"Why are you reviewing staff schedules?"
"Because three of the junior housekeepers are working double shifts while two senior positions are mysteriously vacant, and Petra thinks it's suspicious."She pulled on her dress from last night, which looked decidedly wrinkled in the morning light."She's worried it's connected to the sabotage attempts."
That got my attention."What did she say exactly?"
"That the schedule changes happened right after I arrived, and the vacant positions are in areas that have access to my rooms and my daily schedule."She paused with her hand on the door."You should probably hear what she found.It's concerning."
After Betty left, and after I watched through the window to make sure she made it back to her wing without incident, Thomas entered with my morning briefing and an expression that suggested he had news I wouldn't like.
"Your Highness.Roberto needs to speak with you urgently about another incident."
"What now?"
"The Princess's Italian lesson materials were replaced with advanced legal texts.Constitutional law, specifically.Professore Benedetti arrived to find parliamentary procedure documents instead of conversational Italian exercises."
I set down my coffee cup with deliberate control."That's the fourth sabotage attempt in ten days."
"Yes, sir.But there's something else."Thomas hesitated."Lord Viktor Beaumont is here from Valdoria.He says he has urgent information regarding the Princess's security."
Viktor.The Grand Duchess's chief advisor and the man who'd orchestrated much of the marriage negotiations.He'd been notably absent from palace activities since the wedding, which had seemed like a blessing at the time.
"Why is he here?"
"He didn't say, Your Highness.But he requested a meeting with both you and the Princess immediately."
A cold feeling settled in my gut."Where is he?"
"The Red Salon."
"Tell him I'll be there in fifteen minutes.And Thomas?Make sure Roberto is present for this meeting."
I dressed quickly, my mind racing through the implications of Viktor's sudden appearance.The man was brilliant and ruthless, with connections throughout European intelligence networks.If he was here personally, something significant had happened.
The Red Salon was a small receiving room off the main palace corridor, decorated in burgundy and gold.Viktor stood by the window, hands clasped behind his back, looking out over the harbor.He turned when I entered.
"Your Highness.Thank you for seeing me on short notice."
"Lord Viktor."I kept my voice neutral."To what do I owe the pleasure?"
He gestured to a tablet on the side table."I have some troubling news that requires immediate attention.It concerns the Princess."
"What about her?"
"Perhaps we should wait for Her Highness to arrive."
"She's on her way," I interrupted, though I hadn't actually sent for her yet.I wanted to see what Viktor would reveal before Betty walked into whatever this was.
Viktor picked up the tablet and handed it to me."This was published online approximately two hours ago.It's already being picked up by international media."
The screen showed a gossip website with a headline that made my blood run cold: "AMERICAN PRINCESS'S WILD PAST EXPOSED."
I scrolled through the article, my jaw tightening with each paragraph.Photos of Betty that looked like they'd been taken at a college party.Quotes from someone claiming to be her ex-boyfriend.And there, in living color, was a picture of her in a hot tub in a bikini, pressed up against some guy with his arm around her waist.
"Royal Fiancée Stole My Girl, Claims Heartbroken Ex.""Inside Princess Betty's Party Lifestyle.""Hot Tub Photos Reveal Future Queen's Wild Side."
"Who is this?"I asked, though my voice came out rougher than I intended.
"According to the article, his name is Charles Baker.He goes by 'Chilly.'"Viktor's tone was unreadable."He claims he and the Princess were in a committed relationship before she discovered her royal heritage.He's alleging that she abandoned him for a title and a crown."
