
"New beginnings," Betty said.
"What?"
"That's what Azzurra's foal was supposed to represent, right?New life, new starts."She gestured to the twins."Turns out it's new beginnings.Plural."
I turned to look at her, really look at her.She'd been gone less than a day, but it felt longer."How was Valdoria?How's your grandmother?"
"Dying.She has maybe a year left."Betty's voice was steady but sad."We talked about a lot of things.Cleared the air."
The stable door banged open.
Viktor strode in like he owned the place, his expression somewhere between triumph and malicious satisfaction.Two men I didn't recognize flanked him, lawyers, based on their suits and briefcases.
"Your Highness," Viktor said, not bothering with the usual pleasantries."Princess Bettina.How fortunate to find you both here."
I stepped in front of Betty instinctively."Lord Viktor.I wasn't aware you had business at the Solmarian palace."
"Oh, my business here is quite urgent, I assure you."He pulled a document from one of the lawyer's briefcases."I've just come from a rather enlightening meeting with the American Congressional oversight committee.It seems there's been a significant irregularity with your marriage."
"What are you talking about?"
"The marriage contract.Specifically, the fraud involved in obtaining Princess Bettina's signature."He held up the document."I have sworn testimony from palace staff that the Grand Duchess deliberately misrepresented the terms of the marriage to the Princess.Told her it was a temporary arrangement of six months when in fact it was permanent and binding."
I gasped."How?"
"How did I know?"Viktor smiled."I've been the Grand Duchess's chief advisor for fifteen years, Your Highness.I know everything that happens in that palace.Including her desperate lies to secure her granddaughter's cooperation."
Betty's hand tightened on my arm."You've been spying on her."
"I've been protecting Valdorian interests.Something the Grand Duchess seems to have forgotten in her obsession with Western alliances."He gestured to the lawyers."These gentlemen represent the American State Department.They've reviewed the evidence and concluded that Princess Bettina's consent was obtained through fraud and coercion."
One of the lawyers stepped forward, his expression professionally sympathetic."Your Highness, we have no choice but to declare the marriage invalid under both American and international law.A contract signed under false pretenses cannot be enforced."
"Invalid," I repeated, the word hollow in my chest.
"The Congressional committee has already voted to suspend the base agreement pending resolution of this matter."Viktor's satisfaction was poorly concealed."They can't authorize military deployment based on an alliance created through deception of an American citizen."
"You planned this."Betty's voice was sharp."You've been working toward this from the beginning."
"I've been working toward what's best for Valdoria.And what's best is not shackling ourselves to a failing Western alliance through a fraudulent marriage to an untrained American barista."He turned to me."I'm sorry, Your Highness.I know this is difficult.But surely you can see that a marriage based on lies was doomed from the start."
"Get out."The words came out low and dangerous.
"I can't do that.These gentlemen need Princess Bettina's signature acknowledging the annulment.It's a formality, really, since the marriage is already void."
"I said get out."I moved toward him, and something in my expression must have convinced him I was serious because he actually stepped back.
"Your Highness, I understand you're upset."
"You understand nothing.You've betrayed the Grand Duchess, sabotaged Princess Bettina, and undermined both our countries' security because of your own political agenda."I was vaguely aware that Dr.Martens and her assistant had quietly left the stable, taking the foals' welfare equipment with them."Roberto!"
My head of security appeared in the doorway within seconds."Your Highness?"
